With world-class food and drinks, friendly and polite service, and the most agreeable atmosphere, the best casino restaurants can make an enormous difference to a casino experience. Whether your visit to a casino restaurant is for just a few hours or an extended weekend, a superlative meal with friends and family is usually the perfect complement to a gambling sojourn. Read on to find out more about the finest casino restaurants in Canada, the USA and around the world.
Best casino restaurants in Canada
Ontario
Casino Rama
A unique casino in that it is located in a first nation resort, Casino Rama is the only casino of its kind in the province. Casino Rama is a celebration of first nation heritage and culture, and it has been host to stars that have included Carrie Underwood and Jerry Seinfeld. It has also hosted popular international events, such as Dancing with the Stars and MMA events. There are various dining options for visitors to Casino Rama. These include:
- Cedar Express
- Centre Bar
- Couchiching Court
- Noodle Bar
- St. Germain’s
- The Willow
- Burger Bar
- The Weirs Restaurant
- Simcoe Yard House
- Entertainment Centre Concession
These options range from snack bars like Cedar Express to St. Germain’s steakhouse. There is fast food such as the Burger Bar, and international cuisine that includes Noodle Bar and The Willow.
St. Germain’s is an excellent luxury choice, serving AAA Alberta beef and seafood from sea bass to lobster.
In the past, it has won awards both for its pastry chef and for its wine list.
The casino restaurant also boasts friendly service, a relaxed atmosphere and deluxe furniture.
Simcoe Yard House is a sports bar that is open until midnight and 2am on Friday and Saturday. The bar also features live entertainment on weekends. The menu has American and Canadian classics, such as burgers and wings. It is a lively and fun environment for dining and drinking.
Fallsview
Offering visitors a breaktaking view of the incredible Niagara Falls, Fallsview Casino Resort is located just 90 minutes from Toronto and 45 minutes from Buffalo. Due to its location at the US border, Fallsview is popular among American visitors who can arrive by car, train or shuttle bus.
It has drawn the likes of Adam Sandler and John Legend and continues to provide top-rated entertainment. There are more than 20 dining options in the following categories:
- Italian
- Asian
- Buffets and deli
- Steak and Seafood
- Bars and lounges
- Fast food and snack bar
21 Club Steak and Seafood provides a high-class dining experience with fresh ingredients and Canadian cuisine. The restaurant has a CAA/AAA Four-Diamond rating and offers dishes that include prime rib, striploins and seafood. Sommeliers bring more than 700 local and international wines.
Named after a bridge in Florence, Italy, Pont Vecchio is also a CAA/AAA Four Diamond casino restaurant with a wine list that received a 2019 award from Wine Spectator. Favourites on the food menu include fettuccine with seafood and mushroom risotto. Excellent Italian cuisine is accompanied by first class furnishings and decor.
Caesars Windsor
A much bigger name in international entertainment, Caesars Windsor is a casino complex close to the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel in downtown Windsor, Ontario. It stands in a 27-storey tower that was designed by the Canadian WZMH Architects. Entertainment is provided by The Colosseum, which brings music, dance and comedy, such as Tony Bennet, Jason Derulo and Bill Burr. There is also a gym, pool and spa, shopping, bars and nightclubs. The range of restaurants at Caesars include:
- Colosseum Food Station
- Market Buffet
- Neros Steakhouse
- Pronto Cafe
- Legends Sports Bar
- Spago Trattoria
- Johnny Rockets
- Tim Hortons
One of the best upscale options is Neros Steakhouse, which has won Best Steakhouse award from Detroit Free Press, and Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator. It has a wine cellar with 300 labels and delicious dishes including roasted Atlantic lobster and AAA prime rib. This casino restaurant is located at the Riverside Drive entrance to the building, and it even provides a free valet service.
It is an excellent choice in fine dining for business or pleasure.
For those looking for a more affordable meal, Spago Trattoria is an Italian pasta and pizza restaurant that received the Tripadvisor 2019 Certification of Excellence. The company also employs three Red Seal chefs. Dishes include Spaghetti Polpette, Linguine Di Mare and Pizza Alla Contadina.
