Staying at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas is like living inside a gilded Renaissance painting, if that painting also featured a massive indoor canal, a Sephora, and enough air conditioning to freeze a woolly mammoth. On our recent family trip—consisting of myself, my husband, and our two daughters (ages 8 and 10)—we decided to tackle the food labyrinth of the Grand Canal Shops.
We’ve already debated the merits of Bouchon vs. Gjelina (check that out on the blog if you want the high-brow tea), but today we’re talking about the “casual” side of things. Or at least, what Vegas claims is casual. In a city where a bottle of water costs more than my first car, “casual” is a relative term.
Buckle up, because our food diary involves Christmas tamales, a quest for the “best” pizza, and a Wagyu burger that nearly made us miss our exit on the drive back to LA.
Christmas Lunch at CHICA: When “Upscale Food” Meets “Speed-Dial”
Nothing says “Merry Christmas” like sitting under the vibrant, artistic chandeliers of CHICA by Lorena Garcia. Now, I’ll be honest: walking in, the vibe is incredible. It feels upscale. It smells like ambition and wood-fired spices. It’s the kind of place where you feel like you should be wearing a silk wrap, even if you’re actually just wearing your “nice” leggings because, hey, it’s vacation.
Because it was Christmas Day, they offered a special holiday menu alongside their standard Latin-fusion fare. Since I wasn’t quite ready to dive into the tequila before noon (I have to keep at least one eye on the 8-year-old), I opted for the Nothing Rhymes with Orange fresh-pressed juice. It was vibrant, citrusy, and made me feel like I was making a healthy choice before the inevitable onslaught of carbs.
The Food Verdict:
- Ahi Tuna Appetizer: This was the star. Fresh, zingy, and exactly what you want from a high-end Vegas eatery.
- Wild Mushroom Tamale: I had high hopes. I wanted to be transported to a mystical forest of flavor. Instead, I was transported to… a microwave? It was lukewarm and, frankly, just “okay.”
- The “Speedy” Service: Our food arrived so fast I’m convinced they have a precognitive chef who knew what we wanted before we sat down. While speed is great when you have kids, it usually means the food is sitting in the back under a heat lamp, waiting for its moment of mediocre glory.
The Takeaway: If you’re looking for a “place to see and be seen,” CHICA is great. If you’re looking for a culinary epiphany on Christmas Day? Skip it.
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria: The “Best in Vegas” Myth
Next on our tour was Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, located on the Palazzo side of the Grand Canal Shops. We went here on the high recommendation of a friend who swore on his life that this was the absolute best pizza in Las Vegas.
As residents of Los Angeles, we are admittedly pizza snobs. We have access to everything from authentic Neapolitan to the legendary thin-crust styles that define the West Coast scene. So, we walked into Grimaldi’s with our expectations set to “Transcendental.”
The Order:
- The Ivy Pizza: This is their white pizza with garlic, topped with pesto, mushrooms, white onions, and jalapeños.
- The Drinks: My husband and I each had an Italian Margarita. Now, I will give them credit here—this wasn’t your standard syrup-fest. It was a sophisticated blend of Casamigos Reposado, amaretto, and fresh lime, giving it that nutty, marzipan-adjacent finish.
- The Salad: We split the Cherry Pecan Salad. It was light, the pecans were crunchy, and it provided a nice “I ate a vegetable” buffer before the cheese arrived.
The Verdict:
The pizza was… fine. Just fine. It was solid, edible, and perfectly acceptable. But the “Best in Vegas”? If this is the gold standard, Vegas might need to check its stats. The crust lacked that soul-satisfying char.
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer: The Road Trip Food Savior
We saved Black Tap for our departure. Since we were staring down the long, dusty barrel of the I-15 back to LA, we decided to get our order to-go. Black Tap is famous for their “CrazyShakes” and their award-winning burgers. According to Food Network’s burger rankings, the quality of a burger is defined by the blend of the meat and the squish of the bun.
