By Don Chareunsy
NFL Hall of Famer and legend Emmitt Smith celebrat- ed his new restaurant Emmitt’s Vegas at Fashion Show Las Vegas with a VIP grand opening party on March 28. The soiree celebrated culinary excellence and art- istry and featured family, friends, professional athletes, other celebrities and live entertainment.
The evening started with a presentation as Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom, Hector Lizaola with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Mini Happawana with Sen. Jacky Rosen, Gipsy Martinez-Alcocer with Congresswoman Dina Titus and Art Goldberg with the Vegas Chamber bestowed the Key to the Las Vegas Strip to Smith.
After the presentation, Smith took part in a champagne saber, his version of a ribbon cutting, as champagne flowed at the contemporary American restaurant (it was branded a steakhouse at one point) in the former space of the two-level Sugar Factory American Bras- serie. One highlight: Susan Sommer’s art installation paying tribute to Smith and his former Dallas Cowboys teammates Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin.
“I am eternally grateful for the hard work and dedica- tion of each and every person,” Smith said at the grand opening. “Including the restaurant staff, thank you for your commitment, dedication, hard work, sacrifice and everything else.”
Attendees also were treated to cocktails, passed bites including lobster bisque shooters, burger and crab cake sliders, cowboy butter steak skewers, sushi and desserts and a DJ/saxophone player. Emmitt’s offers lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, along with an extensive wine collection.
I didn’t know what to expect at dinnertime at Emmitt’s Vegas soon after the grand opening, as these parties are nearly never an accurate representation of the restau- rant, but I left a satisfied customer.
Our dinner for two: tuna tartare, crispy Brussels sprouts, one of the best French onion soups I’ve ever had, American Wagyu New York Strip, miso-glazed sea bass, creamy mashed potatoes loaded, brown butter cake, carrot cake and a Gold Jacket Old Fashioned. Full, satisfied and with plenty of leftovers.
And don’t forget to snap a photo with a young Smith, Aikman and Irvin on the way out.
