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Picasso
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants Spanish French, Spanish [Edit]
Bellagio3600 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Neighborhood: The Strip
(702) 693-7223
- Hours:
Mon, Wed-Sun 6 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
268 reviews for Picasso
Review Highlights
"The foie gras was melt in your mouth fantastic."
(in 92 reviews)
"Wine pairing was perfect perfect perfect."
(in 33 reviews)
"Veal from the tasting menu - best veal I had ever had."
(in 45 reviews)
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268 reviews in English
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Review from Thomas N.
1/5/2012
WOW.
I could probably end my review of Picasso right there with that one statement of a word. But... let's get some more food-porn style descriptions going!
Since I came with a partner in crime, we each ordered a different menu (one Prix Fixe and one Menu Degustation) and decided to share and conquer.
First dish to come out was a lovely amuse bouche of a fried potato croquette with serrano ham and smoked red pepper soup. Everything went together perfectly... the crispy, sweet potato croquette combined with the smoky, salty serrano all dipped in the sweet, deep red pepper soup. Great start!
Next came the appetizer dishes.
The Maine Lobster Salad was light and refreshing and a perfect start. The acidity of the vinaigrette allowed the briny sweetness of the lobster to shine.
The Pan Seared Scallop was perfectly cooked with just the right amount of sear on the outside and fork-tender inside, all accompanied by delicious whipped potatoes, a Parmesan chip and a rich sauce.
The Sauteed Ruby Red Shrimp was cooked just to the verge of doneness, so that it retained a lot of natural flavor and crunch. Accompanying it was a delicious Piquillo Pepper Vinaigrette and tomato confit.
The Sauteed Foie Gras Steak was butter... and the peach sauce complemented the richness of the foie gras extremely, helping to cut down on the heaviness of it.
The highlight of the appetizers (not to take anything away from all of those listed above because they would put most other restaurants to shame) was the Poached Oysters. OH MY LORDY! The oyster was perfectly poached. The buttery vermouth sauce, combined with the briny caviar and a splash of lemon for acidity... its like "sex in the mouth" (sorry I was just watching Top Chef and that phrase was used). If I had to die tomorrow, this would be one of the things I would request to eat in my top 5.
Finally, the mains.
The Halibut Fillet was again, cooked perfectly (it's getting boring I know). The outside had a nice crisp while the inside was perfectly flaky. The rich Hollandaise sauce was a perfect compliment to the light flavor of the fish.
The Milk-Fed Veal Chop was delicate (weird word to describe beef, I know). The veal was tender and a perfect perfect medium rare. What else is there to say?
So after all of this, the desserts came.... and both the Chocolate Truffle Beignets and Berry Buttermilk Cake are awesome (sorry, exhausted from writing the above so no more detail here).
So okay, enough of my ode to Picasso. If you have to have a fancy meal in Vegas, go here! -
Review from Alex S.
Las Vegas, NV
2/5/2012
Just went there for a special occasion dinner.
Overall, I would say that it was about what I expected...not less, not more, and I say that in a positive way.
Unlike some other Vegas upscale restaurant, it was quite, subdued, and great for a special occasion dinner. We were seated at a small table next to the window where we had a great view of the fountain.
I had the tasting menu with wine pairing and wife had the prix fix menu.
My tasting menu was lobster salad, scallop, fois gras, and I selected lamb for the main dish. The service was impeccable, and the food was excellent. I do agree with some other reviews that their menu seem to stay quite....eh...stable for some time. I think it's nice to have their signature dishes, but I would think that renewing a menu for each season is a good idea to attract repeat customers.
since the portions are quite small, I was first worried whether I might get full, but I was VERY full at the end. They also went out of the way to change my wife's main dish to something else as she wasn't quite thrilled with her choices (as she has some food allergies).
Overall, I had a great service and food, just as I thought I would received and made for a memorable night. Was I blown away? No, but I've eaten at a quite few Michelin starred restaurants in many countries so I don't get blown away too easily :D -
Review from Jeremy B.
Missouri City, TX
1/20/2012
I want to give it 3.5 but that's not an option. I have wanted to eat here ever since I found out it was awarded 2 michelin stars. But reading the menu I had always been reluctant because there is a serious lack of creativity and it seems dated.
Turns out my preconceived perceptions were accurate. Eating here is like a culinary time warp back to 1985. With an ambiance that is very quiet and stuffy (not good when your in Vegas).
We did the degustation menu (which based on reading previous reviews hasn't changed in a very long time). To recap Lobster Salad, Scallop, Foie Gras & either Turbot or Lamb (I chose the turbot) followed by choice of dessert.
What the restaurant deserves credit for is service and execution. Although the dishes were rather boring conceptually in each case the protein was cooked perfectly. Maybe the best seared scallop I have ever been served. Thus the 3.5 rating.
If you are dining with the elderly or are not an adventurous diner you'll probably be very happy. But, if your like me and prefer something lively, innovative and unique Picasso is not for you. -
Review from aaron h.
San Diego, CA
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Value-1.5
Service-5.0
Food-3.0
Ambience-4.5
Overall-3.5
Highlights:bread, amuge buche
Duds- meat (salty and fatty (the lamb), dessert, value (black truffles had no taste (300) -
Review from Katie D.
Las Vegas, NV
2/12/2012
Was surprised by a dinner at Picasso for my anniversary. It was tied for the best meal I've had in Vegas (hard to compare it E, which is such a different experience).
Highlights:
-Amuse bouche: a bamboo skewer with 1/2 of a hard-boiled quail egg, smoked salmon (spritzed with lemon), and caviar. Simple, but perfectly balanced and the best amuse I've had in a long time.
- Scallop: beautiful sear on a bed of pomme puree with a demi-glace reduction, with a length-wise section potato chip for texture. I also had some bacon bread with this-- which has inspired me to bake some at home!
-Foie Gras: Usually I prefer a torchon with brioche, but this was the best seared piece I have ever had. Here the technique was just amazing: an perfect sear on both sides-- the inside was like butter. The pistachio garnish added texture and brought out the nutty qualities of the Sauternes for the pairing.
-Lamb:Best lamb I've ever had. Apparently it's organic and sourced from Colorado, from a farm that tries to raise them in a Wagyu type of fashion. It was so incredibly tender that I was sure they sous-vided it, but the waiter claimed it was roasted. It was served with a rosemary infused demi-glace reduction and an elegant take on ratatouille. Ordered it rare instead of the suggested med-rare, and was glad I did. Syrah aged in American oak made for a nice pairing.
-Dessert: The standout of the plate was the Guiness ice cream.
The service was excellent as well. (There was a goofy moment when we asked if there were any additional pairings not listed on the menu and the waiter told us that "the wine gets progressively heavier to match the food" lol, I should hope so! And one waiter seemed particularly enamored with asking "can I get you anything else," which is a bit odd when repeated and in the context of a tasting menu. What are we going to do, ask for ketchup? )
I appreciated that we weren't rushed in the slightest, despite having one of the nice two-tops right by the window. We were at the restaurant for over 3.5 hours, in part because we started with champagne before the dinner.
I really liked how they kept the restaurant decor simple except for the dazzling Picassos, and the beautiful multi-colored informal flowers on the center stand, which played off of the bright colors in the paintings.
