The Bootlegger Bistro

Located just 5 minutes from the Mandalay Bay on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, the Bootlegger Bistro is more than just another restaurant or bar - it's a classic Vegas experience not to be missed.

With a name practically synonymous with Las Vegas for more than 30 years, the Bootlegger continues to define just what "Vegas entertainment" is all about. Although it's current location is relatively new - opened in 2001 - it bears all the trademarks of its former location (at Tropicana and Eastern Avenues), including the deep, comfortable booths transplanted from the old spot. Family photos cover a large stone wall; the decor is warm and inviting.

The original Bootlegger Ristorante was opened in 1972 by transplanted New Yorkers Maria and Albert Perry. The experienced restaurateurs (they also opened the classic - and now defunct - Venetian restaurant on West Sahara) joined forces with their grown daughter, Lorraine, who was a popular entertainer on the Strip at the time. She brought showbiz savvy to the business, injecting it with new ideas and energy.

That combination of family style Italian cooking and lounge-style spontaneous entertainment is what continues to make the Bootlegger a rare gem in Sin City. Now helmed by daughter Lorraine, who is better known as Nevada Lt. Governor Lorraine Hunt these days, the family tradition lives on. It's a new joint with an old-school vibe that serves as a great place for talented performers to both see and be seen.