Las Vegas - Staying In New York New York Hotel

[jo-england]

Hi

Just wondered if anybody knows of anywhere to eat in Las Vegas, i am totally ignorant, have never been to america. Ive only just discovered america dont have to say gluten on the label, cant believe it, how the heck are you supposed to know what to eat!!? Im staying in the New York New York Hotel.

Have never been on holiday at all since being gluten free, so its slightly worrying, im going to spend the week ill or living on steak and jacket potato for breakfast!

Any suggestions very much appreciated, Thanks

Jo

[DingoGirl]

Hi there! I just went to Vegas - boy, what an interesting place....you may go into shock!

We were only there for two nights, but I never got sick. My favorite meal of all was at the French cafe at the Paris Hotel. The waiter was very knowledgeable, and the food was outstanding. Very healthy and actually seemed authentically French. Another night we ate at Trader Vik's, which is in/near Planet Hollywood Hotel - I ordered a really delicious roasted chicken.

Other than that, I brought my own Trader Joe's gluten-free granola for breakfast one day and just ordered a bowl and some milk, had an omelet another day somewhere else.

If you can, I'd suggest sticking to smaller bistros, if possible, rather than huge casino-type diners. But, that is my general practice anywhere, really.

Have fun!

[jo-england]

Hi thanks for that, really useful!

I like the way you describe las vegas as "interesting!" im preparing myself for shock then!

I also notice you say you suffered depression til you cut out processed foods, me too, ive cut out gluten obviously, but i eat alot of chemical rubbish, like 7-8 sweeteners in every cupa tea/coffee, cover all food in salt, etc, major chemical overload, do you think these things conribute to crazy brain behaviour??!

Thanks very much anyway

[Sweetfudge]

Hey! As far as vegas goes, i was just there a month ago, and had some great dining experiences.

We went to jimmy buffet's margaritaville - had a great seafood salad there.

Ate at the rainforest cafe - had a great cedar salmon. Read somewhere that their fries are safe, but when I was ordering, the chef didn't mention them. That would be something to ask I suppose.

I don't normally do buffets, but the Bellagio was wonderful. The meat chef came out and told me which meats were gluten safe, and exactly what was put on them. it was a little pricier ($30 a person), but well worth it in my opinion.

another great place was the Enoteca San Marco restaurant in the Venietian canal shops(Open Original Shared Link). They even make a gluten-free pasta, and have a few menu options that are safe. Although the servers didn't seem to knowledgable about it - the waitress took my order, then when the chef had finished it, she notcied the gluten-free note on it. I guess the meat they prepared for my dish was NOT gluten-free. So she had to cook another pot of pasta and a different meat for me. Kinda sucked having to watch everyone else eat, and having to wait for my food. But it was really good.

We also ate at our hotel every morning for breakfast, I just had an omelette (with egg whites and veggies), no toast. That worked out pretty well for me.

I think that there are a lot of people in the food service business down there who get the restricted dining on a regular basis, so I think they are a lot more accomodating. Especially the nicer restaurants, usually they can work with you on the diet. There are so many options.

Oh, here's an email I got from another forum member who is the "Vegas Expert":

Places in Vegas to eat gluten-free:

1. PF Chang's in Planet Hollywood/Aladdin Casino

2. Outback steakhouse on Las Vegas Blvd.

3. In N Out Burger (all around but one near strip is !-15 and Tropicana)

4. Samba Brazilian Steakhouse in Mirage

5. Fix at bellagio (great Ribeye and lobster mashed potatoes)

6. Burger Bar in Mandalay Bay (Burger and Salad)

7. Most Casino cafes can do eggs and hash browns in separate clean skillet for you.

8. I have had great luck at most restaurnats in Mirage Casino (as long as you give notice!)

9. Maggianos in fashion show mall has gluten-free menu

10. Capitol Grille in fasion show mall has gluten-free menu

11. Cafe Ba Ba Reeba has gluten-free options (in fashion show mall)

Anyway, I hope this helps. Good luck in Vegas. There really are some great places to eat!

Also, as far as the chemical overload you mentioned, I would say that can definitely cause behavior changes. I notice this in my husband whenever he eats ANYTHING with red food coloring. He just goes off the walls. Not even a celiac thing. You mention that everything you eat is covered in salt. Do you drink a lot of water? Just checking - salt can cause dehydration issues.

[elonwy]

Nine Fine Irishmen in NY-NY has a gluten-free menu. Call them and talk to the manager before you go in, and he will make sure you get served right. They also have Magners on tap there (gluten-free cider).

Rainforest Cafe acted like they had no idea what gluten-free was when I went there, but it was for breakfast, so maybe just that staff? They finally just brought a chef out and he whipped me up my own special breakfast.

PF Changs is always a winner, but the line is always around the block, make a reservation if you want to eat there and no stand waiting for an hour or more.

I have found with most restaurants in Las Vegas, that if you call them before hand, they are usually fine about accommodating (which is how I found out about Nine Fine Irishmen having a separate menu). I have to go there for conventions, so spend some time there, and usually find the resturant book thats in my room and start calling places until I get a good response. No place has ever not made me special food, menu or no, and I have never gotten sick. Las Vegas may be one of the easiest places to eat gluten-free, merely because they deal with so many different types of people, and its all about making people happy.

On a side note... your first visit to the US and you're going to Vegas? Just so you know, its not a good representation of our culture

[Sweetfudge]

On a side note... your first visit to the US and you're going to Vegas? Just so you know, its not a good representation of our culture

lol very true!! You going anywhere else on your visit?

[jo-england]

oh wow you are all so lovely and helpful. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

feel very reassured i can eat safely now thanks! yea first time in US, yea i appreciate its all a bit dramatised, dont worry i wont go home thinking god all those americans are mad! no more mad than myself!

No im just going to vegas, would love to go everywhere, but hey a lottery win would help first!

yes i do drink alot of fluids re. the salt thing, however i never ever touch water, groce is has no taste (obviously) i just drink 10 gallon of tea/coffee each with a handful of sweetener like i say! so not the best really! think i have no taste buds!

oh im really quite excited about going now. so glad i found this site. its really nice of you to take the time to tell me this stuff. Thanks