I thought that the dinner was also a good value. There were many expensive ingredients, and dinner came to ~600 for two (though we spent around 200 on beverages). This makes it the best value tasting menu I've ever had, and one of my all-time favorite meals. -
Review from Greg S.
Las Vegas, NV
2/1/2012
Way overrated. Way toooo expensive. I'm not hate'n. The food is very artfully crafted, but very pretentious. A good place for true foodies, but an overrated experience for the rest of us. Although not for me, I can't rate lower than 3, it's not a bad place at all. Just very fancy playing to a very limited market.
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Review from Alma P.
1/5/2012
Picasso, oh Picasso.. I definitely wish I didn't have to leave you in Vegas!
I was very impressed with this place...from the minute you enter you're drawn in by the beautiful view out the window of the lake/water show and the amazing Picasso paintings on the wall. It's a lovely space and they make you feel comfortable right away.
The service was also spot on.. with my only minor complaint being that waiter didn't seem to know the desserts very well cuz when we asked for suggestions or specific he seemed to either not know or not be interested in sharing his opinons. However, it was still a very pleasant experience and all of the staff was very attentive and never let us lack for anything.
The real star here (sorry Mr. Picasso!) is the food --- scrumptious! We did the Degustion tasting menu and all of the dishes were delicious and prepared fabulously. The Maine Lobster Salad was so fresh and bright -- probably the best Lobster salad I've ever had. The scallop that followed was melt in your mouth delicious. The only dish I found could've used some improvement was the fois gras w/the apples. I've had this flavor combination before but found Picasso's rendition to be not quite as flavorful and as if something was amiss w/the combination. On a good note, the fois gras was cooked perfectly and seared just right and it was a generous portion as well. I should also mention the lamb was fabulous -- juicy, flavorful and cooked to perfection.
On a slight down note, the departing gift was somewhat lack luster. Generally, most restaurants of this caliber give you a small (or not so small like at Joel Robuchon!) parting gift and Picasso was no different in this respect but the cookies we received were sub-par to the food we tasted in the restaurant. They tasted stale and like they'd been sitting around for days. I'd rather they'd given us nothing as I hated for my last impression of Picasso be these stale cookies.
Overall however, I'd return in a heartbeat and can only hope that someday Mr. Serrano will open something in LA of the same caliber.Listed in: My Michelins
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Review from Shaun C.
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Forgive me Yelp God! It has been months since my last review...
My boyfriend and I came to Picasso on a whim..I know I seem to start all my Yelp reviews with this sentence, but what can I say, I am quite impulsive. We were immediately drawn to the menu and thought it was the most approachable of the Michelin starred restaurants in Las Vegas (this was considering we were dining at Robuchon two days later). I must comment that we were both skeptical about Las Vegas Michelin starred restaurants, considering that we had yet to have a dining experience that could meet our vaulted expectations.
I have to say that everything here was absolute perfection. The service was charming, sincere, eloquent, professional, and quite refreshing. The sommelier was excellent, poured some exceptional wine pairings, and even challenged my certified somm. boyfriend a bit. The food was well balanced, executed beautifully and was absolutely on par with what I expect two michelin star cuisine to be. In all honesty, I had only ONE problem the entire evening, just one, It's just a pet peeve of mine. The butter was not room temperature, it needed to be tempered more. That's it.
I had an amazing evening, with an amazing companion. I cannot wait to come back and do it all again.
5 glorious stars!Listed in: Michelin Guide 2010
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Review from Geoff H.
Pasadena, CA
12/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Eaten here twice -- two best meals in my life! Attentive, fawning service. The waiter gave a toothful grins for every request. The sommelier was like a newscaster with a sense of humor. He recommended a Lovely Pinot Noir.
The oysters with caviar were divine. The scallops with wine reduction and potato moussaline were heavenly. My wife had the filet mignon with mousseline twice and nearly had convulsions. She has ordered it both times we came here. The lamb was also amazing.
We both had the chocolate fondant the first time. It was so good my wife ordered it again. I ordered the chocolate pecan bonbon this time. It was like a small dark chocolate cake with thick chocolate frosting. On the plate was Guinness ice cream, Bailey's Irish Cream foam, a tiny creme brûlée "block" and some candied pecan -- out-of-control delicious!
Again, the best meals we've ever had. And we've been all over: Paris, Rome, New York, Bangkok, Beijing, Shanghai, Kuala Lampur, London, Tehran, Phnom Penh, Boston, San Francisco, Singapore, Hong Kong, Marrakech. -
Review from Misty K.
Fullerton, CA
12/31/2011
I technically want to give it 4.5 stars, but I'm being nice and rounding up :)
The decor is beautiful, with a great view of the fountains from many of the tables.
The food is fantastic. I've been to several 2 and 3 star Michelins, and this one deserves its 2 star status. The amuse bouche was very good. The lobster was some of the best lobster I have had (so tender and fresh). The scallop dish was also good. The foie gras was cooked very well, but the accompaniment tasted like apple sauce, and it was not good. I usually opt for some kind of beef dish, but I ordered the Colorado lamb. This was AMAZING. The best lamb I've ever had. Not at all gamey, so flavorful, with a great mint aioli. My friend and I shared two desserts, the butterscotch cheese cake and pear tart dish and the chocolate bouffant dish. Both were very good. It's hard to impress me with desserts, but these were quite good (slight preference for butterscotch pear dish). You could also opt for a cheese plate for an add-on.
The service was pretty good, although I didn't love our waiter. The other wait staff were great, but the waiter was a little cold. In a place of this caliber (i.e., a 2 star Michelin), part of the experience is being treated as though you are special. Definitely not with our waiter (and thus, my desire for 4.5 stars).
They opened the doors late, and made us all stand outside like cattle waiting to get called in (beyond our appt time). Also, the take home cookies were stale, according to my friend. I didn't even eat one b/c they didn't look appetizing. No point giving out a treat if it isn't good.
But I still chose a 5 star rating b/c well.... the food was damn good. -
Review from Kelly C.
Irvine, CA
11/22/2011
Picasso - Bellagio
Overall
5 Stars
Gold Medal - Cooked to Perfection
Silver Medal - Perfect Ambiance
Bronze Medal - Great Service
Picasso is located inside the Fabulous Bellagio Hotel. There are various artworks and numerous ceramics by the Spanish Master located in the restaurant. Try to request a terrace or window seat, so you can see the Bellagio Lake and the Bellagio water show. Imagine eating dinner and hearing the amazing music blasting while watching the water show. Could there be anything more fantastic than this??
Tasting and prix-fixe menus are $123 -$130. There is also an extra option for wine pairing with your meal.
The food here is amazing. It is perfection. Yes, perfection!! Imagine eating something that could not have been cooked or could not have tasted any better. That is Picasso for you. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and all the sauces and flavors were perfect. Nothing was too chewy or too dry or too salty. The oysters and foie gras were like Heaven in my mouth. The lobster option had an extra charge, but it was worth the extra money paid. My taste buds have never been so happy. Everything was PERFECT!
The ambiance is extremely upscale and romantic. If you can get a terrace or window seat, you have the best seats in the restaurant.
