For food lovers, the sheer number of renowned restaurants makes it near to impossible to figure out where to eat. We've weeded through the best of the best so you don't have to. Without further ado, here are our top Sin City restaurant picks.

The Strip: Bartolotta

This elegant restaurant, located in the Wynn, offers something extra-special: the next best thing to dining in an Italian fishing village. James Beard Award-winning chef Paul Bartolotta hails from a big, Italian, Milwaukee-based family, and wanted his restaurants to pay homage to his roots. His goal? To transport guests to Italy--no small feat, given the fact you’re in the middle of the desert. However, this chef does just that, sourcing his fish from the motherland, daily.

If you can, opt for an outdoor, lagoon-side cabana. Even if it’s a little chilly, each table comes equipped with a heater (hot enough to cook your pesca crudo). Be sure to check out the cart teeming with the day’s fresh catch: clams, Sicilian amberjack, Mediterranean turbot, cuttlefish—a smattering of fish that were swimming in the Mediterranean just hours ago.

Opt for one of Bartolotta’s famous seafood feasts, a tasting menu served family-style. Start out with the fritto misto, an assortment of lightly fried fish, which included delcious moleches (brown, softshell crabs). A few small plates of simply prepared seafood dishes will follow; the perfectly grilled and subtly seasoned langoustines are a huge winner. Piles of homemade pasta courses come next. Spaghetti (which offer a nice al dente crunch) with lobster, shrimp, crab and langoustine in a light tomato and white wine sauce, mix textures perfectly. When the whole roasted Mediterranean turbot arrives, you'll likely not have any room left, but go for it anyway. Dinner wraps up with a “Symphony of Desserts,” which includes an assortment of Italian ice and gelato. If you skip the pear gelato, you're missing out.

This Italian meal tastes so authentic, you'll believe you’re in Siena. A post-dinner stroll to the Caesar’s Palace Trevi Fountain replica could be the perfect way to round out the night. Bartolotta at the Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, (877) 321-9966

Off the Strip: Lotus of Siam

Nestled in a neon-lit strip mall and surrounded by “Adult Social Clubs” (Google the Green Door… just for fun), billiard halls and ethnic grocers, is what may be the best restaurant you’ve never heard of. Lotus of Siam might not ring a bell, but one look around the restaurant’s press-covered entryway (including a clip from Gourmet, who dubbed Lotus of Siam “the single best Thai restaurant in the country”), will pique your interest. One taste of the food will brand their name in your brain.

There’s nothing fancy about Lotus of Siam. Pictures are hung awkwardly high, chandeliers dangle from a drop ceiling, and prices are extremely reasonable (noodle dishes run about $8-12, entrees $16-24). It’s probably a lot like your favorite neighborhood Thai place, save the fact that LOS’s chef, Saipin Chutima, has been in consideration for a Beard Award multiple times.

Servings aren’t over the top huge, so start out with the perfectly spicy garlic-pepper chicken wings. Where you go from there is up to you—everything is a good bet. The nam kao tod, a sweet and sour dish with crispy rice and sausage, is a beloved by regulars. Order the drunken noodles if you’re looking for comfort food, and any of the barbeque dishes (especially something with short ribs) is a good bet for meat-lovers. The khao soi, and authentic Northern Thailand dish made with hand-pulled noodles drenched in a rich, thick coconut sauce served with pickled vegetables and lime, might be worth the trip to Vegas on its own.

The thing with LOS to always remember? Make a reservation at least a day ahead. Without one, you can easily wait an hour for a table… on a Monday. Lotus of Siam is truly one of those rare Vegas gems that isn’t about the glitz and glam, it’s about the food. Lotus of Siam, 953 E. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, (702)735-3033

Honorable Mentions:

Shibuya at MGM Grand:
Satisfy your sushi craving at this fun, chic spot. The sushi and sashimi platters are great (the kampachi sashimi with yuzu sauce can’t be missed), but don’t over look non-raw items—the lobster and scallop with uni butter sauce rocks. And if you’re into sake and Japanese beer, they’ve got it all.

Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand: Scoring a table at Joel Robuchon is reason to celebrate—hey, it’s not every day you get to eat food from the “Chef of the Century.” If you can swing it, opt for the Menu Degustation. The $385 price tag is nothing to sneeze at, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. While the seafood dishes are absolute winners, patrons can’t seem to get enough of the truffe noire (Shaved black truffles and potatoes, topped with foie gras carpaccio).

If that price tag is a bit hard to swallow, head to L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon. More casual and less expensive than its big brother, L’Atelier offers mostly counter seating and caters to the pre-theater crowd (Cirque Du Soleil’s KA is literally steps from the restaurant). Order the quick $39 three-course meal before you hit the show (note: only available until 6:45pm). Joel Robuchon, 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, (702) 891-7777

Mr. Lucky's at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino:
Sure, it’s not the pinnacle of fine dining, but Mr. Lucky’s is open 24 hours, perfect for soaking up the contents of your stomach, or wiping your tears of regret after blowing your kid’s college fund on one hand of black jack. No matter what time of day, breakfast is always a good bet. Mr. Lucky's, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, (800) 473-7625

Bartolotta photo courtesy of Wynn Las Vegas, Lotus of Siam photo courtesy Jess and Colin Liotta