Wolfgang Puck may belong to California, but the Austrian chef has had a special impact on the Las Vegas dining scene. When he opened Spago inside the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace more than 25 years ago, the Strip was a culinary disappointment, a kingdom ruled by mediocre buffets and dated steakhouses.
Puck proved that Vegas visitors not only wanted better food, but that they would pay for it, effectively launching the dining revolution that has filled the Strip with restaurants from celebrity cooks and Michelin-starred chefs.
In January, the original Vegas Spago packed away its pizza pans and wine glasses, and recently it reopened just down the street at the Bellagio, where the eatery now has prime lakefront real estate.
"The fountains were everything for us. We used the water as a key element in the design of the restaurant, bringing the beautiful feature to the forefront of the dining experience from the moment our guests enter the restaurant," said Gelila Puck, the
designer behind the space, via press release.
Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the resort's famous waters, and a circular patio offers prime sightlines for their regular eruptions. At the table, meanwhile, the menu includes both brand staples and new dishes created exclusively for the Bellagio location,
like saffron risotto with Santa Barbara spot prawns.
"Las Vegas has supported us for 25 years, so we owe it to them to be innovative," Puck told the Las Vegas Sun last fall. "In a time where guests are more in tune with their dietary choices and want to know where their favorite foods are coming from, customization
and sourcing from our California neighbors is key."
Spago at the Bellagio is open daily for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. and for dinner from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.