Service was excellent. Fast and attentive. I asked where the restroom was located and the server escorted me all the way to the restroom. When I returned, my table napkin was refolded for me and the seating area had looked like I just arrived. Then, here comes the server to help me push my chair in behind me. Why, thank you :) So fancy!
This place is very pricey, but I think it is perfection and worth every penny. I have been to many other upscale restaurants, where the food did not taste as good and was still pricey. I would rather save my pennies and have perfection here.
HAPPY PICASSOING!!! -
Review from Dayana t.
San Jose, CA
12/29/2011
About $500 for two, but well worth it. Very moody, intimate and spectacular overall. Ask to be seated by the window to overlook the show of the fountains.
The food? Spectacular.
The wines? Amazing. -
Review from Chia C.
San Jose, CA
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
4.75 stars, lost a bit for a service error, explained below.
So far this has been the highlight of my short culinary existence.
We had the Menu Degustation ($123) as it appeared more attractive than the prix fix menu ($113?). We were handsomely rewarded for it.
We also each had chose the recommended wine pairing (additional $63). Though pricey, it is an ABSOLUTE MUST. The sommeliers did a masterful job of pairing the wine. I have never known how much the right wine can enhance the proper meal, and though expensive, definitely worthwhile.
The first course is the Maine Lobster salad. A simple small dish with a sweet Apple-Champagne vinaigrette. The paired wine, a semi-dry German Riesling, matched perfectly with the sweetness of the lobster and had citrus tones to complement the apple vinaigrette. As a first dish, I had thought that this was the best match of food and wine I had ever tasted.
After the first course, the amuse bouche came out?! It must have been an error to bring the first course out so early, because we were waiting for our paired wine for a few minutes after the lobster was served. This was an unusual error, and it was noticed by our sommelier as I heard him making a comment about it. It did not ruin the meal per se, but otherwise marred a perfectly heavenly experience.
The second course is the Pan Seared Scallop. Rather than light and refreshing, this dish felt heavier because it was served on a potato mousseline (finely mashed potato) and veal reduction. It was complimented by a Pinot Gris, which was very oaky in nature, closer to a Chardonnay I felt. This was my least favorite course, though still delicious, not quite as unique as the other courses.
The Steak of "A" Foie Gras came as the 3rd course, which THEN became the best food and wine combination I have ever had. The foie gras was sauteed perfectly and placed on a mild peach/thyme pound cake, topped with almonds, and served with a riesling peach coulis. This was served with a Tokaji, a hungarian dessert wine. The heaviness and creaminess of the foie gras was balanced with crisp almonds and the sweetness of the coulis and the sweet wine. Each bite takes you to another land, this culinary ecstacy. I cannot overstate how good this course is.
For the entree course, I selected the Colorado Lamb medium rare. It was served with a pisto (similar to ratatouille, tomato based and heavy in green and red peppers) which I generally would not like, but appreciated it in the setting of this dish. The lamb was cooked perfectly and had good flavor. The wine was a Spanish red. This was not my favorite, though I have found myself hard to be impressed with red meats and red wine combinations.
At this point, I had asked if the balcony looking out onto the fountains was part of this restaurant. I had thought about maybe having a couple drinks after the meal was over. We did not want to sit out there because it was a hot night, but soon after our server came and escorted us outside to have dessert! What a wonderful view and experience. The dessert itself while good, was not fabulous. There was also an assortment of little treats, which seemed to be a showcase of textures rather than flavors.
All in all I am torn between coming back to this fabulous restaurant or exploring new restaurants of similar quality. This is a must-go once in your life! -
Review from Michael C.
Milpitas, CA
11/13/2011
After trying Picasso, it was immediately clear why it wasn't given an updated Michelin rating from 2009. From my experience, there's very little to justify even a single Michelin star for Picasso. Then again, Vegas has that effect on people, distorting reality so much as to convince the Michelin tasters in 2009 and current diners that this Julian Serrano restaurant actually deserved two Michelin stars.
First of all, I don't count myself amongst the fine-dining elite, having only recently sampled about a handful of one-Michelin star restaurants, mostly in the Bay Area, one in Chicago and one in LA. To me, restaurants of this caliber offer similarly refined foods, mostly differentiating themselves by service and ambiance.
We went to Picasso for our anniversary, which was apparently a major source of patronage besides the obligatory hot date in Vegas. We arrived for our reservation at 8pm on a Wednesday night, and the hostess, without even looking up, instructed us to wait. Briefly stunned, I settled into the lounge with two other couples in similar straits. A Wednesday night besides, I've never had to wait at any Michelin-rated restaurant, especially when I've made a reservation.
After 20 awkward minutes, we were taken to our seat on the far wall. Along the way, I noticed plenty of empty tables, so our wait was even more disquieting. Almost immediately, we sensed our dinner would proceed at a languorous pace; we marked time with the Bellagio water spectacle outside the windows that started every 15 minutes. The first three shows were welcomed delights, but soon they became distractions.
As the other couples from the lounge sat down next to us, we noticed a distinct lack of privacy. We were barely two feet apart and in that quiet space, it was way too easy to participate in each other's private conversation. We all ended up eating in uncomfortable silence.
The tasting menu was misleading. I've seen other tasting menus encompass a broad range of taste experiences, numbering up to 10 or more. At Picasso, there are just two pricy options: Prix Fixe for $113 and Degustation for $123. Both are more properly described as dinner settings since they came with soup or salad as appetizer, a second sampler plate, a main course, and a dessert.
My wife ordered a cocktail to pass the time, while I got a tea service to soothe my dry throat. Apparently, Picasso is not the place to order cocktails as my wife's cocktail came out so unpleasantly bitter that she actually had to return it after a second confirming sip. It was the very first time she's ever had to do that. At $14 per cocktail, it's perfectly understandable, since I expected nothing less than amazing. The replacement was passable.
As each well-presented but tiny portion of food came, I accompanied them all with the much needed but unsatisfactory bread. The entrees were all uniformly moist and juicy, but I found them to be quite bland and uninspired. The antelope I had was the juiciest piece of game meat I've ever had. Yet, it was as forgettable as the rest of the meal, except for perhaps the slab of cold foie gras that was dressed up as an entree, a singularly disagreeable and unsettling experience.
To celebrate our anniversary, our desserts were decorated with chocolate script. While we always appreciate the thought, the piping work looked rushed and crude, with the letters barely recognizable. By contrast, the chocolate script we had at the one-starred Plumed Horse was a beautiful work of a real artisan.
Service was as polished as expected at other fine-dining establishments in the Bay Area. But, towards the end of the meal, we felt neglected as we saw neither our waiter nor any bus boys for over 30 minutes. We ran out of water and sat dejected.
About the only element in Picasso's favor is its selection of original Picasso paintings decorating the walls of the restaurant. I studied the two in front of me for a solid hour and started to grasp something of Picasso's artistic vision. If I were a true aficionado or student of Picasso's works, I might find the rare opportunity to be worth the price of admission.
After three hours and a numbing procession of the Bellagio water spectacle, we tabbed out at $305 for two, including tip. This was the first time I felt like I wasted money for a fine dining experience. At most, the experience at Picasso was worth $150 for two, including drinks and tip. A Michelin-rated experience, it certainly was not.