Quebec
Casino de Montréal
The Casino de Montréal, or Montreal Casino, is the largest and possibly the most prestigious casino in Canada. It can be found on Notre Dame Island in the Ville Marie borough of Montréal. It opened for business in 1993 and stays open on a 24/7 basis. More than just a casino, the centre is host to shows ranging from folk musicians and dance DJs to comedy and cabaret. The celebrated Quebec singer, Celine Dion, also frequents the casino. There are three bars and five casino restaurants. The dining choices are:
- Pavillon 67
- Le Montréal
- L’Instant
- Ajia
- L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
Le Montréal is a seafood and grill restaurant that uses fresh, local produce and the creative Quebec cuisine. The restaurant has a team of well known Montréal chefs that keep the menu new and exciting. Meals are stylishly presented, and the restaurant boasts incredible views of Montréal’s busy downtown area. On Sunday mornings, a buffet is available.
With restaurants across the world, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon is a restaurant chain that offers gourmet food prepared before its guests. This is a delicate and refined dining experience with innovative flavour combinations. Renowned chef Joël Robuchon has curated a menu of gourmet dishes that range from beef tenderloin to seasoned lobster.
Alberta
Cowboys
Providing one of Alberta’s premium casino experiences, Cowboys Casino is located at 412 12 Avenue Southeast in Calgary, close to Victoria Park/Stampede Station. In addition to a casino with slots, poker, baccarat and blackjack, Cowboys also has a restaurant, two bars and a dance hall. Events include Irish-themed midget wrestling, talent contests and wings nights. The casino restaurants at the centre bar and eatery include:
- Melrose Cafe & Bar
- Zen 8 Grill
Melrose Cafe & Bar is a sports bar that serves typical bar food, such as sandwiches, salads, burgers and pizzas. Favourites on the menu include the smoked pulled pork sandwich and the portobello burger. Drinks range from craft beers and ciders to New Zealand wines and craft cocktails, like Melrose Mojito. Melrose also shows popular sporting events from the NHL, NFL and UFC on more than 40 screens.
Zen 8 Grill is an Asian restaurant that serves sushi, steaks and sake in an authentically Asian atmosphere. With a range of different influences, Zen 8 serves pho from Vietnam, pad Thai from Thailand, and teppanyaki, takoyaki and sashimi from Japan. The drinks menu features wines from around the world, as well as 13 different sakes. With highly skilled chefs, the restaurant offers exquisite food, excellent service and a uniquely Asian environment.
Best casino restaurants in the USA
Red Rock Casino
Among Las Vegas’ finest iconic casino resorts, Red Rock can be found on West Charleston Boulevard. As well as a casino, the resort also has a 5-star hotel, spa, event spaces and entertainment that includes cyber quest, a movie theater, and an adventure travel centre. The venue regularly hosts concerts with stars like Billy Idol, and in the past, it has been used in the filming of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and The Real Housewives of Orange County. As a large casino resort, Red Rock has a range of upscale and casual casino restaurant options. These include:
- Terra Rossa
- T-Bones Chophouse
- Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill
- Feast Buffet
- 8 Noodle Bar
- Grand Cafe
- Yard House
- Hearthstone
T-Bones Chophouse is a luxurious steakhouse and seafood restaurant at the high end of the market. It has a large dining hall with modern and elegant decor, as well as a beautiful open air-patio with a view of the pool and gardens. The extensive menu features delicious prime steaks, grass-fed fillet mignon and fresh seafood. The restaurant also has the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator.
For an upscale Japanese dining option, Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill offers a menu of sushi, sashimi, teppanyaki and Japanese rolls. The casino restaurant is divided into a dining room, a sushi bar, a cocktail bar and an outdoor beer garden. Wine, beer, cocktails and sake can be chosen from the menu, and the restaurant is open until late.
South Point Casino & Spa
Standing in a 24-storey tower built in 2003, South Point casino resort is a large complex with a hotel, spa and a variety of entertainment facilities. There is a wide range of musical, cultural and sporting events taking place here, and since opening, it has been used for the Jerry Lewis MDA Marathon and Poker After Dark from NBC. This casino resort is located at 9777 South Las Vegas Boulevard.
There are 11 casino restaurants at South Point, each with a different style and genre. These include:
- Silverado Steakhouse
- Michael’s Gourmet Room
- Baja Miguel’s Mexican Restaurant
- Big Sur Oyster Bar
- Zenshin Asian Restaurant
- Primarily Prime Rib Restaurant
- Garden Buffet
- Coronado Cafe
Michael’s Gourmet Room has received many awards and accolades from the Zagat Survey, the American Automobile Association and Distinguished Restaurants of North America. The menu features prime sirloin steak, fresh sea bass and veal picatta, and the finest of wines. Michael’s also provides its diners with excellent service and ambiance.
