Inspired by—no joke—Tom Cruise's iconic heist scene from his first Mission Impossible flick, wine stewards at this Las Vegas spot zip up a 42-foot glass wine tower to fetch your bottle of choice, then deliver it to your table—from above. Little wonder they're called "Wine Angels." The bottles are kept at 55 degrees Fahrenheit with 70 percent humidity. In other words, ideal conditions.

For more information: Aureole

Every experience at this Miami "sanctuary of art, cuisine and entertainment" is, in its own way, lavish and decadent. The menu of "alta cuisine" (or, as they say, "cuisine of the Americas") is seasonal, sensational and compelling; stand-outs include oxtail lasagna, foie gras butter-poached shrimp and grouper consommé. It's served in a 25,000-square-foot space that features mountains of Pakistani onyx and golden totem columns that move and lush waterfalls that shimmer. The "ultralounge" and 50-person-max VIP lounge have fully adaptive environmental controls.

For more information: Karu & Y

One of the Buddha's Four Noble Truths is that suffering is inherent to existence. But don't tell that to your waiter when you order $13 sweet corn dumplings in this palatial cavern of a restaurant in Manhattan's Meatpacking District, described by the New York Times as a "theatrical maze of lavishly festooned rooms that's as vast and flashy as any restaurant in New York." Not a New Yorker? Don't fret—this is the second Buddakan. Philadelphia hosts the original, and Atlantic City visitors can worship at a third "temple of Asian cuisine" on the Pier at Caesar's.

For more information: Buddakan

If crooners with autoharps and cowboy hootnannies are more your style, Denver's oldest restaurant is the place to be. While plenty of restaurants go to great lengths to cultivate a folksy, old-fashioned feel, the Buckhorn needn't try too hard. It is an old-school saloon. In fact, they hold the state's first alcohol license. Try alligator, pheasant, yak, elk and rattlesnake cuisine amid a hunters' lodge of taxidermied animals.

For more information: The Buckhorn Exchange

Amid color-changing shoji walls in this manga-style Moulin Rouge, a staff of drag queens serves high-end wine and truffled soba noodles on the red rubber bar-cum-runway. Their singing and dancing skews toward campy fun, making this a popular spot for upscale bachelorette parties. (Expect to shell out $150 a head for limo service, all-star cuisine, a very male stripper and a scavenger hunt.) Not surprisingly, desserts includes a warm banana dipped in various sweet sauces.

For more information: Asia SF

By learning the "Ninja Bible," waiters must pass a ninja training course before they can start working at this New York City curiosity. As you dine on the top-notch contemporary Japanese cuisine, these ninja warriors fight each other and often surprise diners by pouncing from ceiling tiles above. The "ninja castle" is spacious enough to host small chamber orchestras that serenade diners. Keep an eye out for the sorcerer who does table-side shows.

For more information: Ninja

"This is Disney World for foodies," says Tim Zagat of the Zagat restaurant guide empire. The food itself has plenty of flair - Coca-Cola-enhanced barbequed salmon, "disco crab," or chocolate-covered popcorn balls stuffed with truffles. But it's the al-fresco tropical garden that makes this one of Miami's most lavish culinary landmarks. If ogling the wild food presentation isn't enough, Will Smith is a regular when he's in town.

For more information: Barton G's

If you could escape to a countryside manor house in Europe, it might be a lot like this restaurant in upstate New York's Pocantico Hills, where the Rockefellers still wile away their salad days. The restaurant is actually located on an 80-acre Norman-style not-for-profit farm and educational retreat built by the Rockefeller family in the 1930s. Take a horse-drawn carriage and try the root soup, veal tongue and pumpkin tortellini with locally foraged mushrooms. The seven-course Farmer's Feast is a heady $110 per person.

For more information: Blue Hill at Stone Barns

Another lavish Philadelphia eatery by restaurateur by Steven Starr (who also opened Buddakan), Pod is one part Tokyo, one part Stanley Kubrick's 2001 and all parts spectacular. That this futuristic outpost sits in one of America's oldest cities is just part of its charm; the sushi conveyor belt, white vinyl walls and isolated "pod" dinner tables are among its others. Try the color-coordinated cocktails, Kobe beef medallions and fresh sashimi, said to be among the best in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, the three-pound Maine lobster—nicknamed Lobzilla—is currently off the menu.

For more information: POD