I spent $130 at Martha Stewart’s new restaurant in Las Vegas, and it’s a must-visit spot that made me feel like I was in the star’s house

i visited The Bedford by Martha Stewart in Las Vegas for the first time and was impressed. Molly Allen I ate at The Bedford in Las Vegas, which is Martha Stewart’s first restaurant that opened in August. The vibe made it feel like I was sitting in the star’s dining room.

The menu had so many great options and the food was incredibly flavorful Despite being in the food and lifestyle industry for decades, Martha Stewart recently opened her first restaurant. The Bedford is Martha Stewart’s first restaurant. Molly AllenStewart has been a household name for years and has made millions of dollars sharing lifestyle tips and tricks, creating cookbooks of timeless recipes, helming a magazine, and starring on TV shows.

 But despite her years in the food space, she had never added a restaurant to her claim to fame – until now. In August, Stewart opened her first restaurant in Las Vegas. The Bedford is inspired by one of Martha Stewart’s homes.

Molly AllenThe Bedford by Martha Stewart opened in Las Vegas on August 13. The 194-seat restaurant is located in the Paris Hotel, and it has stunning farmhouse decor inspired by her own 1925 farmhouse in Bedford, New York. And the menu follows suit — it’s described as a collection of her most celebrated dishes she loves to cook in her own home.

I was glad I had made a reservation. The view of The Bedford from the hostess stand. Molly AllenKnowing I had to experience Stewart’s new restaurant while recently traveling to Las Vegas, I made a reservation ahead of time.

I booked a table for two on OpenTable, with a request to sit at one of the high-top tables near the open kitchen. I arrived for my reservation at 5 p. m.

, right when the restaurant opens for the evening. I was surprised to see just how long of a line there was for a table for that early of a dinner, and I was so glad I’d booked that reservation ahead of time. The design made it feel like I was sitting in the star’s dining room.

Even the paint was a nod to Martha Stewart. Molly AllenStepping foot in the restaurant feels like you’re being transported to a sophisticated country home. Stewart’s home, to be exact.

From the host stand, you can feel the vibe immediately. The walls are Bedford gray, a subtle shade from Stewart’s paint line. Textured wood in shades of gray and beautiful marble are used throughout.

There are a variety of seating options, including low-top tables with cushioned booths, high and low tables with large, cushioned dining chairs, and more casual tables near the open kitchen. Wainscoting and stunning wall sconces and gold mirrors evoked a cozy feel. The open kitchen with copper pots was stunning.

I requested to sit near the kitchen to watch all the action. Molly AllenCountless copper pans and pots were displayed on hanging racks and shelves to draw your eye toward the kitchen. It was one of the sleekest, cleanest open restaurant kitchens I’ve ever seen.

This section of the restaurant felt a bit more casual, like I was sitting at home and watching dinner be prepared.  The bread basket was the best thing I ate my whole trip. The famous Bedford bread basket had rolls, flatbreads, and focaccia.

Molly AllenFor weeks I had been hearing all about the $12 bread basket at The Bedford. I couldn’t imagine such a simple menu item being worth the talk of the town – but it certainly was. The linen-wrapped basket arrived at my table within minutes of ordering, with a beautiful presentation that made a statement.

The large, crunchy garden flatbreads were baked with sage, slices of onion, chunks of cherry tomatoes, and rounds of zucchini. Every bite of the flatbread was bursting with flavor. The focaccia featured sour cherries and rosemary dotted throughout for a soft, flavor-packed bite.

But the real star of the show was the warm Parker House rolls, which were like buttery little pillows. Baked in a small loaf, the pull-apart rolls were so simple with just a hint of salt. A butter dish was brought to the table, but it wasn’t needed with these rolls.

They were definitely the highlight of the three offerings in the basket. I tried stuffed squash blossoms as an appetizer. The squash blossoms tasted super fresh.

