Dinner at top of the World in Vegas

Having left San Francisco, we flew to Las Vegas!   Anyone who is a student of popular culture is likely to have some preconceptions about Las Vegas – whether it is the dark underground caverns full of noise and flashing lights you need to traverse to reach your hotel room or the iconic strip with its lights.   I arrived full of excitement, what did this Disney Land for Adults hold?

We stayed at the Stratosphere Hotel which is at one end of the strip (and about a 25 minute walk to the centre of the action) and an iconic landmark with a tower that stands 1,149 feet high overlooking the decadence of Vegas.  As my travelling companion was jet lagged, we didn’t manage to have one of those wild nights out in Vegas which was immortalised in the Hangover but we did manage a nice dinner on top of the tower at the Top of the World - Stratosphere restaurant which revolves 360 degrees so offers the most glorious views.

So what was this dining experience in Vegas like?   Well, firstly as it is a nice restaurant, we had dressed up a little but probably should have toned it down a little (something we realised as we rocketed up in the lift surrounded by Americans in nice jeans and several baseball caps) but we did feel very ‘Sex in the City’ so what the heck.  The room is maroon and white with hints of silver service and echo’s of glamour of a time gone by.  The waiters (all older gentlemen who have made a career of this) are charming and more than happy to take the obligatory photograph when asked. 

Having reviewed the prices (which are not cheap but I’m only likely to do Vegas once), we settled for a nice bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc rather than a starter.  This was a good idea as the bread rolls that they served once you had ordered were sinfully soft and when lathered with the unusual pesto butter were perfect.  We nibbled on these as the restaurant moved slowly around revealing more and more of the Vegas skyline.

Having reviewed the menu, I chose Grass Fed Australian Wagyu Skirt Steak with Asian Chimichurri and my friend decided on Large Mexican Prawns, New England Scallops & Lobster a la Plancha.  Gnocchi and mash potato provided us with the carb boost that the mains needed.

My steak was utterly fantastic – juicy with a fantastic texture which was perfectly offset by the Chimichurri.  I has always wondered about the mystic of Wagyu but if that process gives us this quality of meat, then by all means keep the cows happy with beer and any other decadence they demand.  The seafood dish was also a hit and I managed to snag a taste of the scallops which were plumper and sweeter than those we get in the UK (well, I suppose it was Vegas).

So, would I recommend it?  All in all, it cost $200 including tip which was about £60 each – so not cheap but dinner at the top of the world isn’t supposed to be so I would definitely suggest that you treat yourself. 

You only live once but if you are on a tighter budget, don’t forget you can have happy our cocktails in the bar above the restaurant or on the viewing deck with a similar view but at far less cost.

Lxx

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