As you can tell, Vegas is one city where luxury is a word taken seriously. Accordingly, fine dining is elevated to new levels of experience here. But in a place where, at times, everything is bigger than life, not everything lives up to the hype. I set out around town to find the restaurants that not only offered exquisite meals, but impeccable service and an inviting atmosphere. I even kept a scorecard rating each restaurant on several criteria. The overall results show that these are the places you shouldn't miss when looking for a great meal in Las Vegas:

THE STEAKHOUSES

Many people I talk to think it's hard not to cook a good steak. I however, travel with the pickiest of steak eaters and she'll be quick to tell you otherwise. Between the two of us, we sampled several of the city's finest steakhouse-style restaurants and some made the grade better than others.

• Delmonico Steakhouse -- Owned by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, Delmonico, located at the Venetian, provided one of the best dining experiences we had in Vegas. Try the Bone In Rib Steak with garlic mashed potatoes--delicious, though I had to send mine back for a few more minutes of cook time as it was a bit too pink for my liking. For salad, get the Caesar Salad, prepared tableside. Service was, for the most part, on top of things. Though that should be expected with three waiters for the both of us. [Prices: entrees--$25 to $35]
  
  
• Charlie Palmer Steak -- Located off the main lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel, Charlie Palmer Steak is restauranteur Charlie Palmer’s second venture in Las Vegas [Aureole at Mandalay is his first]. The restaurant offers two types of dining experience: an upscale dining room and an informal cigar-friendly lounge. In addition to great steak, the menu offers an interesting selection of seafood, fish and side dishes, including signature potato creations. My dining companion particularly enjoyed the Double Baked Potato with Truffle Cream and I couldn't get enough of the Bittersweet Chocolate and White Chocolate Parfait with Peppermint Meringue for dessert. [Prices: entrees--$25 to $35]
  
  
• Smith & Wollensky Steak House -- A nice no-frills steakhouse located on the Strip opposite the Monte Carlo, Smith & Wollensky cater to those who have big appetites for good food. Service was a little off on our visit. It felt like the waiter was rushing us through the meal and the appetizer arrived not long before the entrees. But the food is worth the visit. [Prices: entrees--$25 to $35]
  

ASIAN INSPIRED

I love Asian dishes, with the abundant use of spices and unusual ingredients. In my search, though, only two of the restaurants that I tried were worth the money.

• Pearl -- This Asian-inspired restaurant in the MGM Grand, wasn't only one of the best in its category, but one of the best overall dining experiences I have had in Vegas. The food was excellent, the service impeccable and the atmosphere calming. The attentive staff happily discussed menu items and we never had an empty glass once during our visits. One of the best dishes is the Kobe beef which just melts in your mouth, but I didn't try anything there that I didn't like. The tea trolley features the finest Chinese teas prepared tableside with select bottled and mineral waters. And desserts at Pearl feature unusual choices like cappuccino mousse and a trio of sorbets--lychee green tea and passion fruit--in a sugar wafer bowl. A must-do dining experience. [Prices: entrees--$25 or more]
  
  
  
• Nobu -- Located at the Hard Rock, just off the Strip, this Japanese/South American influenced restaurant not only has great food, but is fun for celebrity spotting. The name comes from owner Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, and is part of a small chain of upscale eateries that counts actor Robert De Niro as a partner. While the Kobe beef is good here, too, the adventurous palettes would do well to try the Omakase (chef's choice) tasting menu. [Prices: entrees--$35 or more; tasting menu--$70 on up]
  

AMERICAN INFUSION

One of the things I love about American cuisine is that our nation is so large that it incorporates a wide variety of influences into the recipes. From Cajun down in New Orleans to Latin-inspired Miami cuisine to the Germanic foods in the Midwest, there's so many influences to draw upon. The following combine American favorites with regional influences and international ingredients to create the dishes served at these great restaurants.

