THE STRIP. Serious foodies love this epicurean delight, where absolutely top-notch cuisine from the French Riviera can be had for a very pretty penny. The tasting menu with wines, which includes sea scallops with cauliflower puree and Wagyu beef with bone marrow-porcini ravioli, runs to $245, while the wine-focused sommelier's menu carries an even higher pricetag. The à la carte menu holds more delicacies; Kumamoto oysters with creamed leeks, crispy potatoes, and Osetra caviar is a decadent splurge. Well-dressed patrons and sparkling, immaculate decor signal that fine dining has returned to the Strip.

WEST OF THE STRIP. Since 2001, this off-Strip standby has been wowing diners with exacting fare and dazzling views of Las Vegas. A wide selection of hot and cold appetizers, soups, and salads whets the appetite, and the chilled seafood platter with oysters, lobster, crab, and shrimp (accompanied by cocktail and mustard sauces) is the perfect starter for a group. For your entree, savor cashew and truffle-crusted Colorado lamb with goat cheese and roasted pepper tart. Dessert is as rich and indulgent as you'd expect; sample a homemade graham cracker and toasted marshmallow topped with a warm mocha brownie.

DOWNTOWN. Capitalizing on the charm of a 1930s home, this lauded restaurant promises intimate, romantic dining. Fresh-cut flowers adorn white linen-draped tables in several dining rooms, providing an appealing warmth. In such an atmosphere, fine French cuisine is served. The excellent fare elicits high regard, and the extensive wine list is an added boon. Pan-seared magret of duck with sauteed spinach is a treat, as is stuffed rabbit loin tapenade and rabbit sausage. Andre's, recipient of many dining awards, also appears consistently on "Best of the City" lists.

DOWNTOWN. Converted from a 1930s home, this restaurant is located away from the bright lights of Glitter Gulch. Andre's offers the intimacy of private dining rooms, and after 20 years, diners keep coming back for entrees like roasted rack of lamb, venison, free-range chicken and Black Angus New York steak. A welcome escape from the rush of the casinos.

HENDERSON. Exhibiting all the charm you'd expect of a bistro that specializes in an amalgam of French and American cuisines, Zinc is eminently warm and accommodating. Boasting lake views, it's an ideal spot for indulging in dishes reminiscent of New Orleans, including jambalaya, étouffée, po'boys, and gumbo. Other choices range from chicken piccata to crab cakes and duck a l'orange. Adding to the atmosphere is live zydeco music and an adjacent bakery that emanates the aroma of baguettes and beignets.