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| - I've always felt the Top of the World restaurant that sits close to the top of the 1,149-foot Stratosphere hotel and casino was a bit of a gimmick and a tourist trap. It's 844 feet in the air so you're guaranteed a spectacular view of Las Vegas, and it rotates so your viewpoint is constantly changing, but what about the food?
As the missus and I didn't want to risk $20 a person on appetizers, and then spend another $40 to $50 each on entrées (should they just be passable because the view was certainly there to make up for them), we decided to take this restaurant around for a spin for a less expensive lunch and were, much to our surprise, quite impressed.
I settled on a salad for my meal: fresh heirloom tomatoes interlaced with chunks of bright red watermelon and squeaky mozzarella, supported by crunchy pistachio bits and a sweet balsamic and sherry vinaigrette drizzle. This was followed by a calamari and shrimp fritto misto appetizer that also included fried peppers and olives, and was presented in what I would call "Two-Face" style: half the plate was resting in a warm, somewhat chunky old-school tomato sauce, and the other half was basking in a delightful wasabi sour cream. Both of these plates had some thought put into them, as they were carefully designed to be tiny works of art on a plate, yet also flavorful and perfect for a light lunch.
This missus opted for the lobster grilled cheese sandwich that was served with a tomato bisque. The sandwich was prepared with huge chunks of scrumptious Canadian lobster trapped between layers of gooey cheddar and Brie, while the bisque was smooth and was presented with some playfulness -- the cup sat atop a raw slice of tomato that seemed to represent the "tomato base" this dish used. She relished both items.
Some of the marketing this restaurant uses in its ads suggests eating here will "heighten your senses" and you can "taste the unexpected". Truth in advertising? Most definitely. The dishes we ate here exceeded our initial, jaded expectations, and I would come back to try their dinner or tasting menu, and experience Vegas at dusk.
That said, the view does seem to have an impact on the menu's prices. While I am definitely not shy when it comes to spending around $150 for a nice dinner out for two in Vegas, especially when what's offered is something unique, would I spend the same to eat at Top of World for dinner if it was 100 floors or so lower? Maybe? Maybe not?
Top of the World reminded me of a small restaurant I used to frequent very often in Montreal, Quebec that had an ever-changing, delectable seasonal menu, and always served consistently good comfort food, but an appetizer, main and dessert at dinner would never cost more than $35 per person, whereas lunch here was $45 each for what we ordered (plus two drinks).
When I focus on the quality of the food alone and the way it was presented, Top of the World was definitely on par with that spot, which still holds a special place in my heart, so maybe that's why I feel its pricing might get in the way of a repeat visit if you don't really care about the view.
I think this is a restaurant one must definitely experience if you've been to Vegas a couple times or it's your first trip there, and you'd never take a helicopter tour of the strip. You definitely won't be disappointed by the sensory experiences this restaurant offers -- from its crafty, tempting dishes to its breath-taking city views. When everything is factored together, the price is indeed right for the whole package, but if you're on a budget or just want to sample their menu, they are open for lunch.
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