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Baja Fresh 4760 W. Sahara Ave., 702/878-7772. Baja Fresh brings authentic Mexican food, fish tacos and healthy eating to Las Vegas, all in a chain. This eatery proves that it is possible that taste and authenticity need not be sacrificed in the name of portion control and corporate pandering. Prices are sinfully cheap. Even by loading up, you do not stretch the wallet, nor do you get anything but well-seasoned and interesting Mexican fast food, something taken for granted in San Diego and Ensenada. For something different, try the charbroiled, brightly seasoned green onions, squirted with lemon juice, as a side dish. Strange to look at, but delicious.

Bay City Diner One Fremont St.(Golden Gate Hotel), 702/385-1906. Once the “Sal Sagev” (get it?), the Golden Gate is the oldest hotel in town and remains one of the coolest. With its dark wood interior, photos of San Francisco and general old-fashioned feel, the Golden Gate retains a lot of charm. Forget the shrimp cocktail and go directly to the Bay City Diner, a 1930s-style coffee shop with wonderful ambiance and huge booths. Have breakfast and watch the strange denizens of Downtown shamble by in the early morning light.

Bix’s 4495 S. Buffalo Dr., 702/889-0800. Bix’s is the bar-restaurant-speakeasy of choice in Las Vegas’s extreme southwestern corner. An attractive decor sets the scene for chef Steve Zucker’s ambitious cuisine. Try the rich Penne Pasta with Tasso Ham ($11.95) or the delightful Crab Cakes ($10.95); be sure to save room for the fabulous Flourless Chocolate Cake ($5.95)—a chocoholic’s dream.

Café Heidelberg German Deli & Restaurant 610 E. Sahara Ave., 702/731-5310. The former Old Heidelberg Restaurant at the corner of 6th Street and Sahara Avenue has been transformed into the new caf… Heidelberg. Don’t fret, lovers of jagerschnitzel and sauerbraten will still find the less-then-light bounty of Bohemia they are looking for in this small, inobtrusive full service restaurant, delicatessen and grocery store. Try the Ziegeunerschnitzel (breaded pork cutlet with saut… ed mushrooms, onions and peppers, smothered in cream sauce, fried-egg topping optional) or the hearty Pfalzer Saumagen (stuffed whole pig stomach). The café omitted Reibekuchen (German pancakes) but the spaetzle makes up for it. The 27-year-old decor may need a facelift, as quaint and cozy as it may be, but the service is always friendly and well-meaning, despite the occasional harriedness.

Capriotti’s 324 W. Sahara Ave., 702/474-0229; 3981 E. Sunset Rd., 702/898-4904; 450 S. Buffalo Ave., 702/838-8659. Capriotti’s specialty is “The Bobbie,” a turkey sub made from turkeys roasted that day, on-premises; it is outstanding. A variety of other sandwiches are offered, and all are way above average, but it’s the Bobbie—an odd-sounding, but wonderfully tasting specialty—that keeps the crowds lined up at the door. It’s a complete Thanksgiving dinner— turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayonnaise—on a sub roll. Classic.

Chang of Las Vegas 3049 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 702/731-3388. The real Chang. The Chinese Chang. Real Chinese food, cooked by real Chinese people. The best and most very Dim Sum in town, in a comfortable and refined restaurant that appears to be very popular with Asians and Gringos alike. The restaurant’s strength is in its Cantonese Seafood and Hong Kong-style preparations, and while the language barrier occasionally results in some service lapses, most of the staff is exceptionally helpful in walking the adventurous diner through the nuances of taste and texture. The Don Tot (egg pastries filled with custard), warm from the oven, is one of the best desserts in Las Vegas.

Chicago Joe’s 820 S. Fourth St., 702/382-5637. From a time when restaurateurs played host to every guest, Joe’s little brick place Downtown has been the site of generations of romantic and intimate Italian meals. CJ’s is in a quaint early-Vegas residence, and offers delicious hot shrimp and lobster dishes along with its red-sauce-and-pasta basics. Get on the good side of your lover and make reservations today! Vegetarian Alert: Italian sauces are made in advance and simmered; ask your server for suggestions.

