Over the last dozen or so years dining in Las Vegas has moved away from cheap buffets and $2 steaks toward more of a high-end experiences. However, restaurants come and go in Las Vegas as quickly as money at the craps tables. Here are places that have been around for the long haul and provide consistently worthy fare, so they are able to weather changing food and palate trends.

Cheap

The Strip

'wichcraft at the MGM Grand

A high-end sandwich shop, you can get out of here with a filling and fresh meal for well under the cost of a buffet.

Carnegie Deli at the Mirage

Huuuuge. If two of you are going there for lunch, order just one and split it.

Downtown

Snack bar at the Golden Gate

Not only is the shrimp cocktail amazingly cheap — now $1.99, up from the 99 cents it was for years — but it's the best in town. Read a little more about it here.

The Gold Spike

This little place may have the lowest food prices in the universe, but it's hard to recommend it for normal-hours dining. But in the wee hours of the morning? It's a fantastic place then.

Off-Strip

Mr. Lucky's 24/7 Cafe: Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

Serving diner food at diner prices inside the Hard Rock, this is a great just-off-the-strip stop if your budget is starting to get tight. Just know that the Hard Rock loves to live up to its name and the PA system is loud, meaning normal conversation is about impossible. A not-on-the menu Vegas saver is the Gambler's Special — $7.77 for a steak, shrimp and potatoes. Ask your server.

Pink Taco: Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

This is Southwest food done Las Vegas style. Calaberas, low-rider bikes and Mexican wrestling masks are just a part of the decor… as is the louder-than-necessary music over the PA system. However, you will be visiting more for the ambiance and drinks than the food, which is better than average but not special. Know that happy hour specials only apply if you're sitting at the bar.

Buffets

The Strip

The Buffet at Bellagio: Next to the "O" Theatre

Easily the best buffet in town, though not the cheapest, it's still the most bang for the buck with high-end casual fare at $25 per person. Lunch time is the most value because, really, you can get pancakes and eggs just about anywhere for less cash. The Gourmet dinner can also be skipped, as it's just the same food with a fancier name. As with any buffet this dining spot is no secret, so be prepared to wait in line.

Also worth considering, in the order we'd recommend them:

• The Rio
• The Wynn
• Planet Hollywood
• Excalibur (especially with kids)

Downtown

Garden Court Buffet at Main Street Station

Vegas is a buffet kind of town, and the Main Street Station is Downtown's best. It's huge and runs the gamut from standard American comfort food to Asian specialties. No other buffet in the area really comes close.

Especially for Hawaiians

The California, a Downtown casino, caters to visitors from America's 50th state. If you're an islander craving a nice Spam dish or a bit of poi, just go to the California and head to Aloha Specialties or the California Club snack bar.

Fine dining

The Strip

Drai's Las Vegas French Restaurant & Lounge

Located inside Bill's Gamblin' Hall and Saloon.

For an old-school Hollywood meets Las Vegas feel, Drai's is the place. Dark wood, leopard-print furniture and lots of poster-size pics of yesteryear Hollywood starlets lend to the opulent feel of this long Las Vegas favorite. Best known for it's French and vegetarian fare, treat yourself here if you've got some cash to spare. The after-hours nightlife scene at Drai's has also been a locals' favorite as THE party spot.

Aureole at Mandalay Bay

A creation and sister restaurant to Charlie Palmer's Aureole in New York, this restaurant is best known for its extensive wine selection and for its "wine angels" –- sommeliers harnessed to bungees in order to navigate the wine tower. Aureole's seasonal menu changes according to ingredient availability. "Progressive American" fare mostly constitutes fowl and beef with some creative sauces. You can order a la carte or for a more complete (and slightly less expensive) experience, multi-course, prix fixe menus with or without wine pairings are available.

SW Steakhouse at the Wynn

One of the nicest steak and chop houses you'll ever enjoy. Especially if you have a couple of glasses of robust red wine before looking at the bill. If outdoor dining is your thing, ask to be seated on the patio overlooking the casino's lake.

Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesar's Palace

This place is heavy on the French cuisine and long dining experiences. It's not a restaurant you can just duck into for a quick bite. It's a place to sit and savor for a few hours. If you're a true gourmand and don't mind shelling out the big bucks, the 10-course Menu Prestige could be the highlight of your trip.

Downtown

The Grotto at the Golden Nugget

The Golden Nugget dominates the high-dollar selections Downtown, as that part of town isn't geared much toward the Big Spenders. The Grotto features excellent Italian food, and with the right seat, a nice view of the hotel's swimming area.