latimes.com

"Eating Las Vegas 2013" is just out. The third edition of the savvy guide to Vegas dining has three very different critics -- John Curtas (KNPR Nevada Public Radio), Max Jacobson (dining critic for Seven magazine) and Al Mancini (Las Vegas CityLife) -- putting their heads together to come up with a list of the city's 50 essential restaurants.

It's a fun read because sometimes the three wildly disagree. There's even a section of vetoes, restaurants that one critic or another adamently refused to put on the essential list. This year, that would include Bouchon Bistro and Las Molcajetes. Previous vetoes cite Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill, Craftsteak and Scarpetta. These Vegas critics are a tough bunch.

Who's in and out of the top 10? In: Marché Bacchus, Raku and Valentino. Out: Michael Mina, Twist, Bar Masa. To read why, you'll have to buy the book.

I had to laugh when I read Jacobson's dedication to "all the schnorrer wannabes out there who think they could do my job." It's tougher than it looks.

Eating Las Vegas 2013, Huntington Press, Las Vegas, $12.95.

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