Dinner Buffet at The Bellagio

What better than to experience a decadent buffet in the city of excess? Dinner at The Bellagio buffet has become one of the quintessential Vegas experiences, with endless lines of people waiting to get in on hundreds of items available.

We opted for the Gourmet Dinner, available Friday through Sunday from 3:30–10:00 p.m. Entrance is $39.99 a person, and there is also a highly recommended Unlimited Drinks option for $12.99, getting you bottomless margaritas, bloody Marys, beer and sparkling wine.

Entrance to the Bellagio Buffet © Inazakira | Flickr

Walking in, it is easy to see what all the hype is about. The array of food available is simply astonishing, and it would be impossible for someone to sample everything in one sitting. I filled my first plate with some standard buffet items like shrimp cocktail, salad, roast chicken, crab legs and some fresh fruit. While the fruits and vegetables were good, I found the meats lacking in freshness, though we did go against people’s advice and arrive closer to the end of the night.

For round two, I tried the prime rib, one of several carving stations that offer various meats through the season. My cut was remarkably good, and went well with the Bellagio’s pesto mashed potatoes. I rounded out my plate with some American, Ikura and Tobiko caviar, served on crackers with some light topping. Guests are limited to three spoons per helping, and since I’m not familiar with the cuisine, I sampled all three before getting a second helping of Tobiko.

© Anthony Quintano | Flickr

My third plate was a struggle through some juicy Kobe beef and a couple slices of an excellent, wood-fired pizza that was freshly made and a stand-out item of the buffet. The rest of the night saw us nibbling on fruit tart and low-calorie cheesecake, which tasted good, but we were far too full to appreciate.

Overall, the Bellagio buffet is a fun experienced that can only be justified in a place like Las Vegas. While the quality leaves more to be desired, the sheer variety is worth a trip.

The Bellagio

3600 Las Vegas Blvd South

Las Vegas, Nev. 89109

888 987 6667