Downtown Hotel
Readers' Pick:GOLDEN NUGGET
129 Fremont St.
Downtown is on the comeback trail with increasing crowds courtesy of the Fremont Street Experience, and readers still consider the Golden Nugget as the gem of the revitalized area. Maybe it's the bread pudding served in the buffet from a recipe passed along by resort chief Steve Wynn's mom. Either way, it's four wins in a row for the Nugget with the Lady Luck edging out the Four Queens for second place.
Our Pick:
MAIN STREET STATION
200 N. Main St.
The Boyd Group bailed out this deserted property after a financial "Snow" storm, and the new owners' familiarity with the downtown market has been a blessing. The place is faring well, the elaborate Victorian theme is warm and inviting, and the food and service have prompted some R-J staffers to consider nearby Main Street as part of their beats.
Locals Hotel
Readers' Pick:THE ORLEANS
4500 W. Tropicana Ave.
We still can't figure out what a country show is doing in the Gaughan family's otherwise well-executed tribute to the Crescent City. No matter. Readers like this newfangled take on Gold Coast hospitality, naming The Orleans No. 1 in its first year of eligibility. Arizona Charlie's finished second while last year's winner, the just-revamped Rio, slipped to third.
Our Pick:
BOULDER STATION
4111 Boulder Highway
The Boulder Strip has been booming and Boulder Station is our pick for one-stop casino entertainment. The obvious lure -- could it be gaming? -- can actually take a back seat to good-value dining and a fine first-run movie complex. There's even a place to park the kids when the siren song of the tables beckons.
Strip Hotel
Readers' Pick:NEW YORK-NEW YORK
3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South
No surprise here. Locals jammed the quirky newcomer when it opened in January and there's seemingly been no letup. Pretty hard to resist the fanciful architecture and art deco decor, not forgetting the vicious Manhattan Express roller coaster that encircles this welcome addition to the Strip. No plans to implode this structure, at least for a while. Harrah's Las Vegas finished second.
Our Pick:
MGM GRAND HOTEL
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
We probably shouldn't talk of a "comeback" for a property built this decade, but the big green machine has really found its footing after a sluggish start. There's plenty of top-name entertainment in the showroom, comedy club and MGM Grand Garden arena, and far braver souls can test their nerves on the aptly named SkyScreamer in the adjacent theme park. Great dining options as well.
Arcade
Readers' Pick:BOULDER STATION
4111 Boulder Highway
The quarter machines here always pay off. The Boulder Station arcade has the latest in game-playing wizardry, making it a new winner in this leisurely category. Last year's winner the Luxor finished second with token-carrying readers.
Our Pick:
NEW YORK-NEW YORK
3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South
We don't even mind getting lost in this confusing, multiroomed arcade done up to resemble a (much cleaner and safer) version of New York City's famed Coney Island. All the new stuff is here and sharper-eyed traditionalists can find a few old-style pinball machines in this spacious, state-of-the-art arcade.
Architecture
Readers' Pick:NEW YORK-NEW YORK
3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South
The cool, cartoonish skyline facade of the Strip's newest arrival has quickly found a place in the hearts of readers weary of seeing yet another boring X- or Y-shaped monolith taking up space in the desert. NY-NY's offbeat construction scheme proves there's still room for creativity in this category. Nothing else came close, but the Excalibur finished a distant second.
Our Pick:
NEW YORK-NEW YORK
We're happy to jump on the big-city bandwagon. This place is just too goofy from a structural standpoint to be anything less than inspired, and architects around the world are probably scrambling to try to top it. That's going to take some doing.
Attraction
Readers' Pick:NEW YORK-NEW YORK
3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Another easy win for Vegas' version of the Big Apple as readers swept it to victory by almost a 2-to-1 margin over the closest competitor, the fun-loving dolphins at The Mirage. Past winners Treasure Island's pirate battle and The Mirage's volcano finished well out of the money.
