SimoneSassett

Honestly, I think the OP was probably most disappointed by the dining experience, which in turn reflected badly on their already so-so hotel room experience. With that argument in mind, I will say again that while there are fabulous restaurants that use the same names as their fancy originals from NY, SF, Chicago, LA, et al, and that all the recipes are the same, the big difference in "fine dining" in Vegas is the SERVICE, or rather lack thereof. It doesn't matter if you have the best, aged piece of filet mignon in front of you, if it arrives 20 minutes late, or with a dirty thumb in the sauce as the plate is literally being dropped in front of you, it's going to be a horrible dining experience.

While you can import fancy restaurant names and beautiful surroundings, you can't import the SERVICE (meaning decent servers) that is required for a true fine-dining experience. We've had dinner at many posh places in Vegas, and anecdotally, it's all the same - bad service. Even at the Four Seasons, the staff there just isn't the same as a Four Seasons elsewhere.

Marianna

I suppose even the top rated hotels/restaurants can be off once in a while. The Bellagio was #17 in Conde Nast's (November 2005) list of the top 75 United States hotels. It is a huge disappointment when your experience is less favorable than the people who rated it so highly - 92.2 a tie with the Hotel Bel-Air in LA.

Patrick

I'm trying to figure out the comment about the burnt out bulb and lack of attention to detail. Do you have some knowledge that the bulb was burned out before the main was there? Is it possible when you entered and turned on the lights it burned out then? All light bulbs eventually burn out and I'm unaware of a system for knowing when they are going to so you can replace them before you do. But admittedly, the fact that it didn't get changed when you called is bad. I'd have called a second time and raised a little hell -- "I need a light bulb in my bathroom NOW and this is my second call. Should I come down to the desk and get it myself?"

Also I would never blame the hotel for the service in the restaurants which are all "farmed" out.

gualalalisa

I'm so confused! I did so much research here before deciding to stay at the Bellagio in December.

I was undecided between it, the Venetian and the new Wynn - of the posters I read the Bellagio seemed to get the highest marks, at least for my tastes. (Even though many posters did mention it has gone "downhill" somewhat.)

We're staying in a suite - will that make the service any better even though that concept sucks?

This is the third complaint I've read about a Bellagio restaurant here in the past few days. The restaurants and the convenience of having them downstairs was a main draw - you guys have me really worried!

Please keep the comments, good and bad, coming.

applejack

We are thinking of staying at Bellagio this time so we will be in same hotel as the show we want to see. Don't really care for a big buffet breakfast - do they have a cafe for a light breakfast - cereal etc.? Thanks.

SFImporter

Applejack - they have Cafe Bellagio, which is kind of like a really nice Denny's. ;-)

The most impressive thing about the cafe is that the windows used in the decor were salvaged from the "City of Paris" store that used to exist in San Francisco's Union Square.

The food is average, but depending on the day you may have to wait over 20 minutes to be seated. They have no express line for hotel guests - only one for high-roller comps. I've actually had faster service at Denny's. As if waiting in line isn't long enough, we had a fairly long wait to order and to receive our food.

If you keep your expectations low, you may be pleasantly surprised. There are also quicker grab and go options.

mah1980

I agree with a previous poster that the connection between Steve Wynn's ownership and the quality going downhill supposedly at the Bellagio is not there. On Tripadvisor the new Wynn gets pretty crummy reviews. My husband's secretary recently went to the Wynn and said it really wasn't worth it at all.

I just got my Conde Nest reader's poll issue and Bellagio is still doing well according to readers.

Ryan

I'm curious why some would make the assumption that Bellagio must not have slipped if Wynn's hotel doesn't match up to what Bellagio once was.

Why can the first point not be accurate on its own merits.

Bellagio slipped even before Wynn's new place accepted their first guest.

Having stayed multiple times under both ownership groups, I can state some of these deficiencies that have occurred since MGM did not take place when Wynn owned it. (Garbage from a prior guest left in my room. 90 minute waits for a a bellman. Plus a few other things I've noticed.)

If Wynn's new hotel fails to live up to the Bellagio in its early glory years, what that tells me is that maybe the stars just aligned for a few years and he was able to keep a really talented staff in place that simply isn't possible with all the growth in Vegas.

I'm sorry to hear that Wynn's won't have that same magic as Bellagio circa 1999. But, to me that doesn't change the fact that Bellagio has become a place where 20-something drunks brawl outside the Light Nightclub, where a room service tray is left in a hallway for 8 hours and getting a chair by the pool is a competitive event.

BigJim

Good points Ryan!