Gold Badge YEE: An Evening At Lago

After some time of contemplation on what to say about this event, I got side tracked and forgot to write a review. I cannot say that I have another gold elite event to compare this to, but this was a spectacular night. Yes, the generosity was immeasurable, but the actual execution was fantastic. I knew it had to be special due to the nature of the event. What we got was ridiculous. From the chance to hear Chef Serrano speak about his concept to us being sat on the custom built patio was phenomenal.
The food was on the heavy side. Plentiful for sure. There were a few items that stood out. The octopus, cannelloni, short rib, and desserts were my preferred dishes. The octopus was tender and flavorful without being bogged down by heavy sauces or being overly prepared. The cannelloni held true to Chef’s vision of keeping items light yet satisfying. I would eat short ribs everyday if I didn’t have to worry about being rolled out. The tender pieces just melt in your mouth. By the end, I did not have room for dessert, but that did not stop me from taking a few bites of all that was presented.
The service was consistent. While the servers focused upon replenishing drinks, the server’s assistant made sure dirty plates were cleared and we had clean plates. I was most impressed with the food runners. They explained the dishes in a way that made me excited to try the dish.
Thank you Chef Serrano, Nate, Tiffany, and Bellagio for inviting us to such a grand tasting. The goody bags were rather generous as well.

The last Elite Unilocal event I attended was the first Bacchanal dinner way back in 2012 — back when Misti was still CM. I couldn’t have picked a better event to make my return. Hearing Chef Serrano speak about the new concept was informative and having dinner on their patio with an amazing view of the fountains was wonderful. The highlights of the multi course dinner were the gnocchi, tripe risotto, and grilled octopus. The free flowing drinks weren’t bad either.
Even better than the food and atmosphere was the company. Being surrounded by familiar Unilocalers and meeting some new ones made it a special night. Much gratitude goes out to Nate, Tiffany, and the team at Lago for putting together a memorable event.

This was a meal and event to long remember!
Diane (my plus 1) and I felt honored just to be here amidst just 25 or so Gold Unilocal Elites and their plus 1s, being feted by renowned chef Julian Serrano in the opening days of his new restaurant venture Lago at Bellagio. Once we took our seats on the newly created patio area, and delighted in the ultra-​modern and elegant sleek white, silver, and blue décor of this spotless venue situated directly behind the Bellagio Fountains, we were treated to a very interesting introduction to Lago and the envisioned concept driving it by Chef Serrano himself. Served by three separate kitchens, Lago seeks to offer, quickly prepare, and present both small and large plates of Italian fare that one might find in Florence, Rome, Venice, and the Tuscan countryside, targeted primarily at the 25– to 50-​year-​old demographic market. Instead of turning off diners with a massive plateful of pasta, the principal aim is to chiefly provide a succession of small, more refined plates (tapas) designed for sharing that can quickly add up to a full repast. Judging by our experience, the technique works quite well; I am sure that no attendee went home hungry. For after a few additional welcoming remarks by Bellagio Food & Beverage Manager Dominick, on came the small plates that just kept on coming!
Chilled Pomodoro Soup with a trace of EVOO, which I noted was richer and fuller than Gazpacho, was a refreshing start to our gustatory journey, and no less satisfying. Honey & cheese on Focaccia Bread, Focaccia topped by split Green Olives, and Speck & Onion Flatbread that was akin to fine thin pizza, were all warm and delectable. These were followed in turn by chewy Gnocchi Alla Romano with what appeared to be either Blue or Gorgonzola Cheese; Baked green-​hued Canneloni filled with tender Pulled Short Ribs and cheese that melted in the mouth; and two risottos prepared with long-​grained rice: Risotto al Vino Rosso, which was red-​wine-​based and purple in color, and orange-​tinged Risotto al Funghi e Trippa Alla Menta, featuring chunks of cooked mushrooms and mild-​tasting tripe.
Next, Lago’s very proficient servers presented sharable plates of Polpo, very nicely seasoned grilled octopus with Squid Ink Couscous; perfectly cooked Seared Scallops over a bed of elongated tomatoes; somewhat spicy Italian Sausage; and Costa di Manzo, slow-​cooked braised short ribs that were moist and joined to a bit of fat. I have never before been a fan of octopus or squid in non-​fried form, but tonight I was, and spooned some more onto my dining plate. Such plates were regularly replaced, just as glasses of water and cocktails were quickly replenished by staff without request.
Now we enjoyed a short break, during which the Bellagio Fountains kindly obliged with a beautiful show of dancing waters accompanied by piped in music including the classic Italian rendition of Con te Partiro, which seemed most appropriate in this setting. As we began to leave, another fountain show erupted, this time with music and lights!
But, before parting our ways, much more was to come. We reveled in platters of colorful and inventive desserts: luscious Cannoli; good liquor-​infused Tiramisu, very tasty Lemon Curd; distinctive Raspberry Mousse; Gluten Free Chocolate Cake; divine Chocolate Mousse topped by edible Gold Leaf; and decadent Chocolate Mousse with Hazelnut in the shape of an ice cream bar topped by a sugary multi-​colored mosaic panel reportedly patterned after one on public display in Milan. These sweets were accompanied by a trio of various gelati. Rather than choosing individual desserts, my group of four elected to each sample a portion of every sweet treat. All were delicious.
All gold Unilocal Elites were then presented with a goodie bag filled with an abundance of useful Unilocal swag and a generous $ 125 food and beverage credit from Bellagio to explore more of Lago’s culinary offerings during a future visit. Many thanks to our hosts the Bellagio, Lago, Chef Julian Serrano and his able staff, Unilocal,and our esteemed CM Nate M. and his able assistant Tiffany for making this well-​planned and brilliantly executed event possible.
It is good to be gold!