Our Pick:
STRATOSPHERE TOWER
2000 Las Vegas Blvd. South
OK, so NY-NY is great. We'll buy that. However, if visitors want to see everything at once -- trust us, they leave quicker that way -- we ship them off to the Stratosphere for an ear-popping elevator ride to the top of this 1,149-foot needle -- sort of our Empire State Building. And yes, the views of the Las Vegas Valley and beyond are remarkable.
Outdoor Sign
Readers Pick:RIO
3700 W. Flamingo Road
The expanding Rio is putting up a new outdoor sign that may be even more impressive than the flashy existing one that keeps dominating this category every year. And once again, the skeletal pirate skull display at Treasure Island finished a distant second.
Our Pick:
HACIENDA VAQUERO
Fremont Street Experience
Downtown Las Vegas
Call us traditionalists. The old pony-riding Mexican cowboy who once galloped in frozen neon outside the recently imploded Hacienda has found a happy new trail to blaze at the east end of the Fremont Street Experience. May he ride forever.
Production Show
Readers' Pick:'EFX'
MGM Grand Hotel
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
This $50 million dud that debuted in 1994 with Michael Crawford in the starring role has jumped to life thanks to new music, a more clear-cut plot and the arrival of new leading man David Cassidy late last year. Readers have taken note of the major improvements, voting it an easy No. 1 over low-tech rivals "Bottoms Up" and "Crazy Girls," obviously the beneficiary of stuffing campaigns.
Our Pick:
'EFX'
There's finally something to hang onto besides the still-rousing special effects. This formerly chilly and undecipherable affair is now an understandable and impressive blend of human and high-tech elements. It's finally living up to its $70 ticket charge.
All-Around Performer
Readers' Pick:DAVID CASSIDY
MGM Grand Hotel
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
The former teeny-bopper hero is now a mature, Broadway-honed man in his early 40s who still knows how to get attention. His strong voice and solid acting skills earned him the readers' nod by an easy margin over comic Sinbad who dropped into town for all of one week in 1996. Debbie Reynolds finished third.
Our Pick:
DANNY GANS
RIO
3700 W. Flamingo Road
The "Man of Many Voices" is redefining the role of impressionist as the featured attraction at the Rio. Gans doesn't just do voices -- he actually becomes such diverse talents as Ella Fitzgerald and George Burns in his tour de force shows. He's got the whole package.
Singer
Readers' Pick:KRISTINE W (AND THE STING)
Las Vegas Hilton
3000 Paradise Road
Kristine W (for Weitz) has been knocking 'em dead in the lounges for years and she's finally become a name outside of Las Vegas by way of a couple of recent dance-club hits. She was an easy readers' pick over runner-up Chris Isaak who wowed Hard Rock Hotel crowds. We won't guarantee that a stuffing campaign didn't help the singer win this spot.
Our Pick:
TOM JONES
MGM Grand Hotel
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
We liked the "old" Tom Jones well enough, but the updated version is even bigger and badder than before. Instead of wasting time with excessive bumps and grinds, the dignified Welshman is challenging himself with great songs by the likes of George Jones and Otis Redding. His powerful baritone is more than up to the task, and his stately renditions of his own hits makes for a well-rounded and most enjoyable showroom visit.
Comedian
Readers' Pick:SINBAD
Boy, he must have been really impressive when he played the Tropicana only once last year, followed by a New Year's Eve TV special that he hosted on the Strip. The easygoing Sinbad outdistanced the more aggressive comedy of Las Vegas regular George Carlin, but we're slightly baffled about the third-place finisher -- none other than the late, great George Burns.
Our Pick:
JEFF DUNHAM
Ventriloquist Dunham and his collection of "woozles" spiced up the forever-remodeling Sahara with hilarious shows that contrasted cuteness with some surprisingly coarse comments from his puppet cohorts. Dunham's deft work and ability to get away with murder makes him our selection in a tough category.
