Let’s say that you just won a nice little jackpot at the new Sands Casino in Bethlehem, PA.  What to do with the winnings?  Here’s an idea – have a delicious, decadent dinner at Emeril’s Chop House restaurant, located right off of the casino floor.

I’ve never been to any of Emeril Lagasse’s other restaurants before, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when my significant other’s parents said that we had a reservation there this past weekend.  The décor is very fitting with the rest of the casino, which has a steel theme (the casino itself is in a building that used to be part of the Bethlehem Steel Works), with dark browns and blacks and sheer reddish-orange curtains.  Interesting cylindrical crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling.  The extensive wine selection is displayed in a sort-of rotunda near the host desk.  This restaurant also has a section where you can sit and eat at a “bar” right in front of the kitchen and you can watch the world-class chefs preparing your meal.

For starters, we ordered some drinks and appetizers.  Their wine menu is HUGE and I’m sure you can find any type of wine that your taste buds desire.  We ordered a few lobster bisques, which were presented to us in a way that I’ve never seen before.  The server came over with a bowl that had a small lump of lobster meat in the center.  In their other hand was a small saucepan with the actual soup in it, and they slowly poured the soup around the lobster meat.  The bisque was not like other lobster bisques I’ve tried, it has some unique favoring that I couldn’t identify and a bit of a kick that pleasantly lingered in your throat after you finished.

For the main course, myself and my boyfriend’s mother both got the fresh fish of the day (mahi mahi) prepared in the “lighter style”: over cous cous and fresh veggies with tomato citrus vinaigrette (they also can prepare the fresh fish Creole style).  Very delicious – the vinaigrette was a perfect pairing with the fish and vegetables.  The men at the table both ordered steak, New York Strip and Filet Mignon.  A trio of sauces accompanies any steak order: house-made Worcestershire sauce, creamy horseradish sauce, and a Béarnaise sauce.  I didn’t try it, but apparently the Worcestershire was to die for and didn’t have the usual smoky taste that store brands have.  You can also order side dishes à la carte, which are big enough to share between two people. After we gorged ourselves on dinner, we enjoyed some vanilla bean crème brûlée for dessert (my favorite!).

One big sell of this restaurant (other than the Emeril name, of course) is that they are stimulating the local economy and buying local produce as much as possible.  The free-roam chickens, beets, and other vegetables on the menu are all grown locally to the Lehigh Valley.  The service seems to be another big draw.  We were waited on by a friend of the family, who was so friendly and helpful during the entire dinner service.  We heard rumors that if you get up from your seat during dinner, someone will come over and give you a new napkin by the time you get back.  None of us got up during dinner to find out if that was true or not, but I suspect that is probably is true because the wait staff was really up top of things.

I’m sure you’re wondering about price.  The menu is pricey, and if you decide to get an appetizer, and a salad, and a side dish, and dessert, and a drink… well, it adds up.  Most of the appetizers and salads are close to $10, and most of the dinner plates are between $25 and $40.  If you’re in the area or at the casino and are looking for a nice, upscale dining experience, definitely give Emeril’s Chop House a try.

Emeril’s Chop House

77 Sands Boulevard

Bethlehem, PA 18015

484-777-7777

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