Lago is the treasure map and the food is the riches.
The most interesting chefs today seem to evolve their technique and vision, Chef Julian Serrano is definitely still on top of the culinary world. It was a privilege to hear him speak, address us himself, and provide the inspiration for Lago — his newly opened restaurant inside the Bellagio. The great success of his career, other restaurants, and the two year travel abroad just for Lago has vindicated Chef Serrano’s vision.
Congratulations Chef Serrano for opening up Lago!
Unilocalers were greated with cocktails and seated outside on the patio facing the beautiful Bellagio fountains, the perfect view for the fountain’s water show but the dividing line for us was the tapas. We were served a sampling of tapas and for me my favorite being the short rib wrapped in green pasta and the cannoli dessert.
Over all, this was a fascinating event. Beyond the dishes I mentioned, the best seats in the house, and sipping on savory handcrafted cocktail, sitting around with Unilocalers and catching up on current events and the good old times when we first began Unilocaling added to the already memorable experience.
We have been through a lot friends, and it’ll be interesting to see where we’re at by the time we wear those black badges.
After the conclusion of our meal we were given a Unilocal swag bag and a very generous $ 125 voucher to return. Thank you Unilocal,Lago, their management and team who was over the top on service, and Bellagio for hosting this Gold Elite event. easter egg: map.

A truly magical night at Bellagio’s newest swanky restaurant Lavo. We were greeted by a warm welcoming staff and escorted through a brightly colored, sleekly-​modern bar and out to a truly magnificent balcony dining area overlooking the fountains.
We were treated to cocktails and a variety of scrumptious fare, perfectly divine service and lovely company.
In a word, perfect.
And the scallops are a must!

