Awards  & Reviews  

 

OpenTable Diners choice:   The best restaurants in Las Vegas as determined by thousands of ratings  from OpenTable diners. (with seated reservations only) Winner for: LAS VEGAS BEST RESTAURANT all categories Pamplemousse Restaurant Best Ambiance- Best Food- Best Overall- Best Service- Fit for Foodies-Neighborhood Gem- Romantic- Special Occasion- The Strip & Nearby Check it out! http://www.opentable.com/rest_profile.aspx?rid=26431&ref=10051   zagat Dinners comments:  ZAGAT  Restaurant SURVEY :  Food, Decor and Service are each rated on a scale of 0 to 30,  derived from the average of surveyor  0 to 3 voting multiplied by 10 to eliminate the decimal place.        0-9= poor/fair,  10-15=fair/good, 16-19=good/very good, 20-25= very good/excellent, 20-25=extraordinary/perfection LA times   Classic Sin City restaurant prove great dining is a long-standing Vegas tradition     Classic Las Vegas dinning experience can be  found at  French Restaurant Pamplemousse Review by Greg Thilmont Cuisine: Continental, French, Gourmet, Seafood, Steaks Average cost: $35 or more Payment types accepted: AMEX, VISA, MASTERCARD, DISCOVER, CASH Hours: Daily, 5:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Dress code: Dressy or nicely casual. Reservations: Reservations Suggested Pamplemousse Review: Two blocks east of the Las Vegas Strip you'll find Pamplemousse, vintage '76. Founder Georges La Forge was chef to celebrities including Frank Sinatra and crooner Bobby Darin. La Forge created his house specialty fettuccine for Ol' Blue Eyes. Darin himself suggested the restaurant's appellation. Pamplemousse, French for grapefruit, is a name that fits. Its décor is a classy but funky blend of Gallic élan and Vegas brassiness, all bathed in pink-toned light. There are hordes of classic photos about –- Dine surrounded by knockouts like Lana Turner and entertainer extraordinaire Debbie Reynolds.   "It's classic auberge-style. The atmosphere, the food ... Pamplemousse is really a charming and true French experience," Your impeccable waiter will recite and consult with you on the night's selections. The crudité basket that accompanies every dinner speaks for itself, though. It's a huge, unforgettable selection of fresh vegetables served with vinaigrette, olives and baguette. The appetizer menu includes fare like traditional french onion soup gratinée, frog legs Provencale, escargots "a la bourguignone", tuna tartare, crab cakes and an heirloom and mozzarella tart. Pamplemousse's entree choices are splendid, with roasted duckling, veal medallions, lamb, filet mignon and seasonal seafood featured. For dessert, consider profiteroles, souffllés, crème brûlée and other sweet delights. Pamplemousse is truly one of Las Vegas' culinary treasures. -- Review by Greg Thilmont

 

944 LIFE PAMPLEMOUSSE Central Pamplemousse is the French word for “grapefruit,” and according to the restaurant’s owner Georges La Forge, his good friend Bobby Darin thought it was the most beautiful word in the French language. La Forge and Darrin had planned to open a restaurant together in Beverly Hills, but the singer died before it happened. As a tribute to him, La Forge kept the name for his Las Vegas establishment. Darrin may never have gotten to enjoy Pamplemousse, but plenty of other celebrities have over the last 30 years, ranging from Rat Pack legends to stars of today, that dine on the cuisine of Executive Chef Georges LaForge. Located in a converted private home on East Sahara, the restaurant has a cozy feel that’s made it a local institution, and consistently wins accolades as one of the town’s best and most romantic restaurants. Don’t expect to look at a menu here. Rather, the wait staff recites it for each table from memory. Offerings change daily, but you’ll find plenty of classics like escargot, frog legs, osso bucco, and soufflés. House specialties include one of the leanest ducklings you’ll ever encounter prepared either au poivre vert-style or in a cranberry-raspberry sauce, and the Fettuccini à la Georges (created by La Forge specifically for Frank Sinatra). 400 E. Sahara Avenue | 702.733.2066

 

Voted "BEST  Of  LAS VEGAS" in Las-Vegas Review Journal annual pooling One of the First French Restaurants to open in Las Vegas in 1976, the  Pamplemousse Restaurant is regarded  locally, statewide and nationally and as far as Europe as one of the finest French Restaurants in Las-Vegas.  The local Las Vegas Review Journal's “Best of Las Vegas” has reported several times the Pamplemousse Restaurant as “ Best Gourmet”, “Best French Restaurant” and “Best Romantic Las Vegas Restaurant” in its annual pooling by Las Vegas residents including 1996, 1997(2 awards), 1999 and 2000.  See the article from Las Vegas Review Journal:  "Best of  Las Vegas"2000       LAS VEGAS REVIEW - JOURNAL                                                                         BEST OF LAS VEGAS   8 times winner, from 1996 to present PAMPLEMOUSSE RESTAURANT 702-733-2066 400E. Sahara Ave. Las Vegas , NV  Category Eat & Drink Repeatedly Voted Best Gourmet Restaurant &  Best Romantic Restaurant

 

