As long as the Bellagio fountains exist on the Las Vegas Strip, there will be diners clamoring to get a table at one of the few restaurants that offer perfect views of the spectacular attraction. One of the best of these—and a great restaurant, period—is the Italian restaurant Lago by Julian Serrano.
Michelin-starred Serrano’s tireless efforts to perfect the dining experience (some would say he’s already succeeded) have resulted in some truly great menu tweaks over the years, and lucky for those of you in town this week: He’s doing it again, refreshing the experience to reimagine dinner, lunch or brunch. Even those of you who have been here several times will want to check it out.
Start with an entirely new cocktail menu, courtesy of Julian Cox, MGM Resorts International’s executive director of beverage. Old-Fashioned fans will love the Sfumato, a spin on the classic with gomme syrup and Heaven’s Door bourbon, while the Lago Coastal Tonic is an ideal starter, made with Piùcinque gin, Chareau, Fiorente elderflower liqueur and elderflower tonic.
From appetizers to starters, there are so many sensational new selections here, from bruschetta made with pan de cristal and topped with tomatoes and basil to lemon tagliolini, thin ribbon noodles in a sauce of butter, Parmesan and lemon. Don’t skip the osso buco, braised veal shank paired with saffron risotto.
The brunch menu, available on the weekends, offers banana pancakes (in which caramelized bananas are cooked into pancakes and topped with Nutella and ricotta), salmon crostini (a toasted baguette topped with ricotta, smoked salmon and a quail egg), and the Lago frittata (this particular egg-based classic is made with broccoli, sweet peppers and spinach and topped with pecorino).
Dessert gets a serious upgrade with the new espresso martini flight, four specialty cocktails that are flavored with chocolate, vanilla, cheesecake and hazelnut. Or you can go a more traditional route with olive oil cake, cooked with roasted grapes and topped with in-house rosemary gelato, or get the sorbetto and gelato paired with pizzelle (waffle cookies).
Bellagio, 702.693.8888
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