As we left, the hostess once again told us good night without looking up. Maybe I'm part of the invisible ethnicity in America, but that really made me feel non-existent. Then, as if noticing a slight, the manager got the hostess to give us something of a parting gift. Emblazoned with the Picasso logo, we found inside two small, greasy palmiers, instead of some sweets. It was one last mis-fire that captured the whole Picasso experience. -
Review from Ca C.
Kailua-Kona, HI
12/5/2011
All I can say is "I wanna come back!"
I don't understand how anyone can give this place less than 5 stars (and I'm glad I kept my reservation despite some of the low reviews I read because it was the BEST dinner I have had...and IT beats all the other Michellin star restaurants.
Bread: thumbs up
Butter: meh...this was ok. I'm picky when it comes to butter. Bouchon has great butter. Here was ok...if i'm going to ruin my waist line on butter, I'm only going to eat great butter.
OYSTERS: seconds please! Thank goodness my boyfriend got his own dish of oysters because this dish was too good to share.
FOIE GRAS: wine pairing was spot on with this dish. The sweetness of the wine, pineapple sides cut the "fatness" of the foie gras.
WAGYU BEEF: extra $40 for this but worth it. I'm not even a beef person...and this dish had me by the first bite
LOBSTER: the boyfriend had this for an extra $40 and it was a lovely dish as well. We both enjoyed our main course picks. Sides of veggie were yummy too.
DESSERT: I had the flourless cake with guiness ice cream and craving this dish as I write this. Bf had the grape concord panna cotta. Was good but I liked mine more. His was light, fruity, and "girly."
Wine pairing: who ever is in charge of this is spot on! Wine pairing was perfect perfect perfect.
p.s. service...I don't know why other reviewers gave low stars when it came to food service...but our service was a 5 star. Don't expect to be out of there within an hour. It's a nice romantic dinner...just like any other fine dining experience.
Thank you for the food heaven experience!! -
Review from Emmanuel K.
Las Vegas, NV
1/25/2012
Nice place, good food but not the best vegan menu, service was also good but again the tables are to close to each other. The sorbet for dessert was very bitter. The decor was beautiful.
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Review from Tony O.
Tustin, CA
10/30/2011
Picasso (not the painter) restaurant in Las Vegas is an absolute embarrassment to the Michelin star rating system. I would bet the farm that Bellagio paid the Michelin inspectors a large sum of money to get their 2 stars. Picasso does not merit even 1/16 of a star compared to some of the Michelin star restaurants I have had the pleasure to dine in LA, SF, NYC, Paris, Barcelona, and London.
My wife brought me here for my birthday and I was looking forward in experiencing their desgustation menu. The pan-seared scallops tasted like if they were from the same kitchen making the scallop salad for room service....Very dry and bland in flavor. The halibut was dry and lacked any flaky texture. The lamb had no flavor whatsoever. I even forgot what I had for dessert.
I will admit that the service was very good. The waiters were attentive and stirred up good conversation with us. The actual Picasso paintings were beautiful and i really enjoyed viewing them. I come to Vegas a lot, so the Bellagio fountains don't really thrill me anymore. However, I can see how most people would find this to be interesting for their dining experience.
If you have experienced at least a 1 Michelin star restaurant, Picasso will disappoint you. I would avoid this restaurant at all costs and use your money for the tables instead. I will never dine here again or let any of my family or friends dare make a reservation at Picasso. -
Review from Susan F.
San Diego, CA
1/14/2012
The BEST restaurant I have tried in Vegas so far. (And I've been to many).
I booked during CES week a month in advance - booking early is a must for anyone attending CES. I read a lot of great reviews in Yelp, and they are all correct.
Amazing food!
First, location is not that easy to find. Walk on the shopping side of Bellagio, and it's downstairs from the shopping center (near Giorgio Armani). There's a tiny little free-standing sign that is easily missed, in all the colors of Vegas.
We had 6 people at the table. They first served us amuse bouche. Most reviewers loved the amuse bouche, and I can't more agree. We had a celery soup and deep fried seafood croquette. It was perfectly paired together.
Each of us tried either the Menu Degustation or Prix Fixe meal. I had the Prix Fixe.
Starter = Butternut Squash soup. Basic butternut squash soup - nothing special, but butternut squash never really is.
Main Course = I ordered the Lobster (supplement of $40). Worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY. Large pieces of lobster in a light veggie broth. The lobster was cooked to perfection and was to die for.
Dessert = You get any choice from the dessert menu. I had th key-lime pie with the rum ice-cream. Delish! You can tell the key lime was from REAL limes, and you can taste the rum in the ice-cream.
They also served us several trays of petite desserts to go with our coffee. Each one you can tell was hand-made.
Why only 4 stars? The service was lacking. The bread server didn't bring my bread as requested (bread is mediocre - but ask for the olive oil with the bread. Quality olive oil.)
Our main server was excellent. One of my wine glasses got stains on it (from me), and the server got me a new glass. He even got me ANOTHER new glass of red wine to try myself, as he thought it was his fault.
At end of evening, the hosts (I only saw Men at Picasso), gave all the women a box of butterfly cookies with cinnamon to take home. Beautifully boxed to end a beautiful evening. -
Review from Eugene K.
San Francisco, CA
10/31/2011 13 photos
My girlfriend and I were here during the first week after the labor day weekend for my girlfriend's birthday. I was weighing so many different French restaurant, but I chose this restaurant for two reasons: First, we were going to see the Cirque de Soleil O Show after the meal and Second, we were trying to get a seat at terrace to watch the fountain show, as my girlfriend had never seen it before. We thought we were able to get the terrace table, but because of the rain that morning, the restaurant closed all the terrace tables for the evening. However, they tried very hard to get the table that was right next to the window that overlooks the fountain show.
There were two set menus, one was $113 and the other one was $135.
The menu we chose can be found under this link: http://www.bellagio.co...
Also we got the wine pairing, however, as you can see on the menu, which was amazing, because those wines were not only chosen carefully by the chef for the best food tasting, but some of them were limited edition that cannot be found in your local supermarket. We ordered just one order of wine pairing and shared every glass as we did not want to get drunk before going to the Cirque de Soleil 'O' show. You get at least four glasses of wine for $65, which I think is amazing deal.
Every course was superb. Salad was good, it was a very pleasant surprse. Scallop, I thought was slightly overcooked, but it blended in well with others. Foie Gras was very nicely cooked and with the wine pairing, it melts in your mouth. Even thinking about it right now, I am getting full mouth watering. My girlfriend don't really like lamb, so she ordered Halibut and I ordered Lamb and they were very nicely cooked. We were both very pleased with the way the food was cooked. It is almost impossible to decide which was the best out of all, but she and I both thought that the Maine Lobster Salad was much higher standard than other food. With other food, we felt like we could get the kind of quality if we go to another restaurant about same quality, but the salad was just above that.
Overall service was very good too. When I was making the reservation, I mentioned that we are going to 10:00pm show, but did not say anything during the meal. However, we were running slightly late and our server knew that we had the show and prepared everything accordingly, for example, when our main dishes were coming out he asked if we wanted to decided the dessert little bit ahead, so that we do not have to wait for them and that way we did not have to rush for the show. So was the Sommelier, I am not an expert on wines, so I asked a lot of questions and he answered everything for us.
