The emails never stop coming and one of the great benefits of doing what we do is that so many people ask us for advice regarding all aspects of the restaurant industry. Of course, the frightening thought is the perception that we actually know what we're talking about. People want to know some critically important things like how to survive; where can I borrow $2.5 million (I have a "can't miss" concept). Should I send my kid to a culinary school? Should I worry that an Olive Garden just opened right next to me? I'm thinking of opening a restaurant – right now I sell office supplies – can you recommend a book that might be helpful?

No matter what the question, most of them deserve an answer and we do reach out to a variety of industry experts to help us. We also answer the questions to the best of our ability and the advice is free, so hopefully it's better than nothing. Answering questions is a very subjective thing because you really need so much more information to respond intelligently, and even a very simple question can become highly complex.

A lady just asked me a simple one that actually has hundreds of possible responses. "We are going to Las Vegas to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. Please give us the one restaurant that you would go to for a special occasion in possibly the greatest restaurant town in America."

It's an interesting question because it inspired me to write this column, and my answer hopefully demonstrates that there are no easy answers to anything involving restaurants.

Dear Barbara:

I'm not really a Vegas guy, but I think the figure is about 40 million (the number of people who visit there on a yearly basis) so they must know something. One casino is more spectacular than the next one and there are celebrity chefs and celebrity type restaurants all over the place and I do understand that "what goes on here; stays here." Las Vegas is very happening, but in terms of the "greatest restaurant town in America", I’m a bit partial to New York.

But you asked a question of where would I go? My answer is simple. You wouldn't find me on the strip, so it wouldn't be one of those dazzling celebrity-type casino restaurants. In point of fact, I would be heading for a town several miles from the Strip to a special spot operated by a chef that is most definitely in the "celebrity chef" category by the name of Louis Osteen.

The good chef hails from the Charleston, South Carolina area and he and his wife, Marlene operate two down-home, Southern-type restaurants called Louis's at Pawley (Pawley's Island) and The Fish Camp Bar. In a moment of possible insanity (or more than likely, adventure) they recently opened two incredible restaurants – Fish Camp and Louis's Las Vegas in a casino free development called Town Square. It's closer to the airport than the Strip, so they are dependent on the local community and not the vast visitor market.

Chef Osteen is a personality who likes to get to know his customers and a serious cook who honors the traditions and quality of true Southern cooking. We're not talking fancy; we're talking braised lamb shank, and chicken-fried duck breast; crab and lobster cakes; and shrimp and grits served with Lowcountry shrimp gravy.

We're talking about real restaurants and real people, and this is what real dining is all about. Check out their site and decide for yourself. I know it's a 25th Anniversary and maybe you need something a bit more dazzling and maybe something more Vegas oriented. But you asked me where I would go, and I would fly to Las Vegas this afternoon to enjoy a meal with the Osteen's.

http://www.louisatpawleys.com