The suburban city south-east of Las Vegas proper. The Water Street District holds the old downtown; Green Valley Ranch and District at Green Valley Ranch carry the modern food map.
Elia Authentic Greek Taverna in Las Vegas is the Boca Park family-run Greek room, a neighbourhood taverna with grilled lamb chops, pastitsio and house-baked spanakopita.
Signature: Pastitsio, Lamb chops, Spanakopita
Order: Lamb chops grilled over open flame with lemon and oregano; ask for the saganaki to start.
Tip: Lunch runs daily specials at a lower spend; the dinner mezze platter feeds three to four.
CraftHaus Brewery in Henderson is the original Booze District taproom, pouring Belgian and German-leaning craft beers with viewing windows into the working brewhouse.
Tip: Order the spent-grain pretzel rolls with warm beer cheese; the patio takes dogs and the room is non-gaming, rare for the valley.
Lovelady Brewing on Water Street in Henderson is the family-run brewpub that opened first in the revitalised Water Street District, pouring a small-batch range with a long shuffleboard table.
Tip: Order the alcoholic milkshakes (a Lovelady signature); the Pebble Marketplace second taproom across town covers Green Valley.
San Gennaro Feast in spring at M Resort Henderson is the bi-annual Italian heritage festival, sausage and peppers, cannoli and zeppoles plus rides over five days each April and again in late September.
Tip: Free entry under 54 inches tall; Wednesday opening night's $20 unlimited-ride wristband is the cheapest entry, weekday crowds clear faster than Saturday.
San Gennaro Feast in autumn is the 45th annual celebration of the Patron Saint of Naples at M Resort Henderson, sausage and peppers, cannoli and live international acts five nights.
Tip: Same vendor lineup as the spring edition; Saturday afternoon (13:00 start) is the friendliest for kids, Friday and Saturday nights run latest at 23:00.
Roberto's Taco Shop on South Eastern in Henderson is the 80-location San Diego chain's local branch, where the California burrito (carne asada, fries, cheese, guac) runs $9 to $11.
Try: California burrito $9-11, rolled tacos $6
Tip: California burrito and a horchata for $13; drive-thru open until midnight, ask for the rolled tacos as a side.
The Cracked Egg in Henderson is the family-owned 2002 breakfast room on North Green Valley Parkway, plating omelettes, scrambles and eggs benedict for the early Henderson crowd.
Order: Eggs Benedict with corned-beef hash; skillet of the day with hash browns.
Tip: Open at 06:00 every day; the corned beef hash and the chicken-fried steak with eggs are the local standing orders.
Egg Works on Sunset Road in Las Vegas is the seven-location family breakfast chain, with saloon-door entry, a ceiling toy train and the flip-card service system locals know by heart.
Order: Chicken enchilada omelet; the Cincy chili if you grew up east of the Mississippi.
Tip: Flip the egg card on the table to flag a server; the chicken enchilada omelet and Cincinnati-style chili are the off-menu locals' picks.
The Original Sunrise Cafe on South Eastern in Las Vegas is the two-decade neighbourhood brunch counter, doing Benedicts, omelettes and the Crunchberry French Toast on a small patio.
Order: Burnt Ends Brisket Benedict; Crunchberry French Toast for the table.
Tip: No reservations and Saturday and Sunday waits run an hour; arrive by 08:00 or after 13:00 and ask about the Brisket Benedict.
Boulder City sits 30 minutes south of Las Vegas on US-93, with the Coffee Cup Cafe at 512 Nevada Way as the breakfast anchor: pork chile verde omelette and the Guy Fieri-featured plate from the Diners Drive-Ins and Dives Season 1 breakfast episode.
Tip: Coffee Cup runs 06:00 to 14:00 daily, busiest 09:00 to 11:00; combine the visit with a Hoover Dam tour for a half-day from the Strip.
The Oasis at Death Valley at Furnace Creek is the AAA Four Diamond Inn and the Ranch resort 120 miles northwest of Las Vegas, with the Inn Dining Room, Last Kind Words Saloon and Ranch 1849 buffet.
Tip: Inn Dining Room runs the upscale lunch; for a one-tank day trip, lunch at the Ranch 1849 buffet and ice cream parlor before driving back via Zabriskie Point.
Henderson's Water Street District is 20 minutes south of Las Vegas, with Lovelady Brewing as the first brewery in the revitalised strip plus a row of cafes, taprooms and the original Roberto's Taco Shop.
Tip: Walk the Water Street strip from Lovelady Brewing south to Hops and Vine; Saturday mornings the Henderson Farmers Market runs in the Pavilion next door.