 

THE NEWS TRIBUNE VEGAS OF YORE Pardon Pamplemousse’s appearance from the street. Pamplemousse is, indeed, a romantic French restaurant, and not a massage parlor as its garish pink sign suggests. Three decades before celebrity chefs Guy Savoy, Joel Robuchon and Daniel Boulud brought $60 bowls of soup and triple-digit tasting menus to Las Vegas hotels, Georges La Forge planted his French fine-dining flag in the desert, in a low-slung stucco house a few blocks off The Strip. Pamplemousse still touts Old Las Vegas’ salad days. Fettuccine a la Georges, I was told, was created in honor of Frank Sinatra, featuring cream sauce and prosciutto. The remainder of chef Jean-David Groff-Daudet’s menu is trés French (mussels steamed in white wine, frog legs, escargot, filet mignon, rack of lamb) – and recited from memory by waiters who wear coats and ties. I ordered duck two ways: slices of ruby-red breast and a leg of confit. The confit was lean and meaty, but slightly dry. The breast, however, was tender as filet mignon. Ambiance is romantic and cozy, with a pink grapefruit hue providing intimate lighting (Pamplemousse means grapefruit in French). Service was polished, beginning with a basket of fresh crudités (broccoli, cauliflower, endive, carrots) and right on through to the genteel piercing of the Valhrona chocolate soufflé, gingerly filled with house-made vanilla ice cream and luscious whipped cream. Pamplemousse serves dinner daily.

 

Pamplemousse, Le Restaurant   -  Las Vegas, NV If you're looking for a true dining experience in Vegas with a France flair you need to try Pamplemousse Le Restaurant which is one-of-a-kind. From the outside the establishment it’s fairly unimpressive. Once you step into the foyer you immediately realize you're in an old unique eatery rich in history and elegance. We were greeted by Prince Keifer, our waiter, a native from Hawaii. Prince Keifer made our experience an excellent one. A unique offering at Pamplemousse is the verbal menu, that's right, no individual review of the menu or the pricing. It actually works quite nice, but expect some extra listening time. If you're worried about the cost, you're in the wrong restaurant. What did we enjoy? Crudités supplied to every table as a starter... Classic French Onion Soup with bubbling cheeses on the top... Roasted Duckling with a cranberry and Chambord French raspberry liquor sauce Pork Chop & Ribeye To top it all off… amazing Soufflés: Grand Marnier, Chocolate and Orange Flavors Give it a shot, you’ll not be disappointed! Georges La Forge's Pamplemousse Le Restaurant Tel (702) 733 2066 Fax (702) 733 9139 400 East Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89104

 

TRAVEL GUIDES   Frommer's Review Pamplemousse A little bit off the beaten path, Pamplemousse is a long-established Vegas restaurant that shouldn't be overlooked in the crush of new high-profile eateries. Evoking a cozy French-countryside inn (at least, on the interior), it's a catacomb of low-ceilinged rooms and intimate dining nooks with rough-hewn beams. It's all very charming and un-Vegasy. There's additional seating in a small garden sheltered by a striped tent. The restaurant's name, which means "grapefruit" in French, was suggested by the late singer Bobby Darin, one of the many celebrity pals of owner Georges La Forge. Your waiter recites the menu, which changes nightly. The meal always begins with a large complimentary basket of crudités (about 10 different crisp, fresh vegetables), a big bowl of olives, and, in a nice country touch, a basket of hard-boiled eggs. Recent menu offerings have included out-of-this-world soups (French onion and cream of asparagus, to name a couple) and appetizers such as shrimp in cognac cream sauce and Maryland crab cakes with macadamia nut crust. Recommended entrees include a sterling veal with mushrooms and Dijon sauce and an even-better rack of lamb with pistachio nut crust and rosemary cream sauce (all sauces, by the way, are made with whatever the chef has on hand that evening in the kitchen). Leave room for the fabulous desserts, such as homemade ice cream in a hard chocolate shell. Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip. GAYOT.COM Pamplemousse 400 E. Sahara Ave. (Paradise Rd.) las Vegas, NV 89104 702-733-2066 the legendary Pamplemousse has stood the test of time, continuing to captivate its loyal aficionados with its romantic, candlelit, old-world fine dining experiences. This cozy 85-seat converted home features the charm of a French countryside inn, an impressive wine cellar just inside the entrance, small private dining nooks, subdued lighting and soft hues. Tables are set with pink cloths, burgundy napkins, flowers in burgundy glass vases and elegant white-on-white service plates. Waiters describe the preparation of the evening's fare. Hot crusty bread, hard-boiled eggs and individual crocks of the house vinaigrette accompany a handsome basket of lettuce and crudités. Try the jumbo shrimp appetizer with sauce diablo, or the escargot with Burgundy wine sauce, mushrooms and garlic. Specialties are rack of lamb with pistachios, grain-fed roast duckling and New York prime filet. Luscious desserts such as profiteroles, soufflés and coupe maison with fresh berries complete the romantic French dinner.     VEGASLIVING Pamplemousse QUALITY OF FOOD AND PREPARATION ****   Reminiscent of a cozy French countryside inn, Pamplemousse offers an intimate dining experience. Nooks decorated with copperware and provincial pottery adorn the walls, while rough-hewn wood beams hang overhead. Classical music or light jazz playing softly in the background to complete the relaxed yet elegant atmosphere. There is no printed menu, therefore your server will recites the menu which changes nightly. Dinner begins with a large basket of crudites, a large bowl of olives and a basket of hard-boiled eggs. For the entree, there is always a choice of steaks or rack of lamb, as well as the daily offerings. Desserts are richly extravagant and worth 'saving room for.' An extensive, though pricey wine list, compliments to any food choice. Open for dinner only, offering two seatings daily; 6-6:30 p.m. and again at 9-9:30 p.m. Reservations are essential and can be made by calling 702-733-2066.     SIDESTEPS.COM. Expert Reviews Pamplemousse A little bit off the beaten path, Pamplemousse is a long-established Vegas restaurant that shouldn't be overlooked in the crush of new high-profile eateries. Evoking a cozy French-countryside inn (at least, on the interior), it's a catacomb of low-ceilinged rooms and intimate dining nooks with rough-hewn beams. It's all very charming and un-Vegasy. There's additional seating in a small garden sheltered by a striped tent. The restaurant's name, which means "grapefruit" in French, was suggested by the late singer Bobby Darin, one of the many celebrity pals of owner Georges La Forge. The menu, which changes nightly, is recited by your waiter. The meal always begins with a large complimentary basket of crudités (about 10 different crisp, fresh vegetables), a big bowl of olives, and, in a nice country touch, a basket of hard-boiled eggs. Recent menu offerings have included out-of-this-world soups (such as French onion and cream of asparagus) and such appetizers as shrimp in cognac-cream sauce or Maryland crab cakes with a macadamia-nut crust. Recommended entrees include a sterling veal with mushrooms and a Dijon sauce, and an even-better rack of lamb with a pistachio-nut crust and a rosemary-cream sauce (all sauces, by the way, are made with whatever the chef has on hand that evening in the kitchen). That's not to mention fabulous desserts such as homemade ice cream in a hard chocolate shell. Frommer's