Congratulations to all Gold Elites and for this wonderful Gold Elite Event! Lago was very generous to host us in this recently opened venue at Bellagio.
I also appreciate that we were greeted by Julian Serrano himself and his Management team. We received a nice welcome speech and description of his newest restaurant concept
The place is just beautiful with so much attention to detail including blue-​green and white décor with indoor and outdoor seating. This evening we experienced their brand new patio which overlooks the beautiful fountains.
We shared all ten courses friends style and which is always a great concept and encouraging setting for good conversation, after all, food is always going to be a shared interest.
We started out with some tasty cocktails like their Rose and Rye drink and a Cucumber Mist drink, both very different and delicious. Then on to tonight’s food offerings: chilled tomato and cheese soup, Foccacine Trio, Gnocchi with goat cheese, Tripe Risotto, Green Parsley and Cheese Cannelloni, Red Wine Risotto with buratta, Italian Sausage with red pepper sauce, Grilled Octopus with squid ink Israeli couscous, Seared Scallops, Beef Short Ribs, and to finish, an amazing and generous assortment of desserts, gelato, and sorbets. All delicious but with my top pics being the Tripe Risotto, Seared Scallops, Grilled Octopus, and all the desserts! All of tonight’s plates came to us at a pleasantly fast walk pace with exceptional service!
As if this was not already plentiful, we received a voucher to return and enjoy some of their other offerings. WoW! KUDOS to ALL of Lagos Staff who made for such an enjoyable experience and great first impressions! To Unilocal,Nate, Tiffany and the paparazzi-​THANK YOU once again for this awesome opportunity and for our thoughtful goodie bags!
I look forward to returning to many more enjoyable dining experiences at LAGO.

EPIC event with glorious food! Chef Julian Serrano, in flesh, even made an appearance and it was a pleasure to hear him speak!
We were then treated to so many plates of Italian bites. Everything was delicious but what stood out the most for me was the oh-​so-​perfectly grilled squid with squid ink couscous. The short rib rolled in pasta was so good. We ended the dinner event with a plate of delectable desserts, including three kinds of gelato. The cocktails looked super delicious and at my table were David S, Kerri M, Debbie N, all in agreement that they were delish. I ordered coke, and the wait staff was super attentive because as my glass of coke was nearing the bottom, she brought out another glass for me to enjoy.
And the atmosphere… oh boy, we were sitting on the patio, with full view of the Bellagio water fountain. Andrea Bocelli’s song came on with the divine Celine Dion singing was just beautiful. Yes, I have heard the song many times, but wow… the time, place, company, just made it so much more memorable.
At the end of the night, Gold Elites were presented with a Unilocal tote bag with goodies in there, including a super awesome Unilocal earphones and coffee travel mug. But, we also got a$ 125 GC to dine at Lago! Reason being is that if Lago were to bring out more food, we will just have to say no because they have fed us so much already! Therefore, the thoughtful management decided to give us the GC so we can come back and enjoy more glorious food! This is a super idea since my dear husband couldn’t accompany me to this event to enjoy what I ate, so I will take him at another time with this GC.
And of course, a big thank you to Nate and Tiffany. Oh dear Nate, our CM that always ensure us Unilocalers enjoy the event to the fullest… The man himself didn’t even get to sit to enjoy the food :(He goes through great lengths for us. We appreciate you Nate and Tiffany!

Great event. First, kudos to Nate for putting together an amazing Gold event.
Lago at first looks like a swank sports bar from afar. A lot of cool colors dot the atmosphere with modern furniture placed all around the bar area. The inside seems a bit smaller than I had thought but there might have been an unseen section.
The patio fit around 20 people comfortably overseeing the Bellagio fountains. The atmosphere is incredible for the quaint seating arrangement. The cocktails… yes… the cocktails. Cucumber cocktail and a brandy manhattan to die for (orange peel and smoked cherries… what???)
The food came so fast that I havd to admit that while well attended to I wished it would slow down a bit to savor the food more. The pictures do it more justice but everyone else has a multitude of pics that there doesn’t seem like a reason to upload more of the same.
Very well-​trained staff along with a great location and well priced food tie it all together. Chef Sorrano and company created a moment in time well worth it at a reasonable expense.
Did I mention they have a killer brandy manhattan? No? It’s like a whiskey assassin that stops you in your tracks with a kiss. A kiss of awesome. Wait, what? Yeah, you read it. Missed it?
Brandy manhattan — sweet nectar of Hera’s goat. Yes, Hera’s goat. mmmmm…

