Las Vegas Restaurants

New York City's Stage Deli -- a legendary hangout for comedians, athletes, and politicians -- has been slapping pastrami on rye for more than half a century. Its Las Vegas branch retains the Stage's brightly lit Big Apple essence. Walls are embellished with subway graffiti and hung with Broadway theater posters, bowls of pickles grace the white Formica tables, and, in the New York tradition, comics and celebrities drop by whenever they're in town.

The deli is often not crowded. In addition to being handy for Caesars guests, it's easy to pop over if you're staying at The Mirage, making it a satisfying breakfast alternative to the often-overcrowded, overpriced, and not very good hotel breakfast joints in the area. The huge (we mean it) menu means it's easy to find something for even the pickiest of eaters.

Most of the fare -- including fresh-baked pumpernickel and rye, meats, chewy bagels, lox, spicy deli mustard, and pickles -- comes in daily from New York. The Stage dishes up authentic 5-inch-high sandwiches stuffed with pastrami, corned beef, brisket, or chopped liver. Maybe "overstuffed" is a better description. Unless you have a hearty appetite, are feeding two, or have a fridge in your room for leftovers, you might want to try the half-sandwich and soup or salad combos. Other specialties here include matzo-ball soup, knishes, kasha varnishkes, cheese blintzes, kreplach, pirogen, and smoked-fish platters accompanied by bagels and cream cheese. Or you might prefer a full meal consisting of pot roast and gravy, salad, homemade dinner rolls, potato pancakes, and fresh vegetables. Desserts run the gamut from rugelach cheesecake to Hungarian-style apple strudel, and available beverages include wine and beer, milkshakes, Dr. Brown's sodas, and chocolate egg creams.

- Frommer's