Craftsteak

The Verdict

Craftsteak earns its place at MGM Grand through consistency and a genuinely considered menu, not Strip spectacle. If you are planning a special-occasion dinner in Las Vegas and want a steakhouse backed by a James Beard Award-winning chef, a 3,900-bottle wine inventory, and a kitchen philosophy built around small-farm sourcing, this is a strong call. The dinner-only format means there is no lunch trade-off to weigh here: every booking is a full evening commitment at the $$$ price tier, so come with appetite and a reservation secured well in advance. Booking is hard — plan at least two to three weeks out for weekend dates.

About Craftsteak

Tom Colicchio's Craftsteak has operated out of MGM Grand long enough to become one of the Strip's reference-point steakhouses, and the kitchen under chef Mike Chapman continues to deliver on the promise the name carries. The sourcing story is not decorative: vegetables, fruits, and proteins come from local, small farms, which separates the menu from the commodity-cut steakhouses that crowd the corridor between Bellagio and Mandalay Bay. Angus beef and Australian A5 wagyu both appear on the menu, and the braised short ribs — a Colicchio signature that takes three days and 24 hours of braising to complete , represent the kind of labour-intensive cooking that justifies the price premium over faster competitors.

The wine program is a genuine asset. Sommelier Troy Grenstiner oversees a list of roughly 850 selections drawn from an inventory of 3,900 bottles, with California and Bordeaux as the twin pillars. The corkage fee is $50 if you prefer to bring your own. For a special occasion where wine pairing matters as much as the food, few Strip steakhouses offer this depth at the by-the-glass and mid-range bottle level.

On the occasion-suitability question, the room delivers. Large round banquettes in the main dining area work well for groups of four to six, while the bar area provides a quieter setting for a two-person dinner when counter seating is available. Business casual is the dress expectation , no tuxedos required, but treat it as you would any $66-per-head-plus dinner. Pastry chef Carrie Chesto rounds out the meal; the monkey bread served with brown sugar sour cream ice cream is a house specialty worth ordering if you have the room.

The vegetarian tasting menu is a practical option for mixed-group dining. Dishes like crispy sunchokes with thyme and roasted beet salad with clementines show that the kitchen's small-farm sourcing philosophy extends well beyond the protein section of the menu. Families should know a limited kids menu exists, which is uncommon for a steakhouse at this price level on the Strip.

Dinner at Craftsteak

Because Craftsteak serves dinner only, the experience is direct to frame: you are committing to a full evening, and the three-course tasting menu is the most efficient way to cover the range of the kitchen's output. The lobster bisque , tarragon-spiced, with four ounces of lobster , is the recommended starter if you want surf-and-turf without committing to a large entree. The braised short ribs justify the lead time in preparation; ordering them is the clearest way to understand what differentiates Craftsteak from a competent but less considered Strip steakhouse.

For a broader read on where Craftsteak sits among Las Vegas dining options, see our full Las Vegas restaurants guide. If you are planning the wider trip, our Las Vegas hotels guide, bars guide, and experiences guide cover the rest of the itinerary.

For context on how a chef-driven American steakhouse at this tier performs elsewhere, compare against CUT Singapore and Peter Luger in New York. Other chef-driven American fine dining references include Le Bernardin in New York City, Lazy Bear in San Francisco, and The French Laundry in Napa.

How It Compares

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can Craftsteak accommodate groups? Yes. The main dining room has large round banquettes that work well for parties of four to six. For larger groups, contact the restaurant directly through MGM Grand to confirm private dining availability, as this is not confirmed in publicly available data. The bar area is better suited to pairs or small groups of three.
• What should I wear to Craftsteak? Business casual is the stated dress code. At the $$$ price tier on the Strip, that means smart trousers or a dress, no shorts or athletic wear. You do not need to arrive in formal evening wear, but the room is contemporary and polished enough that underdressing will feel out of place.
• Is Craftsteak good for a special occasion? It is one of the more considered choices on the Strip for a celebration dinner. The combination of a James Beard Award-winning chef's name, a serious wine list with 3,900 bottles, and a kitchen that produces dishes like the three-day braised short ribs gives the meal genuine occasion weight. For a birthday or anniversary dinner where food quality matters as much as atmosphere, this outperforms many Las Vegas steakhouses at the same price point. See also how it compares with Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres if spectacle is part of what you are looking for.
• Does Craftsteak handle dietary restrictions? Yes, with a dedicated vegetarian tasting menu that draws on the kitchen's small-farm produce sourcing. Dishes in that menu have included crispy sunchokes with thyme and roasted beet salad with clementines. For other restrictions , gluten, allergies , contact MGM Grand directly before booking, as specific protocols are not confirmed in available data.
• What are alternatives to Craftsteak in Las Vegas? For a different steakhouse format with more theatrical presentation, Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres is the natural comparison. For Japanese beef and a quieter, more intimate room, Aburiya Raku is worth considering. If you want broader variety at a lower price point, Bacchanal Buffet covers the range, though the experience is entirely different. For French brasserie as an alternative to steak, Bardot Brasserie is a credible option at a comparable price tier.
• Can I eat at the bar at Craftsteak? Yes. The bar area is a legitimate dining space, not just a waiting area. It is the better choice for a two-person dinner when you want a slightly more relaxed setting than the main dining room. The full wine list is available at the bar.
• What should I order at Craftsteak? The three-course tasting menu is the most efficient route through the kitchen's range. The braised short ribs are the signature dish and the clearest expression of what the kitchen does that others do not. The lobster bisque works as a starter if you want seafood without a full surf-and-turf entree. The monkey bread with brown sugar sour cream ice cream is the dessert to order. If you are on the vegetarian menu, crispy sunchokes with thyme is the dish most frequently cited as representative of the chef's approach to produce.