According to Zagat's just-released 2009 London Restaurants guide, Italian takes the prize as the city’s cuisine of choice, even though New French fave Gordon Ramsay at 68 Royal Hospital Rd. reclaimed the No. 1 spot for Food (after a year in second place to Chez Bruce) and maintained the No. 1 rank for Service. But no matter what the cuisine, the Survey indicates Londoners don’t seem to find the rising average cost of a meal (now £40.55, up 3.7% from last year) a deterrent from eating out – 82% of the Survey respondents report that they are going out just as much if not more than they were two years ago. Those who are looking to save some money should check out the Best Buys list, which is topped by Food for Thought, Churchill Arms and Books for Cooks.

Alex Stratta already has an eponymous restaurant at Wynn Las Vegas on the Strip – that would be Alex – but he’s added another with Stratta, a more casual rustic Italian with an open-fire hearth; its less expensive (though still pricey) menu offers pizzas and pastas plus dishes more characteristic of the chef, such as tenderloin of beef with eggplant rollatini.

3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas; 702-770-3463

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