Coffee Pub 2800 W. Sahara Ave., #2-A, 702/367-1913. If you like Mimi’s in Costa Mesa, you’ll love this place. While the Coffee Pub will be more than happy to serve you a cup o’ wire, the real attraction is its deep breakfast and lunch menu, a menu that’s held up for over a decade. Omelets abound, including a few vegetarian plates. An on-site bakery makes everything from low-fat muffins to decadent chocolate-chip cookies. And you haven’t lived until you’ve had one of the 18 sandwiches, all named for California cities and landmarks, all delicious. Word to the wise: Big business lunches here, so if you elect to visit at one in the afternoon, be prepared to wait.

Coyote Café 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South (inside the MGM Grand), 702/891-7349. Mark Miller and his crew consistently impress with their Nouvelle-Southwestern-chili inspired creations. Chili heads and gourmands can rejoice; the ingenuity of the kitchen is matched by few. Note: The less formal and less expensive caf… offers more mainstream fare; the real stuff continues to be found in the main restaurant. Great tequila bar.

Dona Maria’s 910 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 702/382-6538; 3205 N. Tenaya, 702/656-1600. Decent Mexican food, and its Downtown location—near the Enigma and the Arts Factory—makes this an ideal stop after an evening of gallery-hopping. The tamales are terrific, extra-cheap and the first thing on the menu, which means we usually order a mixed dozen of them—Chicken, Pork, Cheese—and nothing else, split them up and stick one of our party with the check.

Donut Tyme 4268 E. Charleston Blvd., 702/459-2106. Scenario: It’s 4:27 in the morning and you’re on your way back from five hours of hyperkinetic technoboogie when you realize your blood sugar level is so low, your plasma could pass for unsweetened cherry Kool Aid. Desperate, you mindlessly pilot your Galaxie 500 in search of the perfect fix…and by a sheer stroke of luck, Donut Tyme appears in your ride’s gracefully curved windscreen. The lights are on and a neon sign declares “Open 24 Hours.” Just opening the door will bring your blood sugar back within an acceptable range, and few others can hold a crust to the light, flaky, melt-in-your-mouth delicacies found here.

Dosa Den 3430 E. Tropicana Ave., 702/456-4920. Those with a taste for Indian food will want to get “dosed” at this unpretentious Indian joint at the corner of Trop and Pecos. The dosas —huge Indian crepes— are excellent, as is the rest of the Den’s traditional Indian menu. The way-way-out-of-the-way location guarantees you’ll never have to wait for a seat.

El Sombrero Café 807 S. Main St., 702/382-9234. On South Main Street lies the quintessential hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant. This place has been serving authentic south-of-the-border cuisine in the same humble location since 1950. A meal starts with two house-made salsas and fresh chips to prepare the palate for the best chili-based foods in Las Vegas. Next comes the hard part, ordering an entrée. Everything here is wonderful. The Chile Colorado is a perfect blend of tender beef, smoked chilis and peppers. The Chile Verde is a pork and tangy green chili masterpiece. The Albondiga Soup is a meatball lover’s dream. The fresh tamales are always baked up just right. Try any of the traditional enchilada style burritos, tacos, enchiladas or tostadas. (We’re having cravings just typing about it.) Save room for dessert since the sweet Natillas (vanilla pudding studded with white raisins) is absolutely heavenly.

Fatburger Strip (by MGM); Charleston and Decatur boulevards; Sunset Road and Mountain Vista; Nellis Boulevard and Vegas Valley Drive. “Mmm…now that is a tasty burger!” smiles Samuel Jackson in Pulp Fiction. Fatburger cooks up a burger that would make Jules very happy indeed, with a generous patty that pretty much overwhelms the bun, fresh lettuce, tomatoes and onions. It’s available with cheese or chili, a side of spicy curly fries that can’t be beat in this hemisphere and rich shakes thicker than the famed Mississippi mud. Drive through or dine in, enjoying the well-stocked jukebox. [$]

Food Express Chinese Restaurant 2003 S. Decatur Blvd., 702/870-1595. Found in the most unlikely locale in town—next to a chain sandwich shop and across from a Toyota dealership on the West Side—Food Express draws busloads of Asian tourists who know where to find the good stuff. You won’t find any annoying nouveau cuisine here; rather, all the menus are written in Chinese and all the food is deliciously authentic. Take advantage of the joint’s late hours: Ease in around midnight, just in time to see the staff gathered around a table and eating their own dinner family-style. The price is right, the food excellent and the beer cold.

Gandhi’s Indian Cuisine 4080 Paradise Rd., 702/734-0094. This no-nonsense, no hassle Indian joint is very good. Whenever we want to favor a little curry, we usually park our elephant here.

