Toca Madera

Celebrity chef Rick Moonen, a culinary king of sustainable seafood, is a fan of Toca Madera, the modern Mexican steakhouse that straddles Aria and The Shops at Crystals. So is Kingstyn Majors, who writes about food for Vegas Kids Zone.

“Toca Madera has awesome decor topped off with a fire-eater. My personal favorites are the branzino and truffle mac and cheese, and the brown butter cake is an absolute must,” Majors says.

The fire-eater is indeed part of the entertainment at Toca Madera, a Las Vegas offshoot of the West Hollywood location with an outpost in Scottsdale. But the food and cocktails are front and center at this lively and modern Mexican steakhouse.

Dinner highlights alongside steaks: grilled wedge, Mexican fattoush and chicken (think Cobb salad), street corn, passionfruit margaritas, churro ice cream sandwich and Altos Plata tequila fire shots (a seasoned lime slice and sugar cube are lit atop the shot glasses).

Pro tip: The front-entrance lounge is as spacious as the restaurant, and there are multiple private dining rooms. Dueling guitarists are also part of the entertainment. And brunch at Toca Madera is top-notch and highly recommended fun at the vibe dining hotspot.