The Strip's newest resort, the $1.9 billion Palazzo, has a beautifully decorated gaming area, more than 3,000 suites and a host of first-to-the-market retailers.

The real stars of this show, however, might be the 15 restaurants that feature cuisines from a variety of world-class chefs as well as at least one local favorite.

Strip resort owners learned long ago the best way to keep guests on the property is to offer everything one could need or want within those walls.

At least from a dining perspective, these guys have it covered.

There are the one-name wunderchefs, such as Emeril, Mario and Wolfgang, that just about anyone with basic cable service will recognize.

The lineup also includes Charlie Trotter, who is at least as equally revered within the industry as those other guys, and up-and-comer Eric Bauer, executive chef at Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro.

For a bit of local flavor, add the Woo family, whose recently closed Mayflower Restaurant on Sahara Avenue has been a neighborhood favorite for years.

Here's a quick look at all of Palazzo's dining options, starting with the places already open, in no particular order.

Mario Batali's Carnevino offers modern Italian cuisine, traditional steakhouse classics and an international wine list. The newest Las Vegas restaurant from Batali and his partner, winemaker Joe Bastianich, is in the style of a classic Italian villa.

At Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro, Bauer's offerings include classic steakhouse fare, an iced seafood bar, a cheese and charcuterie bar with more than 30 farmhouse and artisanal cheeses and handmade salamis and meats. Master mixologist Livio Lauro presents myriad handcrafted cocktails only available at Morels.

Jay-Z's 40/40 Club is envisioned by the music industry mogul as a combination sports bar, nightclub and restaurant that specializes in food you can get your hands on. Since the focus of this club is watching sports from one of the 85 plasma screen television sets, Jay-Z wanted to feature dishes that are easy to handle. Whether viewing a sporting event from the bar, the comfortable bleacher seats or one of the private rooms, the wings, cows-in-a-blanket, minitacos and other dishes are very hand-friendly.

The Cheesecake Factory people decided the Grand Lux Cafe concept worked so well at the adjacent Venetian, they would open another at the Palazzo. The cafe blends the luxury of European cafes with the sensibilities and spirit of an all-American restaurant. The broad range of entrees includes Miso Glazed Salmon, Chicken Madeira and a selection of specialty pastas.

Jade Noodles Dim Sum Restaurant offers authentic Asian noodle dishes and dim sum. Chef Simon To draws from several cooking styles, including Cantonese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese and Szechuan.

Dishes include Singapore-Style Pan-Fried Crab with Chili, Abalone and Chicken Congee, Rare Filet Mignon Noodle Soup and Steamed Lobster in Garlic Sauce.

Espressamente Illy has chosen the Palazzo to introduce its first full-service coffee bar in the United States. With more than 150 coffee bars around the world Espressamente Illy offers a leisure setting to enjoy premium coffee-based beverages as well as a wide selection of food items. The menu includes pastries and bakery selections, gourmet breakfast and lunch panini, soups, salads, 54 flavors of gelato, made-to-order dessert crepes and an European chocolatier.

The Double Helix Bar features fine wines from around the world. OK, so maybe it's a stretch to call a wine bar a restaurant, but if the folks at Palazzo are willing to call this a dining option, who are we to argue? Hey, at least they are open, unlike the next places on the list.

Wolfgang Puck's CUT restaurant is among those expected to open soon. The Las Vegas version of Puck's Beverly Hills steakhouse will mark his sixth fine-dining restaurant in Las Vegas.

CUT puts a contemporary twist on classic steakhouse dining. CUT will cater to true steak connoisseurs, but also offers an array of other dishes, including Kobe Beef Short Ribs and Roasted Wild French Turbot "French Riviera" Style for two.

If we're going to include the wine bar, we have to include the spa. The Canyon Ranch Spa and Fitness Center includes a variety of nutritionally friendly dining options at the Canyon Ranch Grill. Among the more unusual offerings are the organic liqueurs and house-made soft drinks.

An Italian automobile company gives new meaning to the term "fast food" as Lamborghini Las Vegas introduces Dal Toro to the Strip. This unique restaurant will offer fine Italian cuisine in a setting that includes a collection of the classic Italian sports cars.

Restaurant Charlie, Trotter's contribution, will feature seafood- and vegetable-focused cuisine.

The fare will honor the hallmarks of Trotter's cooking, which is seasonally driven, organic culinary preparations that honor the nuances of each ingredient as a component of the overall dish.

SushiSamba will offer a combination of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisines, while the Mainland restaurant will focus on progressive Asian Food and noodle dishes with Pacific Rim Influences.

Table 10 is a new American eatery by Emeril Lagasse. The restaurant gets its name from the table at his flagship restaurant in New Orleans where he would hold court in the days before his name and signature phrase - "Bam!" - became household words.

The fare includes rotisserie items such as Kurobuta Pork Loin With Calvados Rosemary Reduction Sauce, as well as a selection of steaks and seafood dishes.

Let's not forget the neighborhood guys. After years on Sahara Avenue, the Woo family has decided to close that local favorite to focus its efforts on Woo, which will offer Pan-Asian cuisine. This 6,000-square-foot restaurant includes Japanese decor and Chinese-influenced dishes. The move is an ambitious step for Peter and Ming See Woo and will provide Palazzo guests a taste of food primarily reserved for locals and visitors to Nobu at the Hard Rock Hotel, where Peter Woo was executive chef.

The restaurants already have one celebrity endorsement. Patrick Warbuton, the comic actor who played Elaine's sometimes boyfriend, Puddy, on "Seinfeld" attended the recent culinary preview of the restaurants and raved about the variety of dining options.

"I'm a big fan of great food, and there's plenty of it here," said Warburton, who stars on the CBS sitcom "Rules of Engagement" with David Spade. "The piece of steak I just had obviously came from a cow that lived a good life. I bet he got massages every day and died in his sleep."

For those keeping count, first of all, get a life, and yes, that's actually 16 places. Since the Palazzo's Web site doesn't include the spa, however, the official number is 15.

Bon appetit.

In other news:

The Forum Shops at Caesars recently announced the addition of several tenants, including jeweler Tiffany & Co.

Three clothiers will join the New York-based jeweler, known for its exquisite jewelry and trademark blue shopping bags.

Tory Burch, which features a lifestyle collection of sportswear and accessories for women, is located near the Festival Fountain.

The new Ron Herman store features only women's merchandise from brands such as Stella McCartney, Acne Jeans, True Religion and in-house label Free City.

American Apparel, the clothing company known for its tight-fitting jersey T-shirts is open on Level 3 of the Forum Shops expansion area.