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.
Yuri Szarzewski, the executive chef of Eatt Gourmet Bistro and Partage, came to Las Vegas via southwest France. He worked at Paris heavyweights L’Ambassade and Le Bristol, and even competed on Chopped. Here he shares some of his top picks for restaurants in Las Vegas.
Do you remember your first trip to Vegas? What happened that was memorable?
My first trip in Las Vegas was in 2014. Vincent Pellerin and I joined Nicolas Kalpokdjian for two weeks to better understand and discover this amazing town. When I first landed and saw all the lights and gigantic casinos and hotels, I felt like a kid in Disneyland. I fell in love with Las Vegas on the first day of our trip.
What made you decide to move to Las Vegas?
All of us used to work together in Paris and after many years, I started getting tired of the routine (subway, traffic, and bad weather). Nicolas was the one initiating the move, and we built a solid team with Vincent. When he reached out to me to join him on this adventure, he asked me, “Do you want to follow me and build something great in Las Vegas?” My answer was, “Yes, why not?!”
Where do you like to eat breakfast in Las Vegas?
I like to go grab some pain au chocolat, croissant, and apple turnover at Café Breizh.
If you’re going out for dinner, which restaurants do you like to frequent? What makes them special? Any dishes you can recommend?
I like to go to many places for dinner but my favorite gem would be Japaneiro for the magic gyoza. … If you like fresh fish, I would recommend Sen of Japan. Don’t forget The Black Sheep either. Chef Jamie’s pork buns are awesome.
Where do you like to dine for a special occasion?
If you want to impress your guest with a memorable view go to Rivea. Chef Bruno and his team will take care of you.
Are there any brunches in town you like to frequent?
My favorite brunch is Lago at Bellagio. If you’re lucky enough to get a table close to the fountain show, it will blow your mind.
Let’s say you want to hang out with your friends after work. Where do you like to go?
When we need to release stress after work, we grab a good cocktail at Herbs & Rye. If you’re looking for a more upscale experience, I recommend Mr. Coco at The Palms.
Any healthy restaurants that you like to dine at in Las Vegas?
If I want something quick, flavorful, and healthy, I go to Meraki Greek Grill.
How about French restaurants?
They are many good French restaurants in town but most of them are on the Strip. Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace, Le Cirque at Bellagio, Twist by Pierre Gagnaire at Waldorf Astoria, and the famous Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand.
• All Coverage of Partage [ELV]
• All Dining Confidentials [ELV]