lvnvflyer

There are a number of good restaurants off the strip that would work for business dinners. Out a good ways is a restaurant called Rosemary's that is very well thought of; it's probably a 25 minute drive off the strip, but is excellent. Closer to the strip would be Todd's Unique Cuisine in Henderson, which is an eclectic American restaurant with very good food and service. For a old school LV place which is close to the Strip but not in a hotel, you might consider Piero's, which is close to the convention center. I'd book Piero's soon, though. If there is a particular type of food you are interested in, maybe some more names would surface.

ontourwithericchurch

Thank you for your suggestions, this is great!

Also looking for a good Italian place and then I'm all set.

I love this board..

Sirecca

Not sure how fancy it has to be, but I've been to Battista's Hole in the Wall several times over the years and always had a good experience. Just behind the Flamingo, in walking distance of mid-strip.

Dr_wanderlust

Firefly (tapas) is a good choice.

Paymon's mediterranean cafe.

both are just east of the strip and relatively near the convention center. PF Chang's has a location on Paradise that is popular.

Rosemary is good but a long haul from the strip.

kenjack

Try this place: http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr...erty_id=112283

very good but very pricey - best Italian wine list in the city

Also, Rosemary's is awesome. If you go to Costco locally, they sell $100 gift certificates for either $75 or $80 bucks so you are automatically getting $20 bucks off your meal depending on how many you use. Also, Sunday night every bottle on their wine list is 50% off. Can't go wrong there.

Gogie

I've been to Rosemary's (and will be going again in January 07). In my opinion it's the best restaurant I've been to in Vegas (and I've been to quite a few, including Prime Steakhouse, SW Steakhouse, Pamplemousse, Mon Ami Gabi, Aqua {now Michael Mina}, Emeril's New Orleans Fish House, Blackstone's Steakhouse, Binion's Steakhouse). There are quite a few highly rated restaurants that I can't comment on as I haven't been there yet (Delmonico's, Picasso, etc.) but I don't think you can go wrong with Rosemary's. The service is absolutely first class, the food is A+ and they have beer-pairing suggestions to boot!

As far as getting there, from Bellagio it's about a 10-15 minute drive (about 7.5 miles).

Dr_wanderlust

10 minutes? maybe at 5 am on a weekend.

Table 34 is another good choice (in green valley).

Gogie

If you try to drive up the strip it's certainly time consuming. Driving the "back roads" can save you a lot of time (e.g., west on Flamingo, north on Decatur, west on Sahara).

GDIW

I can highly recommend two places for your consideration.

Marc's Restaurant has an elegant atmosphere and excellent food. The service is top notch. Ask for Christian to be your waiter. They have a room specifically for small business groups. The table holds about 16 if I recall correctly. This link takes you to a page that shows the regular dining room and private dining room. They serve steaks and Italian dishes.
http://www.marcsrestaurant.com/banquets.html

Another place that I have hosted several small groups, is Carluccio's Tivoli Gardens. This restaurant is right next door to the Liberace museum and if timed right, dinner could follow a visit to the museum. The food is Italian and fairly inexpensive. Very large servings and everyone I have taken there has loved the food. I've used one of their rooms that holds about 25 and with a smaller group been put in an area of the restaurant that was semi-private and worked very well. If you have a larger group the Piano room would be used that contains one of Liberace's piano's and is decorated flamboyantly with the piano keyboard theme and gold chandeliers. The main part of the restaurant is divided into smaller rooms so that it has a cozy family feeling. http://lvrg.com/las_vegas_restaurant_menu.asp?id=84903

There are many many great local restaurants in town. I am glad you are planning to stay out of the casino's for some of your meals to enjoy the rest of the city.

Dr_wanderlust

I am not talking about strip traffic, just garden variety commuter traffic dinner time on Flamingo to Decatur.

TravelScholar

Get your mind out of the gutter!

I'm wondering if anyone has reccomendations for the best tasting, least expensive, all you can eat crab legs in Vegas? Where should we go??

BTW, although crab is still good cold, I prefer my crab legs to be warm.

GDIW

I just had warm crab legs this morning at the Green Valley Ranch Sunday Brunch buffet. All you can eat and very good. They also had cold legs.

Great Buffet for about $18.00 each.

mbstone

Almost Any Hotel Buffet. Especially: The Seafood Buffet @ Rio; The Buffet @ Wynn.

FTraveler

As far as best tasting is concerned, late last year we were at the Rio and had dinner at Buzio's. The Alaskan King Crab legs were listed as "market price." We were on a full comp so we didn't ask the actual price. Ordered two pounds - all prime center cut legs, no claws, joints or pointed ends. The sweetest, most succulent legs I've ever tasted. When the check came, we found out what market price meant - $55 per pound - so $110.

bigguyinpasadena

That is not too far off what I bay for them retail-$42 a pound for premium centers-huge legs no claws/no small legs.
BTW Wynn Buffet has the best crab legs I have had at a las vegas buffet.