Molly AllenEager to try a dish I don’t get to experience often, I ordered the ricotta stuffed zucchini blossoms as an appetizer. Although they were indeed fried, these crunchy little blossoms had such a fresh flavor. Stuffed with ricotta, spinach, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and just a hint of lemon, they were absolutely beautiful.

The fresh greens and tomatoes were the ideal complement to round out the garden-fresh flavor. My server recommended the pierogies and I was so glad he did. Big Martha’s pierogies were incredible.

Molly AllenDeciding on dinner entrees was tough because there were many options including roast chicken, Martha’s Square burger, and a variety of pasta dishes. My server recommended sharing Big Martha’s pierogies with my friend I was dining with, and I was thankful they did. A dish of five pierogies arrived at the table sitting in browned butter.

The filling was simple, packed with creamy potatoes. The dumplings absolutely melted in my mouth, with the browned butter as the perfect complement providing just a hint of nutty, caramelized flavor. I’m still thinking about how good each bite was.

I also tried the handkerchief pasta as an entrée. The pasta was wonderfully simple, making for the perfect comfort food. Molly AllenOne of the most striking dishes I tried was the handkerchief pasta, which is made in-house.

I was surprised by just how large the sheets of pasta were. It was served with herbed pesto (making the dish a vibrant green), toasted pine nuts, and freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. The tender, buttery pasta was beautifully prepared, with a creamy, yet balanced sauce.

The most interesting thing about this dish to me was the hint of spice added to it. It wasn’t a spice you could taste, but rather a hint of spice you felt, making you want to continue to eat more.  The baked potatoes are smashed and served table-side.

I was excited about the table-side preparation and presentation of Martha Stewart’s smashed baked potato. Molly AllenI ordered a baked potato to try on the side since Stewart’s pretty famous for making super creamy and delicious ones.  A rolling island cart with a marble top arrived next to the table.

On a cutting board sat a whole, baked Yukon gold potato along with butter, salt, and pepper and a separate plate with fixings including chives, crème fraîche, and bacon lardons. The employee preparing the potato cut a slit in it and then smashed it hard against the cutting board. Once topped with plenty of butter and a sprinkle of salt and pepper, it was presented for me to dress up exactly how I’d like.

It was a fun experience to enjoy table-side, but this dish was so-so.  This is one of the many table-side offerings at The Bedford. It was so fun to watch servers and bartenders mix up table-side Martha-tinis, present buckwheat crepes with caviar, and slice rib eyes.

I ended my meal with one of Stewart’s famous desserts. The lemon meringue was light and beautiful. Molly AllenI ate plenty before making it to dessert, and I was stuffed.

But as a baker, there was no skipping dessert. The dessert menu included many of Stewart’s famous recipes such as her chocolate-pistachio tart and upside-down lemon meringue pie. I wanted something light, fresh, and airy to finish out the meal and the stunning lemon meringue hit the spot.

The presentation was absolutely beautiful. And though there isn’t any actual pie crust with this dessert, it’s not missed. Every bite included crunchy melt-in-your-mouth meringue, which served as the crust, and the most incredible punchy lemon filling with just a hint of sweetness.

  Overall, Stewart’s new restaurant was worth every penny. The Bedford by Martha Stewart may be one of the best restaurants I’ve been to. Molly AllenBefore tip, I paid about $130 for my party of two to dine.

I probably didn’t need to order as much food as I did, but it was fun to try so many different dishes. Plus I got leftovers to take and enjoy later — and every dish I ordered at The Bedford was incredibly filling. Looking at the other items on the menu, I found that it was definitely possible to splurge at Martha’s restaurant, but prices were also approachable enough to enjoy a simple meal at a lower price point and soak in the great atmosphere.

Some entrees cost around $25 or $29, for example, but other larger ones were over $80.  The Bedford by Martha Stewart is definitely a must-visit in Las Vegas if you’re looking for a comfortable, approachable atmosphere and delicious comfort food. It was sophisticated, without trying to be fancy.

I can’t wait to eat there again — I’m still dreaming about the colorful, flavorful bread basket and the incredible pierogies.  Read the original article on Insider.