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Updating the Eater Heatmap — Nov. 2012

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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.

May 3: Added D.O.C.G. Enoteca, Layers Bakery Cafe, Mashisoyo, Naked City Pizza Shop, Trattoria Nakamura-Ya

June 7: Added Kabuto, KJ Dim Sum, Gordon Ramsay Steak, Mizumi

July 5: Added: Chocolate & Spice Bakery; Deleted: Old Homestead Steakhouse, Le Thai, East Ocean Dim Sum & Seafood Restaurant

Aug. 2: Added: Wine 5 Café, Kyara Japanese Tapas, Bachi Burger, Sugar Bee's Bakery; Deleted: Great Bao

Sept. 6: Added Allegro, Culinary Dropout, Tetsu; Deleted: Central Michel Richard, Mashisoyu

Oct. 4: Added: Eat, Bacchanal Buffet; Deleted: Crab Corner, Dom DeMarco's Pizzeria & Bar, Honey Pig, I-naba Japanese Soba Noodle Restaurant, KJ Dim Sum, Sugar Bee's Bakery, Wine 5 Café

Nov. 1: Added: Chada Thai & Wine; Deleted: Ko-Mex Fusion Express, Bachi Burger, Trattoria Nakamura-Ya, Layers Bakery, Bread & Butter

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

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Allegro

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Stratta switched over to Allegro, a late-night spot from executive chef Enzo Febbraro with Italian delights such as osso bucco, veal chop parm and margherita pizzas. While dinner starts at 5:30 p.m., this spot stays open until 6 a.m. for the post-nightclub crowd.

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.

Bacchanal Buffet

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Already USA Today has named the nine-kitchens at the new Bacchanal Buffet the best in Vegas. About 80 percent of the 500 items is cooked right in front of guests.

Chada Thai & Wine

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Bank Atcharawan’s Chada Thai & Wine brings Southern Thai food to Chinatown. The former sommelier of Lotus of Siam brings his award-winning list of 150 to 170 wines that skew toward Rieslings and global whites. Many of the dishes on the 50-item menu carry prices in the $10 range. Many are meant to be shared much like tapas, so expect to order several to get a grasp of the menu that features mild, medium and hot dishes.

Chocolate & Spice Bakery

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Pastry chef extraordinaire Megan Romano comes back with a fire. Her tarts, pies and cakes are available for pick up and can be custom ordered to suit any occasion. But don’t ignore the savories such as breakfast frittatas, soups, sandwiches and more.

Culinary Dropout

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Sam Fox’s long-awaited gastropub just opened mid-August at the Hard Rock Hotel with antipastas, a raw bar with mussels and King crab legs and shared plates such as smoked salmon rillettes, house potato chips with onion dip, soft pretzels and provolone fondue and grilled artichokes make the menu. Seven sandwiches such as the warm Italian grinder with Genoa salami, tavern ham and provolone, the M.A.C. Burger and the shaved Prime rib dip show up along with a crispy shrimp Caesars salad and seared tuna salad.

D.O.C.G. Enoteca

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This Scott Conant first is a wine bar that takes a more casual approach to Italian cuisine with hearty pastas, mind-numbing pizzas and a mozzarella bar. Save room for the budino, a caramel pudding that will make you want seconds.

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.

Natalie Young’s new breakfast and lunch spot in Downtown Las Vegas has become the go-to spot. Already the restaurant that opened in early August is garnering rave reviews for its creative fare.

Forte European Tapas Bar & Bistro

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Tapas take a twist with a little Bulgarian, Romanian and Ukrainian thrown into the mix by Nina Manchev. The vodkas, infused and Russian, are worth a visit.

Gordon Ramsay Steak

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The shouty chef’s first venture in Las Vegas has been selling out routinely with his take on the American steakhouse.

By far some of the freshest sushi you can find in Las Vegas, and it won’t break the bank. The 10-piece nigiri goes for $40. Here, it’s more a matter of whether you can land a table in this tiny 18-seater.

Kyara Japanese Tapas

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Naked Fish’s Yasuo Komada is behind the grill at this Japanese haunt that’s become a late-night fave of chefs. Find semi-private rooms and an L-shaped sushi bar where you can order grated mountain potato on a hot iron plate, deep-fried tofu and meats from the hibachi.

The hottest new Japanese restaurant on the Strip features Devin Hashimoto’s take on traditional dishes. A 72-hour braised American Wagyu short rib “kakuni” with creamy satsuma potatoes, fava bean and shitaake ragout and red wine miso sauce is not to be missed.