 

 

Awards  

OpenTable Diners choice:   The best restaurants in Las Vegas as determined by thousands of ratings  from OpenTable diners. (with seated reservations only) Winner for: LAS VEGAS BEST RESTAURANT all categories Pamplemousse Restaurant Best Ambiance- Best Food- Best Overall- Best Service- Fit for Foodies-Neighborhood Gem- Romantic- Special Occasion- The Strip & Nearby

 

Pamplemousse Restaurant
Voted "BEST Of LAS VEGAS"
in Las Vegas Review Journal annual pooling

 

Las Vegas Review Journal's
"BEST OF LAS VEGAS" winner 96/97/99/2000/2002 / 2004 /2006

Please see our Guest Book

Eat & Drink  Best Gourmet Restaurant LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL.  BEST OF LAS VEGAS PAMPLEMOUSSE RESTAURANT 400 E. Sahara Ave. Las Vegas , NV There's no place quite like Pamplemousse; the crudite basket alone — a delightful cornucopia from which customers are invited to create their own salads — is worth the trip. Then again, so is the duckling with cranberry sauce, the rack of spring lamb in pistachio crust with rosemary garlic — and the fact that the waiters recite the menu from memory. How cool is that?  (opens in a new window)   -oOo- Best French Restaurant Year 2000 our pick PAMPLEMOUSSE  RESTAURANT 400 E. Sahara Ave.      There were times when this staff award bounced back and forth between what were the only two French establishments in the entire valley. Today, there are more competitors but few have achieved the consistency and popularity of La Forge's peaceful and high-quality restaurant inside a converted home. Like competitor Andre Rochat, La Forge savors the classics -- rack of lamb, steak au poivre and a house special berries and spun-sugar dessert. The intimate eatery is another sure shot when excellent food and personal service are a must.   Pooling of 1999 category BEST GOURMET Our Pick Pamplemousse Restaurant Steak,Seafood & More 400 E. Sahara Ave.Las Vegas, Nevada It means "grapefruit" for those of you who skipped French class. Here, at one of Las Vegas' landmark  restaurants, pampered  guests' meals are prepared in a classic French style with all of the  gustatory and  psychic delights that elicits. Pamplemousse is one of our favorite special-occasion restaurants, and it'dbe one of  our favorite everyday restaurants if we didn't live on a Value Meal budget.  1997. BEST GOURMET RESTAURANT. Our Pick: PAMPLEMOUSSE 400 E. Sahara Ave.      Speaking of traditional contenders, Las Vegas doesn't have much in the way of non-casino dining to call its own. But longtimers -- and more than a few conventioneers with expense accounts -- consider a special-occasion French dinner in this romantic little house just off the Strip one of the unique pleasures of living here.  1997.  BEST  ROMANTIC  RESTAURANT Readers' Pick:      Pamplemousse 1996 . "BEST OF LAS VEGAS" by Las Vegas Review Journal PAMPLEMOUSSE Voted BEST FRENCH RESTAURANT