Lago
Yes, you're essentially paying for the view, but even this NYCer had a bit of sticker shock at their $29 cocktails. The $45 caviar bites were tiny and felt like a ripoff. Do not bother. Everything else was much more reasonable, with the carpaccio being much larger in size than expected. Food was generally tasty but nothing stood out as spectacular. This is fine dining in a traditional sense: expensive and sceney.
Michael Mina
Being one of the fine dining restaurants that opened with the Bellagio, it is one of the rare establishments on the Las Vegas strip that doesn't feel like just a clone/outpost of something somewhere else.
The signature tasting began with an amuse of a fresh tasting gazpacho with a nice hint of spice and a surprising fitting addition of fried corn. The bread course was laffa with a trio of Mediterranean dips, which was both delicious and not what I was expecting of bread at this type of restaurant. However, it would have been better if they served one piece at a time instead of two, as the oilyness is noticeable when it gets cold.
A supplement was required for the caviar parfait, but it featured greater than multiple amounts of caviar compared to the Lago bites. It featured all the classic accompaniments to caviar (smoked salmon, eggs, creme fraiche, potato, etc.) in a neatly arranged structure, but I would have preferred the potato to have been crispier. As such you needed a knife to cut through all the layers rather than just a spoon.
This was followed by a tasty and meaty hamachi crudo. I also added some char grilled oysters. The sauce was delicious but the oysters were tiny.
The next course offered the choice of a supplement for the signature lobster pot pie. However, for those who opt for this supplement, the chef likes to send out a taste of one of the other choices as well. I opted for the prawn which tasted like the best coconut shrimp you'll ever have. The lobster pot pie was fine. Well cooked lobster with seasonal vegetables, but nothing felt like it elevated the lobster. Despite the price tag, I personally don't value Maine lobster very highly among quality shellfish. But the ability to try two things makes the supplement worth it.
One more supplement in the way of Japanese wagyu. This was the real stuff, with the unctuous mouthfeel and melt in mouth butteriness. The portion seemed to be 2-3 oz which was perfectly fair for the price and how rich it was.
Dessert was a whimsical, light, mix of lemon preparations with a white chocolate shell. A great way to round out what was actually a very rich meal.
Overall, everything was good, saucework was excellent, and I thought the service was fantastic. I think it is an excellent meal and good for someone's first few ventures into fine dining. However, for experienced folks, some of whom might even consider Le Bernardin to be dated, Michael Mina feels even more so.
by reddit_hw
2 Comments
Was food on the salty side?
>Lago Yes, you’re essentially paying for the view, but even this NYCer had a bit of sticker shock at their $29 cocktails. The $45 caviar bites were tiny and felt like a ripoff. Do not bother. Everything else was much more reasonable, with the carpaccio being much larger in size than expected. Food was generally tasty but nothing stood out as spectacular. This is fine dining in a traditional sense: expensive and sceney.
Lago is WONDERFUL!
they serve flavorful, fresh, Mediterranean lunchy brunchy food… fresh, big, salads with fruit and perfectly cooked salmon, pizza, pasta, and sandwiches that taste homemade… it’s that kind of place, that kind of food, and they do it very well.
Yes, the view is great, but I go for the food, unpretentious service, and place to decompress.
And yes it’s pricey, but everything is pricey in Vegas, and I find Lago a breath of fresh air in the middle of all that Vegas fancy.
But it’s not where you go for caviar bites.
Love Lago!