Thank you very much to Picasso for making our dinner so pleasant and giving a great memory to my girlfriend. -
Review from Dale S.
Sacramento, CA
12/28/2011
We had dinner the day after Christmas, 2011. It was a great meal. Prix fixe menu of either 4 or 5 courses. You do not have to order the same number of courses, which was a nice option to have. My choices on this day were: quail salad; Kobe beef spears, Wagyu short ribs and panacotta for dessert. They were wonderful choices. The portions were generous. Of the four courses, the Quail salad was my favorite. Four hearty portions of quail pieces and some greens to accompany the dish...it is usually the other way around at other places. Equally impressive were the Picasso paintings on the wall coupled with the Bellagio water show you can see outside. But it is pricey. With wine, it could set you back $150/person. So win a lot of money at the gaming tables before you go.
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Review from John L.
San Jose, CA
12/29/2011
Excellent food and service. The foie gras was amazing.
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Review from Perris M.
Los Angeles, CA
12/30/2011
Best filet mignon.....beautiful ambience. Definitely worth it!
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Review from Victoria N.
San Jose, CA
9/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Be ready to spend $500 on dinner for two, but it is worth EVERY single penny. Everything about this dining experience was perfection and absolutely stunning! It is easily the most beautiful, romantic dinner you can take someone. I compare my experience to how I felt right before the intermission of the Broadway's musical Wicked. I savored every second and never wanted the experience to end. The taste and intricate plating of each dish was so astoundingly thoughtful and delicious.
We enjoyed our degustation menu inside the restaurant with real Picasso painting worth $85 million dollars displaying on the walls. For our dessert and wine, we sat outside on Bellagio's private balcony while watching the Bellagio fountain show up close. Words cannot express how incredible and gorgeous the view was.
The Degustation Menu is $123 a person with recommended wine pairing for an additional cost of $63. The sommelier did a wonderful job explaining each wine's history and how its flavors complimented our dishes. You can actual taste how intricately each wine flavor complimented with each sip and bite of each dish.
First course was a Maine Lobster Salad with Apple-Champagne Vinaigrette. The taste was carefully crafted and beautifully plated. The lobster was so refreshing and had a light and flavorful bite. This dish was like heaven in my mouth.
We then received our amuse-bouche which was red bell pepper soup and a croquette. It was supposed to be a starter that came before our first dish, but we received it after our first course. Minor oversight from the restaurant.
Second Course Pan Seared U-10 Day Scallop with Potato Mousseline and Jus de Veau. The scallops were seared to perfection on a bed of potatoes. Richer and heavier than the first course but very tasty.
Third course was Sautéed Steak of "A" Foie Gras with roasted Peach-Thyme Pound Cake, Almonds and Riesling Peach Coulis. I never wanted this dish to end. Every bite of it was thoughtful, from the light sweetness of the poundcake to the creaminess of the foie. I savored every single bite of this dish. Easily the best tasting Foie Gras I've had yet. Our favorite dish of the night.
Fourth course, I went with the Filet mignon and my partner chose the Roasted Tournedo Loin of Colorado Lamb. We both agreed that the Lamb was tastier than the Filet. All of the ingredients on the lamb dish complimented each other wonderfully. The filet was tender but was lacking some flavors and wasn't my favorite dish of the evening.
For dessert, we sat outside on the balcony and we watched the Bellagio fountains up close and under the night sky. We went with the server's recommendation of Berry Buttermilk Cake and Warm Chocolate Fondant. We liked the buttermilk cake more than the warm chocolate fondant. It was more special and tasted a bit lighter. After our dinner, they brought us out extra desserts on a silver platter compliments, of the chef. When we left, they also gave us cookies in a gorgeous Picasso box to enjoy.
Overall, it was an amazing experience that I will never forget. I cannot begin to put into words how happy we were with our experience and I highly recommend dining here if you are in Vegas. -
Review from Yesenia C.
San Diego, CA
10/4/2011
I came to this resturant with a group of 6 as a suggestion of my boss. I loved that it was right next to the Bellagio water show because it was so pretty, not to mention ORIGINAL Picasso paintings all oer the resturant, I think theres was like 7 or 8 of them.
I fell in love with ALL the food, I started with the Amuse then I had the poched oysters for an app (AMAZING) I could have eaten so many of those. I chose to have the Chef's special which was a Filet and I had it cooked medium rare. For dessert I had Berry Buttermilk cake which melted in my mouth.
WE all were in amazed with how great the food was, It was the BEST DINNER I HAVE EVER HAD, and I'm pretty sure that the others felt the same, becaus we continued to talk about it days after and we can't wait to back!!! -
Review from Sarah C.
Vienna, VA
9/14/2011 9 photos
The decor of the restaurant is based on Pablo Picasso's artwork. When you enter the main dining room you are greeting by a table that is entirely covered in a huge floral arrangement - different sizes and shapes of glass vases hold one type of flower each for a stunning rainbow effect. This is one of the best uses of floral arrangements I have ever seen. The restaurant sits facing the fountains of the Bellagio, so every half hour you are treated to an amazing view of the water show through the windows.
The food is elegant and artfully prepared - just what you would expect from fine dining at the Bellagio. We ordered the Degustation Menu - five courses plus an amuse bouche, petite fours, and gift for the ladies. We also choose to participate in the suggested wine pairing - which was well thought out. The sommelier did a lovely job of presenting and explaining his choices.
The Amuse Bouche consisted of a creamy red bell pepper soup and a cheese croquette. Simple, satisfying, and delicious.
The first course was a lobster salad with apple-champagne vinaigrette that was fresh and sweet and light.
Next was a perfectly seared day boat scallop on a smooth potato puree with a thick and rich veal demi glace.
My favorite course: sautéed Foie Gras with pound cake, almonds, and Riesling peach coulis. The sweetness of the peaches and Riesling paired perfectly with the melt-in-your-mouth fattiness of the Foie Gras. Paired with a glass of Tokaji, this was absolute perfection.
Main course: Roasted loin of lamb with pisto (a mixed vegetable side similar to ratatouille), mint aoili, and fried zucchini blossom.
I am not usually a dessert person, but this rocked my socks off: a "beggar's purse" made of phyllo dough filled with chocolate chip risotto pudding, served with a coconut macaroon and banana-passion fruit caramel sorbet. This was dessert perfection for me.
My husband ordered chocolate truffle beignets with peanut butter ice cream. I couldn't even tell you if he ate it or not, I was so absorbed in my chocolaty banana perfection.
The petite fours were good, but the ladies' gift - cinnamon elephant ear cookies - were amazing. -
Review from Christina Y.
Gilbert, AZ
10/16/2011
We went to Vegas for our wedding anniversary and chose this place for our dinner venue. It was either Picasso or Robuchon, but I liked the Picasso's menu better. Hubby ordered Prix Fixe and I ordered the Degustation menu. He had his with the wine pairing and I did the martinis.
Starting with the amuse-bouche everything was incredibly delicious until hubby's veal...it was over cooked so we sent it back. Then the second time around it came back medium, but still the overall quality of the dish just wasn't there.
They were very nice to write "Happy Anniversary" on the plates for our desserts which were very nice, but the desserts were mediocre at best. I'm assuming the pastry chef isn't up to par here.
