4 Best Restaurants in Las Vegas, Nevada

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.

Taking its name from two owners (both named Larry), this barbecue joint moved to inherit the smoked meat addicts left stranded when Memphis Championship Barbecue abandoned the same location. The atmosphere is unchanged, and they didn't have to worry about the delicious smell of smoke that saturated the sheet-metal–accented interior. Barbecue fans are picky, but L2 seems to have held its own. It certainly delivers on quantity: the big hook is a $35, all-you-can-eat-in-one-hour special. Smaller appetites will find the usual one- or two-meat dinner platters, and those not so infatuated with barbecue will be happy to find an array of sandwiches and burgers to choose from for about $14, and even—gasp—a healthy roster of salads.

Michael Symon, TV celebrity chef and the man who revived the Cleveland culinary scene, took his show on the road to Las Vegas with this meat-centric spot at the Palms. "Pig Parts" (crispy ears, tails and cracklin's) may seem like a novelty to some, but there's no doubting the seriousness of his pork, beef, poultry, and carefully conceived sides, as well as the long list of brews to go with them. Those looking for a daytime party will find it at the weekend brunch (but only during football season), when the airy, two-level space has either a DJ (Saturday) or live music (Sunday) and "bottomless" cocktails.

The soul in the belly here comes courtesy of James Beard–nominated chef Bruce Kalman, who might be recognizable on sight to viewers of foodie faves Top Chef, Chopped, and Beat Bobby Flay. Bringing the barbecue flavors of central Texas to Vegas, this atmospheric venue adds cocktails, local beers, and live entertainment to the mix to turn what might have been just a barbecue dinner into a barbecue experience and a night on the (Down)town.