Small Barrels Magazine

Reviews of Fine Wines, Luxury Hotels and the Best Restaurants on Earth

Prime (Las Vegas, NV)

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Prime accurately describes its décor and ambience as that of a “1930’s speak-easy”. The rich glossy wood of the furnishings, chocolate colored walls, and powder blue draperies evoke a more elegant and stylish time. Despite the overall elegant/retro feel of Prime, oversized art pieces and gigantic vases filled to overflowing with dried flowers inject a contemporary perspective. Of course, one cannot omit noting the spectacular view offered of Lake Bellagio and its famous fountains through the large windows along Prime’s outside wall. Be aware that the dining room is large with partitions throughout and that you cannot view the water show from all tables. For those wanting this view, we recommend booking as early as possible with your request for a table near the windows. Even still, be prepared to be told that your wish cannot be accommodated at this extremely popular restaurant…but go anyway for the beef!

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.

Picasso (Las Vegas, NV)

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If you are looking for unique ambience, just try to trump dining at Bellagio’s Picasso where you sit in the shadow of a $30 million dollar art collection, that of the legendary Pablo Picasso himself. Guests are encouraged to take a stroll through the restaurant after their dinner to admire the rare collection that adorns the walls. A meal and art gallery visit, showcasing some of the world’s most coveted art, all in one.

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.

Aqua (Las Vegas, NV)

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San Francisco’s renowned gourmet seafood restaurant has found a second home at the Hotel Bellagio. It does justice to the reputation of the original restaurant with delicious dishes, artfully and colorfully presented. The elegant yet comfortable restaurant is divided into two sections, a large main dining room and a more private alcove. Aqua’s large windows overlook the hotel’s elegantly landscaped pool area, a beautiful view in the early evening and later at night.

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.