In my humble opinion, the top two of the seven deadly sins are gluttony and sloth. Two great things about living in Las Vegas are that we will never run out of incredible restaurants, and we will never have to travel to visit friends or relatives because sooner or later, they will come to us. It's hard to get excited about a trip to see Auntie Norma in Duluth when you know she'll be coming for the crochet convention anyways.
But convenience comes at a price. When your loved ones hit town, they'll be thinking of you as an expert in all things Vegas, and that includes probing you to find the best places to eat. If you're anything like me, you'll use this opportunity to try a new restaurant and make your friends pay. Just kidding.
Think of the visit as an opportunity to shine. Play concierge. Use your vast knowledge to pick the perfect spot for your tourists, and if your knowledge isn't all that vast then it's time to do some research -- not on your city, but on your guests.
"Where's the best place to eat in Las Vegas?" If this is what your pals are asking then you truly have your work cut out. That's like strolling into a casino and asking the first fellow with a name tag if there's a good place to deposit your paycheck. Asking a few simple questions of your visitors will narrow down thousands of options.
What are you in the mood for? Depending on how often your friends come to town, they may not be aware that the days of buffets are over. Sure, they can pile food into their faces for a minimal fee, but nearly every kind of cuisine is now available here. Find out what they've been craving, because odds are you can find it for them. If they want to go the exotic route, offer a taste of Jamaican food at Tasty Island (6830 W. Flamingo Road), where you can stuff your friends with spicy jerk chicken and goat curry.
How much do you want to spend? Friends don't let friends get stuck with a bill they weren't ready for. Everyone should expect to spend more when dining on the Strip, but we all have those neighborhood favorites we couldn't live without. Why not let them in on your best-kept dining secret? It might be a place like Marche Bacchus, (2620 Regatta Drive) a quiet, authentic French bistro hidden in Desert Shores.
When I go on vacation, I try not to move around a lot. Sloth, remember? Maybe your guests had a long day roaming the Strip and they don't realize their hotel has some great dining options. Circus Circus (2800 Las Vegas Blvd. South) is far from a hot spot, but its classic Steak House still serves up some of the best flame-broiled steaks in town.
Do you just want to go out to eat, or do you really want to go out to eat? Las Vegas is, without question, one of the finest dining cities in the world. No matter where your visitors call home, odds are we've got that place beat, food for food. So show off a little. Let them sample the works of award-winning chefs at Fleur de Lys (Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South) or Alex (Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South).
Do they want to have a relaxing meal? Then don't recommend a place with a club atmosphere like Mandalay Bay's rumjungle. You won't be able to carry on a conversation. Do they want to mingle with celebrities? Easily done at The Venetian's Tao (3555 Las Vegas Blvd. South), with an advance reservation. Do they want to go all the way, checkbook-be-damned? Again, reservations are a must at a bank-buster like Mix (the $14 million spot atop Mandalay Bay), but it might be worth it for a dining experience your out-of-towners will rave about.
Brock Radke's food column appears twice monthly. Contact him at bradke@viewnews.com.
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