Golden Steer Steakhouse 308 W. Sahara Ave., 702/384-4470. This lavish 1950s Las Vegas meat emporium’s decor includes lots of red and black with walls lined with Winchesters, the Duke and Walter Brennan portraits. It’s like walking into an 1890s bordello crossed with the Long Ranch Saloon. While eating here visions of John Wayne, Hopalong Cassidy and Roy Rogers may dance through your head. The martinis are excellent, the Caesar salad superb—and every steak is cooked to perfection. The prices may be a little steep, but it’s well worth it for a delicious trip back to old time Las Vegas when the Helldorado, not a computer show, was the big draw.

Grape Street Café 7501 W. Lake Mead Blvd., #120, 702/228/9493. This deservedly popular spot is always crowded, but even if you don’t have the time to wait you can always drop by at lunch (somewhat less crowded) or pick up some take out. The sandwiches are great; try the Portobello Philly, the Roasted Vegetable or the Grilled Chicken and Emmenthaler Swiss ($6.95 each). The appetizers are also superb ($5-$10), as is the selection of inexpensive wines.

Hamada of Japan 598 E. Flamingo Rd., 702/733-3005. Chop, chop! Hibachi (cooking-at-your-table) dining is usually expensive, and while not exactly cheap, Hamada is at least reasonable, especially if you order the vegetarian plate (under $10). It’s not on the menu, so ask. You’ll be sharing a table with about ten other strangers, more than half of whom may be tourists; be sure to offer up your knowledge of the city. There’s also a Sushi Bar for the adventurous—and don’t miss the display case of star-autographed dinner plates.

Hard Rock Café 4475 Paradise Rd., 702/733-8400. This rock ’n’ roll eatery is a lot like all the other Hard Rock Cafés around the globe—loud people, loud music, many tourists taking pix next to the World’s Largest Guitar or Madonna’s Panties or whatever. That doesn’t mean it’s not a fun place to eat a casual dinner at fair prices. Burgers are a specialty, and they have a delicious veggie version of this staple. Desserts are big enough for two, and the people watching couldn’t be better.

Huntridge Lunch Counter 1122 E. Charleston Blvd., 702/382-7373. Located right in the Huntridge Drug Store, this place looks exactly like it must have 30 years ago. Both the lunch counter and the surrounding drug store are Vegas artifacts, and a must-see for those curious about Vegas of old. They do good, old-fashioned, totally obsolete and almost extinct Chinese-American food. Chop Suey and Chow Mein are featured on the very short menu, nothing is over five bucks and they do a great hamburger. Chef/owner Bill Fong turns out a Beef Tomato with Vinegar, consisting of good, soft chow mein noodles tossed with chunks of beef and tomato in a light vinegar sauce. It’s Chinese food the way Ozzie and Harriet would’ve liked it. [$]

Jazzed Café & Vinoteca 2055 E. Tropicana Ave., 702/798-5995. Run as a labor of love by dancers Connie Chambers and Kirk Offerle, this bistro has such a strong European flavor you’ll feel like you just got off the Concorde. The wine list is magnificent and the food couldn’t be more delicious; try the Risottos. Unlike most, Jazzed stays open ’til the wee hours, sensually lit by candles and Deco lamps—a perfect place to unwind after an evening of work or play.

Krispy Kreme 3521 S. Rainbow Blvd., 702/222-2320. The best doughnut in the East has found its way West. You’ll find 15 varieties of melt-in-your-mouth doughnuts, including its trademark Krispy Kreme Original Glazed as well as cake doughnuts, bagels and Krispy Cheeses. There’s a reason that Elvis himself preferred Krispy Kreme doughnuts; try one and you’ll never doubt the King’s taste again.

Liberty Café at White Cross Drugs 1700 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 702/382-1733. Unlike the growing numbers of snooty 24/7 coffee shops proliferating in the hotels, the Liberty has integrity. In the best greasy-spoon tradition, they fry up everything—burgers, eggs, you name it—on the same griddle and serve the best breakfast in town. Order the biscuits and gravy—tastes good, and so good for you!

Lindo Michoacan 2655 E. Desert Inn Rd., 702/735-6828. Musician Lyle Lovett once said that the hardest thing about touring was having to eat what the rest of the country thinks is Mexican food. Those longing for the real thing, or wanting to try it, should go to the best Mexican restaurant in town, Lindo Michoacan. It has raised the bar for its competition with numerous regional specialties, such as the Birra de Chivo—roasted goat meat served with huge, freshly-made flour tortillas in a rich and mild red sauce. If you’re stuck with the taco-enchilada-burrito crowd, invite one of them to live dangerously by trying the Molé Rojo, a nice-sized chicken breast smothered in a piquant dark red molé sauce. For those sweet of tooth, the silky flan—possessing a hint of tartness—is ethereal. A great tequila bar and a colorful new expansion makes this one of the great party restaurants in town, large or small.