Overall, very nice service and I loved our waiter who was very flamboyant and friendly. A very thorough and good photographer too! He stepped back and took three different angles with the camera! Bravo! -
Review from Brian C.
Scottsdale, AZ
11/2/2011
We both had the waygu special. Awesome, cooked perfectly to our requirements.
Nice view, ask for a table by the window.
Very good wine selection.
Server was very attentive.
We do not give stars away easy. 3 is pretty good, not blown away but all in all a very pleasant evening. -
Review from hedy y.
San Francisco, CA
10/11/2011
My husband and I chose this place after we saw the reviews. Like what everybody said, this place has REALLY GOOD view, there has the water show for every 15 minutes, and I think Piccaso has the best angle to appreciate the show.
The food is very good too! except the scallop, it was a little bit overcooked. but overall it's good. My husband likes the lamb, and I like the Foie Gras most.
Price is ok, because they only have set menus, one is about 113, and another one is like 135.
Will definitely come back! -
Review from David a.
Los Angeles, CA
8/2/2011
This is the most beautiful restaurant that you could possibly take your special woman or man to in Vegas, PERIOD. Of course you do not need a reservation, because Vegas is hurting a bit and as you can tell, the vast majority of slobs that come to this city are into the AYCE buffet options so they can gorge themselves silly. While I would never bet a quarter on any game of chance, I think nothing of dumping a buck twenty on the menu desgustion here, which was five absolutely lovely courses which you will place into your mouth as you are seated underneath a painting from the Blue period in a beautiful dining room. Beautiful! The Picasso collection here is amazing and it is worth the price of the meal alone to kick back in this awesome room.
The meal began with a perfect Kir Royale which is the obligatory drink to begin a luxurious French meal. This one was exemplary and after taking a sip and closing my eyes for a moment, I felt like I was in Paris without the smell of dogshit and European body odor for a second there. I have nothing bad to say about the service. It was top notch and our waiter, wine sommalier, runner and busboy were all true restaurant professionals in every sense of the word. I felt very comfortable with these guys at the helm of the front of the house. Just golden.
The first course was a lobster salad with a light champagne vinegar dressing. There were avocado and melon pieces on the plate as well. The avocado was scooped out with a melon baller, and was just the perfect thing to put on the plate with the tasty lobster. The melon was not, so I simply took it off the plate and washed the taste out of my mouth. The lobster meat was flavorful, not overcooked, and chilled to a nice temperature. There was a substantial amount of meat, so it was more than just a few bites. Overall, it was a very nice starter.
The second course was a seared sea scallop over potato puree sauced with a red wine reduction. The scallop was cooked medium rare the way god intended it to be. The puree was at least 50% butter and the wine reduction was magnificent. This dish was exceedingly hearty and good with the perfect amount of salt. Perhaps the star of the evening. It was so rich, I would not have wanted another portion, and stands out as the best dish of the evening. It had the essence of the sea and the earth in the serving dish.
Next came the Grade "A" Foie Gras with peach compote. I love foie gras and have played around with it a lot in my own kitchen and additionally in restaurants that I have worked at. Personally, I have no moral qualms about eating this dish and I wish all the fucking asswipes who want to outlaw this wonderful food would perish in a submarine accident. The foie here was the low point of the meal. It was very good, don't get me wrong, but it kind of tasted like peach shortcake with foie gras on top. I like my foie with fried potatoes much better than with peaches, thank you. It was a nice, fat piece and it was seared nicely but it was too sweet. My wife really enjoyed it, however, especially with her wine which was Hungarian.
The next course was lamb tenderloin with squash, roasted tomatoes, and a deeply flavorful demi-wine reduction. My wife got the buttery halibut with asparagus and salsify. Wonderful presentation, preparation and ingredients for both the lamb and the halibut. I enjoyed the lamb more, even though I usually like my lamb cooked by Arabs or Indo-Europeans.
The dessert was too busy. Here we have 4 courses of classic, simple French cooking with just a couple of high quality ingredients. You can taste everything going on with each and everything on the plate. When I got to my Beggar's Purse, I felt overwhelmed with the dozen or so ingredients therein. I felt like I was at a carnival or something. Individually, the macaroon was great, but the sorbet on top did not really work for me. The Petit Fours rocked.
I endorse this place wholeheartedly with the exception of the bad coffee. -
Review from Jay C.
Portland, OR
8/23/2011
Generally considered one of the best restaurants in Vegas, but you're going to pay for it. Dinner was excellent, although very rich, and sitting right on the water during the musical water shows was great.
Really enjoyed every course except the main, which was underwhelming. Fortunately, there were so many courses that we were satisfied even before the main course.
Nice experience, but probably not worth the price. I've enjoyed other Vegas locations as much or more. Try N9NE and also Nobu. -
Review from adrian robert h.
Beverly Hills, CA
70%
Overall good but a bit inconsistent tasting dinner.
***Short Review
Came here for their tasting dinner by myself during Aug '11.
(6-courses @ approx $120, plus a $60 wine pairing).
My dining experience here was a bit of a mixed bag.
Quality of cooking ranges from close to perfection (U-10 scallop) to dismal (Wagyu Fillet Mignon).
Style of cooking is relatively old fashioned.
Some of the food presentation was ostentatiously gaudy.
Wine pairings here were very effective & not to be missed.
Value is reasonable, if you stick to the tasting & pairings alone.
I just wouldn't recommend adding their Wagyu Steak.
It's not very good, and it's just too much food.
Ambiance is very comfortable and not uptight.
I especially enjoyed the Bellagio water shows right outside the restaurant.
Decor, like the cuisine, is also a bit old fashioned.
Service is superb, it's very attentive & personable.
Picasso is very organized and the pacing is consistent.
Sommalier and waiter were very friendly & informative.
There are few places more efficiently run than Picasso.
Detailed review will go into each dish further plus other thoughts on the restaurant.
***Detailed Review
Picasso was really a mixed bag for me. Going with their tasting menu, some of their first dishes were really great. Unfortunately things became progressively less impressive as further dishes arrived. I also feel that, relative to other tasting dinners I've tried, Picasso's cooking somehow feels more old fashioned, as if I've time traveled back to the 1990's. Having had the chance to visit Pierre Gagnaire's Twist & Joel Robuchon the same week, I did not feel that Picasso was at the same level of creativity or consistency.
About the food, if you're not used to tasting dinners (and don't mind foie gras), this wouldn't be such a bad place to start. The flavor's are generally accessible, and the wine pairings are so effective, that I feel most will be able to enjoy.
On the the food;
I started with a pair of amuse bouche dishes, which I thought were good but again, somewhat conservative. No formal names were given on the menu, so I made them up in my attempt to best describe the dishes.
http://www.yelp.com/us...
'Leek soup with almonds'.
(Dish rating 75%.)
Pleasant, delicate, and straightforward flavors that highlight the two ingredients. temperature slightly chilled. light and refreshing. Very good soup.
'Salmon with egg and caviar'.
(Dish rating 40%.)
I felt this wasn't memorable. It tasted almost exactly as mentioned, but with some boiled egg in the center. rolled in. The salmon is quite delicious, but the caviar is obscured. Very pedestrian amuse.
