Located inside the Palazzo (near the Venetian)
(702) 789-4141

Ah....Carnevino. The place with the giant bull inside.

It's amazing, really. Brian and I have been here several times, and while the service can run hot and cold, the food definitely does not. It's Mario Batali's restaurant, and while I'm not a huge fan of his work, I am a major fan of this place.

It's Italian all the way, starting with the antipasti and ending with really strong coffee. While the wine list is amazing, Brian is a fan of their old-fashions. He's been so bold to declare Carnevino makes the best old-fashion in Las Vegas.

I'm a fan of starting with a shared pasta dish, and then moving on to the entree. Nothing against the salads, but it's fun to share pastas like potato gnocchi or the ravioli di stracotto. It warms up the palate and gets you in that Italian mindset.

Brian is a fan of their bone-in ribeye, but I prefer the lamb "scottadita." (Yes, I like it b/c it has the word "scott" in it.) The desserts are amazing and differ day to day, as many of the ingredients are picked up from farmer's markets around Vegas.

The only catch is to not let them seat you in the "annex" - it's across from the actual restaurant, and is a tiny room with too many tables in it. You feel detached from the rest of the ambiance, and more than likely, a waiter will ask you to move your chair in so he/she can get by. It's hard to hear in there, since the sound is so compressed, so the wait for a regular table in the rest of the restaurant is worth it. Or eat at the bar -- the bartenders are usually pretty generous with their pours.

Also, leave the five-and-under crowd at home.

I recommend:

Any of the pasta dishes

Lamb scottadita

Desserts with fresh berries

Located inside the MGM Grand Casino
(702) 891-7925

Six words, people:

Not for the feint of heart.

Whew.

As you may remember, Joel Robuchon was recently named "Chef of the Century" by Gault Millua, the esteemed restaurant guide. Mr. Robuchon also boasts the honor of being a Michelin's Three Star winner, along with a bunch of other equally impressive culinary awards.

In other words:  this dude is not playing around.

His restaurant isn't either.

First of all, it's tiny. The tables are close together in typical French bistro style, and the decor is like dining in a gauzy, lavender dream. Our waiter was either really French or had a great fake French accent, but I'm betting he was the real deal. It's intimidating, especially if you don't speak the language, but everyone was polite and professional, not snooty.

The bread is literally wheeled out to your table and there are about 16 choices. The brioche was to die for, and they graciously gave me seconds. Which wasn't really necessary, since we had ordered the tasting menu, but with food that yummy, it's hard to say no.

At a place like this, the tasting menu is key. I don't remember much about it other than the portions were tiny (as they should be), and everything was like a culinary masterpiece. As expected, the presentation was perfect, the food was spot-on, and the service was exquisite. They even put a little ruffled shirt around my chocolate souffle dessert. Now that's attention to detail.

You, however, are paying for all of this. What also could be a mortgage payment can also be dinner for two. So think hard before you make Joel Robuchon your weekly dinner - save it for anniversaries and big occasions.

I recommend:

the tasting menu

leaving the children at home

calling your credit card company to tell them about your dinner plans, lest they think your card was stolen

Inside the Fashion Show Mall
3200 Las Vegas Blvd, 2nd Floor
702-731-3636

Does the Cafe have a name? I  have no idea. I've always just referred to it as "the cafe at Neiman Marcus." So if you happen to know it's name, please let me know.

I love this place. I'll be honest - it's a little-known, tucked-away gem of a dining establishment. Okay, maybe it's not so unknown, but every time I mention it to someone, the response always seems to be, "Oh really? I didn't know there was a restaurant there."

And if you make a left in women's and go through the baby section, you'll find it. Serving lunch and dinner (open from 11am-6pm), the Cafe only seats about 30 patrons. It's tiny but brightly lit, with a view of the Strip through its plate-glass windows. Maybe because it's Neiman's or maybe because you can see the Strip, but the Cafe has a very "ladies who lunch" vibe to it that I adore. I've been eating here for a number of years, and the wine selection never disappoints. The entrees - mostly salads and wraps - are traditional but with a bit of New American flair. Think grilled shrimp with quinoa on romaine with a light vinaigrette dressing.

Perhaps the best part about the Cafe is the giant, fluffy pop-over they serve you before ordering. It even comes with a little pat of strawberry butter. Heavenly. I'm not a huge fan of the chicken consomme that is also served in a tiny tea cup, but I give an 'A' for presentation. And - another fun fact - if you catch the Cafe on the right day, models dressed in designer outfits might just be strolling by. They stop table to table and explain their outfits while you nosh on your salad (and suddenly wish you were at the gym instead.) It's fun to see such gorgeous clothing up close and personal; just try not to get any food on it.

Price-wise, almost everything is less than $20 per entree. Definitely affordable, but an everyday event. It's an upscale alternative to California Pizza Kitchen or (the horror) the food court. I've seen kids at the Cafe, but I'm going to have to give it a thumbs-down in terms of toddler friendly. Because if you are pretending to be a lady who lunches, the last thing you need is a poopy diaper to remind you that you are not.

I recommend:

the pop-overs! Slather that butter on. Num.

the salmon salad with mixed greens

the grilled shrimp salad with quinoa