Lunching Las Vegas: Brasserie B
Casual French Dining by Bobby Flay
I spent my 33rd Birthday in Las Vegas. What sounds like a total luxury for a Mom of two toddlers living in the Midwest was also a lucky coincidence prompted by a well-timed business trip.
The morning of my birthday began with me moderating a panel at a conference and then lunch attending an awards ceremony honoring hardworking strangers. An unconventional start to a festive day. I could hardly focus on the corporate pomp and circumstance on stage, as I was hyperaware that downstairs in the same hotel were dozens of incredible restaurants waiting for me to arrive and indulge. At 2:30, the work lunch ended and *poof* I was gone; I ran out of that ballroom to meet my husband Jacob and grab a real meal.
We wandered the hallways of Caesars Palace—past the midday gamblers and toga-clad cocktail waitresses, cigarette smoke and merriment permeating the air. As many of the restaurants began closing for that awkward gap period between lunch and dinner, Jake and I decided on a whim to try Brasserie B: Bobby Flay’s French concept that had been open for about one month.
Las Vegas restaurants have this magical ability to transport you. They have to because they are directly adjacent to flashing slot machines, technicolor carpets, and the most eccentric assortment of humans around. But with some music, unique lighting, and immaculate aesthetic choices down to the finest detail, you’re no longer in a casino: Suddenly you’re in a French Brasserie in Paris (or a chic South American lounge in the case of CHICA ). Adjusting to the ambiance overload, the marble table tops, burgundy leather booths, classic rattan chairs and tiled walls tell you almost as much about the upcoming dining experience as the menu itself.
We sat down for birthday lunch (my second of the day), ordered two glasses of wine from our charming waitress, and settled in. The brunch menu was approachable, but featured those little Bobby Flay twists that Food Network aficionados would expect to see, like tangerine Espellete hot sauce or yellow chile mayonnaise. Classic Bobby.
Here are the highlights of our meal at Brasserie B:
There’s something very Vegas about starting a meal with a shrimp cocktail. We saw it on nearly every menu during this trip and finally ordered it at Brasserie B. One bite and I was immediately struck with the question how can something so straightforward be so yummy? The prawns were pink, plump, and ice cold. The cocktail sauce while classic was zinging with flavor from smoked chile and horseradish. #ClassicBobby. Brasserie B’s prawn cocktail reminded me why I like this dish to begin with.
Next up were the croque monsieur and croque madame that Jake and I ordered, respectively. For those unfamiliar, croque monsieurs are basically French grilled cheese sandwiches with ham (literally a gentleman’s sandwich). Croque madames are topped with an egg, and named uniquely because they supposedly resemble a woman’s wide brimmed hat. Although my high school French teacher taught us that it was because women have eggs… an awkward anecdote that has been forever seared into my memory. Brasserie B’s croques were simply divine. A rich and creamy bechamel sauce is melted on top of thick cut bread that confidently retains its toasty corners and velvety soft center to house the thinly shaved ham inside. Can it get any better? Only when paired with a cold glass of Sancerre (one of my favorite French white wines), which provides just enough acidity to cut the richness of this sandwich. Oh La La c’est magnifique.
We finished our meal with a duo of French desserts: cream puffs and crêpes. The profiteroles were stuffed with a French roast coffee ice cream and topped with chocolate. They were tasty albeit overpowered by the espresso martinis that we had somehow ordered. The brown sugar butter crêpes were stuffed with fromage blanc, a mellow soft cheese and soaked in a marmalade-like thick brown sugar sauce. The little treats were topped with thin slices of grapefruit which attempted to balance some of the sweetness. Not a knockout for me, but if you’re a fan of blintzes, you’d likely enjoy.
I would be remiss to not give some love to our server. Sometimes food makes a dining experience special and other times it’s the people and their subsequent hospitality. At Brasserie B it was both. The service from start to finish was wonderful. Our waitress, a mom herself, was so warm and spent time connecting with us, despite our arrival at the end of her shift. She genuinely cheered us on as we celebrated both my 33rd and our first vacation since having kids. Maybe this is why we left stuffed, a little tipsy (to put it mildly), and absolutely gleeful about our experience. We’d proceed to funnel that energy into spending way too much time and money on slot machines, but that’s a different story for a different time.
Since returning home, this day has been one of our fondest in recent memory. Everything about Brasserie B was a delightful surprise. It was the only restaurant we picked spontaneously and maybe our favorite of the trip. There is probably a lesson in that.
A happy birthday to me indeed!
Délicieux food, flowing drinks, and wonderful service.
Ergo Yum.
Happy birthday! It sounds like an excellent way to celebrate.
The food looks amazing as always, right down to the desserts. What an amazing place to celebrate a birthday. Happy birthday