Want a taste of vintage Vegas? Visit these classic restaurants

By Ric Anderson

Friday, Dec. 4, 2015 | 2 a.m.

Maybe you have friends and family members making a holiday visit from out of town, and you'd like to show them something memorable.

Maybe you'd like to have a classic Las Vegas dining experience.

Maybe you just want some great food in a cool environment.

Well, lucky you. The city offers restaurants that cover all of those needs. Here's a list of places where diners can get a taste of old Vegas:

• Pamplemousse, 400 E. Sahara Ave.

The name is the French word for grapefruit. Entertainer and one-time Las Vegas resident Bobby Darin suggested it to the restaurant's founder, Georges La Forge, who opened the establishment in 1976. Today, Pamplemousse is still serving French Provencal fare like rack of lamb, duck confit, escargots and foie gras.

• Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd.

This Italian-American restaurant offers not only a taste of vintage Vegas, but sights and sounds of it, too. The establishment's "Monday Nite Jamming" live shows feature Strip entertainers playing their favorites. On any given night, you might catch a Frank Sinatra or Neil Diamond impersonator performing with musicians from some of Las Vegas' most popular shows. In business since 1983, the restaurant also is a home away from home for fans of Ohio sports teams.

• Peppermill, 2985 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Between its purple and pink neon lighting, velvet booths, chrome trim on the fixtures and sunken fireplace, the Peppermill is a lounge lizard's paradise. But its low prices and large portions have also helped make it a favorite for locals since 1972.

• Golden Steer, 308 W. Sahara Ave.

Elvis ate here. So did members of the Rat Pack, Tony "The Ant" Spilotro and a long list of other Las Vegas notables. The Golden Steer, tucked in a strip mall between SLS Las Vegas and Interstate 15, has been part of the landscape since 1958, just six years after the Sahara opened.

• The Steak House at Circus Circus, 2880 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Welcome to one of Las Vegas' most stunning hidden treasures. Circus Circus, with its carnival games and budget-rate pricing, might be the last place you'd expect to find a classy restaurant that offers high-end food and exceptional service from a veteran staff. But that's exactly what the steakhouse delivers. Beef is dry-aged on the premises, and several of the staff members have been part of the restaurant since it opened in the 1980s.

• Hugo's Cellar at Four Queens, 202 Fremont St.

Originally called Hugo's Rotisserie when it opened in 1973, the restaurant offers an experience that includes complimentary long-stem roses for female diners and salads prepared tableside.

• The Hush Puppy Restaurant, 1820 N. Nellis Blvd. and 7185 W. Charleston Blvd.

The Hush Puppy, which turned 40 this year, brags that it serves the best catfish west of the Mississippi, and generations of Las Vegas diners would say that's not a hollow claim. The menu also offers Southern favorites like gumbo, fried green tomatoes and po-boy sandwiches.

• Du-par's, located in the Golden Gate, 1 Fremont St.

An import from Southern California, Du-par's is probably known best for its $2.99 shrimp cocktail — which, by the way, comes in a red Solo cup for to-go orders. But Du-par's scores high for other menu items, too, including its pancakes and French toast.

• Macayo's Vegas (1741 E. Charleston Blvd., 8245 W. Sahara Ave.), Dona Maria (910 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 3250 N. Tenaya Way) and Chapala Mexican Restaurant (3331 E. Tropicana)

The city abounds with options for diners looking for venerable Mexican restaurants in Las Vegas. Macayo's opened in the 1950s, while Dona Maria and Chapala came along in the 1960s.

• Battista's Hole in the Wall, 4041 Linq Lane

For 45 years, this Italian restaurant has been offering a combination of off-Strip value and a festive atmosphere that includes wall-to-wall Vegas memorabilia and a strolling accordion player.

• Bob Taylor's Original Ranch House, 6250 Rio Vista St.

The name of this restaurant is quite literal: It was once a ranch house in the middle of the desert before it was converted to a dining establishment in 1955 and the city grew around it. Steaks and prime rib are the attractions, along with a Western-themed decor that includes antique saddles and cowboy movie posters.

• Michael's Gourmet Room at the South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South

The South Point has only been around for 10 years, but the Gourmet Room is a transplant from an earlier time. The restaurant originally was located at the Barbary Coast, which later became Bill's Gamblin' Hall and then the Cromwell. The decor is rich in red tones, dark wood and gleaming chandeliers.

• Top of Binion's Steakhouse, 128 Fremont St.

Featuring a gorgeous view of the Las Vegas Valley, the steak eatery on the 24th floor of Binion's has been around since the property was named The Mint.

• Piero's Italian Cuisine, 355 Convention Center Dr.

Piero's bar was Jerry Tarkanian's go-to hangout. Frank Sinatra's pianist and musical director have backed entertainer Pia Zadora at the establishment, and Martin Scorsese spent three days filming "Casino" there. A who's who that ranges from presidents to Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards to Jerry Lewis and Sammy Davis Jr. has dined at Piero's. How much more vintage Vegas can it get?

Editor's note: This story has been revised to remove incorrect information about the Las Vegas locations of Macayo's Vegas.

The Sun’s Ray Brewer contributed to this story.