'Maine Lobster Salad'
Apple-Champagne Vinaigrette
Wine Paring, 2009 Weinhof Arndorfer, Riesling, Reserve, Strasser Weinberge, Kamptal, Austria
(Dish rating: 93%)
http://www.yelp.com/us...
I felt this really wasn't a salad in the conventional sense in that there a lot of lobster with a bit of greens on top. Nonetheless, it was great lighter, refreshing dish. It was a wonderful way to start after the duo of amuse bouche. The lobster itself was great. Chunks of lobster meat is arranged to resemble a cake of sorts. The lobster is very juicy, and delicate. Texture wise, it was quite tender for lobster. It's served with a more chilled temperature, and portion size was generous.
The condiments are well thought out as well. The dish is complemented by sweet flavors from some melon. The greens were not as generous as I would have preferred, although they do give the dish a more crispy texture. Red peppercorns, another integral condiment, add wonderful subtly peppery finish. Like the greens, however, I do wish there were more peppercorns. In terms of wine parings, I was given a dry citrus-like Reisling, that thankfully wasn't too sweet. It took an already accomplished dish to another level. Very good balance of savory, sweet , citrus & spicy flavors.
Continued, please refer to 'earlier review'.Listed in: Best tasting meals, ranked…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/19/2011
'Pan Seared U-10 Day Scallop'
Potato Mousseline and Jus de Veau
Wine Pairing: 2008 Domaines… Read more »
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Review from Pcp P.
La Cañada Flintridge, CA
8/18/2011 9 photos
It's hot as hell and I am forced by the restaurant to dress up in order to dine here. Man, what I'd do in the name of fine dining. We flew here for the day, so it gave us an excuse and the opportunity to try this 2 Michelin rated restaurant at the Bellagio. The restaurant is situated right by their famous water dancing fountain, a very romantic spot to dine. It actually got kinda annoying after seeing it so many times as you spend hours dining their tasting menu. Seriously, I can only take so much of the gay-ass music they always play over the water show. How about some Linkin Park or Nirvana people!!!
We chose Menu Degustation for around $123/person + addtional wine paring for like $63/person. We decided to upgrade with wagyu kobe beef for addtional $40/person. Totally totally totally inexpensive for the experience. The menu comes with maine lobster salad, pan seared u-10 day scallop, sautéed steak of "A" foie Gras, Sautéed filet of New Zealand Tai Snapper, roasted tournefi loin of colorado lamb, wagyu kobe beef.
We all agreed that the lobster salad was really fresh and the foie gras topped with roasted almond was exquisite. We ate so much food that I couldn't sleep 'til 4 am from food coma. Either that or the large Filipino family partying all night listening to their lovely bollywood style music. WTF..... People, just because it's a luxury suite, it doesn't mean you can cram 10 thousand family members into one room, you cheep ass. -
Review from Henry S.
Dublin, CA
7/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
What can I say that hasnt already already been said?
Superb service and outstanding ambiance. This is a great place for a nice dinner with your loved one. -
Review from Christine Y.
Pittsburgh, PA
11/20/2011
This was my first experience eating formally French-inspired cuisine, getting sprayed by water and feeling the need to place my hand on my chest every fifteen minutes, and actually going through five courses at a meal...all at the same time. Overwhelming! On the up-side, it was very delicious, as I was reminded over and over by my dining-mates. More than anything, I would describe most of it as decadent, which is my word for "fatty and subsumed by butter". The breads and accompanying dips served as appetizers were all very interesting, and I remember one being ten times the bread of its brothers, so that we were all constantly digging through the bread pile to find more of its kind.
I would say, take someone here to impress them - someone you don't necessarily like, so that you will have the convenience of regular interruptions off the starboard bow [courtesy of the Bellagio fountains].
Later, tell them that foie gras is made by stuffing a tube down a duck's esophagus several times a day and dumping pounds of grain down there until their liver is the size of your plate. Wowza! -
Review from Elizabeth R.
Miami, FL
6/1/2011
LAST MEAL ON EARTH. If I had to select my last meal on Earth, I would probably opt to relive my dinner at Picasso. The food, the service, the view, the wine, the ambience--the entire experience was perfectly magical.
My husband and I both had the pre fixe menu with wine pairings. We selected different items for each course and we both tasted everything. I expected the food to be excellent, but this was more than just food. It was art. Of course, it was visually appealing--every plate designed with colors and shapes for maximum ocular impact. With every bite, I had the sense that someone's plan to surprise and delight was unfolding before me. And the wine pairings? Most superb I've ever experienced. Even with dishes I wouldn't normally have loved--the foie gras, for example--it was a bit sweet for me, but the luscious Hungarian Aszu revealed a depth of delicate aroma I couldn't get enough of.
And throughout the meal we were continually surprised. First, with a yummy amuse bouche, and at the very end with a dainty little box of pastries. The next morning I savored the pastries over coffee and remembered the beautiful evening. After the dessert course, they presented us with the prettiest little tray of chocolates. I've never felt so spoiled.
And where would you like to enjoy this splendid meal? Let's see, how about in a room filled with the bright, rich colors of a Picasso painting? Over the top flower arrangements and the Master's artwork on the walls. Oh yes, and the view? The famous dancing waters of Bellagio's fountains outside the window.
Memories are better than things. Things can disappear in an instant through theft or disaster or carelessness, but memories are forever. I'll always treasure our dinner at Picasso--a delicious, perfect evening. xoxoListed in: An Unlikely Vegas-lover
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Review from Jooeun L.
Oakland, CA
9/20/2011
I went there with 5 other ladies as part of a friend's bachelorette extravaganza in Vegas.
I went with the Prix Fixe menu, starting with Warm Quail Salad, then Sauteed Ruby Red Shrimp, then the Braised Short Rib, and finishing with Concord Grape Panna Cotta. (I also tried a few bites from my friends' meals).
The food was delicious, with good flavors and textures. However, I never had that 'OMG-this-is-the-best-thing-I-ever-ate,' 'excuse-me-while-I-groan-in-ecstasy' moment. Maybe it was the fact that I didn't have my favorite food-adventuring friend (my husband) with me, or maybe the dishes began to feel a little formulaic ('oh, let's add some crispy, fried bits to every dish to make the texture interesting').
The service was impeccable, however, and overall I had a wonderful experience. -
Review from Mike C.
Ahhh yes, you get the service and food from this Michellin 2-star rated restaurant. Fancy..yes, service...yes, Picasso art...yes, water fountain show...a bonus.
Reservation is a must, but on our visit, there were several open tables still available. There are other Michelin star rated restaurants in Vegas, but this one gives you the opportunity to look at some fine art with one of them valued at $160 million. And you get a free show too...the water fountain at the Bellagio is right outside.
They also filmed parts of Ocean 11 here too, so it does look familiar if you've seen the movie. And although this is fine dining, you don't get the pretentious feeling like some restaurants in Paris. The servers were pretty cool, especially they deal with Vegas tourists on a daily basis. They ask you if you are seeing a show after dinner to help gauge with the timeliness of serving your meal. Very well knowledged staff that were pretty much standing by to help you throughout the night.
And now to the main event...
