At Nectar, you will find dishes typically offered in fine American restaurants, with an emphasis on interesting combinations and modern presentation. The menu offers familiar starters such as Caesar Salad, and clearly recognizable beef and chicken dishes as entrees – the usual suspects, but prepared with care and presented quite attractively. The 8 oz filet mignon, for instance, was tender and flavorful accompanied by sauteed oyster mushrooms and shallots, and potatoes romanoff with a delightfully crispy exterior. The notable feature of this dish was the intriguing rich, sweet port sauce generously dressing the beef. My dining companion had the hearty 14 oz prime rib. Resting in a pool of au jus, the beef was served with shallots, a warm corn and bean salad, and deep fried potato wedges. The accompanying creamed horseradish sauce was pleasantly zesty.

The wine, a 2000 merlot, was pleasant although not exceptional. I must say that though there was nothing wrong with Nectar, the menu was pricey, especially when compared to the exceptional menus and elegant ambience of Bellagio’s other fine restaurants.

Overall, the food was quite good at Nectar, and our waiter was exceptionally pleasant. The whole experience was overshadowed by the finest of the fine that Bellagio has to offer – a perhaps unfair comparison. You may want to visit Nectar earlier in your trip before trying the likes of Prime, Aqua and Picasso.

Another bit of valuable advice – make reservations for Nectar as far in advance as possible. We were fortunate to secure a table here after we arrived in Vegas, but unable to get into other restaurants at Bellagio on short notice. Late reservations at popular Bellagio restaurants are a gamble, so hedge your bets and book early!

Overall Experience
We give Nectar 3 Stars- Very Good

Nectar is located in the Bellagio Hotel, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. For more information or to make reservations, call 702-693-7223 or visit www.bellagio.com.

From prime rib to pizza to pastry, almost nothing is amiss. The Buffet’s food stations are set up in the center of the restaurant with hot foods lining the back wall and cold foods in front. Hot foods include standard breakfast fare, such as scrambled eggs, sausage and bacon. Omelets and eggs can also be made to order. But The Buffet goes beyond what you would probably prepare for breakfast, like hot, juicy slices of prime rib or roast lamb carved for you upon request. Delectable thin crust wood-fired pizzas are also available by the slice, topped with the usual pepperoni slices and mushrooms or more inventive combinations such as jalapeno, jack cheese and fresh-chopped cilantro.

An impressive variety of chilled seafood is also available and, by glancing at the plates of other diners heaped with discarded seafood shells, this is clearly the hallmark of the buffet. We sampled huge, juicy American Gulf shrimp, gargantuan king crab legs and delicious pieces of tender smoked sturgeon.

An array of breads, muffins and pastries is displayed just in front of the hot food stations. You’ll also find a full salad bar, and large bowls of fresh fruit, such as strawberries, melons, and ruby red grapefruit sections. Of course, you’re in Vegas, so don’t forget about dessert, even if you are having breakfast! Make a hot fudge sundae at the soft ice cream station topped with rich bits of toffee, or take that slice of apple pie. You’ve eaten enough for three already, why stop now?

Note that no reservations are taken, but expect to wait in long lines during peak mealtime hours before being seated. Bottom line? If you’re going to do a buffet while in Vegas, go a little upscale and choose the Bellagio. You won’t regret it, although you may need to be rolled back to your room.

Overall Experience
We give The Buffet at Bellagio 4 Stars – Excellent!

The Buffet is located in the Bellagio Hotel, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. For more information visit www.bellagio.com.

As promised by the restaurant’s very name, the prime beef served was among the best we have ever tasted. The Aged Peppercorn New York Striploin was grilled to perfection, arriving at our table piping hot
and impossibly juicy and tender. The beef sliced like butter and literally melted on the tongue. The meal was accompanied by sweet and flavorful spaghetti squash as well as an array of sauces for the beef,
including a traditional au jus, bearnaise, and a soy-citrus vinaigrette. The sauces were quite good, but the superb beef really had no need of additional dressing. We each ordered Truffle Mashed Potatoes, a rich, creamy side dish to accompany our steak. Though delicious, we found the portion to be overly generous, and one that could easily be shared by two people.

