It is done.

Not the writing, but the eating.

The writing and researching are in their final stages.

Sometime in the next 10 days all of the reviews will be completed.

Sometime in September, all the editing and re-writing will be finished.

If you follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, you’ve seen the ground I’ve been covering.*

Even my porn star stamina has been tested; at some point, even my resolve and passion weakened.

Dozens of restaurants (actually, close to 90) have been eaten in, some for the first time, many for the tenth. All have been scoured over the past 6 months for what’s current and delicious (or not so) in them these days.

The new title will be EATING LAS VEGAS – The 52 Essential Restaurants. Many of these will get their own pages in the book; most will not. Some are being kicked to the curb because they’ve failed to sustain whatever excellence they might’ve once had; others are newcomers so good they’ve knocked established brands off their perch at the top of the Las Vegas dining scene.

A few are so terrible that the only mention they will ever get from me is on this list.

To find out which is which, and where these all rank in our pantheon of palate pleasing purveyors, you’ll have to buy the book.

But you already knew that.

THE LIST:

Origin India

Restaurant Guy Savoy

Bazaar Meat

Bardot Brasserie

El Sombrero

Andre’s Bistro & Bar

Urban Turban

Meraki Greek Grill (I like this place, and admire its owners, but I wish they didn’t serve that cheap-ass gyro meat.)

Yui Edomae Sushi

Kabuto

Yuzu Kaiseki

SW Steakhouse (The most expensive steak you’ll ever not enjoy.)

JinJu Chocolate  (Weird location, good chocolate. How do they stay in business?)

Italian-American Club (For blue hairs only; don’t bother.)

Starboard Tack

Delices Gourmands French Bakery & Cafe

Chengdu Taste

Marche Bacchus

Spago

The Kitchen at Atomic Liquors

Americana (Jinxed location; don’t hold your breath waiting for this place to be a success.)

Cleo

Le Cirque

Chada Thai

Yuxiang Korean Chinese Cuisine

Niu-Gu Chinese Noodles

Morel’s Steakhouse

Carbone

Settebello

Twist by Pierre Gagnaire

Lawry’s The Prime Rib

Estiatorio Milos

Andiron Steak & Sea

eat.

Two Bald Brothers (Should be re-named “Two Bland Brothers.”)

Hiroyoshi

Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

Jaleo

Rosallie Le French Cafe

Nakamura-Ya

Pearl Ocean

Pinkbox Donuts

Japaneiro

Khoury’s Mediterranean Cuisine

Le Pho

Cornish Pasty Co. (Our advice: split a pasty with a friend, unless you’re an NFL tackle.)

Sparrow + Wolf

Ocha Thai

Boteco

Eatt

Chica

Blue Ribbon

Sin City Smokers

Momofuku  (David Chang hates me; this is a good thing.)

Joël Robuchon

B&B Ristorante

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon

Sage

Salud Mexican Bistro

Elia Authentic Greek Taverna

Capriotti’s

Arawan Thai

Chinese Gourmet

The Goodwich

Jean Georges Steakhouse

Prime

India Curry House

Picasso

Kkulmat Korean Kitchen

Huevos Tacos (Who thought this concept would work here? Whoever they are, they’re seriously mistaken.)

Raku

CUT

Allegro

Vesta Coffee

Michael Mina

8 Oz Korean Steakhouse

Carson Kitchen

Evel Pie

Anna Marie’s Italian Cuisine (Proceed at your own risk.)

Komex Kitchen (I’ve never understood the popularity of this place, but the service is fast and friendly.)

Yonaka

B&B Burgers & Beer (Closing soon; get that “drive-thru burger” while you still can.)

Fat Choy

McCormick & Schmick’s

Shang Artisan Noodle

Udon Monzo

Lotus of Siam

Piero’s (Doesn’t give a fuck what I think about it, and what I think is that it’s the worst, most overpriced Italian in town.)

There you have it: four solid months of intense eating, digesting, note-taking, fretting and analyzing. Not sure how many more of these books I have in me, but my heart and soul is going into the 6th edition. The only person I’m arguing with these days is myself, and for this version, there’s no one I’d rather joust with.

* You find someone who eats in as many restaurants as I do, and I’ll show you a fat man, a fool, or both. Wait, what?

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