8 Best Restaurants in Henderson and Lake Las Vegas, Las Vegas

Anthony's is the M Resort's version of the steak house that's de rigueur in every casino. The atmosphere is sleek and sophisticated, with the feel, food, and service of a Strip spot without the steep Strip prices. Start with the Signature Oysters Rockefeller and they'll arrive on a bed of rock salt strewn with aromatics, and follow it with a dry- or wet-aged steak. During happy hour in the bar from 5 to 6 pm daily, certain appetizers are buy one, get one free.

What warms the blood more swiftly at this down-home hang: the fresh-from-the-oven biscuits or the 80-plus varieties of bourbon? Find out at this unique addition to the ongoing refurbishment of the Water Street District in downtown Henderson, where you will find drinks served in Mason jars and a menu of smoked meats, from pulled pork to apple-brined chicken, in big portions. The biscuits are served à la carte with your choice of flavored butters, honeys, and jams. (You can't go wrong with the classic buttermilk biscuits topped with apple cider caramel butter, clover honey, and mango habanero jam.) The room is small, with a rustic-yet-modern, wood-grained decor. (Those with truly formidable stomach capacities can take on the "All In," which pairs three-quarters-of-a-pound servings of three meats with an equal number of large sides.) Brunchers would do well to indulge in the fried chicken waffle, as good a reason for getting up early on the weekends as any.

A branch of the legendary coal-fired pizza-baker nestled beneath New York City's Brooklyn Bridge, this casual little joint in Henderson doesn't quite conjure up the atmosphere of the original, despite exposed-brick walls and red-checked tablecloths, but it does have a wine list and an extensive beer menu. What counts, of course, is the pizza, and in this regard, Grimaldi's deserves high praise. The oven-hot pies come in three sizes and with such staple toppings as spicy sausage, meatballs, and ricotta cheese and more updated ones like baby spinach and jalapeños. Finish off your meal with a cannoli or some flavor-of-the-month cheesecake. There are four other outposts in the valley.

Start with a martini in the classy piano bar at this steak house at the much-loved Green Valley Ranch Resort (they're half-price during happy hour between 4 and 7). Then make your way into the ornately decorated dining room, with its marble floors and glittering chandeliers for a traditional Las Vegas steak-house dinner. Start off with the bountiful seafood jackpot: a platter of Maine lobster, jumbo shrimp, oysters, lump crab, and king crab. Hefty 28-day-aged steaks are prepared in an 800°F mesquite charcoal broiler—try the 20-ounce bone-in prime Kansas City strip. Dishes including Chateaubriand for two provide a cozy Old Vegas feel.

This house-made pasta pioneer (which sells to Strip resorts) is part restaurant and part art gallery, showcasing the owner's works. Pasta is, as you might expect, the specialty here, shown to advantage in dishes such as Artisan Pasta Anne (spinach pappardelle with grilled shrimp, feta, and tomatoes in a scampi sauce). There also are vegan dishes, pizzas, and salads, including the popular "Live Forever Salad" with wild greens, brown rice, tomatoes, and roasted cashews.

With spectators invited once again to Las Vegas Raiders games, fans of the Silver and Black will likely find this new sports bar and grill at the M Resort as intoxicating as the spirits on tap at one of two bars in this large, 3,400-square-foot room. Raiders helmets and footballs line the entryway, while framed jerseys of past gridiron greats and a gift shop loaded with Raiders gear make this a must-stop for team diehards. The all-night menu ranges from stadium fare like burgers and Philly cheese steaks to homemade BBQ, wood-fired pizzas, street tacos, and steak and salmon entrees. Breakfast is served on Saturday and—of course—Sunday, so you can fuel up before the big game and then root, root, root for the home team on one of 45 TVs.

What's really unique (for Vegas) about this intimate spot a short drive southeast of the airport is that artful, creative contemporary cuisine is served in an easygoing space with an unpretentious vibe. This place, from a former Strip executive chef, used to be something of a sleeper, but it's becoming better known. The dining room has been updated but still is decorated simply, perhaps to show off colorful fare such as goat-cheese wontons with raspberry-basil sauce, and grilled skirt steak with “On Fire” chili cheese fries and chili black bean sauce.