Grand Lux Cafe   

If you've given up waiting for a table on a Saturday at the nearby Cheesecake Factory, sink your teeth into the newest culinary creation from that restaurant's founder. Originally commissioned by Las Vegas' Venetian Hotel, Grand Lux Cafe is all about decadence -- in its decor, in its menu diversity and in its freshly baked desserts. With overseas influences from French bistros, Italian trattorias and Viennese pastry shops, don't be surprised by the Old World opulence, from sumptuous fabrics and all-marble tabletops to hand-blown glass fixtures and a color scheme that's ''reminiscent of a Venetian carnival.'' You'll be hard-pressed not to find something here to suit your palate -- the eclectic menu includes salads, sandwiches, burgers, specialty pizzas, pasta, oven-baked and pan-grilled entrees. Order your dessert at the same time you select an entree, since the sweet delicacies are baked to order and can take up to 30 minutes. Or stop by the on-site bakery for some take-home treats. Don't miss the weekend breakfast feast, which puts most other local brunches to shame.