I went with the Menu D'egustation menu. The same for couple of friends of mine and the rest did the Prix Fixe menu. But either way, you get 4 or 5 courses. And you can pair it with their wine choice throughout the night. But we opted for a couple of red bottles since the majority of us chose the lamb as our main dish. They literally have thousands...yes literally thousands of wine to chose from...ranging from "$30 to limitless." Yes those were the exact words from the maitre d'. So yah...we went with a couple of 100 dollar bottles instead...the Ruffino 2003 chianti and the Faust 2007 cab. Both were very nice that complimented everything throughout the night.
For a quick starter, they served a potato leek soup with a skewer of quail egg, salmon and caviar. Great starter. Just drink the soup straight up and the skewer was nice and cold and very fresh.
The first course from the d'egustation menu was the Maine Lobster salad. Nice, cold, fresh with avocado and with a little tanginess from the apple champagne vinaigrette. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Next was the pan seared U-10 day scallop. Yes...scallop...singular, but it was divine. Fatty goodiness melting in your mouth, with a potato puree and a small amount of jus de veau (broth). So small, yet it will take you a half an hour to finish it because you will just want to savor it again and again. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
For the next dish, I substituted the Foie Gras and went with their sauteed ruby red shrimp. Three pieces of shrimp that came with zucchini, artichoke, tomato and a pepper vinaigrette. Again, only three pieces of shrimp but the quality was superb. Small, but somehow it was just the right amount. The presentation was very nice. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
For the main entree, I chose the roasted Tournedo loin of Colorado Lamb. The alternative is the sauteed filet of halibut. My lamb was cooked medium rare, very juicy, tender. It will make you go WOW. So again, savor this for awhile so your WOW can last longer. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
For the finale, I went with the berry buttermilk cake. It's a panna cotta, with raspberry syrah soup with strawberry ice cream. Very yummy with the hint of syrah wine that gives it a little kick. Great way to finish the meal. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
This place has it all. 5 star service, 2 Michelin stars. Several original Picasso's throughout the restaurant. Absolutely, I will come again. Just save up at least $200 or more, or win it at the craps tables.Listed in: Le Michelin
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Review from Marilyn T.
Palo Alto, CA
6/19/2011
I was fortunate enough to come here for a friend's wedding reception. We were seated on the outdoor patio as the sun was setting, so it was warm, but no longer scorching. From the patio, you get a gorgeous view of the famous Bellagio waterfall shows, and sometimes you get sprayed with the mist, but the hotel was considerate enough to delay the water shows when it got windy - solely to keep the patio dry for us.
We had the entire patio, which was perfect for 30-40 people. It was very private and beautiful, and it seemed so much quieter than the rest of the Vegas madness.
With the champagne service, my glass was never empty. Passed appetizers included a pheasant croquette that was crisped just right, smooth inside, without any gaminess. The tuna tartare with mango was buttery and fresh, served on a spoon. There were also mini chicken skewers and beautiful poached oysters.
The first course was an ever so lightly dressed lobster salad, topped with microgreens and with small avocado balls. I usually try to avoid dressings, but the apple vinaigrette highlighted the lobster well. It was paired with a dry Riesling that was just right for seafood.
Next was an Alsatian Pinot Gris matched with a perfectly seared U10 sea scallop, served over super light potato mousseline, with a rich veal reduction underneath.
The 3rd course was a foie gras over a decadent piece of pound cake, with a sweet peach sauce to cut the grease of the foie gras. I probably wouldn't have chosen a sauterne to match it, though, as it was too syrupy early in the meal.
An alternative was tender lettuces with tomatoes and a textured avocado base on the plate - it was nice to have a lighter option, especially if you don't eat foie gras. I really appreciate how accommodating they were to my dietary preferences.
For the mains, I tried the Australian wagyu filet and the roasted lobster tail. The wagyu was perfectly medium rare, topped with hearty mushrooms. The lobster was so sweet and plump and perfect, I could have eaten at least 2 of that dish... and I didn't even notice the salsify until the end.
To end, we had delicate petit fours in addition to the wedding cake, and we each had a little black box of pastries as a favor to go.
Chef Julian Serrano even came out to chat with us, and I saw him visiting with other tables, too, which is so nice, since so often, big name chefs either aren't at the actual restaurant or they don't care to come out. The sommelier is a James Beard finalist, and he was the most charming and unpretentious, approachable sommelier I've ever encountered. Of course, service was otherwise impeccable, with napkin folding, utensil placement, opening doors and stepping back for you as you walk by...
Michelin stars, AAA diamonds, Wine Spectator awards - all well deserved. Needless to say, the best wedding food I've ever had... and one of the best stand alone meals I've had. -
Review from A M.
New York, NY
11/9/2011
This was the best restaurant that I have ever been to in Las Vegas. Everything (on the pre-fixe menu) was top notch. It's pricey (reserve it for a special occasion), but worth it.
True foodies will love it! -
Review from Amanda B.
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I've been wanted to write about Picasso for months, in fact, I wrote a review on Picasso with my previous old account! Some photos are still on here, but the last few time I was here, chef Julian Serrano blew my mind, my parents mind, again and again.
The resto itself is classic elegant, beautiful setting with Bellagio water fountain dancing, delicious food, stunning wines, and impeccable service again and again! Wish I was with a date, but never did when I was here. Always with my parents, broski, or friends, odd right?
Just another thing that I admire and a fan of Picasso, Master Sommelier here; how many in the US now, just barely over 100, at Bellagio alone has 4 master sommelier, enough said about this resort, and at Picasso a master sommelier and 2 other sommeliers , just that. Stunning wine list and pairing, and of course, who can forget the 11 original Paolo Picasso paintings, priceless for any meals!
A few dishes (OK so more than a few) that dear to my parents and my belly:
- Pepper cold soup & salmon croquette;
- Poached Oysters Garnished with Osetra Caviar, Sauce Vermouth - 4 oysters, extremely well prepared!
- Warm Quail Salad Sautéed Artichokes, Pinenuts - classic dish!
- Maine Lobster Salad with Apple-Champagne Vinaigrette - light and nice!
- Ragout of Seasonal Vegetables, Fresh Foie Gras and Jus de Poularde - oh heaven me!
- Ruby red shrimp - seasonal, well balanced!
- Pan Seared Sea Scallops Potato Mousseline and Jus de Veau - single gigantic scallop, tasty!
- Sautéed "A" Steak of Foie Gras Honey Muscat Poached Pears with Crème Fraîche Gastrique,Briocheand Crushed Almonds - My mom went banana on this dish every single time!
- Sautéed Medallions of Fallow Deer Caramelized Green Apples and Zinfandel Sauce - gaming, aromatic, must order!
- Roasted Pigeon Wild Rice Risotto - big plate, enough to share for two! Fantastic dish!
- Tournedos of Aged Lamb - you want a red meat with a good bottle of Bordeaux, this is IT!
- Desserts, I don't even eat sweet, my parents couldn't stop praising these sweet dishes here. I, on the other hand, dessert wines list here is excellent, my kind of sweetness!
Let make it simple, this is where a MUST DINE resto for my parents on their anniversary week every years when we are in Vegas!
Overall: 5 stars
For value: 5 stars
For Food: 5stars
For Service: 5 stars
Ambiance: 5 stars
For Location: Inside Bellagio hotel, on the strip.Listed in: Michelin Star, Viva Las Vegas
