So you're planning a trip to Las Vegas. You've got a nice big chunk of change burning a hole in your wallet. How can you spend it, other than gambling and shopping of course? Why, there's restaurants — and have I got the place for you. Call the Bellagio hotel and casino and make reservations at one of the finest dining establishments in Sin City.

Enter through the Bellagio's lobby and walk through the world-famous botanical gardens. At the end you'll see a restaurant tucked in the back called Michael Mina. The sister restaurant to the critically acclaimed one in San Francisco, Michael Mina is an opportunity that those who appreciate fine dining and have a fat wallet must not miss.

The decor is simple but elegant, as you can see in the photograph. It's a relaxing atmosphere, and you forget that you're in a hotel with hordes of noisy tourists outside. The dress code is business casual, though it's not strictly enforced. I wore very dark, dressy blue jeans and a nice top. I noticed that some of the male diners wore sports jackets over both T-shirts and dress shirts.

The excellence really begins with the service. When you walk in, a hostess warmly welcomes you and walks you and your guests to your table. Immediately after, your waiter appears and greets you by your last name, and proceeds to describe the specials of the evening. The sommelier then approaches your table to help your party choose a wine. Throughout the course of the meal, you and your guests are well cared for, as your waiter and other servers attend to your every need.

While the decor and the service are wonderful, what really makes Michael Mina shine is the food. Check out the sample menu selection on their web site. One cool aspect of the menu are the "Signature Trios", which are sample platters with a specific theme for all three courses. My party and I didn't partake in any of the Trios, but judging from what we saw at the other tables, they looked pretty darn good. Another feature that Michael Mina's offers are the themed menus, such as the Ocean Beach Menu, or the Vegetarian Tasting Menu. Admittedly I don't recall seeing all of these features on the menu that night I was there, so perhaps these themes are seasonal.