Magician
Readers' Pick:PENN & TELLER
Bally's
3645 Las Vegas Blvd. South
This unusual duo -- one never speaks, the other one never shuts up -- is apparently a welcome breath of cynical air to readers who have grown a tad tired of the town's more traditional-minded magicians. These guys are the anti-illusionists, taking little seriously except their ability to entertain in most unusual ways. Nick Lewin, the engaging British-born afternoon fixture at the Maxim, moved into second place ahead of the guys who launched Las Vegas' magic boom -- Mr. Siegfried and Mr. Roy.
Our Pick:
JEFF McBRIDE
Caesars Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Yes, we realize you may not have heard of Jeff McBride but we're hoping to change all that. A magician's magician, McBride's alluring illusions are bolstered by moody lighting and mystical overtones that are nothing short of riveting. He's been away from Las Vegas for almost a decade, studying shamanism among other things, and his resulting New-Age act seems light years ahead of the pack. See him when he drops into Caesars Magical Empire on a regular basis and you'll be as thrilled about him as we are.
Lounge Performer
Readers' Pick:LOVESHACK
What the Boogie Knights are to the 1970s, Loveshack is to the '80s with campy and costumed sing-to-tape tributes to that era's musical memories. It's silly, disposable instant nostalgia and this year's winner among readers who presented Cork Proctor's "Deja Blues" band with second-place honors. The lounge scene lives on.
Our Pick:
KRISTINE W
Las Vegas Hilton
3000 Paradise Road
The divine Ms. W calls the Las Vegas Hilton's lounge home when she's not out touring in support of her commercially successful dance-club hits. She has a great band, deadly female backup singers-dancers and the ability to rock the house -- every time.
Dancers
Readers' Pick:CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
Treasure Island
3300 Las Vegas Blvd. South
The body-suited cast of "Mystere" couldn't be bothered with the ol' "kick left-two-three-four, kick right-two-three-four." And that suits readers just fine. The dancers' unusual and stylized movements displayed amid the gymnastic wonders of this animal-free circus vaulted them into first place ahead of the defunct "Copacabana" show and third-place finishing "EFX." Now, can someone tell us what this wondrous show is all about?
Our Pick:
'EFX'
MGM Grand Hotel
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
It's easy to get lost in the shuffle in this grandiose, effects-laden production, but the "EFX" dance cast still manages to shine through all the gimmickry and sometimes plain weird costuming. What really sold us was the ensemble's sprightly Irish jig, which is arguably the strongest dance segment on the Strip. This troupe is tops.
Showgirls
Readers' Pick:CRAZY GIRLS
Riviera
2901 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Obviously, costuming didn't come into play in this category. The jiggling "Crazy Girls" don't wear much as they parade about revealing what appears to be the work of a plastic surgeon who gives group rates. We just wonder if anyone bothered to look at their leaden footwork. Whatever. The CGs outpolled the nonexistent "showgirls" in "EFX" and the classy girls in the Stardust's "Enter the Night."
Our Pick:
'JUBILEE!'
Bally's
3645 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Somewhere Donn Arden is smiling. The late producer who created this Las Vegas spectacular 15 years ago believed that bare-breasted beauties would translate into ticket sales. Good call. The venerable show remains a work in progress with ongoing updates and a renewed accent on the allure of the female form. Result: continued crowds and another "Best o' Vegas" for the lovely lasses who manage to strut their stuff with dignity and grace.
Lounge
Readers' Pick:THE ORLEANS
4500 W. Tropicana Ave.
That was quick. Readers who enjoy an evening away from the crunch of tourists wasted no time in giving the newly arrived Orleans its first award in this category. Blues and even an occasional zydeco band give this lounge an air of New Orleans' authenticity that helped boost it above free-music outlets at the MGM Grand Hotel and Luxor.
Our Pick:
RAILHEAD SALOON
Boulder Station
4111 Boulder Highway
This locals-oriented lounge is a repeat winner with us despite a problem with noise leaking through the curtains that separate it from the casino floor. However, the prices are right and the entertainment lineup of mostly one-nighters has ranged from jazzman Chick Corea to Italian crooner Jerry Vale. And on Wednesday nights there's a resident improvisational comedy troupe (Mutiny) on hand to take away our midweek blues at no charge.