Hmmm… what to do in Monday night? How about a 5 star lakeside evening with cool people and delicious small plates?
Lago has a sexy international vibe welcoming to a broad age range. The service was a step above. Everyone was very welcoming, accommodating and professional. Alas, I did not partake in the cocktails but the server was kind enough to bring me a virgin version of the muddled cucumber pear treat! It was refreshing and delightful. It certainly made me feel fancy and made the cool mist from the fountains on the strip patio that much more amazing.
The food was scrumptious and I am eager to return, read the menu and decipher each dish. To say that Unilocal and Lago made me feel special, would be an understatement… I felt like a true gold VIP! I particularly enjoyed the braised beef short rib filled cannelloni, the red wine, huckleberry and cheese risotto, and the raspberry mousse dessert.
I really think this new venue is a great addition to the property and a swanky place for people to enjoy a lovely meal without the implications of the complete fine dining experience.
Needless to say, I plan to spread the word that this gem is open and ready for the romantic and ravenous.
Even now, as I sip my coffee from my shiny new Unilocal embellished thermos, I wonder if I was dreaming or is is that sweet to be Gold elite?

Good Eats + Good Folks + Good Views = Unilocal GOLD Baby!
What a stellar night at the all new Lago in the Bellagio for Unilocal Gold Elites! I am truly blessed to have been a part of these festivities! What an amazing treat! What an amazing evening!
Some of us lucky few were invited for an intimate dining experience at celebrity Chef Julian Serrano’s newest venture, Lago. Consider it akin to Spanish tapas, with an Italian twist. The restaurant is beautiful, with light coming in everywhere from the large glass panes, and a view of the lovely Bellagio fountain. Very bright, very airy, very relaxing. Our Elites were seated on their outdoor veranda overlooking the Strip. How fun is that, sitting right across the street is the Vegas version of the Eiffel Tower? Uncanny! The air was crisp this night, with light breezes.
Upon seating, we were treated to some libations: a choice of a Cucumber Cooler or a whiskey cocktail which I cannot remember the name to at the moment. I got to try the cucumber one but not the other. Refreshing! Folks dining with us on our table were Nelson Q., Sylvia Q., Clint B., and Kevin P. and their respective +1s. It was nice to do some catch up! My +1 was my college buddy Mike F., who is a chef and was all too stoked be let in on the invite!
We were greeted early on by Chef Julian Serrano himself and introduced to his amazing team of management and chefs. Lago would be Chef Serrano’s third restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip, and he and his team are working hard to be leaders in an industry where there are many top players. He is a very humble man, but you can see he is a very passionate fellow and is no slouch when it comes to his kitchens.
After that, well, let the eating begin! Tapa after tapa came out like a lightning storm:
*Zuppa di Pomodoro — chilled tomato purée with burrata cheese
*Trio of Focaccia
*Gnocchi Alla Romana with Blue cheese
*Baked Cannelloni with pulled short ribs
*Risotto al Vino Rosso — red wine and cheese
*Risotto ai Funghi e Trippa Alla Menta — tripe, mushroom & mint
*Polpo — grilled octopus with a squid ink couscous
*Seared Scallops with tomatoes
*Homemade Pork Sausage
*Costa di Manzo — slow cooked short ribs
*Gelato sampler
*Sorbet sampler
*Lago assorted dessert tray
EAT EAT EAT we did! Even with all these little plates to share I was still able to have a great overall meal. Everything that came out was tasty, well thought out and executed. The service and wait staff were near impeccable. Courteous and friendly, very knowledgeable about Lago’s new menu. It was a great way to spend a Monday evening. Oh the view! Nothing like a Bellagio fountain show to cap the event.
But it wasn’t all done there folks! Nate & Tiffany had a few surprises in store for us! Ta-Da…the Unilocal swag bag! Full of Unilocaly goodies for us Elite Gold folks to take home — a coffee mug, headphones and a few other cool items. And of course, Unilocal mints! But it wasn’t done there! Lago management surprised each of us Elite Gold with a Lago gift certificate good towards $ 125 on a future visit! Wowzers! Lago, you have been warned, I will be back! This time I’m getting a full serving of those dang short ribs and possibly a loaf of crusty bread.
Much, much thanks to community manage Nate Dogg and the lovely Tiffany for hosting this event for us! It was nothing short of excellence! Who says Mondays are humdrum?
Mangia, Mangia!

