Under the incandescent lights of Las Vegas, where dreams are carved into the cityscape like starlight into the desert sky, a new culinary titan is ready to unveil its grandeur. At the helm of this gastronomic expedition is none other than gridiron legend Emmitt Smith, whose name now transcends the football field to preside over an empire of taste and hospitality.
Set to open its doors on the 26th of February, **Emmitt’s Las Vegas** emerges as a beacon on the culinary horizon, a modern steakhouse infused with the warmth of Southern charm. Nestled within the expansive yet inviting 30,000-square-foot space at the Fashion Show mall — a space once known for its sweet indulgences of the Sugar Factory — the establishment promises an experience where every guest is a VIP on the notoriously vibrant Strip.
In the words of Smith, stemming from a heartfelt press release, “Our vision for Emmitt’s Vegas is to create a space where guests can indulge in exceptional service, savoring the best of New American classics with a touch of regional flair.” Such a sentiment has the power to promise not just a meal, but a journey through the senses where each dish tells a sumptuous story.
Tickling the taste buds from 11 a.m. to the sunset hour of 11 p.m., the restaurant will also host a weekend brunch that tips a hat to tradition, served from 10 a.m. to the golden gleam of 3 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.
The road to this day has not been without its share of dicey turns, much like the drama that unfolds at the craps tables just a stone’s throw away. A legal tussle proved to be a formidable adversary, with a lawsuit spiraling out from Chef Rainer Schwarz against former partners embroiled in this epicurean venture. Yet now, with the winds of change bringing forth a fresh duo — Steve Mannino and Executive Chef Antwan Ellis — the kitchen stands ready to forge ahead, armored with skillets and spatulas.
Despite the whispered rumors and legal fables, Emmitt’s Las Vegas stands stoic in its proclamation, its online bastion emmittsvegas.com declaring that no tempest can shake its foundation, with Chef Schwarz’s award-winning vision still echoing through its culinary corridors.
Meanwhile, the frolicsome spirit of Vegas dining presses on. **Happy Camper Vegas** now illuminates the Strip in the erstwhile home of Stripburger and Chicken, boasting a pizzeria’s whimsy beneath a retractable roof, an ode to the joy of dining beneath the cosmos.
Even as beloved venues fall like autumn leaves, with the likes of Wolfgang Puck’s Lupo closing only to be reborn as Caramá, a culinary phoenix from the ashes of its predecessor, the saga of taste and tradition continues unabated. The fleeting destiny of Lupo’s visage at the Wolfgang Puck Players Locker, aborted by the prohibitive cost of bricks and mortar, whispers muffled elegies of what might have been.
But in this city of ceaseless wonder, where fortune favors the bold and the taste buds crave the next storyline, the ever-turning page of Vegas dining invites all to its sumptuous feast. Here, amidst the glitz and the neon glow, Emmitt’s Las Vegas stands poised to turn the next chapter.