Showroom
Readers' Pick:LAS VEGAS HILTON
3000 Paradise Road
The home of "Starlight Express" -- not forgetting the occasional headliner -- has been modified for the roller-skating cast with ramps and raceways that almost encircle the audience. The room's singular look apparently caught the eyes of voters who named it their favorite in close voting over the more traditional showroom at The Mirage and the well-rounded room at the Rio.
Our Pick:
MONTE CARLO
3770 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Magician Lance Burton's theatrical home at the Monte Carlo is one fancy place, managing to look both old and new at the same time by virtue of its posh Victorian stylings. There's not a bad seat in the house and, even better, the theater-style seats have drink rests and actually face the stage, thus eliminating trips to the chiropractor after a night of craning our necks at jammed "in-line" tables that give better views of showroom walls. Consumer comfort is no longer a passing trend.
Comedy Club
Readers' Pick:THE IMPROV
Harrah's Las Vegas
3485 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Readers had plenty to choose from here with five comedy clubs serving up laughs on a nightly basis. The Improv is a hot little room that touring comics enjoy playing and its consistent lineups haven't hurt any. After finishing second last year, Bud Friedman's happy joint prevailed over the Riviera's Comedy Club and the distant-third-place-finish- ing Carolee's Comedy Club out yonder at Buffalo Bill's at Primm.
Our Pick:
RIVIERA COMEDY CLUB
Riviera
2901 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Three comics -- one microphone. While the Riviera's cozy comedy club mostly follows that tried-and-true formula, it also has been breaking away from the format with unusual themed comedy nights featuring trios of gay comics or over-30 females with attitude. We also enjoy the late-night "XXXtreme" shows when the mood arrives for unflinching comedy that highlights the limitations of watching jokemeisters being coy on television.
Paycheck Cashing
Readers' Pick:BOOMTOWN
3333 Blue Diamond Road
Cash a check and win a cruise to Mexico, or perhaps a one-month, six-month or one-year subscription to Prime Cable. Good prizes -- and that's what it's all about, isn't it? -- prompted voters to give Boomtown the nod over the Gold Coast and Palace Station. Word is the paycheck prize program at Boomtown will be changing soon but will continue to offer goodies worth the trip.
Our Pick:
SANTA FE
4949 N. Rancho Drive
Now, we don't want to sound whiny or anything, but we're just not that impressed with cashing our mileage checks and ending up with only a drink for our labors. Or nothing at some locales. The Santa Fe rewards a paycheck stop with match- and table-play coupons and they have plenty of bigger prizes to shoot for as well.
Hotel Shop
Readers' Pick:FORUM SHOPS AT CAESARS
3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Ho-hum. Another easy win for the Roman-styled shopping mall with the day-to-night sky ceiling, fountain shows, upscale shops and unparalleled people watching. While most readers continue to avoid choosing a specific resort outlet, the only real question is who finishes second. This year's distant runner-up is the Hard Rock Hotel's groovy souvenir shop.
Our Pick:
LUXOR
3900 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Authentic Egyptian artifacts share counter space with unusual modern stuff that goes well beyond "My parents went to lose my college scholarship fund inside a big black pyramid and all I got was this lousy T-shirt." This nicely appointed shop hardly feels like a Las Vegas junk outlet, so make sure to budget accordingly. We figure there are plenty of places left to purchase that dice clock or snow globe.
Hotel Lobby
Readers' Pick:THE MIRAGE
3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South
The cast of "Gilligan's Island" would feel right at home at this tropical-themed check-in space dominated by an aquarium that runs along the entire back wall. Watching the big fish chase the little fish apparently takes some of the stress out of waiting for a room to come to the rescue, and readers again tabbed this lobby as their favorite. The Luxor finished second with locals' fave Palace Station taking third.