Naked City Pizza Shop

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The Guinea Pie caught the eye of Guy Fieri, who featured it on Diners Drive-ins and Dives, but foodies in Vegas have been stopping in this joint within Moon Doggies since it opened for fresh ingredients.

Chef Masa Takayama reinvented Shaboo into Tetsu, a teppanaki restaurant inside BarMasa. It features six grills with two at communal tables and another four at blackjack-style tables seating about 40 total. Within, a produce table offers up the day’s selection of meats, seafood and vegetables. Guests choose what they want to eat, which is weighed and then cooked in front of them.

Allegro

Stratta switched over to Allegro, a late-night spot from executive chef Enzo Febbraro with Italian delights such as osso bucco, veal chop parm and margherita pizzas. While dinner starts at 5:30 p.m., this spot stays open until 6 a.m. for the post-nightclub crowd.

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.

Bacchanal Buffet

Already USA Today has named the nine-kitchens at the new Bacchanal Buffet the best in Vegas. About 80 percent of the 500 items is cooked right in front of guests.

Chada Thai & Wine

Bank Atcharawan’s Chada Thai & Wine brings Southern Thai food to Chinatown. The former sommelier of Lotus of Siam brings his award-winning list of 150 to 170 wines that skew toward Rieslings and global whites. Many of the dishes on the 50-item menu carry prices in the $10 range. Many are meant to be shared much like tapas, so expect to order several to get a grasp of the menu that features mild, medium and hot dishes.

Chocolate & Spice Bakery

Pastry chef extraordinaire Megan Romano comes back with a fire. Her tarts, pies and cakes are available for pick up and can be custom ordered to suit any occasion. But don’t ignore the savories such as breakfast frittatas, soups, sandwiches and more.

Culinary Dropout

Sam Fox’s long-awaited gastropub just opened mid-August at the Hard Rock Hotel with antipastas, a raw bar with mussels and King crab legs and shared plates such as smoked salmon rillettes, house potato chips with onion dip, soft pretzels and provolone fondue and grilled artichokes make the menu. Seven sandwiches such as the warm Italian grinder with Genoa salami, tavern ham and provolone, the M.A.C. Burger and the shaved Prime rib dip show up along with a crispy shrimp Caesars salad and seared tuna salad.

D.O.C.G. Enoteca

This Scott Conant first is a wine bar that takes a more casual approach to Italian cuisine with hearty pastas, mind-numbing pizzas and a mozzarella bar. Save room for the budino, a caramel pudding that will make you want seconds.

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.

Eat

Natalie Young’s new breakfast and lunch spot in Downtown Las Vegas has become the go-to spot. Already the restaurant that opened in early August is garnering rave reviews for its creative fare.

Forte European Tapas Bar & Bistro

Tapas take a twist with a little Bulgarian, Romanian and Ukrainian thrown into the mix by Nina Manchev. The vodkas, infused and Russian, are worth a visit.

Gordon Ramsay Steak

The shouty chef’s first venture in Las Vegas has been selling out routinely with his take on the American steakhouse.

Kabuto

By far some of the freshest sushi you can find in Las Vegas, and it won’t break the bank. The 10-piece nigiri goes for $40. Here, it’s more a matter of whether you can land a table in this tiny 18-seater.

Kyara Japanese Tapas

Naked Fish’s Yasuo Komada is behind the grill at this Japanese haunt that’s become a late-night fave of chefs. Find semi-private rooms and an L-shaped sushi bar where you can order grated mountain potato on a hot iron plate, deep-fried tofu and meats from the hibachi.

Mizumi

The hottest new Japanese restaurant on the Strip features Devin Hashimoto’s take on traditional dishes. A 72-hour braised American Wagyu short rib “kakuni” with creamy satsuma potatoes, fava bean and shitaake ragout and red wine miso sauce is not to be missed.

Naked City Pizza Shop

The Guinea Pie caught the eye of Guy Fieri, who featured it on Diners Drive-ins and Dives, but foodies in Vegas have been stopping in this joint within Moon Doggies since it opened for fresh ingredients.

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Tetsu

Chef Masa Takayama reinvented Shaboo into Tetsu, a teppanaki restaurant inside BarMasa. It features six grills with two at communal tables and another four at blackjack-style tables seating about 40 total. Within, a produce table offers up the day’s selection of meats, seafood and vegetables. Guests choose what they want to eat, which is weighed and then cooked in front of them.

Related Maps