A beautiful event! Comfy seating on the intimate patio, in full view of the magnificent Bellagio fountains. Chef Serrano and his crew welcoming us and feting us with a choice of two delicious cocktails (Note to Metro: I had two Manhattans and a Cucumber, couldn’t resist). Delicious food expertly executed and served by a well-​trained staff. Scrumptious desserts, with what may be the best tiramisu I’ve ever tasted.
As if the food, drink, atmosphere, and congenial table companions weren’t enough, the Unilocal Swag bag and the incredibly generous parting gift from Lago were the icing on the cake. If the food came a bit too quickly to be able to «digest» the beauty of the presentation, we will have ample opportunity and resources to go back and savor Lago on our own time.
A great big thank you to Nate, Tiffany, Chef Serrano and his team for organizing a beautiful and memorable Gold Badge YEE!

Best Unilocal Gold Event Ever.
I’ve only been to one, but this one really set the bar high! We were welcomed to Julian Serrano’s newest restaurant at the Bellagio, Lago. This restaurant is reminiscent of a more casual version of his fine dining restaurant, Picasso. The VIP treatment was phenomenal, as we were treated to a sunset dinner with a full tasting menu on the patio overlooking the iconic Bellagio fountains.
After a quick introduction by the chef, we were treated to tasting after tasting. The food was amazing. I don’t think I can go through all of the small plates, but I very much enjoyed the chilled tomato soup with burrata to start, the red wine risotto, the grilled octopus, and let’s not forget the amazing dessert sampler.
An awesome evening was made even more special with gift bags, an invitation to return to Lago, and even a proposal! I am just amazed by how thought out and put together these events are. Thanks as always to Nate, Tiffany, and the entire Lago staff. I can’t wait to return!

An evening at Lago was just fabulous. I am so thankful to have been able to attend this gold elite event!
Lago just opened and it is a stunner, inside and out. Getting to sit on the patio overlooking the famous Bellagio fountains was so lovely, listening to Con Te Partiro as we dined created a wonderful atmosphere.
The evening began with the man behind Lago, award winning Chef Julian Serrano, as well as his team explaining how much work went into the design of both the venue and the menu. Drinks were brought around, I opted for the light and refreshing cucumber concoction.
After some opening words by the Chef and staff, it was on to the food. We were served a plethora of menu items ranging from a soup starter to multiple types of risotto to octopus and finally an epic dessert plate. Servings were small but I was still very full at the end of the evening.
After dinner and our traditional end-​of-​the-​event toast by Nate, we received some spiffy Unilocal swag bags and a letter from Lago staff inviting us to come back and try them at a slower pace, on the house!
Lago staff really went all out for us, and the generous offer to come back is appreciated tremendously. Nate, Tiffany. Always such a pleasure! Thank you for all that you do to make these events as enjoyable as they are!

Wow, what a great event! An evening on the patio at Lago at the Bellagio with the fountains right in front of us so that we could feel the spray a few times was wonderful!
Greeted by Nate and Tiffany in the casino, we entered Lago together and walked to the reserved patio area for this YEE. For those who wanted a cocktail, there were a couple of choices as we entered the patio. Shortly after being seated, Chef Serrano welcomed us and introduced some other people from the restaurant.
Then the food began. Several tapas style dishes from cold soup to a wonderful dessert. Service was friendly, efficient, and our water was refilled all the time. I’ll let you read the menu from other reviews or from the photos.
It’s good to get together with fellow Unilocalers and enjoy dinner with them. The fountain shows were as amazing as always and just after I spoke to a couple from Scotland, when the fountain show began, he opened a ring box, got down on one knee, and proposed to her. I think we have a first for a Unilocal event.
All gold elites received a SWAG bag before we left. Much appreciated and many thanks to Bellagio/​Lago for the gift certificate!
Many, many thanks to Nate for organizing this event. It couldn’t have been any better in any way. Tiffany, thanks for your help, too!
This was an evening I’ll always remember!

