Sometimes, the surroundings of a restaurant can be a huge determinant in its success – but that’s not even a concern for Top of the World, which has the whole of Las Vegas as its view. Located 800 feet above the Strip in the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino, Top of the World revolves 360 degrees every hour and 20 minutes, providing diners breathtaking and ever-changing views of the Las Vegas Valley. And as if that weren’t enough, the restaurant itself is spacious and elegant, with neutral tones, rich wood accents, and white-clothed tables and leather booths.

Executive Chef Mario Andreoni serves gourmet seafood, steak, and other classic American delights with French influences at Top of the World, which is open for lunch and dinner. Savor the delectable dishes of the Three Course Dinner for Two, the Six Course Tasting Menu, or try the selections among Top of the World’s first and second course dishes and entrees. For starters, try the Duck Ravioli Confit with Foie Gras, a rich pasta filled with confit of apples and duck topped with seared Foie Gras and sautéed leeks and truffles. Or, sample the Shrimp Cocktail – chilled shrimp served with white asparagus and a saffron aioli – for a classic with a refined twist.

The selections of the second course are a variety of delicious soups and salads, as well as a selection of cheese and pates.  The Lobster Bisque is particularly well done, a hearty soup fortified with cognac.

And for the entrees, Top of the World offers a variety of a la carte beef, seafood, poultry, and specialty courses, as well as sides and a soufflé of the day. Try the signature Wild Caught King Salmon di Parma, wrapped with sage and prosciutto over caramelized pears and a basil beurre blanc sauce. The Filet Mignon is also delicious, perfectly cooked with a cabernet mushroom sauce.

For dessert, the restaurant offers a variety of sumptuous treats, such as the White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Crème Brulee and the Chocolate Stratosphere, a replica of the tower filled with Belgium chocolate mousse. After dinner, be sure to head upstairs to the Romance Lounge, where a lovely cocktail can be had to the sounds of live entertainment and the sights of the Strip.

If there are any complaints to be had about Top of the World, it’s that the restaurant is too commercialized. The Tower Napoleon dessert, thin sheets of chocolate layered with berries and cream, came out with the restaurant’s logo printed into the top. The prices are also rather lofty, and there is certainly no shortage of tourists dining here, as evidenced by the restaurant gift shop. However, the ambiance is usually romantic and sophisticated, and the food is usually delicious at this gourmet restaurant in the sky.