Six months ago, Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith launched his first restaurant. He opened his steakhouse on February 26, 2024, and in less than one year of operation, the business is making waves.
It has earned the 2024 OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award, which is based on the feedback of thousands of visitors and locals, according to Afro Tech.
“I am truly honored that Emmitt’s Vegas has been named a 2024 OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award winner,” Smith explained in a press release. “Our goal has always been to create a dining experience that is not only memorable but also reflects the dedication of our incredible team and the loyalty of our guests who continue to support us.”
“This award reflects and encompasses the innate passion, dedication and hard work we put into every aspect of our dishes. We strive to offer our guests a culinary experience that is both innovative and deeply rooted in tradition. Being recognized by OpenTable motivates us to continue pushing the boundaries of excellence.”
Smith launched the restaurant this year after two years of delay because his investors were engaged in a legal battle. It occupies 30,000 square feet in the Fashion Show shopping center at 3200 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Suite 1240, in Las Vegas, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The restaurant’s menu is spearheaded by consulting chef Steve Mannino and executive chef Antwan Ellis and includes items like cedar plank salmon, roasted red bird chicken breast, main lobster tempura, steaks, sushi and rice bowls, and desserts including carrot cake, Emmitt’s butter cake, and parisian chocolate cake, among others.
Its star menu is a Brobdingnagian 44-ounce tomahawk steak from Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors. Also, the restaurant sources antibiotic- and hormone-free beef from 44 Farms in Texas, Allen Brothers in Chicago, and Hokkaido, Japan, according to the report.
Per its website, Emmitt’s Vegas was established by the NFL legend to “be a beacon for food enthusiasts that fosters shared moments of joy through a legendary dining experience that redefines the restaurant, bar, and lounge scene with an unparalleled blend of luxury and gastronomic mastery.”
A running back for the Dallas Cowboys from 1990 to 2002 and a three-time Super Bowl winner, Smith was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
