I’m headed to Las Vegas on Monday for the 26th Annual International Pizza Expo. I go every year — it’s part of my job since my company owns the show and, well, I have to go.

This year, however, the show falls on my birthday (March 3rd). On the one hand, I’m in Vegas on my birthday. On the other hand, I’m working all night on my birthday since we a big party that night (don’t worry about me. I’m pretending it’s my birthday party and everyone is there for me).

I’ve been tasked with trying to find a restaurant to celebrate my birthday dinner on Monday night. Our staff stays at the Las Vegas Hilton, which has a great steakhouse, but we ate there last year.

My search took me online. Man, there are a lot of restaurants in Las Vegas. This will be my fifth time to Sin City, and I haven’t even scratched the culinary surface. I’ve scoured Kudzu and Trip Advisor and I’m more confused than ever. I don’t want Italian (I’m headed to a pizza convention, for Pete’s sake!), and my crew doesn’t do Chinese or sushi. We’re looking for middle-of-the-road pricing, since we’re on a per diem, and I hate making my mates spend their gambling … er… dinner cash celebrating the awesomeness that was my birth 34 years ago.

How do you go about finding a restaurant in unfamiliar territory? I eventually put a call out on Facebook and ended up choosing Mon Ami Gabi at the Paris Las Vegas (escargot! brie! steak! Yum!)

But… I’m always open to other options …

(Photo courtesy of Creative Commons)