Eat and golf like a king in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS – I think I found the reason they call this desert oasis “Sin City.”

Hint 1: It has nothing to do with gambling.
Hint 2: Just look at my bulging belly.

I’m home less than 48 hours after five fab days in Vegas and the cravings haven’t stopped … steak, bacon-and-cheese biscuits, key lime pie, and the so-rich-this-ain’t-Kraft macaroni and cheese.

In my first visit to Vegas in nearly two decades, I understand why foodies love Vegas almost as much as golfers and gamblers do. I loved the golf courses during my stay – more on Cascata, Royal Links, Wynn Golf Club and Wolf Creek later – but I have to say I came away most impressed with the dining haunts.

Every one rocked my palette, even the food at the golf course clubhouses. The food at Wolf Creek in Mesquite – especially the ribs – was as good a catered golf course buffet you’ll find. The ritzy Wynn Golf Club served up a shrimp-and-grits plate that I could eat every day for the rest of my life.

STK at The Cosmopolitan – the newest hotel-casino to open on the strip – felt more like a party than dinner. This flashy restaurant blasts tunes from the 1980s and ’90s making conversation a bit tough, but it’s a hip scene, nonetheless. The chef’s tasting brought out tuna tartar, a choice of salads, awesome lil’ burgers with a ’special’ sauce (see the lead photo), the mac-and-cheese and soft sirloin strips that melted in my mouth.

I ate at two great restaurants inside Caesar’s Palace, the Palm Restaurant and Mesa Grill, by celebrity chef Bobby Flay. The 14-ounce filet mignon was perfectly good at Palm, but Mesa’s coffee-rubbed filet was off-the-hook spicy and a truly special dish. It was the only steak of the week where I finished every bite.

I sampled another steak from another star chef David Walzog at SW Steakhouse at Wynn Las Vegas. It was another meal that would make any night out memorable. I can’t say a bad thing about any of the places I ate. Honest.

Next time I come to Vegas, I’ll be sure to make dinner reservations along with tee times. The two go hand-in-hand if you want to do a Vegas visit right.