Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling (702) 891-7925, or by using the MGM Grand's online reservation system. A credit card is required in order to secure the reservation. It is not charged upon reservation, although no-shows will be charged a $50 penalty. Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours prior to the reservation. To be on the safe side during peak Las Vegas travel times, consider making your reservations up to 10 days in advance. If it's slow, you might be able to get in the same night, but we wouldn't count on it.

With seating for approximately 60 in the restaurant, Joel Robuchon is pretty intimate. Tables are still magnificently placed, however, so you never feel like you are on top of your neighbor. The placement of diners is also in a lovely fashion, as the restaurant avoids "packing them in" so to speak. Instead, the seating arrangement is completely graceful and elegant; you barely notice that people are being seated around you. As mentioned earlier, you have multiple seating options that range from plush couches to armed upholstered chairs.

The atmosphere at Joel Robuchon is lovely. It's somewhat romantically lit, but not too dark for the menu. Service is positively seamless; we had Kit, who even took us in for a look at the kitchen, which has a black and white framed picture of the whole team, demonstrating Robuchon's commitment to great people and great service. You don't only have one server, however; you actually wind up having an entire team of them, so you are never left wanting or waiting. Nor are you rushed in any manner from your table upon finishing your meal. The service is not pretentious, nor is the hostess at the door. Everyone is simply gracious. This is fine dining the way it ought to be.

The restrooms are toward the back of the restaurant and darkly lit with gold colored trim and fixtures, keeping with the warm Parisian parlor theme. You wouldn't even notice where they are until you ask your server, or unless you have prying eyes capable of seeing far beyond the main dining room.

The dress code is formal. Although we did not see long formal dresses or tuxes-we have seen a looser interpretation of what one generally considers formal-you will be most comfortable in business attire.

Complimentary valet parking and self-parking are available at the hotel, where cabs are omnipresent outside the main lobby. One thing to note: If your evening ends around the time Ka, or another show at the MGM, ends, you will most likely need to wait both for your car and for a cab.

Joel Robuchon the man, "Chef of the Century," has won many, many accolades and honors, including multiple three Michelin Stars. His awards are too numerous to list. Joel Robuchon the restaurant, meanwhile, has earned the distinction of being one of the four AAA Five Diamond award winners in Las Vegas. In terms of design, the restaurant also won the Nevada AIA Design Award in 2006.

*Please note that the restaurants featured at TravelsinTaste.com may have changed their personnel, menu, pricing, decor, hours of operation, etc., since our last visit. The competitive and creative nature of the fine dining scene virtually assures that changes will occur on a frequent basis in order to make diners happier, meals more pleasurable and visits more frequent. Given their frequent fluctuations, most restaurants welcome inquiries about their current hours, menu and more.