Our Pick:
MAIN STREET STATION
200 N. Main St.
The turn-of-the-century elegance of this downtown property is perhaps best exemplified by the old-fashioned lobby that features a massive, carved-wood check-in desk, potted plants and comfortable chairs when there's a wait. And instead of one of those plastic credit cards you get a real door key that can be left behind in its own slot behind the desk. What a concept.
Hotel Pool
Readers' Pick:HARD ROCK HOTEL
4455 Paradise Road
The only place in town where you can sing underwater. At least briefly. The Hard Rock's pool has speakers below the water line to go along with a sandy beach area and expensive cabanas for a day in the sun. Thus voters now choose this place to sneak into, passing last year's winner, the Tropicana.
Our Pick:
MONTE CARLO
3770 Las Vegas Blvd. South
We prefer to sneak into the Monte Carlo's pool area where the days of one big noisy splash center have given way to a series of connected smaller pools that provide a sense of privacy. Until we're again asked for our room number, of course.
Bingo
Readers' Pick:GOLD COAST
4000 W. Flamingo Road
Maybe it's the free buffet comp when you show up on your birthday or the early-morning breakfast specials. Bingo bunnies voted the Gold Coast to its second win in three years, besting the second-place Mirage and just-arrived Orleans.
Our Pick:
TEXAS STATION
2101 Texas Star Lane
We know the game's the same no matter where you play, but the Western-styled comfort at Texas Station keeps us coming back for that elusive win. And all we need is one more number!
Blackjack Tables
Readers' Pick:HARD ROCK HOTEL
4455 Paradise Road
Our rockin' readers would rather lose their money here than anywhere else, perhaps figuring that hit music softens the blow of that bad hit on 16. The cool and colorful felt tables with rock lyrics printed on them for inspiration lend further inspiration. Doubling-down at Caesars is their runner-up pick with the Las Vegas Hilton coming in third.
Our Pick:
HARD ROCK HOTEL
We still mourn Jimi Hendrix's departure, especially when his face is on a $25 chip that's moving in the house's direction. But the good vibes and small-casino feel keeps us coming back for another chance at making enough filthy lucre to buy that Fender guitar we've always cherished.
Keno
Readers' Pick:BOULDER STATION
4111 Boulder Highway
Only a couple of votes separated Boulder Station from last year's winner, Palace Station, in a category that generates scant reader interest. Is the house edge of up to 30 percent taking some of the interest away from this long-shot numbers game?
Our Pick:
GOLD COAST
4000 W. Flamingo Ave.
We're fans of the ongoing $5 progressive that, when it gets high enough, reaches a statistical break-even point that makes it well worth a shot at $250,000 or more. In simpler terms, the GC charges less than elsewhere for the same ticket because of better percentage payouts. Got that?
Poker Room
Readers' Pick:BINION'S HORSESHOE
128 Fremont St.
Ghosts of players past haunt this vintage poker room where a big fat cigar and double shot of scotch beats a sit-down dinner if not a pair of kings. By a large margin, readers would rather ante up here than anywhere else with the Las Vegas Hilton's room finishing second ahead of the MGM Grand Hotel's.
Our Pick:
THE MIRAGE
3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Although Texas Station is beginning to kick up its heels, The Mirage and Gold Coast have been dominating the poker room scene. The Mirage may be crowded with card specialists but that means a better chance of finding a game we like -- something with a low limit, of course.
Best-Paying Slots
Readers' Pick:SANTA FE
4949 N. Rancho Drive
Perception and word-of-mouth is always important in this crucial category, and folks who heard about good slots luck at the Santa Fe made sure we knew about it. The Santa Fe outpolled the Showboat while Binion's Horseshoe, Sahara and Gold Coast ended up in a rare triple-tie for third to finish in the money.
Our Pick:
FIESTA
2400 N. Rancho Drive
You can't beat the 98 percent payback on dollar slots at the Stratosphere, but we can't handle the pressure of such high stakes. So we'll cast our coins into the Fiesta's machines because of their new marketing campaign that says they are looser than ever. OK, so maybe we're gullible, but we couldn't resist the radio jingle cover of the Commodore's "Brick House" -- it's a "slot house ... owww."
