These Four New Las Vegas Restaurants Belong on Your Clients’ Radar

Caramella Italian Restaurant & Lounge (Planet Hollywood)

With decor and design that channels 1970s Italy and a menu that features original takes on regional Italian favorites, new entrant Caramella deserves notice in the ever-expanding pantheon of Italian eateries on the Strip. Guests making their way through the swanky bar and alluring faux candy store on the mezzanine level above Planet Hollywood’s casino step into a handsome and comfortable dining room where culinary wonders unfold. The Marinated Tomato Caprese appetizer is composed using a quality of tomatoes rarely seen outside of Italy, while the Bone Marrow Surf & Turf is a decadent, novel twist on the popular delicacy. The Tuscan-style meats are impressive here, but the Blue Crab Mafaldine pasta dish – with lemon, cream and toasted breadcrumbs – really steals the show. And diners can’t miss by finishing up with the Signature Caramella Tart, featuring dark chocolate custard and salted caramel. Al fresco dining on the terrace overlooking the Strip is another plus. And that candy store? It’s just a front for the 70s-themed, Hidden Lounge that operates from Thursday – Sunday, 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Amaya Modern Mexican (The Cosmopolitan)

The former Holstein Shakes and Buns space at the Cosmopolitan has been completely transformed into the atmospheric, gourmet Amaya Modern Mexican restaurant. Diners enter the romantically lit, moody bar to pass through to the spacious, tropical-themed dining room, where gustatory pleasures await. The chefs at Vegas-based Clique Hospitality, in partnership with MGM Resorts International, have created a menu that satisfies both Mexican food aficionados as well as those relatively unfamiliar with the cuisine. Must-try starters include a perfectly-prepared and seasoned charred octopus and the cleverly-named Oysters Oaxacafeller, featuring a preparation that enhances the mollusks with mezcal, poblano peppers, cilantro, cotija cheese and scallion bread crumbs. Of the mains, the Carne Asada preparation does justice to a classic, while the Quesabirria Tacos – dipped in consomme, of course – pay appropriate tribute to their Jalisco roots.

Stubborn Seed (Resorts World Las Vegas)

Miami Beach-based chef Jeremy Ford earned a Michelin star in 2022, 2023 and 2024 for his elegantly constructed dishes, so plans for a Las Vegas outpost naturally followed, and the District at Resorts World is now much richer because of it. Ford’s intricately-composed dishes result in layers of flavor – often with contrasting temperatures. His Sake and Citrus-Cured Japanese Yellowtail, served with homemade potato chips, is an elevated take on fish and chips. A Kaluga Caviar Macaron with Champagne Citrus Crema – elegantly presented on a white pedestal – is a one-bite flavor sensation, and the bread course of Kalamata Olive Ciabatta with Whipped Feta rises way above expectations. But the chef’s talent also shines through on a seemingly-simple dessert: a homemade Snickerdoodle cookie with warm hazelnut-chocolate gianduja filling. Served with a scoop of atypical toasted-barley ice cream, this sweet treat is really an unexpected study in creative complexity.

Taste of Asia (Suncoast Hotel and Casino)

Ping Pang Pong co-founder Karrie Hung’s Taste of Asia easily makes the case for a trip from the Strip with gourmet Cantonese delights at the Suncoast. Her Hong Kong chef turns out authentic dim sum, including perfectly seasoned char siu bao, har gow and mouth-watering pan-fried shrimp and chive dumplings. Off-the-menu specials include a half Peking duck ($40), and the fish maw soup will satisfy even jaded gourmands. Finishing up with a pot of rarely-seen ginseng longan goji tea and a sweet golden lava bun – an elevated take on the traditional steamed custard bun – completes the experience. With a $5 happy hour, lunch specials from $12.99 and Chinatown pricing on other menu items, Taste of Asia is a gourmet value proposition that’s no longer a best-kept secret.