The “CrazyShakes” Spectacle:
While my husband was waiting for our to-go order, he saw a few of these legendary shakes come out of the kitchen. They are less “beverage” and more “architectural marvel.” We’re talking about the Brooklyn Blackout—a chocolate shake with a chocolate-frosted rim rolled in mini chocolate chips, topped with two full-sized brownies. Or the Cotton Candy Shake, which features a pink lollipop, rock candy, and a massive cloud of actual cotton candy. They are essentially a theme park in a glass. I will be honest and tell you we didn’t tell our kids that this place even had shakes so we avoided them gulping these monster looking delicious drinks and then throwing them up in the car when they watch too much tv on the tablets and get car sick.
The Star of the Show:
We ordered the Wagyu Steakhouse Burger. At $26.50, it’s not a “value meal,” but in 2026, that’s basically the price of a burger everywhere. Made with 1/2 pound of Wagyu beef and topped with pepper jack cheese, smoked bacon, and crispy onions, it was a 10/10.
The Ultimate Kid-Menu Food Breakdown: Tenders, Fries, and the Truth
When you travel with an 8 and 10-year-old, the “Kids’ Menu” isn’t just a suggestion; it’s a legal document. If the chicken tenders aren’t up to par, the entire vacation vibe is at risk. Here is how our three stops stacked up for the younger set:
CHICA: The “Fancy” Finger Food
At CHICA, the kids’ chicken fingers and fries were presented beautifully. However, as I mentioned with my tamale, the speed of the kitchen suggested they were “ready to roll” a bit too quickly. My girls ate them, but they weren’t asking for seconds. It’s a great place if you want your kids to feel “grown-up” in a fancy setting, but don’t expect them to discover a new favorite flavor profile.
Grimaldi’s: The Safe Haven
You really can’t mess up a traditional cheese pizza for kids. Grimaldi’s coal-fired ovens give the crust a bit of a crunch that my 10-year-old appreciated, but my 8-year-old (who is currently in a “soft crust” phase) was less enthused. It’s the safest bet in the Venetian if you have picky eaters, but it won’t win any awards for creativity.
Black Tap: The Undisputed Champions
Black Tap understands children. Their chicken tenders were crispy, juicy, and came in portions that actually filled them up for the car ride home. When you factor in the visual stimulation of the shakes being made at the bar, this is the one place where my kids were actually entertained by the food itself. If you want a “no-fight” dinner, this is your spot.
Venetian Dining Survival Guide: 3 Tips for Parents
Navigating the Grand Canal Shops at The Venetian can be overwhelming. To ensure your family feast doesn’t turn into a family feud, keep these tips in mind:
- Timing is Everything: Especially on holidays like Christmas, “lunch” starts early. If you show up at 1:00 PM without a reservation, you’ll be eating a granola bar from your purse while waiting two hours for a table.
- The “To-Go” Strategy: Like we did with Black Tap, don’t be afraid to order to-go. Sometimes eating a world-class Wagyu burger in the comfort of your hotel room (or your car) is more relaxing than managing kids in a high-energy restaurant.
- Hydration is Luxury: Buy your water at a CVS or Walgreens before you hit the hotel. Using your dining budget on $9 bottles of water is a rookie mistake that will haunt your credit card statement.
Read More on Culinary Passages
- Is Bouchon Actually Better? The Definitive Guide to Dining at The Venetian
- The LA to Vegas Car Ride with Kids Survival Guide
- A Vegas Battle of the Shows: Magic, Acrobatics, and Animals
- The Great and Bold Vegas Transport Gauntlet:
- 3 Stages of Dating: The Ultimate Pizza Compatibility Test for Couples
About the Author: Ginger Graham
Ginger Graham is a food enthusiast, travel writer, and a professional “Mom-Manager” to two energetic daughters. Based in Los Angeles, Ginger travels the world (or at least the Southwest) in search of the perfect bite, all while documenting the hilarious reality of family travel on Culinarypassages.com. She believes that life is too short for bad coffee or lukewarm tamales.
