Las Vegas for Christmas is a yearly tradition with my family. This year my friend and I decided to devote our time to great shopping and great food. We spent all day hitting up the shops: Wynn Esplanade, Via Bellagio, and the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian. Since it was Christmas, we scored some sweet deals, and had so much fun we didn't notice our stomachs grumbling until 8 at night. Feeling hungry for some food with a kick, we headed to MGM Grand for Emeril's for some modern cajun seafood.
Chef Emeril Lagasse is a celebrity chef and I wanted to try his modern Cajun twist on my favorite protein: seafood. First thing I noticed upon entering the restaurant was the excellent decor. On the outside it was full of bright neon lights and fancy trimmings, typical of a Las Vegas MGM restaurant; it slowly became dimmer and the lighting was soft and romantic. Maybe I should have brought a lover here instead of a shopping friend instead...
The server took our drink orders and brought around a basket of bread and butter. It was rather hard and unappetizing. Even with a day without eating, neither one of us could stomach more than a couple of bites. Emeril's was off to a disappointing start.
After frowning a bit to each other, my friend and I opened our menus. Our appetites immediately returned. Every item on the menu seemed delicious. I had a really difficult time choosing between the different seafoods. Part of me wished I could order a bit of everything. For a cold starter, my friend and I ended up deciding on the Fish House Ceviche as a light start to the meal.
The starter was brought out a few minutes later, and the presentation was again, disappointing. Is this what Emeril's was going to be?! A continuous line of disappointment? But wait! Taste is twice as important as presentation and I picked up a warm tortilla chip, scooped up a healthy portion of the fresh ceviche and stuffed it all into my mouth.
The flavor was amazing. I could taste the sweetness of the rock shrimp combined with the creaminess of the sliced avocado. The jalapeño kick hit me in the back of my throat after I swallowed. The delectable tastes fused in my mouth and both my friend and I dove for more. We finished the appetizer so quickly and were antsy for more.
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| Fish House Ceviche: $12 |
Since we had a David Copperfield show in forty minutes, my friend and I decided to share an entree in hopes that we would receive our food faster. We pleaded the server to hurry, and he delivered. Fifteen minutes later we got our delicious cod and clams served in a Manhattan style chowder.
The bread, again, was not a crowd pleaser and we quickly set it off to the side. The fish was cooked perfectly: very flaky and slid onto my fork with ease. There was a hint of apple wood smoked bacon on the backside of the fish which gave it a great smokey flavor that really added to the natural taste of the fish. I usually enjoy New England style clam chowders more, but this Manhattan was definitely one of the best I ever had. It had a light freshness to it that paired perfectly with the saltiness of the fresh clams. Everything about the dish was fresh and that comes from having quality seafood being cooked to perfection.
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| Chatham Bay Cod & Steamer Clams: $34 |
By the time we finished, we were eager to try a dessert but we had to rush to the David Copperfield show. My friend and I bought last minute front row seat tickets right before dinner as a small Christmas present to ourselves.
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| Front row David Copperfield!! |
Overall, Emeril's presents extremely fresh, high quality seafood at a decent price. The presentation leaves something to be desired, but I will definitely come back to try more dishes, especially for a taste of dessert!
Emeril's New Orleans Fish House
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
ph: 702 891 7374