The experience of Prime’s striploin tends to overshadow other aspects of our meal. However, reaching back into the recesses of our pre-beef life, we recall beginning with a Chilled Shrimp Cocktail. Our decision
to share a single order was wise as the paradox of jumbo shrimp has never been made clearer than by this dish. Four incredibly enormous shrimp were served on a bed of shredded ice and accompanied by both a
traditional cocktail sauce and a more unusual soy citrus vinaigrette. The latter was pleasant, but we preferred the cocktail sauce that delivered just the right amount of zest from fresh grated horseradish.
The chef also offered a tasting of a warm butternut squash soup which was creamy, comforting and mildly sweet.

In an unusual twist, we went with a Pinot to accompany our meal. The Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir 1999 (Oregon) was our server’s suggestion. Since we tend toward bolder cabs and shiraz with beef, we were
pleasantly surprised and intrigued by this unique Pinot Noir whose flavor improved significantly throughout our meal. (Hey – if you can’t gamble in Vegas, you’re out of luck from the start.)

For dessert, chocolate reigned in the form of a rich Warm Valrhona Chocolate Cake with homemade vanilla ice cream accompanied by truly excellent coffee.

Our only slight disappointment was in the service experience. It was generally quite attentive, but initially a little confusing. The dining room was quite full, which probably accounts for the longer than usual wait for our main server’s attention and the oversight in not being immediately presented with a wine list. However, the rare Pinot Noir he recommended was worthwhile and performed as he promised.

The food at Prime is exceptional and the ambience/decor alone may even be worth the visit. Our only regret is that, since no other seatings were available during our stay, we could not sample Prime’s versions
of other cuts of beef. Book early (and book often) if you are a beef aficionado!

Overall Experience
We give Prime 4 Stars- Excellent

Prime is located in the Bellagio Hotel at 3600 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. For more information or to make reservations, call 702.693.7223, or visit www.bellagio.com.

Besides the show stealing artwork, the restaurant offers other charms. For instance, the ceiling in the entrance hall is comprised of an intriguing arrangement of overturned pottery jars. The dining area is a large, spacious room jutting out into several private alcoves. Massive, colorful floral arrangements adorn the center of the dining room while elegant arrangements of cut roses were to be found on every
table. The outside wall of the main dining area is lined with large windows overlooking Lake Bellagio and its famous fountains. Prime tables are located right along the windows for the best view of the stunning water show that runs every fifteen minutes in the evening, an incredible backdrop to a perfect meal.

Lest we forget, food was also served! It was an incredible pleasure to discover first hand how, under the direction of master Chef Julian Serrano, Picasso has earned the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award of Excellence and the Mobil Five-Star rating. We enjoyed the Five-Course Degustation Menu, and from the very appearance of our amuse bouche(smoked salmon, caviar and crème fraiche on brioche) we were, in a word, transported.

We began with Jonah Crab Salad and a mixed greens with a pleasing vinaigrette. This was followed by the U-10 Day Boat Scallop, a single plump, incredibly tender scallop served with a delicious sauce and an elegant, crisp homemade potato chip.

The next course was the evening’s stellar entrée: a heavenly foie gras with apple, raisin and cranberry compote. The foie gras itself was perfection, with a slightly crisp exterior texture that melted in the mouth. The flavor managed to somehow be light and rich at the same time, and was complemented perfectly by the autumnal medley of the warm fruit compote.

The main entrée was Aged Lamb Roti encrusted in truffles and served with rosemary potatoes, carrots and au jus. The lamb was tender and rich in flavor, counterbalanced by the bitter earthiness of the delicious truffle crust. Every morsel of this dish was, without exaggeration, ambrosial.

For dessert we sampled both the Warm Chocolate Fondant and the Citrus Tart, the former a perfectly rich and comforting conclusion to our meal, the latter a cheerfully colored, refreshing custard wonderfully balancing tartness and sweetness.

The food at Picasso was absolutely superb, matched by its unparalleled service. We were more than simply served, we were attended to by a fleet of servers who ensured that water and wine glasses were never empty, that pesky crumbs were promptly swept from our table cloth, and that our every dining and comfort need was met. Servers managed to be elegant and unobtrusive, yet friendly and accessible.

