Nobu Restaurant   

Go to London or New York or Beverly Hills and say "Nobu" and chances are you'll hear a contented, wistful sigh in response. The name is synonymous with excellence in groundbreaking Japanese cuisine, but surprisingly the Las Vegas location has been overlooked among fine dining experiences, perhaps because of its off-strip location or the rowdy reputation of the Hard Rock Resort in which it resides. They used to turn away 200 people a night at the Big Apple branch, but it's not hard to get a table at the Vegas Nobu, which also serves Chef Nobu Matsuhisa's outstanding blend of traditional Japanese entrees with a Latin American twist. Some of the more exotic offerings, like the sashimi flavored with garlic, ginger and sesame seeds, slivers of red snapper with chili paste, or yellowtail with jalapeno, can be a bit intimidating. For those who prefer the basics, Nobu also offers chicken teriyaki. But the adventurous should go with the omakase, which translates loosely into "chef's choice." Prices range from under $20 for Matsushita's signature dish -- a three-day marinated cod seared and served with sweet miso sauce -- to more than $50 for a cut of beer-fed Kobe beef. The 15-seat sushi bar features 30 different items. Dress is casual, a necessity given its location, but the modern dining room is lovely. Even though it's the Hard Rock, you might be uncomfortable walking past the wall of live bamboo and polished black stones in a Linkin Park t-shirt.