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Vincent Pouessel

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Mon Ami Gabi’s Vincent Pouessel Shares His Top Dining Picks in Las Vegas

He has some fun picks off the Strip

Vincent Pouessel
| Mon Ami Gabi [Official Site]

Sin City is home to a lot of restaurants and bars, but there are tons of hidden gems that the majority of Las Vegans aren’t unearthing. To help guide readers to these potential discoveries, Eater Vegas enlisted some of the city’s food players to share their recommendations for a feature dubbed Dining Confidential.

Vincent Pouessel joined the Lettuce Entertain You in 2016, taking over the kitchen at Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas. It was one of the first restaurants he visited when he moved to the United States from France in 2001, and it has been a favorite for him and his wife to celebrate special occasions ever since. Pouessel grew up in a family of butchers in a small town in France known for seafood. He started his career as a cook at Chez la Mère Pourcel in Brittany before working in Bordeaux and Paris, where became the executive sous chef at Le Jules Verne, the Michelin-starred restaurant inside the Eiffel Tower. In 2001, he moved to Las Vegas, where he worked as a sous chef at The Mansion at MGM Grand, and then as the executive chef at Aureole in Mandalay Bay, followed by DB Brasserie at the Venetian. Here he shares some of his favorite restaurants in Las Vegas.

Do you remember your first trip to Vegas? What happened that was memorable?

Yes of course! I had never been to Vegas when I arrived in July 2001 and started to work at The Mansion at the MGM Grand. This was truly spectacular because of the no-limit and upscale approach given to the guests of the villas. Lots of great memories there. It’s where I met my wife Lelhani, and the rest is history.

What made you decide to move to Las Vegas?

I met chef Phillipe Rispoli in a restaurant in Paris and he told me he was moving to Vegas and asked me if I wanted to join him. I said yes and a couple month later I had my visa and landed in Las Vegas in the summer of 2001. I’ve been here ever since.

Where do you like to eat breakfast in Las Vegas?

Weiss Deli on East Sunset, I go there a lot. I sit down and they know just what I want. It’s super good the owners are very nice and there working every day. It’s my comfort zone destination.

What about lunch?

Honey Salt is a great spot for lunch. I love the relaxed atmosphere and they have really great salads.

Eiffel Tower Restaurant for lunch is a great spot. Same view, same food, but such great deal for lunch.

Estiatorio Milos at the Cosmopolitan is still the best lunch in town, hands down.

Echo & Rig is a great place for lunch, great food.

If you’re going out for dinner, which restaurants do you like to frequent?

I love to go to The Black Sheep, her short ribs are the best and so everything else she put on a plate.

My girls love Tacos El Gordo on Charleston. Their el pastor is the bomb.

Sparrow & Wolf is always great, solid food great cocktails love what Brian is doing. Love his duck and sweet breads.

I am dying to see my friends at Locale Italian Kitchen, Nicole Brisson and Andrew Hooper’s new restaurant. I am really looking forward to that.

Where do you like to dine for a special occasion?

I love to go to Buddy V’s Ristorante. What Bryan Forgione is doing with Italian comfort food is great.

I love to go for a great dinner with the view at Rivea. I love his gnocchi and chickpea fries. Those are the best.

Are there any brunches in town you like to frequent?

Border Grill in Mandalay Bay. I love the Hot Tamales [Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken]. Chef Mike Minor’s the best.

I visit my buddy Pierre at Café Breizh on Sunday for pastries and galettes. I can’t function too long without his mille feuilles, chausson aux pommes, and gallettes.

Black Sheep is now open for brunch and you have to go there.

Let’s say you want to hang out with your friends after work. Where do you like to go?

I usually end up at Monta Ramen or Raku in spring Mountain with my brother Bruno.

Any healthy restaurants that you like to dine at in Las Vegas?

Eatt Gourmet Bistro on Sahara is very tasty and simple and they serve the right portions to keep me on track.

How about French restaurants?

Partage on Spring Mountain, Bouchon at the Venetian, and of course, Bardot Brasserie at Aria.

All Dining Confidentials [ELV]

All Coverage of Mon Ami Gabi [ELV]

The Black Sheep

8680 West Warm Springs Road, , NV 89148 (702) 954-3998 Visit Website

DB Brasserie

3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109 702-430-1235 Visit Website

Locale Italian Kitchen

7995 Blue Diamond Road, , NV 89178 (702) 330-0404 Visit Website

Monta Ramen

5030 Spring Mountain Road, Las Vegas, NV 89146 702-367-4600

Bouchon

3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.414.6200 Visit Website

Border Grill

3500 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89109 (702) 854-6700 Visit Website

Eatt Gourmet Bistro

7865 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89117 (702) 608-5233 Visit Website

Echo & Rig, HENDERSON

2270 Village Walk Drive, , NV 89052 (725) 258-3246 Visit Website

estiatorio Milos

3355 South Las Vegas Boulevard, , NV 89109 (702) 414-1270 Visit Website

Tacos El Gordo

4201 International Boulevard, , CA 94601 (510) 501-5103

Honey Salt

1031 South Rampart Boulevard, , NV 89145 (702) 445-6100 Visit Website

Sparrow & Wolf

4480 Spring Mountain Rd Ste 100, Las Vegas, NV 89102 (702) 790-2147 Visit Website

Partage

3839 Spring Mountain Road, , NV 89102 (702) 582-5852 Visit Website

Raku

5030 Spring Mountain Road, , NV 89146 (702) 367-3511 Visit Website

Las Vegas

, , NV

Bardot Brasserie

3730 South Las Vegas Boulevard, , NV 89109 (702) 590-8610 Visit Website

Weiss Deli and Bakery

2744 N Green Valley Parkway, Henderson, NV 89014 702-454-0565

Eiffel Tower Restaurant

3655 South Las Vegas Boulevard, , NV 89109 (702) 948-6937 Visit Website

Buddy V's Ristorante

3327 South Las Vegas Boulevard, , NV 89109 (702) 607-2355 Visit Website

Rivea

3940 South Las Vegas Boulevard, , NV 89119 (702) 632-9500 Visit Website

Cafe Breizh

3555 South Fort Apache Road, , NV 89147 (702) 209-3472 Visit Website

Mon Ami Gabi

3655 South Las Vegas Boulevard, , NV 89109 (702) 944-4224 Visit Website

Aureole

3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89119 (702) 632-7427 Visit Website
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