Courting big-name celebrity chefs and brands has been a big part of Harrah’s rebranding to Caesars, beginning with the mini-food hall that opened in spring 2023. He opened his first casino restaurant, Emeril’s Fish House, in the MGM Grand in Vegas in 1995, followed by Delmonico Steakhouse in the Venetian, also in Vegas. The casino world is certainly not new to Lagasse. It documents the opening of his first restaurant here, Emeril’s, in 1990, followed by NOLA in the French Quarter in 1993, and includes the current face of Emeril’s, Lagasse’s son E.J. A photo wall tells the tale of Lagasse’s career beginning with his early days in Massachusetts to the start of his culinary career in New Orleans, when at just 23 years old he took over Commander’s Palace. The restaurant’s splashy, gold-tinged entrance belies a fairly intimate dining room that seats more than it appears - 170 in the main area, not including two private dining rooms, and a glowing marble bar that seats 30. Still, there are a few familiar local touches, like turkey and andouille gumbo, crawfish and angel hair pasta, and hogs head cheese.

It mixes dishes synonymous with a splurge, like a seafood tower, with classic brasserie staples like French onion soup, a tarte flambée, blue crab timbale, roasted bone marrow, and steak frites au poivre. The kitchen is led by Eric Ivy, who curated a menu that draws on Lagasse’s early culinary training and pays homage to some of his mentors from that era. A 20-seat patio is still under construction but will be the casino’s first restaurant to offer outdoor seating. The restaurant is located just inside the Canal Street entrance of the casino, which diners under 21 can access, in hopes of drawing customers beyond casino-goers. The vibe is high-end and it will eventually serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner - though it’s opening with just dinner service. Emeril’s New Wine Bar Wants You to Have a Little FunĮmeril’s Brasserie marks a different style of restaurant for the new chapter of the casino, which has been transforming into a Caesars property since 2022 (the transition is expected to be completed in 2024).

Food at harrah's new orleans casino