What are the best restaurants in Vegas for locals and tourists? Heidi Knapp Rinella is the James Beard judge and anonymous reviewer in Las Vegas who pays her own way every single meal, building a sterling reputation as the most important foodie in one of the world's premier hubs for fine cuisine and good grub. You can find her at http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/heidi-knapp-rinella. You can buy her book "Personal Favorites" here (http://www.amazon.com/Personal-Favorites-The-Chefs-Vegas/dp/1932173137).
Restaurant links are at the bottom of these liner notes:
1. One-minute intro. Welcome back. I love you all. 
2. (1:00 minute in): If you're on a plane to Vegas, what restaurants should you rich, middle class and poor people plan to eat at? Where are the best mashed potatoes in the world? She doesn't take freebies. 
3. (8:15): Heidi's favorite smell is butter. Ohhh then we talk delicious crepes! Is Vegas outstripping New York for fooding? 
4. (11:30): I took my tourist niece and her fiance to Casa Don Juan. Where should I have also taken her? We dish on Gordon Ramsey's restaurants. 
5. (14:30): What Heidi won't eat. Shark vs. Pigeon. Her husband ate the Lion King. Frog legs. I'm a peskatarian because my body is weird. 
6. (16:40): What are the telltale signs of a good restaurant? What is chive oil? She's a James Beard judge. 
7. (21:00): When we drive past restaurants at red lights, why don't we just pull in and try something new? Heidi's job is to find gems. Bobos. What's the biggest difference between her and her husband? 
8. (24:30): I say everything is better with sour cream and Tabasco. What does Heidi say everything is improved by? What's the best kind of butter to buy at the grocery? Black Hawaiian volcano salt vs. Pink Himalayan. 
9. (27:30): What's the best food she's ever eaten? What's her go-to wine? Is it OK I drink merlot? We aren't into pinot. 
10. (31:00): Is it OK to eat a restaurants on Mondays? We talk Anthony Bourdain. Heidi has written books for you. What's her favorite? "Personal Favorites," recipes and stories from Vegas chefs. 
11. (34:00): What question does she hear the most? We talk about the guy who invented food for McDonald's but is actually good at food. I wish restaurants would flash freeze their ice cream. Heidi encourages you to make ice cream a home. We talk beef and fondue, and bagel buggies. 
12. (39:30): What does she think of food trucks? Why aren't restaurant tables designed better? What's the prettiest restaurant she's ever been in? This has an amazing answer! 
13. (43:00): Why was Joel Robuchon voted chef of the century? Why did the French create fancy creams and stuff? Why do I prefer spicy food to minimalism? What's her take on "clean"/not heavily seasoned food? Cleanliness in restaurants. One place had "Produce stored in men's room."
14. (47:30): Who would be her favorite chef to drink with? How many chefs have been jerks to her? Good service demands fewer eaters per server! I waited tables for years. 
15. (52:30): When does she send food back? Cooking laws deny medium rare. Heidi has serious feelings about gluten. 
16. (56:30): What's the best way to become a better cook? What foods should people avoid? We talk about baby carrots, organic food, and nutritionals. Heidi made me a Butterfinger cake at my request, against her better judgment.
Links 
http://www.joel-robuchon.com/en/restaurants-las-vegas.php
https://www.caesars.com/caesars-palace/restaurants/guy-savoy
http://m.vivalasarepas.com
http://www.indiapalacelv.com
https://www.hardrockhotel.com/las-vegas-restaurants/24-7-diner
http://iwanttiabi.com
http://crepeexpectations.com
https://www.caesars.com/paris-las-vegas/restaurants/la-creperie
http://www.casadonjuanlv.com
http://alizelv.com
https://www.caesars.com/paris-las-vegas/restaurants/gordon-ramsay-steak
http://togrp.com/restaurant/stk-las-vegas/
http://andironsteak.com
http://www.stripndipchicken.com
http://smashburger.com
http://www.wynnlasvegas.com/Dinin