If you have ever been to Las Vegas, or are even thinking about going there, you know that there are a million places to eat. Pretty much everything you could think of under the sun to eat can be found somewhere on the Vegas Strip. As a veteran of Las Vegas and a self-admitted 'foodie' I have eaten at many places in Las Vegas and could give a run down of dozens of excellent places to eat. However, one restaurant stands out as THE best place for fine dining in Las Vegas in pretty much every aspect you could think of.
The name of the place is Le Cirque and it resides in the Bellagio hotel and casino. It is one of only a couple lakeside restaurants and that is just one aspect that adds to the atmosphere of this incredible place. Make no mistake, this is fine dining. You will not find chicken strips on the menu, so if you are looking to save a buck, this is not the place for you. However, if you appreciate a unique dining experience, Le Cirque is second to none.
It is a fairly, small, intimate restaurant with an elegant air to it and a classy area with a very small bar where you can wait for your table or even enjoy an after dinner drink. The eating area is exquisite, but fun with a circus like setting that you have to see to appreciate. It is very colorful and tasteful, yet it reminds you to enjoy yourself.
The staff is top notch from top to bottom. From the chef to the sommelier to the waiters and busboys, everyone here does there job perfectly, as you would expect, but they also exhibit a sense of humor and they do not take themselves too seriously. This is perhaps the most charming aspect of Le Cirque, even more so than the food. The staff is the most attentive one that you will ever have wait on you, but they are not pretentious and stuffy like you will find at most lavish restaurants. They make the entire dining experience fun and enjoyable rather than making you feel like you are in over your head and have to place your order in French or something!
The sommelier has forgotten more about wine than I could ever learn in a lifetime, yet he never makes you feel as if you don't know what you are doing and he is always able to perfectly describe any wine and help you to make the perfect choice. The waiters will remember your name from previous visits and are able to recommend anything that you describe to them and make you feel good about it. I cannot say enough about the staff at Le Cirque, most of whom have been there for many years. There is not much turn over in employees at this place, a sure sign of a good restaurant!
Now to the food. The food is incredible. It is French cuisine and rather than try to describe each dish, I will just say that everything is immaculately prepared and is the best that you will ever eat. Whether you try the duck, rabbit, lobster, foie gras, or some combination of them all, you will find the flavors to be more complex than anything you have ever tasted. Most of it is rich, as French cooking tends to be, but no matter what your tastes are you will not find that dish prepared better anywhere else.
The presentation is also remarkable, these are some of the prettiest dishes you have ever seen and each and every dish is prepared in a way that you have not seen before. Not important? You may think that until you dine there, but remember, a place like this is not simply a place to eat, but an experience, and all these little things add up to make it more enjoyable.
I usually indulge in the tasting menu which consists of around 5 courses that you can also pair with wine selections, which I cannot recommend enough. Each dish is accompanied by a wine that is paired perfectly with the food. I love wine, but I have never eaten food with wine that is so well matched to the food as I have at Le Cirque. This is one of the hi-lights of dining here. If you like wine and you like food, pay the extra money for the tasting menu with the wine pairing. I promise you will not regret it.
Speaking of the tasting menu, the portions are perfect as well. I love to eat, but I cannot eat a lot at one time. It is not a problem at Le Cirque. I do walk out full and satisfied, but the portions are so well done and the dishes are spaced out time-wise in the way they are brought out that it never seems like you have too much to eat.
Whether or not you have the tasting menu, there are a few favorites that you should know about:
1. Lobster salad. It may not sound like much, but it is one of my favorite dishes in the world
2. Foie Gras. Rich and simply incredible
3. Risotto. Usually prepared with a truffle, preferably black, this is the finest risotto I have ever had and the standard by which all other risottos should be measured. Worth the price of admission by itself!
4. Duck. The chefs tend to vary the way the duck is prepared, but it is incredible no matter what.
5. Rabbit. I have never been too thrilled about rabbit. This is a specialty at Le Cirque. Also prepared in a myriad of different ways.
One of the things I have not yet mentioned are the desserts. All of them are unbelievable. The souffles require a little more time but the chocolate and Grand Marnier are incredible. There is a raspberry 'milkshake' that is one of the best items I have ever eaten, and of course, the creme brulee is excellent as well.
Really, reviewing the food is of little use, because each and every item on the menu is impeccable and perfect. The wine selection is enormous and the ports and after dinner drinks are in abundance as well. Of course, you can order any beer or mixed drink as well.
What about the prices? Well, if you worry about the price after reading this article, you probably want to stick with the buffets, but suffice to say, plan to spend some money, it is not cheap. If you order the tasting menu with wine pairing it will run you just under $200. Seem like a lot? It is the best money I have ever spent on food and I have eaten here dozens of times over the years. There are cheaper ways to do it, simply ordering off the menu and getting an appetizer, entree, and dessert will save you some money, but either way it is not going to be a small tab.
Also be prepared to spend some time here. This is not a place you eat at in 45 minutes as you race to see a show. These dishes take time to prepare and you should enjoy the experience rather than being in a hurry. Plan to spend an hour and a half to several hours depending on what you order.
Overall, in a town of fine restaurants, Le Cirque stands out head and shoulders above for all the aforementioned reasons. Keep in mind, I have eaten at Picasso in the Bellagio which is extremely high end and good food. They actually have real Picasso's hanging on the walls! I have eaten there once. Once. I have eaten at the Bellagio many times, for many years, took my wife there the night we got married, and every year for our anniversary. That really says all there is to say.
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