Silverado Steakhouse is another high-end dining option for visitors to South Point. This casino restaurant has a wide selection of the finest steaks, from charbroiled filet mignon to blackened rib eye. With delicious appetisers and entreés, as well as an extensive wine list, Silverado is unlikely to disappoint. The walls are decorated with vintage photographs and hand painted murals to create an elegant ambiance.
Tulalip
To be found at Tulalip Indian Reservation, visitors to the Tulalip Resort Casino can see orcas at play or visit the cultural centre dedicated to the Tulalip Tribes. The casino opened in 2004 and has since expanded to become a resort. It is located on Tulalip Indian Reservation, which is around 30 minutes north of Seattle in Washington State. There are many attractions for visitors, including a large hotel, spa, conference center, and various entertainment facilities.
There is also a selection of casino restaurants to choose from, including:
- Blazing Paddles
- Canoes Carvery
- The Draft
- Journeys East
- Blackfish
- CedarsCafe
- Tula Bene
- Eagles Buffet
Blackfish is a casino restaurant that makes the most of Tulalip tribal methods in their food preparation. It also takes advantage of Pacific Northwest seafood cuisine. The menu features salmon that is skewered on ironwood spears then cooked on alder wood coals. Blackfish also has fresh oysters, local beers and an award-winning wine list. Together with a lively and traditional atmosphere, this makes for an excellent dining experience.
Journeys East is an Asian casino restaurant that combines the cuisines of Japan, China, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. The menu includes such dishes as spice wontons, pad Thai, chow mein and japchai, as well as wines, cocktails, Asian beers and desserts. With a simple, zen-influenced decor and delicious Asian food, Journeys East creates a brief Asian encounter for its guests.
Rivers
Providing Pittsburgh with a full gambling experience, Rivers Casino was created in 2006 as a result of new legislation in Pennsylvania. It can be found in the Chateau area of Pittsburgh, next to the Ohio River. In addition to a casino, the complex also has a ballroom, events centre, meeting space and luxury sports lounge. There are nine bars and casino restaurants to choose from. The dining options are:
- Grand View Buffet
- Wheelhouse Bar & Grill
- Flipt
- Ciao
Wheelhouse Bar & Grill is a presentable sports bar where visitors can watch sporting events on one of the many TV screens. The menu features soups and salads, hand-crafted burgers and sandwiches made from turkey, chicken, bacon and seafood. From Monday to Thursday, there is a happy hour from 5 pm to 7 pm with glasses of wine priced at $4 and craft beers from $5. The wheelhouse has a lively atmosphere, and it provides excellent service.
A buffet that gives diners more freedom is often the best possible choice. The Grand View Buffet at Rivers Casino offers a wide selection of cuisines, including Asian, Italian and barbecue. The menu is different for lunch and dinner, and on Saturdays and Sundays, there is a special brunch with items such as eggs benedict, French toast and blueberry pancakes. ‘Fish Friday’ brings dishes like breaded shrimp and beer-battered cod to the mix.
Hard Rock
The Hard Rock Cafe company is a group of uniquely themed restaurants, hotels and casinos around the world. Two of these hotel/casino and entertainment complexes can be found in Sacramento and Atlantic City. Both provide entertainment to guests that feature live music, comedy and sports events, such as UFC watch parties.
At the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Sacramento, three casino restaurants are available. These are:
- Council Oak Steaks & Seafood
- Fresh Harvest
- Hard Rock Cafe
In Atlantic City, there are more dining options. These include:
- Council Oak Steaks & Seafood
- Il Mulino
- Kuro
- Youyu Noodle Bar
- Fresh Harvest Buffet
- Hard Rock Cafe
In both locations, possibly the most elegant upscale dining choice is Council Oak Steaks & Seafood. These casino restaurants feature an open kitchen and a butcher’s shop where steaks can be chosen, cut and branded for guests. The environments are climate controlled, with dry-age coolers and walls made of Himalayan salt. Dishes include blackened beef tenderloin tips, and Blue Point oysters. Council Oak also has an award-winning wine list.