Sports Book
Readers' Pick:MGM GRAND HOTEL
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
This betting parlor is big enough to run its own horse races and is home to serious pony players who can eye the giant screens without binoculars. A large, elevated seating area has a central bar and tables to enjoy sandwiches from the nearby Stage Deli, and readers apparently didn't mind the smaller screens and slightly cramped quarters in the ballgames area. The book at Boulder Station came in second while the recently remodeled book at Bally's came in third.
Our Pick:
CAESARS PALACE
3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South
It's not just the dark, retro feel or the blinking reader board that looks like something developed by NASA. No, what draws us to Caesars is that we sometimes find betting odds that are at odds with competitors. Of course, how you bet them is another matter. This place marches to its own drummer, and we've found particularly enticing numbers for prize fights and proposition bets.
Video Poker
Readers' Pick:SHOWBOAT
2800 Fremont St.
We talked to a local video-poker expert who seemed baffled by this pick. But what do the experts know? Readers tabbed the Showboat for video poker by a wide margin with Boulder Station finishing second and Texas Station taking third.
Our Pick:
FIESTA
2400 N. Rancho Drive
They aren't calling this place the "Royal Flush Capital of the World" for no reason. This popular spot has produced plenty of big winners and the cooperative casino types will even give you lessons on how to improve your play.
Slot Club
Readers' Pick:FIESTA
2400 N. Rancho Drive
Discerning Las Vegas who are into slot clubs tend to shop around for their favorite membership deals. The Fiesta takes over in this hotly contested category, narrowly beating the nearby Santa Fe, with the downtown Golden Nugget finishing third.
Our Pick:
TREASURE ISLAND
3300 Las Vegas Blvd. South
It's all about getting freebies, isn't it? We like the slot club here well enough to brave the Strip because the better quality of the "free" goods for participating members. The criteria to join has been loosened lately -- yes, now even we qualify -- and when our luck is running low, the resort's fine restaurants give us energy for a comeback.
Football Contest
Readers' Pick:PALACE STATION
2411 W. Sahara Ave.
This perennial fall favorite draws hordes of locals who pony up $25 a season for weekly cash prizes and the chance to win a new house among other bigger-than-average prizes. Palace Station continues to dominate this category with the Santa Fe well back in second and Binion's Horseshoe grabbing third place.
Our Pick:
SAM'S TOWN
5111 Boulder Highway
More good prizes and an easy reason for our selection: you play for free!
Asian Restaurant
Readers' Pick:MIZUNO'S-TEPPAN DINING
Tropicana
3801 Las Vegas Blvd.
South
This venerable Japanese outlet is traditional all the way, from the hanging banners at the entrance to the kimono-wearing female staff members. Teppan meals with flying knives in front of your face apparently keep the energy level up with readers who chose Mizuno's over the Riviera's Rikshaw in a close vote. The pricey Moongate at The Mirage finished third.
Our Pick:
CHIN'S
Arizona Charlie's
740 S. Decatur Blvd.
A repeat win for cordial Tola Chin and his upscale (but worth it) Chinese dishes such as strawberry chicken and a tossed chicken salad that always hits the mark. The Chin's at Fashion Show mall features modern design while his first resort store at Charlie's allows the owning Becker family to show off their striking collection of imported Chinese artifacts in a more traditional setting.
Buffet
Readers' Pick:MANHATTAN BUFFET
Luxor
3900 Las Vegas Blvd. South
The Rio's lock on this category is no more as voters opted for the spacious buffet at the Luxor. What makes this place out of the ordinary is the intriguing views of the inside of the pyramid, and separate dining areas decrease the feeding-trough feel. The Rio's popular Carnival World Buffet placed second while Arizona Charlie's jumped into the third-place money.
