Ah, the power lunch: a favorite pastime for professionals, fast eaters and basically anyone in a time crunch. But a quickie Las Vegas lunch doesn’t mean sacrificing on scenery, fun or indulgence. Case in point? The shareable antipasti menu at Giada and Spago’s green juices and flavored teas. It’s even ideal for vacationers—all the more time to spend checking out what’s new on the Strip!
Martorano’s at Paris Las Vegas Famous chef Steve Martorano looked at the success of his eponymous Martorano’s Italian restaurant location at Paris Las Vegas and saw one thing missing: lunch service. He has restaurants all around the country, but he created a specialty lunch menu just for his Paris outpost. It’s ideal for busy travelers who want phenomenal Italian food without the fuss of a stiff atmosphere. Plus it’s a few steps from the casino floor.)
The lunch menu here is the only place in the world you’ll find pizza by Martorano, a dish he said people have been asking him to create for years. He even created a fancy one for Vegas splurges: the “Platinum” with prosciutto San Daniele, arugula, cherry tomatoes and Sicilian truffle oil. Martorano has a way of making even the simplest Italian dishes—such as Caesar salad, Italian sandwiches and spaghetti with tomato sauce—absolutely out of this world. Don’t forget the truffle fries to share.
Mesa Grill at Caesars Palace Add a Southwest kick to lunch hour with the flavors of Flay. Mesa Grill is celebrity chef Bobby Flay’s original hit, and it’s been serving up the best in Southwest cuisine at Caesars Palace for more than a decade now. Our favorite thing about Mesa Grill? The authentic, rich taste of each dish and the unusual spice combinations that work so well together.
The bursts of fontina, ricotta and fried egg in the cremini mushroom quesadilla are heaven, as is the sweet red pepper sauce in the cornmeal crusted chile relleno. Being a celebrity chef staple restaurant, Mesa Grill is an ideal spot to take a power lunch date you want to impress. Seal the deal with dessert: sweet potato bread pudding or deep dish banana cream pie.
Giada at The Cromwell It’s no surprise Giada was recently named the “Best Power Lunch” spot in Vegas. Whether you’re bringing friends or co-workers to Giada, they’ll be impressed with its scenic views and Italian-meets-California dishes. The food is so good you won’t want to share, but keep in mind the bites here are designed to be tasted and distributed among the group.
To get samples of everything, choose several small plates from the antipasti menu and then order a few salads. Our picks? The sweet ricotta pizza, wood roasted mushrooms, burrata, orzo meatballs and Waldorf panzanella salad. Opt for your own entrée, but take note: both the lobster roll and lemon pesto grilled cheese are monstrous size. They large portions may leave you in a food coma, but the specialty coffee menu will perk you right up—especially the orange latte.
Spago at Caesars Palace As the very first celebrity chef concept to hit Vegas (way back in 1993!), Spago was the dining hot spot to see and be seen as the wave of prominent chefs took over the Strip. Spago’s original Beverly Hills location initiated worldwide buzz, and diners flocked to The Forum Shops outpost.
It’s still got the sizzle of opening day: numerous entertainers, celebrities, politicians, and high profile business professionals have dined there, practically making it in the power lunch hall of fame. The salads, such as the Chinese chicken, are filling enough to be an entrée, and the pastas are just the right size. The pizzas—his specialty—don’t ever disappoint. The smoked salmon pizza with caviar and crème fraiche is shareable, unique and a nice break from the usual margherita. Yummy flavored iced teas and non-alcoholic drinks, plus new pressed juices means this power lunch classic only gets better with age.
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