Luv-It 505 E. Oakey Blvd., 702/384-6452. A Vegas drive-up dessert institution since 1973, this small unassuming cinder block house serves up its trademark frozen custard - made daily from fresh cream and eggs - to a steady stream of cabs, limos, strippers (Olympic Garden is next door), cops and locals. No classic Vegas evening is complete without pulling up to the tiny ordering window for your own special treat.

Mediterranean Café & Market 4147 S. Maryland Pkwy., 702/731-6030. A quaint café melts together with a small Mideast market and spice room to create this longtime favorite. Try the thick Turkish coffee, the saffron and pistachio ice cream, along with quite possibly the best hummus, falafel, and baklava in town. The background music always gets you in the spirit, and the casual atmosphere, recently expanded indoor/outdoor seating, espresso drink menu and nifty little grocery will have you stopping by for more than just lunch. Fresh and unpretentious, with uniformly good food and service.

Metro Pizza 4001 S. Decatur Blvd., 702/362-7896; 3870 E. Flamingo Rd., 702/458-4769; 2250 E. Tropicana Ave., 702/736-1955. Few pizza joints in town can rival the venerable Metro, which rightfully has a reputation for some of the best deep-dish pie in town (try the broccoli-laden Wrigley Field), in addition to a varied pasta menu. Many dishes are big enough for two, making Metro ideal for that casual pre-concert dinner. Frozen cocktails, fresh salad, yummy shakes, excellent prices.

Montesano’s 3441 W. Sahara Ave., 702/876-0348. Both this small restaurant, and the Italian deli beside it, bring a bit of Back East Italian charm and good food to Las Vegas. Most Italian restaurants in Vegas serve food that tastes as if it was made in a communal kitchen somewhere on Industrial Road, and then shipped to every pasta joint in town; Montesano’s serves up simple and hearty pastas and Southern Italian food that is twice as good at half the price of these mediocre Mediterraneans. The Montesano family also provides Las Vegas with first-quality Italian baked goods from its prospering wholesale baker. Along with the Siena Deli on East Tropicana, Montesano’s brings quality, individuality and good taste to Italian food in Las Vegas.

Mortoni’s 4455 Paradise Rd., 702/693-5000 (Hard Rock Hotel). Let’s make this perfectly clear: Any place that has massive tile on the floors and hardwood on the ceilings has got to be pure swank in our book, and thus in our Guide as well. Check out the huge black and white stills of the Rat Pack from Ocean’s 11 stare down at the clientele. Varied pasta dishes, excellent appetizers, and steak and seafood fired over wood set your evening ablaze. Not a place for first dates, but perfect for special occasions or whenever it’s time to live large.

Motown Café 3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 702/740-6440 (New York-New York Hotel). “The Sound of Young America” tastes pretty good, too. If we ate here every day, our arteries would combust—but, man alive, what a way to go. The entrees are rich and heavy—try the Firehouse Meatloaf (with collard greens!), Vegetable Pasta Salad or Chicken & Waffles (yes, we’re serious). Sing along with the superbly talented Motown Café Moments vocal group while you gorge, and be prepared to waddle out. This is easily the absolute coolest of Vegas’ theme eateries, with a friendly vibe and cool to spare.

Mr. Lucky’s 24/7 4455 Paradise Rd., 702/693-5000 (Hard Rock Hotel). As the name affirms, the Hard Rock Hotel’s coffee shop is indeed open 24/7—but you’ll find no cheap shrimp cocktail specials on this menu. What you will find when you slip yourself into one of the tiger-stripe upholstered booths is Mr. Lucky’s diverse, full-service menu (from pizza to steak to breakfast), old Vegas neons, great people watching and some of the most attractive servers in town. Try the fire-roasted nachos for a messy, delicious treat.

Napa 3700 W. Flamingo Rd. (Rio Masquerade Village), 702/ 252-7777. Nouvelle cuisine finally comes to Las Vegas, 20 years after it was big news in Europe, New York and California. Jean-Louis Palladin and his staff are cooking the best food in Las Vegas right now. The service is formal yet relaxed, and the prices are way up there—where they should be for ingredients and cooking this good. As long as Palladin stays in the kitchen, you can expect Napa to be one of the best restaurants in town, if not the best. Once he rides into the sunset, this evaluation may change. The incredible wine list and wine by the glass selection is unmatched by any establishment in Las Vegas, or maybe even the United States.