At Hard Rock Atlantic City, the Japanese restaurant, Kuro, is another option in fine dining. Here, both ingredients imported from Japan and locally sourced produce is used to create contemporary Japanese cuisine. The menu features sushi and sashimi, tempura, a robata charcoal grill, Japanese wagyu beef and nigiri. The restaurant also serves Japanese whiskeys, Japanese beers, 30 sake labels and a wide selection of wines.
Michelin-Starred casino restaurants across the world
Marina Bay Sands
A marvel of the East, when it opened in 2010 Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, was the most expensive casino property in the world. The casino is part of a large complex, and the 55-storey, three-tower hotel is topped by a large skypark making it an iconic sight of modern Singapore. Marina Bay Sands is home to entertainment and attractions such as theatre, nightlife, shopping, museums and exhibitions, as well as the world’s largest infinity pool. At Marina Bay Sands there are 45 restaurants in the following categories:
- Chinese
- Indian
- Italian
- Japanese
- Modern Asian
- Western
- Halal
- Hawker & local cuisine
- Casual dining
Odette is a French restaurant with three Michelin stars. It has also reached the top spot on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019, from William Reed Business Media. Odette takes the name of the chef and owner Julien Royer’s grandmother. The contemporary French cuisine served in the restaurant draws on artisanal and seasonal produce, such as the signature smoked organic egg or Brittany blue lobster. Odette is also noted for the artistic presentation of its dishes.
Another casino restaurant led by a famed, world-class chef, Adrift by David Myers, has dishes from both sides of the Pacific. Japanese and American influences can be noticed in a menu that offers Alaskan king crab melts and Kampachi. Adrift is open until 2 am every day. Myers is a Michelin Star winner, and his restaurant at Marina Bay Sands has won awards from Wine & Dine Singapore’s Top Restaurants.
City of Dreams
In terms of revenues, Macau is by far the largest gambling centre in the world. City of Dreams Casino is one of the largest in Macau and is owned by Melco Crown Entertainment. The complex includes four hotels, a spa and a designer shopping mall. It is also home to the city’s largest nightclub and a theater with performances that include The House of Dancing Water. City of Dreams has 38 restaurants in the following genres:
- Chinese
- Japanese
- International
- Asian
- Private dining
- Bars & lounges
Jade Dragon is a three Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant at the height of sophisticated dining. It is divided into five areas, and it has 11 private dining rooms. The menu offers extravagant dishes, such as braised bird’s nest and fish maw soup, steamed truffle and crabmeat dim sum and Australian lobster. This casino restaurant displays elegant designer decor, with ornate embroidery, carpets and paintings. The customer service is also second to none.
The Tasting Room is a two Michelin-starred restaurant with awards from various restaurant guides. The restaurant offers French cuisine in the contemporary style, with fresh ingredients sourced from around the world. Produce is carefully curated by Executive Chef Fabrice Vulin, and all dishes are beautifully presented.
MGM Grand
The MGM Grand Las Vegas is an iconic American casino complex with the largest hotel in the country, and the third-largest hotel complex in the world. The celebrated casino has been used in such films as Ocean’s Eleven, Swingers and Casino. It is also host to some of the country’s largest music, comedy and sporting events. In the casino, high limit progressive jackpots give visitors the chance to win more than $500,000. The MGM Grand has over 25 casino restaurants, which include:
- L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
- Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak
- Crush
- Hakkasan
- West End Market
- Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House
At MGM Grand, Joël Robuchon’s restaurant has received awards that include 3 Michelin Star, AAA Five Diamond, Forbes Five Star and the Grand Award from Wine Spectator. When it opened in 2006, it was the company’s first restaurant in the US. In a French restaurant guide, Joël Robuchon was also named Chef of the Century. Sadly, the highly-esteemed chef passed away in 2018.
Guests can choose from either a la carte or tasting menus with multi courses but are strongly recommended to make reservations beforehand. Specialties on the list include L’OEuf de Poule and Le Caviar Imperial. The restaurant has sophisticated decor, a strict dress code, and only 12 dining tables, it is reassuringly exclusive.
Casinos vary in the dining experiences they have available, but in most cases, a delicious and enjoyable meal can be tasted. With all the food and drink requirements taken care of, casino visitors will be refreshed, relaxed and ready to let the games begin.