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Updating the Eater Heatmap — Dec. 2013

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2008_10_hasmaps.jpgMore often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? Restaurant obsessives want to know what's new, what's hot, which favorite chef just launched a sophomore effort. And while the Eater 38 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the "it" places of the moment. Thus, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change continually to always highlight where the foodie crowds are flocking to at the moment.

Have any suggestions? Any vital omissions? Leave 'em in the comments.


Jan. 3: Added: Those Guys Pies, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, Andrea's; Deleted: Kabuto, Naked City Pizza, Mizumi

Feb. 7: Added: Fat Choy, Poppy Den

March 6: Added: Nobu Restaurant & Lounge, Nosh & Swig, Novecento Pizzeria 900, Yonaka Japanese Restaurant & Lounge; Deleted: Rattlecan (closed), Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, Those Guys Pies

April 4: Added Vic's; Deleted Chada Thai & Wine

May 2: Added Viva Las Arepas

June 6: Added: Hakkasan, Hops & Harvest, Kuma Snow Cream, Press; Deleted: Bacchanal Buffet, Gordon Ramsay Steak, Meatball Spot, Tetsu, Vic's

July 11: Added: Pub 1842, Rx Boiler Room, FIVE50 Pizza Bar; Deleted: Eat, Honey Salt, Nosh & Swig

Aug. 1: Added: Kumi by Akira Back and Nobu; Deleted: Andrea's, Forte Creative Tapas, Poppy Den

Sept. 5: Added: Art of Flavors, Echo & Rig Butcher & Steakhouse, Lulu's Bread & Breakfast, Tom Colicchio's Heritage Steak

Oct. 3: Added: Andrea's, Sweets Raku; Deleted: Fat Choy

Nov. 5: Added Buddy V's Ristorante, Pizza Rock, Settebello

Dec. 5: Added: Container Park, MTO Cafe

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Andrea's

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C'mon. They now have ramen burgers.

Abriya Raku

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Ask any chef in Vegas where to dine and the magical phrase Aburiya Raku slips off their lips. Mitsuo Endo simply makes some of the best Japanese food in town with nary a sushi on the menu.

Art of Flavors Gelato

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Restauranteur Felix Arellano of Viva Las Arepas fame opened his first gelateria, serving gelatos and sorbets that are made in-house. Chef Desyree Alberganti makes flavors both traditional (hazlenut, dark chocolate) and more modern (S'mores).

Buddy V's Ristorante

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Cake Boss Buddy Valastro brings his first restaurant to Las Vegas replete with Italian dishes from his family recipes and over-the-top desserts.

Container Park

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Small restaurants such as Pinches Tacos, Big Ern's BBQ, Pork & Beans and Bin 702 find a home inside shipping containers. Permanent? Temporary? A little of each.

é Bar by José Andrés

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Reservations are nearly impossible to get at this private dining experience inside Jaleo, José Andrés’ tapas spot. But those who do swoon over the 18 or so courses that come out at this intimate dining experience for eight.

Echo & Rig Butcher & Steakhouse

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Sam Marvin's two-story steakhouse and butchery gives you another reason to head to Tivoli Village. Head here for reasonably priced lunches and dinners with beef taking center stage.

FIVE50 Pizza Bar

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Shawn McClain's second restaurant at Aria offers up far more than pizza, although you'd be remiss not to order one. The crusts, which combine the best of New York and Sicilian-style pies, have a nice chew. Order from one of the specialty dishes or create your own.

Hakkasan

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The massive Hakkasan features the Cantonese cuisine of Michelin-starred chef Ho Chee Boon with a menu to match. Must orders include the duck salad tossed table side, the soft-shell crab, the crispy quail appetizer and the Pi-pa duck.

Hops & Harvest

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Bradley Ogden returns to Vegas with his farm-to-table fare including his infamous hamburger and butterscotch pudding. Try the short rib and pork belly patty melt and Bradley’s meatloaf sandwich.

Kuma Snow Cream

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Jet Tila returns to Vegas with a dessert shop featuring the delicious snow cream, named for the texture of snow and the taste of ice cream. Order up one of five combinations such as the Mangozilla with mango snow cream, mochi, strawberries, Cap’n Crunch and mango sauce or create your own. The logo is reason enough to head here.

Kumi Japanese Restaurant + Bar

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Japanese dishes with a Korean-American twist make a home at Akira Back's newest restaurant. The 007 Octopussy roll is a must-order.

Lulu's Bread & Breakfast

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This bakery, breakfast and lunch spot is worth the drive up north. Look for an ever-changing menu of dishes such as eggs on a soft roll, frittatas and stuffed French toast for breakfast and salads and sandwiches for lunch. Look for the meatloaf with white cheddar and pulled pork with cilantro and pickled veggies on the sandwich board as well as a rotating collection of grilled cheeses.

