Because all the local restaurants in Las Vegas have to compete with the restaurants and mega buffets in the casino hotels; The quality of food in local restaurants is high and you get good value for money. Some of the buffets on the strip for example are bland but if you head just off the strip many local restaurants sell exotic and tasty food. One thing Las Vegas seems to have a lot of is Indian restaurants which i happen to like so its a plus for me. But there are many other regional foods avaiable as well and some will even deliver food to the hotels. A good place to check for information on the local restaurants is the free show magazines like Showbiz Weekly or Whats On among others.