Page 247 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

WHERE T O EA T AND DRINK  245

French cuisine infused with sets of native culinary traditions. the exploding craft beer
Southwestern flavors that is Alongside the ubiquitous phenomenon. Visitors need to
the mainstay of Vincent on Mexican restaurants and steak- be 21 to buy alcohol. Be sure
Camelback (see p250). Las Vegas houses (many of which feature to carry your I. D., as it is often
is also home to some of the a ranch theme), many of the requested before you are served.
most elegant restaurants in the region’s top-rated restaurants Utah’s licensing laws, influenced
country. In the 1990s, several of focus on native Southwestern by the Mormon community, are
the city’s best hotels recruited recipes, most of which feature stricter, with liquor stores open
celebrity chefs. Now, every hotel fresh, local ingredients such as for shorter hours and never on a
has its own cluster of upscale smoky green chilies or earthy Sunday. Alcohol is forbidden on
restaurants with a world-class home- made tortillas. Attentive all Native American reservations.
menu and the involvement diners will note a heavy emphasis
of influential names such as on fiery Mexican spices and
Hollywood’s Wolfgang Puck, intricate sauces, many of which Disabled Facilities
who is the owner of several garner national acclaim. Those Establishments are required
restaurants on The Strip. adverse to spice can usually find to provide wheelchair access
something on the menu to suit and a ground-level rest room
their tastes; it is wise to speak by law, but check with older
Coffee Houses and Cafés with the server if you have any venues in advance.
Coffee houses are popular concerns over a particular dish’s
throughout Southwest resorts heat quotient.
and major cities. Along with Dress Codes
specialty coffees, they generally Dining is casual throughout
serve pastries, bagels, desserts, Vegetarian the Southwest. Even in upscale
and delicatessen fare. Cafés Southwestern and American restaurants, there is seldom
range from simple places serving cuisine is largely meat based. a need for a jacket and tie. In
sandwiches to trendy eateries Vegetarians may not find much the land of cowboys, jeans are
offering local cuisine. variety outside the larger cities acceptable almost everywhere.
and resorts. Salads can be a In Las Vegas, however, dressing
meal in themselves; they usually smartly for the classier
Mexican Food come with meat and seafood, restaurants is recommended.
Mexican restaurants pro liferate but vegetarian orders are often
in the region, especially in New accommodated. Many fast-food
Mexico and southern Arizona. chains now serve salads, soups, Smoking
They vary from roadside stands or baked potatoes to cater to This is banned in the indoor
and snack bars to upscale restau- demand from more health- areas of all restaurants
rants, where the food is comple- conscious customer. in the Southwest, except for
mented by traditional adobe those in the Nevada casinos.
architecture; such places often Many, however, have outdoor
have romantic courtyards as well. Alcohol smoking sections.
Beer, particularly the cervezas
imported from Mexico, is the
Southwestern Cuisine most popular drink in the Recommended
Among North American regions, region, although most cities Restaurants
the Southwest has one of the now foster a cadre of locally The restaurants listed on pages
most clearly defined and beloved brewed beers that are part of 248–61 have been selected
across a wide price range for
their value, good food, atmo-
sphere, and location. From
authentic, no-frills snack shacks
to pricey temples of gastronomy,
these restaurants run the gamut
across all cuisine types.
Throughout the listings,
certain venues are highlighted
as DK Choice. These offer an
exceptional feature – a celebrity
chef, historic setting, exquisite
food, stunning location, or an
inviting atmosphere. The
majority of these venues are very
popular, so be sure to in quire
about a reservation or you may
Colorful Southwestern decor at La Cocina restaurant in Tucson (see p251) face a lengthy wait for a table.

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