Our dining experience was wonderful. Sitting in an actual restaurant that slowly spins around was great. The view, even though mostly cloudy that night, was beautiful. All of our servers were very courteous and professional. I had told them earlier that it was my husband's birthday and they remembered and brought him out a complimentary piece of cake. It was wonderful. There weren't many items on the menu. I got the loin of lamb and my husband got the venison. Both were unbelievably good.

Located atop the tallest hotel in the Western hemisphere, the Sun Dial offers an incrediable view of Atlanta. Even though I have read mixed reviews about the food and service, I visited this restaurant for the first time in 22 years for sentimental reasons. Opened in 1976, the Sun Dial was quite the attraction when I was a kid. My grandmother took me up the glass elevator to the 72nd floor to drink my fill in Shirley Temples and eat dinner when I was only seven. The experience made a lasting impression and remains one of my favorite childhood memories. Of course, memories are magical things and nothing ever quite lives up to them.

I found as an adult that the Sun Dial is a very expensive way to get a great view of the city. Guests of the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel and diners are able to ride to the top for free. For everyone else, there is a fee: $7.50 per adult, $4.00 per child.

After a look at the steak heavy menu, my family and I decided to order appetizers, desserts, and drinks. Without ordering a traditional dinner, we still managed to run up a bill topping $80. However, my son loved the revolving floor that rotated 360 degrees in less than an hour. The chocolate diet killer dessert was pretty yummy. While having fine dining prices, several families were enjoying meals; a childs' menu was available. And the Shirley Temples were still pretty darn good. Service was okay.

Bottom Line: The food here is pricey, but the view is memorable. I would say that this is a bit of a tourist trap, but even the local Atlantan will enjoy seeing the "city of trees" from a different perspective at least once.

If you enjoy fine dining and fabulous views, the Sun Dial atop the Westin Hotel in downtown Atlanta is a sure fire favorite. The glass elevator ride to the top of Atlanta's tallest hotel is worth making the reservation here alone. A gorgeous view awaits you once you step off the elevator and into the restaurant. With glass walls from ceiling to floor and a restaurant that makes a complete revolution about once an hour. The menu is pricey, but the food is wonderful. The last time I visited, my meal included a house salad, a 23 ounce porterhouse steak that was so tender you could almost cut it with a fork served with mashed potatoes and French green beans. Dessert was their magnificent chocolate sin cake with thick layers of chocolate and fudge. Top off your meal with a visit to the Sun Dial bar, a level above the restaurant and have a drink while the room revolves at twice the speed of the restaurant. The wait staff is extremely knowledgeable about the surrounding area and can easily point out any landmark you may be interested in. You'll also find an interesting panel with information about the hotel and Atlanta and signs on each column in the restaurant giving information on which cities and suburbs are in that particular direction. All in all a wonderful, yet pricey dinner experience. If you're just planning to drop in at the bar, there is a $7.50 cover charge that covers the elevator ride to the top and they do last call about 1 AM.

If nothing else, go for the view. Taking up the top three floors of the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel, the Sundial Restaurant and Bar, revolves 360 degrees every hour, giving patrons a dramatic view of Atlanta and the surrounding area. While the view at night is awesome with all the lights - the prices are also very awesome so we opted for drinks - although those prices were a little steep also and ate dinner across the street at Aunt Pittypat's.

Our ride was free to the top, since we were guests at the hotel, but for those just wanting to sightsee, it is a $5 charge.