AUREOLE, LAS VEGAS
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
KARU&Y, MIAMI
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
ASIA SF, SAN FRANCISCO
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
NINJA, NEW YORK
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
POD, PHILADELPHIA
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
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