Our Pick:
MAIN STREET STATION
200 N. Main St.
It gets pretty crowded on two-for-one coupon days, but Main Street's all-you-can-eat affair is a winner. Inlaid mosaic tile floors, elaborate floral displays and live entertainment liven up the experience and the food served at the themed cooking stations is first-rate. We'll be back.
Coffee Shop
Readers' Pick:THE ORLEANS
4500 W. Tropicana Ave.
This place is sure winning a lot of awards for only being open a few months, but its customers are surely a dedicated lot. The ongoing specials, especially the low-budget Chinese menu, is a big lure that pushed this newcomer into first in front of the Frontier and Palace Station.
Our Pick:
GOLDEN NUGGET
129 Fremont St.
This is a nice alternative to the still-existent generic hotel coffee shops thanks to better-than-average decor and open views of the resort's central promenade. Good people watching, and while it costs a bit more, we're never disappointed.
Gourmet Room
Readers' Pick:TOP OF THE WORLD
Stratosphere Tower
2000 Las Vegas Blvd. South
The views are wonderful from this rotating restaurant atop the Stratosphere Tower where the pricey food is ... the views are wonderful. The Binion's Ranch Steakhouse finished second ahead of the weird but wonderful Roman-themed repasts at the well-named Bacchanal Room at Caesars Palace.
Our Pick:
GATSBY'S
MGM Grand Hotel
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Charlie Trotter's didn't work in this strikingly designed restaurant, so MGM Grand Hotel officials decided to do it themselves. They added a beautiful new entryway and continue to serve gourmet-quality meals minus the Charlie Trotter's attitude that always made us uncomfortable.
Italian
Readers' Pick:ANTONIO'S RISTORANTE
Rio
3700 W. Flamingo Road
The new Masquerade Village has added five new restaurants but readers haven't forgotten Antonio's, a restaurant that looks gourmet but serves quality Italian cuisine at surprisingly reasonable prices. Great for a date. It finished an easy first with Bertolini's at the Forum Shops at Caesars taking second ahead of classy-named Lance-A-Lotta Pasta at the Excalibur.
Our Pick:
IL FORNAIO
New York-New York
3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Seems we have an occasional weakness for newcomers, especially when they arrive from San Francisco with a solid pedigree for Italian food in a city that knows how. The attractive restaurant's main dining room is good enough, but we like to sit on the patio that's separated from the casino floor flow of traffic by a tree-covered pond. And there's a nearby Il Fornaio bakery for takeout breads and goodies.
Mexican
Readers' Pick:COYOTE CAFE
MGM Grand Hotel
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
You won't find tacos or burritos on chef Mark Miller's mainly Southwestern cuisine menu that ranges from spring rolls to tortilla soup with plenty of unusual stops in between. More traditional Papagayos inside the Tropicana received one more vote than the popular Guadalajara Bar & Grille at Palace Station.
Our Pick:
GARDUNO'S
Fiesta
2400 N. Rancho Drive
We've been waiting too long for the real thing, and the Garduno family's arrival from Albuquerque, N.M., has made our dreams come true. They use real Hatch chilies -- bags available for at-home salsa experiments -- and aren't afraid to put a spicy bite into their dishes. That explains the fried-bread sopapillas and honey on each table to help soothe burning taste buds. There's often a wait, especially for the popular Sunday margarita brunch, but the payoff is worth it -- until the next morning.
Steakhouse
Readers' Pick:KODIAK LODGE
Santa Fe
4949 N. Rancho Drive
The rustic, Alaskan hunting-lodge decor of the Kodiak appeals to voters along with the warm eatery's popular prime rib specials. Good value always is a factor in this division where old-style House of Lords at the Sahara finished second. The Stockyard Steakhouse at Texas Station and Cassidy's at Fitzgerald's knotted for third place in this annual readers "sweepsteaks."
Our Pick:
THE STEAKHOUSE
Circus Circus
2880 Las Vegas Blvd. South
For more than a decade, The Steakhouse at Circus Circus has been a big draw with locals (us included) who enjoy good quality steaks in a tony atmosphere. No $1.99 deals here but this is the place we go when we want to impress without going broke. The $24.95 Sunday brunch (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) stocked with plenty of seafood is one of the city's best.
