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| - Okay, my last lunch at Table 10 was probably 4 stars rather than 5. But my 5 star rating is sort of a lifetime achievement award, based on many meals at Emeril's restaurants in New Orleans and Las Vegas. In addition to his winning personality on TV, Emeril Lagasse is one hell of a restauranteur. If you eat at any of Emeril's restaurants, you can count on a first class meal; and the prices are not too bad for a high end restaurant.
I think it's fair to judge Table 10 based on my overall affection for Emeril, because it is an overall showcase for his New Orleans cuisine. At restaurants like this, I like to order several appetizers and small plates, rather than an entree. I mean, look, a great steak is a great steak, and there are a lot of places to get one. But if you want to enjoy Emeril's special talents, try a few things that you can't get at the steakhouse down the street.
For my last lunch I started with the bacon wrapped dates. This seems to be a new in-fashion thing, as I just had the same dish down the street at Giada's. The dates were great at both places, but I don't remember seeing dates on many menus over the last several years. Plus ca change...
Next I had the chicken and sausage gumbo. Not astounding, but quite good. Same for the lobster mac & cheese (which is a side dish). My wife enjoyed her shrimp po' boy - a hefty sandwich which she could not finish at one sitting.
One bad point - Table 10 is buried in the maze of the "canal" shopping center between the
Venetian and the Palazzo hotels. As a place to wander and shop, the canal is pretty cool. I remember liking it the first time I was there. But if you are headed for a destination in there, it is a bit of a pain in the butt. The place is designed to walk you past as many high-end stores as possible. I'm not certain if there is a minotaur wandering around in there (it wouldn't surprise me), but the mythical labyrinth has nothing on the trek from the parking lot to Table 10, and has the advantage of avoiding the crowds.
Once you get to Table 10, though, the restaurant is comfortable and the service is friendly and attentive. Except for the nagging thought that you are going to have to find your way back to the parking lot, with multiple wrong turns and elevator rides along the way, I think you will really enjoy your meal.
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