Portico at del Lago Resort & Casino Wins OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award Less Than Two Months After Opening
Posted on April 20th, 2017
It can take a long time to build a reputation as a great restaurant. However, less than two months since opening its doors, Portico by Fabio Viviani at del Lago Resort & Casino is already earning praise from customers and critics alike with an OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award.
OpenTable, the popular mobile app and website that helps guests book reservations, determines award winners using real feedback from diners who booked through the platform. After their meal, OpenTable asks them to review the experience, and Portico’s customers have spoken. Just like Viviani, it’s proving to be a fan-favorite.
“To receive this recognition so early after opening is fantastic, and I’m just so happy that our guests are enjoying themselves at Portico,” Viviani said. “It means a lot to me that this comes directly from the people sitting at our tables, eating our meals and enjoying the scene here. This award comes right from the table, and I’m proud of what we’ve done so far, with much, much more to come.”
Viviani, who burst onto the scene starring on Bravo’s hit reality series “Top Chef” and with appearances on several shows since, opened Portico at del Lago on Feb. 23. The restaurant seats 210 people and features a sophisticated take on Old World Italian-inspired foods and handmade pastas, as well as seafood, steaks and chops grilled over hardwood. Starting with only dinner service, Portico debuted its lunch menu on April 1.
“This award is a testament to the planning, preparation and professionalism of Fabio and our entire Portico team,” Executive Vice President and General Manager Jeff Babinski said. “We set out to hit the ground running with all our features at del Lago, from the gaming room floor to the dining room table. The reviews continue to be overwhelmingly positive, and this award is the result.”
In addition to Portico by Fabio Viviani, del Lago offers guests dining options at the Farmers Market Buffet featuring locally sourced produce, fruits, dairy products and meats, as well as homemade gelato and pastries; The Vine, which serves guests French Quarter-inspired dishes; and a food court with three restaurants: Finger Lakes-based Ciccino’s Pizzeria & Paninoteca and locally owned Smashburger and Moe’s Southwest Grill.
Del Lago Resort & Casino is a partnership between Rochester-based Wilmorite Inc. and Peninsula Pacific. Peninsula Pacific comprises the former leadership team from Peninsula Gaming, which has a combined 50 years of experience developing and managing regional casinos in five states. JNB Gaming manages the casino as JNB and its principals are widely recognized throughout the country as premier casino developers and operators.
About del Lago Resort & Casino
Del Lago Resort & Casino is a $440 million casino, 205-room hotel and spa in Waterloo, New York. The mission behind del Lago Resort & Casino has been to act as a gateway to the Finger Lakes region, leveraging the natural beauty and unique offerings while enhancing tourism. Savor NY — MacKenzie-Childs at del Lago is a unique retail outlet where local vendors bring the Finger Lakes region directly to del Lago patrons with MacKenzie-Childs and Jay Strongwater products and a wide variety of local fruits, cheeses, baked goods, wines and beers, and other area specialties. Del Lago Resort & Casino also features 2,000 slot machines and 89 gaming tables, including 12 poker tables; Portico by Fabio Viviani, a restaurant with a sophisticated take on Old World Italian-inspired foods and spirits; The Vine, a 2,400-person entertainment center, bar and restaurant; Farmers Market Buffet, featuring locally sourced comfort foods; Centrifico, a bar/lounge area in the center of the gaming floor; The Sociale Café & Bar, serving “gastro spa” cuisine and beverages; and a 4,200-square-foot food court. The hotel, spa, banquet facility and The Sociale Café & Bar will open in summer 2017. For more information, visit delLagoResort.com.
