Las Vegas - the food edition

With the large number of hotels packed densely on the strip, comes a wide assortment of restaurants.  Given the amount and the sheer variety, it was very difficult to narrow down to one that I really wanted to try. The choices are endless, so you really have to narrow down to a price range or cuisine.  I decided I wanted to go to one really good fancy restaurant and one buffet, with the rest of my meals a casual affair.

My meals were divided as follows:
Day 1:  Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville (lunch), Picasso (dinner)
Day 2:  Lunch and dinner provided by the Grand Canyon tour company
Day 3:  Food court (lunch), Bellagio buffet (dinner)
Day 4:  Food court (lunch), Firefly Tapas Bar and Grill (dinner)
Day 5:  Brunch at airport

I'd really wanted to eat brunch at the Bouchon located at the Venetian, but I couldn't wake up in time! :(

PICASSO

Picasso entrance

I was brought up in a culture where food and eating are very important.  I did my research online, and I found that Picasso, a French-Spanish fusion restaurant, located at the Bellagio consistently came up on the top listings.  It had a 90% "like" rating based on 142 votes on Urban Spoon.  It is also a Michelin two-star restaurant nine-time recipient, and counting, of the AAA Five Diamond Award from 2002 to 2010.  Based on this, I had pretty high expectations of this restaurant.  It honestly exceeded them and more.

View of the Bellagio fountains

We made reservations ahead of time, and though it was half full when we entered, it was at capacity by the time we left.  From the moment you enter, you are immersed in the world of Picasso.  Its walls are decorated with authentic Picasso paintings, with french doors with a view to the Bellagio fountains, which plays every 15-30 minutes outside .  All the while, you are brought amazing and exquisite food, with a taste that's mind-blowing.  Are you excited yet?

Our menu for the night

Its menu changes seasonally and diners have a choice of the price fixe menu or the menu degustation.  The difference between the two is as follows.  Compared to the menu degustation, the price fixe:
- is slightly cheaper ($113 vs. $123)
- has 1-2 less number of courses
- diners can choose from a list of items per course, versus the menu degustation is fixed

You can also choose to pay more (an additional $63 to be exact) and get a wine pairing with each course.  Other than its food, Picasso is also famous for its wide selection of European wines, boasting more than 1,500 selections in its wine cellar.

I ordered the menu degustation because I figured if you were to go baller baller, you go all the way or you go home.  Although the menu states that it has four courses, it is really more like seven or eight courses due to additional chef selection items throughout the meal.  I also got a butterfly cookie packed away in lovely golden boxes for me to take home after the meal. :)

I'm not going to lie.  The meal was the most expensive I'd ever had in my life, and I didn't even have a drink!  However, if I had chance, would I go back?  HELL YES.  Without a doubt, and I know I can speak for my friends as well that it was one of the best meals I've had in my life.  There was an indescribable sensory overload in your mouth, that was just so amazing.

In addition, the level of service I received was unlike anything else I've ever had at any other restaurant.  Although they give you your space, they are very fast to responding to your needs.  My cup of water was consistently full.  When you go to the washroom, they actually fold your napkin and put it on the table for you.

I've had fancy meals where I've paid $50, or even $100 per person, but the quality is not the same.  In the grand scheme of things, it's true you pay more, but given it's a rare meal you don't eat every day, the experience was worth every penny.  I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone going to Vegas.  If you do go, go near the end of your visit as not to ruin your taste buds for other good food that's available, just not as good in comparison.  Remember to make reservations ahead of time!

BELLAGIO BUFFET
From what I heard about Vegas, you MUST go try a buffet there.  I decided to go to the Bellagio buffet, given the hotel is well-known and the buffet itself is also consistently on the top 10 listing.

There's the normal buffet, and then there's the gourmet buffet on Friday and weekends.  I paid extra for the gourmet buffet.

The buffet entrance from the casino and the lineups outside.

We went at 5 pm to avoid the dinner lineups, and it was already quite busy.  There was a wide variety of selection, from buffalo and ostrich meat to sushi, as well as a scrumptious dessert bar.  I would definitely say that it was one of the better and higher quality buffets I've ever had.

A sample plate

However, the only downside is that I ate at Picasso on my first night, so I was subconsciously comparing the quality and taste which was obviously not the same. :(  In fact, I think Picasso unfortunately ruined my taste buds for the rest of the trip.

A view of the buffet

As a side note, I was slightly disappointed in the decor for such a high standard and famous buffet.  At the time when I went in the fall of 2009, it felt a little old and the lighting could have been better.

FIREFLY TAPAS KITCHEN AND BAR

I don't remember how I heard about this place, but I saw it somewhere for its high reviews.  Food always tastes better shared, plus you get a wider selection of tasting, so I was quite excited for Firefly.  They actually have two locations, one located off the strip and the other in the Downtown area.  We went for the Downtown location, so we could see Fremont street on the way.



Reservations were not accepted, and we ended up waiting an hour to get seated.

View of the Fremont St experience from the restaurant.

Menu items are not too expensive, and selection is wide and varied.  Some of the items I had included the paella, stuffed mushrooms, baby back ribs, calamari, and the baked tilapia. 

Our food!

Although it took us so long to get seated, they had a waiting area by the bar while you wait.  The view of Fremont St. is spectacular, particularly when the light show is on.  The food was good for its price, so it's worth taking a look if you're in the area.  Make sure to go early/later to skip dinner lineups!

JIMMY BUFFETT'S MARGARITAVILLE

Why hello Jimmy!

Located near the Venetian and across from the Forum Shops, I would think that this would be good given its prime location and its large appealing sign with speakers blasting music to a tune of a relaxing Beach Boys vibe.  The atmosphere was nice, and the theme of being stranded on a desert island is pretty convincing. 

Inside the restaurant

I ordered the calypso mahi-mahi, which came with rice, vegetables, and a pineapple-mango salsa. 
I think this place was pretty good, but I wouldn't go back as it was kind of pricey for what you get.