Delmonico Steakhouse
Iced Tea
Popover, Whipped Butter
Louisiana Caviar Deviled Eggs / Nashville Hot Chicken Skins / Kurobuta Pork Cracklings
Delmonico Tableside Caesar Salad, Crostini, Parmesan Cheese, Black Pepper
Wilted Spinach Salad, Pecan Bacon, Fried Poached Egg, Red Onions, Sherry Bacon Vinaigrette / Sweet Gem Lettuce, Red King Crab, Avocado, Heirloom Tomatoes, Green Goddess Dressing
Seared Foie Gras, Buttermilk Waffle, Port Wine Glazed Figs, Hazelnut Granola / Charred Octopus, Warm Farro Salad, Salsa Verde, Olives, Tomatoes / Emeril’s BBQ Shrimp, Petite Rosemary Buttermilk Biscuit
Apple Cured Kurobuta Bone-In Bacon, Pickled Watermelon Rind, Abita Root Beer Glaze
Rabbit Porchetta, Mustard Reduction, Baby Rainbow Carrots
Certified Piedmontese Tenderloin, Roasted Garlic, Rosemary, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sea Salt
Wet Aged Creekstone Farms NY Strip, Herb Butter, Worcestershire Sauce
Duck Fat Confit Fingerling Potatoes
Bacon Cheddar Anson Mills Grits
Sauteed Garlic Morels
Creamed Corn Gratinee, Poblano Peppers
Illy Coffee
Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake with Chocolate Ganache, Emeril’s Banana Cream Pie, Pecan Pie with Oatmeal Shortbread Crust and Vanilla Ice Cream, Lemon Coconut Trifle
Coconut Sorbet, Lemon Sorbet, Watermelon Sorbet
Not overly upset, but admittedly disappointed with an event booked at Delmonico Steakhouse in early June, it was on the invite of Ronnie Rainwater that three guests returned on Friday, the Chef stating he did not expect any photos or re-written reviews noted but the strength of what was served clearly deserving of praise and more like what several prior visits to Emeril’s Restaurants had yielded in terms of creativity and execution.
Again offered as a family-style tasting, this time in a high-ceilinged room surrounded by Wine and music from Sinatra as well as Dean Martin, it was with Iced Tea and Water poured that things got off to a fast start, the first of three Popovers arriving piping hot and ready to be enjoyed with or without Whipped Butter.
Never slacking in terms of service, a consistent theme across all of Legasse’s Restaurants from Florida to New Orleans and Las Vegas, it was from a female captain and male busser that the evening proceeded with the first of several visits from Chef Rainwater, a collection of “Bar Snacks” typically served in the lounge highlighted by feather-light Pork Cracklins and Deviled Eggs topped in domestic Caviar.
Also treated to spicy Chicken Skins, heated but not much as to dull the palate to later flavors, course two offered three Salads of superior quality, the tableside Caesar classic right down to Anchovies crushed in a wooden bowl while Praline Bacon and deep fried Eggs found levity in Sherry Vinaigrette alongside sections of King Crab tossed with Lettuce, Avocados and Green Goddess.
Finishing all but a few Leaves of Romaine, in retrospect perhaps unwise considering the abundance of Food to come, it was again as a trio that Appetizers came plated, the Octopus a little tough along its small end but otherwise enjoyable while Emeril’s iconic Shrimp and a generous slice of Duck Liver atop a Waffle with plenty of poached Figs were both exemplary dishes that rank amongst the best in town.
Receiving a thick-cut of Kurobuta Pork Belly later, another Delmonico classic that is big on flavor but balanced by New Orleans Root Beer Glaze plus housemade Pickles, entrees and sides soon arrived on a chopping block, the Piedmontese tenderloin exceptionally lean while Prime Black Angus Beef from Kansas also fared beautifully, though neither raised eyebrows quite the same way as Rabbit Saddle stuffed with dark Meat and cooked with spices in the style of Porchetta.
Happy to see some Side Dishes during this visit, a noteworthy omission from prior, guests seeking a bit of spice will be happy to know Creamed Corn offers plenty while Confit Fingerlings, creamy Grits made stretchy with Cheddar and a big bowl of Morels teaming with Garlic all showcased their ingredients with getting overly clever or complicated.
Stuffed but always happy to make room for Dessert from Emeril, a double Espresso and three Sorbets guiding the transition from savory to sweet, suffice it to say that both Banana Cream Pie and the Tart filled with Pecans remain unmatched while Triple Chocolate Mousse and Sour Lemon Curd paired to Coconut Cream are nicely constructed and well-suited to those who prefer to finish with their respective flavors.
N/A: Not offering a rating for this meal, the fact that Chef Rainwater requested such specifically why, it is meals of this nature that have cemented Emeril Legasse as a favorite ever since first visiting his Orland Restaurant in 2001, and if “service recovery” is an art there is no doubt Delmonico offered a master’s level course in it on Friday.
RECOMMENDED: Kurobuta Pork Cracklings, Wilted Spinach Salad, Sweet Gem Lettuce, Seared Foie Gras, Apple Cured Kurobuta Bone-In Bacon, Rabbit Porchetta, Bacon Cheddar Anson Mills Grits, Sauteed Garlic Morels, Emeril’s Banana Cream Pie, Pecan Pie.
AVOID: Octopus was a little tough, Watermelon Sorbet a bit icy.
TIP: At $38 the Rabbit Porchetta is not only delicious, but an excellent value for one of Las Vegas’ best Meat dishes.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
www.emerilsrestaurants.com/delmonico-steakhouse
