Review for Top of the World Restaurant in the Stratosphere

On our first trip to Las Vegas a few years ago, we didn't have time to visit the Stratosphere at all. So I made it a priority during our November 2009 visit. After looking at the prices of the Stratosphere viewing deck and comparing them to the price of the Top of the World Restaurant, we decided it was a better investment to go to the restaurant. It cost $16 a person to go to the observation deck and likely you'll just do a few laps around and leave. However the restaurant lunch cost us $66 and it was worth it for us.

The Stratosphere is located on the extreme North end of the Las Vegas Strip. To get to the Stratosphere, the easiest option is to take a taxi. However if you are willing to walk a little bit, then take the monorail from one of the hotels on the east side of the strip. The monorail is much cheaper and can be picked up at MGM, Bally's or Harrah's. You'll ride the monorail to the Sahara. After you'll have to walk through the Sahara and down the street to the Stratosphere. All in all, it is still a walk, but it's manageable. If you are with older people or young young kids, a taxi would be easier.

Top of the World Restaurant is located 800 feet above ground level, just a few floors below the observation deck. Full length glass windows surround the entire restaurant so you can see out. The tables slowly rotate around the center of the Stratosphere so you get to see the entire 360 degree view of Las Vegas throughout your dinner. The rotation is so slow that at times you won't even notice it. It takes a little over an hour to go the full rotation.

You must request a window seat! Window seats are the only way to go. The booths are pushed in and there is another layer of tables as well, but being right against the window means that no one will be in your way! This means you should make reservations. We made reservations for lunch and at the day and time we were there it was no crowded at all. However, reservations are required at dinner time. Reservations can be made through OpenTable.com making it fast and convenient.

The view can't be beat! We started off facing Fremont street, and slowly rotated to see mountains and the surrounding city. Eventually we were facing the Vegas strip and could see most of the hotels from overhead. We planned it out to arrive before sunset so we could see the city during the day and then watch the sun set and see the city as the lights came on. Lucky for us, sunset was 4:30 during November so we still got to eat lunch instead of dinner. Nothing beats seeing the sunset over the mountains! Bring your camera to take some great snaps.

The Food was great! We choose to go at lunch because the dinner prices were high and the dinner menu didn't appeal to me that much. The lunch time menu was more affordable and offered some lighter items. I got a Salmon Caeser Salad and my husband got a burger and a beer. The food was enjoyable and we had plenty to fill our bellies! We don't usually get dessert when we go out, but since it takes a little over an hour to go all the way around we wanted to hang out longer. The dessert of cheesecake lollipops was so good and satisfying! I was happy to see they had these smaller desserts on the menu so we could get a taste of something sweet without overdoing it.

The service wasn't too shabby. Although our waiter was a bit chatty! It was a slow day for them that day as the restaurant was mostly empty, so our waiter must have had more time on his hands. We didn't mind the chatting at first, but later I wanted to observe the view and take pictures. Even later, when he brought our food he kept chatting so my husband couldn't even eat. I ate anyway :) But my husband was stuck in this conversation while his food got cold. The waiter was a nice guy, but honestly we didn't come there to chit chat for that long.

The photographer ignored us. When we came in, there was a photographer standing right at the entrance with a big professional camera. I was excited because I enjoy getting professional photos of us for our memories. However, the photographer never came to our table. We saw her taking pictures of other couples around, but never came to us. Once she got closer, I waived her over and asked for a picture and she said her shift was over and another photographer would be here in 5 minutes. First of all, we were planning to leave in 5-10 minutes because we had already been there for over an hour. Second, it would have taken her 1 minute to take our picture. and Third, she approached tables all around us but never us, why? She suggested we have our waiter take a picture, but that's not what I was looking for. I wanted a professional high quality shot.

The most irritating part of this event was that 2 seconds later she was off taking pictures of our waiter! Apparently he had asked her for some. She took nearly a dozen pictures of him and I just couldn't understand why she wouldn't take one of us. I was willing to pay for a photo, so they lost my business with that one. Luckily our waiter took a good picture of us right as the sun was setting, but I was still miffed about this. Ironically, I've read other reviews saying the photographer pressured them and hounded them to buy pictures. We had the complete opposite experience. I actually wanted pictures and couldn't get any.

Final thoughts: We know that if we went to the observation deck we would never have stayed for an hour. Going to the restaurant allowed us more time to take in the view slowly as we rotated around. Plus we got to have a good meal on top of it! There was an elevator to take people up to the observation deck from the restaurant, but I'm not sure if you would still have to pay to go to the deck after eating in the restaurant. That is the one thing I wish I would have asked because I would have liked to visit the observation deck just to see it. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who likes a good view and some time to relax. It may be pricey, but it's worth it for the view! Enjoy!!