What a great event filled with food porn, the Bellagio fountains, and friends that go way back to the Yang Dynasty, AKA «The Lunchbox Years»! Fellow Gold Elite diners at our table included Chris A., Kevin P., and Clint B. With their plus ones where we played catch up with one another sipping refreshing CUCUMBER COOLERS and the very smooth ROSE & RYE cocktails. I loved the Amarena Cherry bonus at the bottom of the glass!
Chef Julian Serrano and LAGO’s management team then came out to greet us and explain the vision of LAGO and to prepare us for a plethora of their signature dishes. Props to Chef Serrano as he is definitely one of the few chefs (and one of the first) on the strip who is actually at his establishments day in and day out dividing time at his namesake, his tapas restaurant at Aria, and now LAGO.
Here is the run down of courses that were served :
CHILLED TOMATO SOUP WITH STRACIATELLA
FOCCACINE TRIO
GNOCCHI ALLA ROMANA WITH BLUE CHEESE
RISOTTO WITH MUSHROOMS, TRIPE, AND MINT
RED WINE RISOTTO WITH BURATTA
PARSLEY CANNELLONI WITH PULLED SHORTRIBS
ITALIAN SAUSAGE WITH RED PEPPER SAUCE
GRILLED OCTOPUS WITH SQUID INK COUSCOUS
SEARED SCALLOPS PROVENCAL
SLOW COOKED BEEF SHORTRIBS
LAGO DESSERT SAMPLER
GELATO TRIO
SORBET TRIO
It was definitely a food tour through various regions of Italy and the fountains dancing to the music added to the romantic atmosphere overlooking the strip and the Eiffel Tower in the background… So romantic, that a few of us got to witness LAGO’S first marriage proposal on the patio by a visiting couple! Definitely an icing on the cake moment!
After our traditional celebratory toast to us by Nate The Great, Swag bags and a very generous voucher for a return visit (I’ve got my eye on you Osso Bucco!!!) were a nice parting gift for the Gold Elites.
BIG MAHALOS…
Chef Serrano and the entire staff at LAGO for the great food and gracious hospitality from beginning to end… MOLTE GRAZIE!!!
Patrick for capturing all the picturesque moments for this evening
Fellow Gold Elites– Great catching up, reuniting, and breaking bread with such a fine bunch of Unilocalers as always
Nate and Tiffany– Yet again outdoing yourselves with each event, your continuous effort and dedication is always greatly appreciated… ALOHA!!!
Shaka Meter: \uuu/​\uuu/​\uuu/​\uuu/​\uuu/​5

Let the gold times roll!
This was a fantastic evening filled with outstanding Italian fare and great company at Bellagio’s newest restaurant, Lago by Julian Serrano. Having dined at his two other spots in town a few times, I had high expectations that were met dish after dish. Even the man himself did an introduction and explanation of the concept which made it feel extra special.
Not expecting patio dining since the former restaurant at this location didn’t offer such a thing, I was really surprised when our group walked out to one that was specially built for the new digs. I still love the Fountains of Bellagio. No matter how long I live here, I’ll always stop to watch them. Dining by the water provides a unique, striking, and memorable experience every single time.
Thanks to Nate, Tiffany, and the five star staff for a wonderful evening!

Phenomenal event. Service was completely on top of their game. Chef Julian Serrano and the team coming out to welcome us to their new restaurant. Beautiful patio seating that treated us to 4 or 5 Bellagio fountains songs, least of which included the crowd favorite, Con Te Partiro. Not to mention some random non-​Yelp couple getting engaged as the event was winding down.
And the food. I wish I could find their menu in order to properly describe everything we enjoyed. It was mostly a blur. It came fast and furious. I think photos will do a much better job than I ever could. Just know that I fully enjoyed the risottos, the octopus, the scallops, the rye Manhattans with the orange peels branded with «Lago.»
Superb job by the chef and crew. Thank you to Nate and Tiffany. The evening far exceeded my expectations.