MTO Café

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This new breakfast and lunch spot in the parking garage for City Hall has become a destination for Downtowners in its short tenure.

The original Nobu at the Hard Rock Hotel stepped up its game with a tasting menu for locals that includes Matsuhisa's greatest hits for $75. The six-course menu includes Yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño, rock shrimp tempura with creamy spicy sauce and black cod miso.

Nobu Restaurant & Lounge

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Nobu Matsuhisa opened his largest eponymous restaurant with his usual dishes along with three teppanaki tables, a first for the chef. Expect to pay an arm and a leg for his compositions though.

Novecento Pizzeria 900

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Chef Marc Sgrizzi, who already has Parma, just opened a new Neapolitan pizza joint that uses wood-burning ovens, San Marzano tomatoes, Caputo flour and mozzarella from Campania, Italy, in his 900-degree ovens that cook a pizza in 90 seconds.

Pizza Rock

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Eleven-time pizza world champion Tony Gemignani brings with him six styles of pizza including Neapolitan, classic Italian, classic American, Sicilian, Roman and gluten-free pies. Look for the big rig that serves as a deejay booth at this downtown joint.

Head to the new bar in the lobby of the Four Seasons (indoors and out) not only for cocktails but some fine nibbles as well. Order the wood-fired flatbreads in margherita and Kobe meatball, Ahi tuna cones or salted mini pretzels with warm cheddar cheese. Save room for the baked Alaska and especially the stone fruit mini brioche grilled cheeses with a warm peach compote.

Pub 1842

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Michael Mina went with a more casual approach to dining with his new Pub 1842 at the MGM Grand. Must tries include the lobster corn dogs, crab Louie deviled eggs and peanut butter crunch burger with bacon jam, potato chips and pimento cheese.

Rx Boiler Room

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Rick Moonen's steampunk-inspired restaurant serves up his version of comfort foods paired with cocktails made in his alchemist lab.

Settebello Pizzeria

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Authentic pizzas from Napoli that cook up in 90 seconds find a second Vegas home on the westside this time. Here find the chain's first hand-crafted cocktail menu as well as an expanded wine menu and a draft beer selection.

Sweets Raku

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The sidekick to Raku has a veritable three-course dessert menu that changes all the time. Go.

Tom Colicchio's Heritage Steak

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The Top Chef judge brings meats cooked over open flames at his third restaurant in Vegas.

Viva Las Arepas

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These flat, round and soft patties are made out of cornmeal and grilled for a crispy outside and soft inside. Stuff them with beef, chicken, ham, cheese, beans, shrimp and more. Inexpensive too.

Yonaka Modern Japanese Restaurant

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Now the west side has a new sushi restaurant that isn’t rough on the budget. Yonaka Modern Japanese features staples such as sushi, sashimi and makimano as well as fried dishes including baby tako, anago and kabocha, a Japanese pumpkin. Cool plates include the crudo of seabass, sake orenji with Atlantic salmon and Nippon Nicoise with bigeye tuna and fingerling potatoes.

Andrea's

C'mon. They now have ramen burgers.

Abriya Raku

Ask any chef in Vegas where to dine and the magical phrase Aburiya Raku slips off their lips. Mitsuo Endo simply makes some of the best Japanese food in town with nary a sushi on the menu.

Art of Flavors Gelato

Restauranteur Felix Arellano of Viva Las Arepas fame opened his first gelateria, serving gelatos and sorbets that are made in-house. Chef Desyree Alberganti makes flavors both traditional (hazlenut, dark chocolate) and more modern (S'mores).

Buddy V's Ristorante

Cake Boss Buddy Valastro brings his first restaurant to Las Vegas replete with Italian dishes from his family recipes and over-the-top desserts.

Container Park

Small restaurants such as Pinches Tacos, Big Ern's BBQ, Pork & Beans and Bin 702 find a home inside shipping containers. Permanent? Temporary? A little of each.

é Bar by José Andrés

Reservations are nearly impossible to get at this private dining experience inside Jaleo, José Andrés’ tapas spot. But those who do swoon over the 18 or so courses that come out at this intimate dining experience for eight.

Echo & Rig Butcher & Steakhouse

Sam Marvin's two-story steakhouse and butchery gives you another reason to head to Tivoli Village. Head here for reasonably priced lunches and dinners with beef taking center stage.

FIVE50 Pizza Bar

Shawn McClain's second restaurant at Aria offers up far more than pizza, although you'd be remiss not to order one. The crusts, which combine the best of New York and Sicilian-style pies, have a nice chew. Order from one of the specialty dishes or create your own.

Hakkasan

The massive Hakkasan features the Cantonese cuisine of Michelin-starred chef Ho Chee Boon with a menu to match. Must orders include the duck salad tossed table side, the soft-shell crab, the crispy quail appetizer and the Pi-pa duck.