Seafood
Readers' Pick:SACRED SEA
Luxor
3900 Las Vegas Blvd. South
This colorful room looks like a cross between a museum and a movie set used for a ride-down-the-Nile scene in "Cleopatra." The slightly pricey fresh seafood enhances the unusual experience and readers chose the Sacred Sea by a 2-to-1 margin over the Galveston Bay at Texas Station. Upgraded Nero's at Caesars Palace placed third.
Our Pick:
EMERIL LAGASSE'S NEW ORLEANS FISH HOUSE
MGM Grand Hotel
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
No, this isn't a case of culinary hype. Chef Emeril Lagasse's Las Vegas version of his famed restaurant in New Orleans is every bit as good as we heard it was. It does cost about $40 a person, but Lagasse's creative ways with seafood help explain why Emeril's finished ahead of Andre's and Michael's in the first Zagat Survey of Las Vegas restaurants. It's our place for a special-occasion meal and there's a great oyster bar for quicker bites.
Shrimp Cocktail
Readers' Pick:THE ORLEANS
4500 W. Tropicana Ave.
Another first-shot win for The Orleans where the Courtyard Cafe serves its shrimp cocktail special around the clock. It costs $3.95, and while that may seem high, readers assure us that there's plenty of shrimp in a parfait-style presentation that layers them on liberally. The downtown Fremont and Binion's Horseshoe drew even for second place with Texas Station a few votes back in third.
Our Pick:
GOLDEN GATE
129 Fremont St.
Shrimp ain't cheap no matter how much you buy, and we've always been happy to take advantage of the Golden Gate's largesse on the walkaway shrimp cocktail front. They're tasty, no one tries to hustle you to stick around and try your luck, and the 99-cent price tag remains a bargain that recalls the old days of Vegas.
Steak Special
Readers' Pick:EL CORTEZ
600 Fremont St.
This relic resort a few blocks from the Fremont Street Experience still has its culinary calling cards, particularly the $8.95 "Mr. Porterhouse" steak special with trimmings that has moved into first place with BOLV balloters. Steak specials at Circus Circus drew second-place votes with the Rio cruising into third.
Our Pick:
CALIFORNIA HOTEL
12 Ogden Ave.
The $12.95 price may not seem all that "special" but the porterhouse weighs in at 18 ounces and comes with all the requisite side orders plus a killer hot-apple dumpling for dessert. Another plus with us is that we don't feel like we're lining up for slaughter when we know we'll be enjoying our meat in the vintage Redwood Bar & Grille room.
Breakfast Special
Readers' Pick:HOLIDAY INN BOARDWALK
3740 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Pretty tough to beat a complete $1.29 breakfast served any time. Word about the meal deal at the remodeled Cyclone coffee shop has spread and readers made it an easy winner over the Golden Nugget and Fiesta. By the way, how many readers remember the old days when the Boardwalk's claim to fame was a 49-cent bowl of Hobo Stew?
Our Pick:
ARIZONA CHARLIE'S
740 S. Decatur Blvd.
Rain or shine, there's always a line at Charlie's 24-hour coffee shop where $2.49 fetches steak and eggs or ham and eggs any time we want. The staff really aims to please and solo diners can bypass the line and look for a seat at the huge counter.
Employee Uniforms
Readers' Pick:RIO
3700 W. Flamingo Road
Butt seriously. This casino home of the most revealing waitress costumes around continues to sweep to easy victories in this eye-catching category. No one else came close. The Mirage finished a distant second with the Luxor taking third.
Our Pick:
CAESARS PALACE
3570 Las Vegas Blvd.
South
The folks here were staging toga parties long before the frat boys in "Animal House" turned bedsheet garb into a passing party trend. The white wraps on the waitresses are short and sweet, and we always get a kick out of seeing bulky former UNLV football players wearing breast plates and leather-trimmed skirts while portraying Centurions.