Visitors court variety on the Strip

Max Jacobson

Wednesday, July 3, 2002 | 8:25 a.m.

Last week we explored some off-Strip food courts. This week we look at four on the Strip. Choices are a little more varied in these venues, which isn't surprising, given the larger, more diverse clientele frequenting the Strip.

New York-New York

This is one of the most interesting food courts in town, thanks to the fetching design, a mock-up of various Big Apple streets, complete with trees, benches and tables to sit on, and other clever elements. The food court snakes around the casino floor, adjacent to ESPNZone. Sirico's Pizza: Open 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily. There is more than just classic New York, thin-crust pizza here. There is also thick-crusted pan pizza, good meatball hero sandwiches, and cooked Italian dishes. Slices start at $2.95, hero sandwiches are $5.95 and up.

Times Square To Go: Open noon to 10 p.m daily. This is more of a kiosk than a full-force venue, and food is ordered from a window. The best dishes include a $3.75 foot-long hot dog, and a smoked turkey pita sandwich, $6.50.

Greenberg's Deli: Open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays to Saturdays. A real New York deli, just as hoped for. The good matzo-ball soup is $2.75, New York-style sandwiches such as corned beef and pastrami are $8.75, served with coleslaw and Russian dressing, and real egg creams are $2.50.

Fulton's Fish Market: Open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Fried fresh fish and clam chowder are the specialties here, and they are done well. Fish and chips uses Icelandic cod, $5.50, the New England clam chowder is $4.25, and Southern- style catfish is $5.75.

Chicken 'N Fixings: Open noon to 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, noon to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Good for rotisserie chicken, $3.95 a quarter, $5.95 a half, and firehouse pork ribs.

Greenwich Village Coffee Company: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Espresso and a wide array of cookies and pastries.

The Venetian

There are actually two food courts in this large resort, but this one, on the casino floor, is interesting. All the vendors are independent operators, and an Italian theme (if only in name) runs through all of them.

Rialto Deli: Open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 7 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. You can get real Sabrett's Hot Dogs, similar to the ones sold on pushcarts all over Manhattan, for $2.95, and real potato knishes for $2.50.

Santa Lucia: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. The best thing about this cute espresso bar, which features Illy coffees, are the huge, yeasty cinnamon rolls and the creamy, chocolate bit-studded cannolis.

Pizzeria di Enzo: Open 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. This is mostly average pizza and Italian steam table fare, but the $5.95 Super Xpress Breakfast, where diners choose four breakfast items for one price, is a good deal.

San Gennaro Grill: Open 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. It's more than just a burger stand. The grills sells good panini (Italian sandwiches on foccaccia bread) from $5.95, and an excellent Philadelphia-style cheesesteak, $6.95.

Cocolini: Open 11 a.m to midnight Thursdays through Sundays, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Three dozen flavors of locally made gelato are featured here, one scoop for $3.50, two scoops for $4.25 and three scoops for $5, as well as a selection of Krispy Kreme donuts.

Caesars Palace

Unlike most of the others, La Piazza food court is owned and operated by the casino. It has various ethnic food, and a spacious, elegant seating area with faux Roman chairs. All venues here serve from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

American Grill: This venue serves steam table cafeteria fare such as mac and cheese, green beans, corn and carrots, to go with rotisserie chicken, $7.99, or a variety of sandwiches.

Italian Cuisine: Essentially a pizzeria, this station sells Chicago-style pan pizza with thin crust ($3.99 a slice), or thick crust ($4.99 a slice.) Pastas are $6.99, and meatballs (four) can be added for $1.99.

Asian Fusion: Think Panda Express with a Japanese twist. The usual-suspect Chinese steam table dishes are offered with rice, and a three-item combo is $6.99. But there is also Japanese food such as tempura soba (battered shrimp and vegetables with buckwheat noodles in soup) for $8.99, and much more.

Deli Extravaganza: The idea here is to create a sandwich choosing bread, meat and cheese, plus the condiments of your choice, for $6.99.

Mexican Fiesta: Only come here if extremely hungry, because the portions are gargantuan. A taco salad, topped with chicken or beef, is $6.99, and the enormous burrito grande is $5.99, with all the trimmings.

MGM Grand

This attractive food court is located on Studio Walk, adjacent to many of the good restaurants in the building, such as Pearl, Olio and Emeril's. There is a pleasant seating area, separated from the venues, featuring canvas umbrellas and real stone pillars. A Starbucks concession fronts this area.

McDonald's: Open 5 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily. What more is there to say, other than there are reliably long lines every time one passes by here.

Mama Ilardo's: Open 7 a.m. to midnight daily. The specialty here is fat pan pizza, whole or by the slice, some of the best pan pizza in the city. Slices are $2.55 (thin crust) and $2.85 (pan). Battleship sized stromboli are $4.49.

Nathan's: Open 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. The legendary Coney Island franchise sells all-beef hot dogs for $2.75, cheese fries for $2.74 and New England style clam chowder for $4.59. There is a large menu of other items to choose from as well, including fried fish and various salads.

Hamada's Orient Express: Open 9 a.m. to midnight daily. The Japanese language banners attest to the fact that this venue, a branch of a successful local Japanese restaurant group, caters to its many Asian customers. The versatile menu offers miso soup, $1.25, curry rice with fried pork cutlet, $7.95, authentic Japanese breakfast, $12, and more.