• Bradley Ogden -- Located at Caesars Palace, across the hallway from Celine's new theater, you'll find Bradley Ogden, named after its star chef/owner. The emphasis is on farm-fresh, regional American cooking. Meals start with Ogden’s excellent homemade breads, such as killer blue corn muffins laced with dill and progress to items like the creamy Maytag blue cheese soufflé, garnished in a different fashion every time you visit. The entrees, which usually number around ten, vary according to what is market fresh or in season. The restaurant also offers a leisurely "spontaneous chef's selection," five-course tasting menu. A three-course version will appear soon. [Prices: entrees--$35 or more]
  
  
• Ceres -- A little out of the way, but worth the trip, is Ceres in the JW Marriott. Tucked away at the end of a hallway, the restaurant is elegantly understated in decor and offers views of the waterfalls and gardens on property. Executive chef Peter Sherlock has created wonderful dishes like the Smoked Tomato Bisque with Petit Brie Sandwiches and Tri-Color Cheese Tortellini/Pancetta Carbonara, the that are full of flavor, but without a hefty price tag. As an added bonus, a short stroll after dinner brings you to J.C. Wooloughan, an authentic Irish pub, where you can enjoy a pint or two while listening to live music. [Prices: entrees--$16 to $26]
  
  
• Simon Kitchen & Bar -- This is fine dining with a rock'n'roll attitude. The atmosphere is lively and the menu is playful, as befitting a restaurant at the Hard Rock. Start with the savory pumpkin soup or Tuscan salad, complete with polenta croutons, and graduate into one of the many classic entrees such as the pound and a half Maine lobster split-grilled, and then jammed with a stuffing of lobster meat, bread crumbs and butter (a New England treat). I thoroughly enjoyed Kerry's Curry Chicken, served with toasted almond basmati rice, but my dining companion's New York Strip steak came out a little rarer than she liked. Our attentive server, however, quickly took care of it. Now dessert is where the really difficult choices lie. Do you have the traditional desserts like the 10-Layer White Chocolate Chocolate Cake and the Lemon Brown Butter Tart, or do you let your inner child run rampant with Pink Cotton Candy and Cookies and Milk. I personally enjoyed the Ice Sampler, which included such unusual flavors as Pomegranate Margarita and Apple Cider. If you're looking for an unstuffy kind of fine dining experience, this is it. [Prices: entrees--$18 to $36]

EUROPEAN INFLUENCED

Regardless of what your favorite European cuisine is, Vegas probably has a restaurant the fits the bill. In our taste test of the town, these were the gourmet European culinary experiences that ranked among the best the city has to offer.

• Le Cirque -- Bellagio's ode to French cuisine recently received a AAA 5-star rating, a difficult feat to achieve. A swooping silk-tented ceiling adds an unusual dramatic ambiance to the restaurant design. The menu choices echo this theme with selections like Poulet en Cocotte Grand-Mère aux Truffes (Roasted Chicken in Truffle Skin with Sautéed Seasonal Mushrooms and Vegetables) and Tournedos de Boeuf au Poivre et Crouton de Foie Gras (Beef Tenderloin with Foie Gras Crouton, Vegetable Gratin, and Peppercorn Sauce). Can't make up your mind? Opt then for the five or three-course tasting menus. You really can't go wrong with a meal here. [Prices: entrees--$35 or more; 3-course tasting--$80; 5-course tasting--$95]
  
  
• Aureole -- Located at Mandalay Bay, Aureole is worth a visit for their extensive wine menu alone. It's dinner and a show as you can watch the "Wine Angels" scurry up the three-story wine tower to fetch your vintage. The restaurant’s new, interactive wine list, built on Microsoft e-book technology, combines the best of the computer and wine worlds. Maps, winery descriptions, flavor notes, pairing suggestions, and pages and pages of other information are available at the tap of a screen. The food at Aureole can be a little hit and miss, but the tasting menu, which offers wine selections paired with each course, was spot on during our visit. [Prices: entrees--$35 or more; tasting menu--$80, add $45 for the wine pairings]
  
  
• Medici Café and Terrace -- The Ritz Carlton Lake Las Vegas has a winner with this mediterranean-inspired restaurant offering Spanish, French and Italian cuisines. The restaurant's most popular dinner choice is "La Spontaneita," a chef's tasting menu that can be completely customized to suit each guest's unique dining preferences and that also offers optional wine pairings for each course. And don't skip the desserts, which are offered by Pastry Chef Patrice Caillot, whose Team Caillot won the National Pastry Team Championships in July 2003. [Prices: entrees--$12 to $35; tasting menu--$80]

Now that you've satiated your physical appetite, let's head out on the town.