Stellar. We are counting down the days until our return…

Overall Experience
We give Picasso 5 Stars- Outstanding!

Picasso is located in the Bellagio Hotel at 3600 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. For more information or to make reservations, call 702-693-7223, or visit www.bellagio.com.

Starting our meal with a bang (because why not?), we sampled Roasted Maine Lobster with morrels, spring vegetables and lemon sauce and the Seared Scallops with Domestic Foie Gras. The lobster was exceptionally succulent, complemented by the perfectly restrained citrus flavor of a warm lemon sauce. Scallops were tender and juicy, and the foie gras quite pleasant.

For the main course, I enjoyed the Pan Roasted Alaskan Halibut with artichoke puree and roasted nicoise vegetables. The presentation was colorful, the glossy tops of roasted red bell peppers and zucchini dotting the plate. The halibut itself was tender and slightly buttery crisp on the outside (mmmm….). It worked well with the flavorful artichoke puree.

My dining companion chose Aqua’s signature entree, the Lobster Pot Pie. One of us had to have this meal, or as I should rather say, this “experience”. First, the piping hot pie is wheeled out with much fanfare to your table. (If you don’t want a gaggle of curious onlookers, skip this dish!) The server then cuts away the top part of the pastry, placing it on your plate. Generous pieces of lobster are scooped out of the pie and arranged purposefully on the crust. The sauce, a lobster-truffle reduction, is spooned over the lobster along with the pie’s other components: morrels, truffles, creamer potatoes, peas and carrots. Despite the richness and creaminess of the pie’s ingredients, the flaky texture of the crust remained surprisingly intact.

With the knowledgeable assistance of Aqua’s sommelier, we paired both main course dishes with a crisp, pleasant white wine, La Garenne, Etienne Sauzet 1999.

For seafood lovers who lean toward the elegant side of the ocean, Aqua is a must on your Las Vegas dining list. As with all fine dining in Vegas, do book early to avoid disappointment.

Overall Experience
We give Aqua 4 Stars- Excellent!

Aqua is located in the Bellagio Hotel, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. For more information or to make reservations, call 702-693-7223 or visit www.bellagio.com.

The Bellagio’s lobby’s surrounds you with fresh, natural light in the daytime – a welcome and unusual experience in Las Vegas casinos. Skylights and a massive indoor conservatory just beyond the lobby – a
destination in and of itself with ever-changing flower and plant displays invite the sun in like nowhere else on the strip. Even the casino itself has an inviting glow that you just won’t see anywhere else. Bellagio has clearly employed a new strategy – rather than creating a cavernous space that suggests you have nowhere to go, this casino offers an airy, open feel making you want stay.

Our accommodations were grand and impeccable. Our suite was tastefully appointed with fresh, contemporary colors, furnishings, and window coverings. We enjoyed the large, spacious living room area with plenty of seating and lounging room that made it easy to wile away the day reading and relaxing, despite the plethora of entertainment options of the city.

The bedroom was large and welcoming, and the king bed and linens supremely comfortable. The star feature may have been the remote controlled draperies that parted at the touch of a button to reveal massive windows looking over the strip – a stunning site in the evening. The master bathroom was huge, complete with a large Jacuzzi tub for soaking the day way. The privacy offered by a second bathroom off the living room is a welcome addition. Of course, each was stocked with luxury amenities anticipating all of your needs.

With a room like this, there really is an argument for doing nothing else but staying in and relaxing. It goes without saying that the service is impeccable, prompt, and discreet. Of course, outside the room (but still within the hotel) is a whole host of options. There is the casino of course, the spectacular waterworld of Cirque de Soleil’s “O”, an abundance of fine dining options such as Michael Mina’s Aqua and the culinary art of Julian Serrano at Picasso, and various clubs and nightspots to check out. Bellagio is also a destination for world-class shopping, offering names like Hermes, Chanel, and Armani.

This is the finest of Las Vegas luxury destinations. We highly recommend it. It is far more than a hotel, it is an immersion in elegance.

Overall Experience
We give Bellagio 5 Stars – Outstanding!

Bellagio is located at 3600 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. For hotel reservations call 888.987.6667, or visit www.bellagio.com.