Legendary Chef Emeril Lagasse has expanded his culinary footprint in Southern Nevada with the opening of Meril at M Resort Spa Casino in Henderson south of the Las Vegas Strip. Named after his daughter, Meril is Lagasse’s casual neighborhood concept, marking its debut as the first restaurant of its caliber from a celebrity chef in Henderson.

As the brightest and largest restaurant footprint in M Resort, the new Contemporary American venue represents a departure from traditional, enclosed casino dining. The space is designed to bridge indoor sophistication with the beauty of the surrounding desert. The 220-seat main dining room is wrapped in dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the venue with natural light.

Guests can step outside onto a large, wrap-around terrace offering outdoor balcony seating. Overlooking M Pool, the terrace provides diners with sweeping views of the desert sky and Las Vegas Boulevard.

“Bringing Meril to Las Vegas is incredibly personal to me, and opening this concept in Henderson makes it even more meaningful,” said Lagasse. “Meril is a bright, energetic restaurant inspired by the places I’ve traveled and the dishes my family and I love to eat.

“It’s also named after my daughter, Meril, so this restaurant has always carried a piece of my heart. We’re excited to bring our New Orleans hospitality, bold flavors and a welcoming neighborhood dining experience to the Henderson community.”

“For years, our guests have expressed a desire for a sophisticated, celebrity-chef-driven dining experience right here in Henderson without the hassle of traveling to the Strip,” said M Resort Vice President and General Manager Hussain Mahrous.

“Opening Meril fulfills that promise in a spectacular way. Partnering with a culinary icon like Emeril Lagasse allows us to elevate the off-Strip dining landscape entirely. This stunning, sun-drenched space is the largest restaurant in our portfolio, and we are confident it will become the premier all-day culinary destination for the entire valley.”

The debut was commemorated on Tuesday, July 14, with a ribbon-cutting celebration. Lagasse welcomed local dignitaries, executives and guests, offering a first look at the space and a taste of the New Orleans-inspired hospitality now available. Meril will serve as a culinary hub from sunrise to sunset offering menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner:

• Sunrise & Breakfast Favorites: The morning menu features Andouille Sausage Potato Hash with poached egg and house-made Worcestershire, Bananas Foster French Toast with candied pecans and classic New Orleans Beignets served in a bag with confectioners’ sugar. Guests can opt for Eggs Benedict on a house-made English muffin and beverages including the Green Smoothie.
• Lunch & Dinner Small Plates: Rooted in New Orleans flair and global inspirations, the main menu highlights shareable small plates. Snacks include Pineapple Upside-Down Cornbread with bacon marmalade and House Boudin Balls with pepper jack and creole mustard. Small plates include Gulf Yellowfin Tuna Bundles with jalapeño truffle ponzu and classic Barbequed Shrimp.
• Mains & Flatbreads: For a more robust meal, guests can enjoy artisanal flatbreads including the Wise Guy (Italian sausage, piquillo peppers, chili), Shrimp & Andouille Gumbo, Blue Crab Linguine and a Seasonal Seafood Boil with shrimp, mussels, clams and andouille sausage.

Complementing the menu is a beverage lineup highlighted by “Meril Standards.” Guests can sip on cocktails such as the frozen Lushie, Indigo French 75 (Empress gin, lemon and sparkling wine) and Hi-Thymes in NOLA (Dos Hombres mezcal, strawberry purée and hibiscus thyme syrup). The beverage program also features a curated fine wine list and draft and bottled craft beers.

To cap off the dining experience, Meril’s dessert menu showcases decadent treats including Emeril’s legendary Banana Cream Pie with caramel sauce and chocolate shavings, Rocky Road Bread Pudding and Grand Marnier Tiramisu. These pair with “Night Caps” such as the Carondelet Carajillo and Meril’s Irish Channel Coffee.

Meril is open 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 6 a.m.-1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, reservations, event updates and menus, visit TheMResort.com/dining/meril.