Olde Philadelphia 3430 E. Tropicana Ave., 702/456-0864. Run by a South Philly refugee, Olde Philadelphia serves up the best cheesesteak in town. Other menu items include Italian hoagies, ravioli and spaghetti dinners, wings, fingers and other goodies. Casual, laid-back atmosphere; smokers always welcome.

Original Pancake House 4833 W. Charleston Blvd., 702/259-7755. This Portland, Oregon, family-run chain took an ostensibly good location (but poison to four restaurants in seven years), and made it a success by serving only breakfast and lunch. And with pancakes predominating on the menu, no less. But what pancakes they are! The giant apple pancake comes to the table looking more like a dessert souffl… for four, and could easily feed that many. The Dutch Baby and German Pancakes are almost as large, but with a Yorkshire pudding-like consistency that is chewy, full of flavor and amazingly light on the stomach. Here, you don’t feel like a lead brick was deposited in your gut after breakfast. Combine this pleasant non-sensation with a United Nations potpourri of pancake alternatives, and you have something for practically everyone. Excellent coffee, too.

Original Thai BBQ 1424 S. Fourth St., 702/383-1128. Thai BBQ attracts loyal customers who recognize it as one of the best in town. Friendly and helpful service makes both hardcore Thai aficionados and novices alike feel welcome. Start your meal with the Wings of Angel, and you’ll enjoy two huge boneless and stuffed chicken legs, served with a sweet and sour cucumber sauce. A single order will amply serve four as an appetizer. If the BBQ bug has bitten you, proceed directly to the Beef Sat… . Again, you get more than enough to split four ways, with six large skewers holding marinated sliced beef, which needs no accent or sauce to complement it. Salads continue the trend of “more is more,” with ample portions of the Thai Beef and Papaya versions, which succeed in conveying that hot/sweet thing that Thai cuisine does so well. Beware, however, the crunchy and juliened papaya salad. It will blow your head off if you request it hot, as the kitchen does it for non-Gringo patrons.

Palm 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South (Forum Shops), 702/732-7256. From the opening breadbasket to the prime steaks and huge grilled lobsters, Palm gets our nod for best steakhouse in a very crowded category. Steakhouses are threatening to become the burger franchises of the 21st century as Boomers flaunt their affluence and their waistlines. Palm consistently outperforms the competition, with the best steaks and lobsters in town. The broiled/slightly charred lobsters make this a place even those who eschew red meat can love. The service is consistently excellent, and the newly-improved wine list, with a good selection by the glass, demonstrates the reason for Palm’s top position. Only an excessive noise level and uncomfortable booths keep the dining experience here from being perfect.

Petite Provence 3715 S. Decatur Blvd., 702/248-7272. Run by the charming Gourgeon family of Avignon, this delightful restaurant brings Las Vegans a taste of the real France. All of the recipes are mother Christine Gourgeon’s own, lovingly prepared by chef Christofe Bonnegrace; try the Soupe a l’Oignon ($3.75), Coq au Vin ($12.50), Poisson Florentine ($14.25) or the Quiche Lorraine ($4.50). Appetizers and desserts are splendid—and the prices the best you’ll find in town for such magnifique French food.

Rainbow’s End Natural Foods & Café 1100 E. Sahara Ave., 702/737-7282. Enjoy bowls of miso soup, tasty vegetable-packed lasagna, steamed Basmati rice, and veggie pizza. And don’t forget the peerless Rainbow Burrito: organic pinto beans, brown rice and two different cheeses in a whole wheat tortilla. Have a seat or take your health to go, shopping the market’s great selection of vitamins, foodstuffs and fresh produce while you wait.

Spago 3500 S. Las Vegas Blvd. South, 702/369-6300. An institution uniquely Los Angeles in all respects, Spago has cloned itself and entered the land of the Philistines. Consider the following innovations for which we can thank we can thank Spago (and Wolfgang Puck): Taking the mundane pizza and elevating it to culinary exotica, while simultaneously returning it to its origins; making a formal, expensive restaurant with first-class food seem fun, alive and not-so-formal; putting a less-expensive caf… next to the formal restaurant, serving much of the same fare at lesser prices; opening the kitchen to the public, making the kitchen’s performance part of the dining experience. Toss in dazzling restaurant design and a see-and-be-seen atmosphere, and you have the restaurant as theater. What Spago did in Los Angeles, and continues to do here, is create the quintessential melting-pot restaurant.

