Vegas’ fine dining restaurants earn high marks in travel guides

Once known for the cheap casino buffet and $6 steak dinners, Las Vegas has become a mecca of highly acclaimed restaurants. When AAA, an automobile service organization that has been publishing travel guides since 1937, awarded its first Five Diamond rating to two local restaurants more than a decade ago, the fine dining culinary boom began. Michelin travel guides award one to three stars to a small number of restaurants of outstanding quality throughout the world. One star indicates a “very good cuisine in its category,” a two-star ranking represents “excellent cuisine, worth a detour,” and three stars are awarded to restaurants offering “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.” In a city known for glitz and glitter, here’s a look at local restaurants and their share of stars and diamonds: Picasso at Bellagio One of the first restaurants in the valley to be awarded the AAA Five Diamond Award, Picasso earned its 11th this year. Under the direction of Chef Julian Serrano, the menu is inspired by the regional cuisine of France and Spain, where Pablo Picasso spent much of his life. Original Picasso masterpieces dress the walls and a collection of his ceramic pieces is displayed. The restaurant is Michelin rated with two stars. Wing Lei at Wynn Serving Chinese cuisine, Executive Chef Ming Yu blends dishes influenced by Cantonese, Shanghai and Szechwan cooking styles. Wing Lei is the only fine dining establishment at Wynn with both a one-star Michelin rating and AAA Four Diamond Award.