Andre Rochat’s Alize

Las Vegas has risen meteorically in the restaurant world over the last decade, so it didn’t come as a complete surprise to read in today’s Review-Journal (click here for the story) that it’s now second only to New York when it comes to restaurants awarded four diamonds by the AAA.

What’s nice to see is that my favorite restaurant (not that I’ve even come close to trying them all) is now in the four-diamond group. Alize at the top of the original Palms tower not only has the fabulous menu and spectacular wine list you’d expect from a restaurant belonging to Andre Rochat, it has a truly awesome view. With windows on three sides, the dining room offers a panoramic vista of the Strip and most of the Vegas valley. Because the room is fairly small, the view is good from every table, but I always prefer sitting by a window anyway. I feel as though I’m in a climate-controlled eagle’s nest. And then there’s the food, which is even better than the menu makes it sound.