Suzette’s 4949 N. Rancho (Santa Fe Hotel), 702/658-4900. Suzette’s gives Las Vegas the closest thing to a classic, haute cuisine French restaurant, at prices below those at the timeworn “gourmet” rooms on the Strip. Menu items like Lobster Thermidor, Veal Oscar and Steak Tartare are a throwback to the heyday of rich French cooking, and are given the complete big-deal-meal treatment here. The Smoked Sturgeon Steaks with Dill Sauce impress even jaded palates. Only the mediocre and overpriced wine list, and too few selections by the glass, keep Suzette’s from among Vegas’s top restaurants. Otherwise, Suzette’s scores consistently with cooking, atmosphere and style far above that found in most major hotels.

Texas BBQ 5301 W. Charleston Blvd., 702/878-4189. Tough to find, but worth it. This minuscule trailer with attached smokehouse serves up Texas beef brisket that almost melts in your mouth. The mildly spicy, tomato-based barbecue sauce provides the perfect foil for this slow-cooked, smoky cut of beef. The limited menu features Barbecue Chicken, Texas Hot Links, and the standard side dishes, of which the barbecue baked beans are the most notable. Having owner Joe Orduna there—cooking the brisket, greeting the customers, making the sandwiches and serving the food—makes this the closest thing in town to the rural barbecue shacks of the deep South. Follow your nose, and prepare to eat one of the best sandwiches in town.

Togoshi Ramen 855 E. Twain Ave., 702/737-7003. On your next lunch hour, try weaning yourself off fast food and try Togoshi’s quickly prepared, inexpensive and tasty noodles and other unpretentious Asian fare.

Viva Mercado’s 6182 W. Flamingo Rd., 702/871-8826; 4500 E. Sunset Road, 702/435-6200. Radiant City’s premier family-owned Mexican restaurant now has two locations, a necessity forced by Mercado’s Numero Uno being packed to the rafters every night of the week. This is a reputation built on taste and quality, and Bobby Mercado and his clan will see to it that your visit to his eatery is muy bueno. Expect excellence all around, including succulent seafood dishes, a huge vegetarian selection and prompt, friendly service. No reservations are taken, so be prepared to wait with Carol at the bar while slowly slurping superpotent melon margaritas. Hint: Get a roll of quarters at the bar, and your first round is free.

Voodoo Café & Lounge 3700 W. Flamingo Rd. (atop the Rio Hotel & Casino), 702/252-7777. What you’ve got here is the glitz, the view and some of the more expensive and mainstream Cajun and Creole cuisine in town. Two lunch entrées, with a split appetizer and dessert, and no alcoholic beverages, run up a $40 tab. If you like exotic drinks, this is the place for you: Voodoo’s expensive (and lethal) libations boast such names as Sexual Trance, Love Potion and Royal Hypnotist.

Wild Oats Market & Café 3455 E. Flamingo Rd., 702/434-8115; 6720 W. Sahara Ave., 702/253-7050; 7250 W. Lake Mead Blvd., 702/942-1500. Wild Oats is a true ranch market that stocks produce, fat-free canned goods, all-natural meats and enough vitamins to fortify an entire army of malnourished nightflies. This should clue you as to what awaits you in the Wild Café : a trip to the bountiful salad bar (a steal at $3.99 a pound), followed by a nonfat banana yogurt shake from the nearby Wild World Juice and Java Bar. It’s worth noting that the café uses purely organic vegetables (what else?), and the baked goods and dressings are homemade.

Zuka Juice 4750 W. Sahara Ave., #14, 702/877-6844; 9002 W. Sahara Ave., 702/254-6515; 1500 N. Green Valley Pkwy, #240, 702/270-3336. One sip of one of these smoothies will have you hooked for life. Try the all-fruit Orange Octane (freshly squeezed oranges, bananas and strawberries). Take the taste buds on a trip to the tropics with the Mango Mango or the Calypso Guava. Or go for something with a little more zoom like the chocolate/coffee Zukaccino. Every Zuka Juice location features 26 fruit and vegetable juices and 12 boosters (bee pollen, ginseng powder), and this Utah-based chain seems to open new locations monthly. Before too long, we’ll all be on the juice.