Martha Fans Visit The Bedford

Rox-Anne Henderson, Hayden Regina and Michelle Zabell, three Martha fans, had wanted to visit Martha's signature restaurant in Las Vegas since it opened on August 13, 2022. They all recently had their chance! Below are photographs and thoughts about their experience there. 

HAYDEN REGINA: from Chicago, Illinois. Visited the restaurant December 19th, 2023.

"I finally made it to The Bedford in Vegas this past weekend (twice)! It was decorated for the holidays and the food overall was really lovely. I finally understand why everyone can't shut up about the bread basket and Big Martha's pierogi. The sour cherry and rosemary focaccia might become a new holiday staple in our household.

The White Cosmopolitan was hands down the best of the six cocktails we tried, the crab cake with the carrot and apple slaw was mouth watering, and the creme brulee was just beyond. I was excited to find that the gift shop next door also had The Bedford by Martha Stewart T-shirts in both men's and women's sizes. Worth a visit!"

Hayden at his table (the one traditionally reserved for Martha) looking very pleased to be there.

When Hayden and his partner visited, the restaurant was decorated for the holidays.

On one of the walls at The Bedford there is a gallery of photographs of Martha from her modelling days.

A view of the "Brown Room" area of the dining space.

ROX-ANNE HENDERSON: from Ontario, Canada. Visited the restaurant on Christmas Eve, 2023. 

"Here are some photos from our Christmas Eve dinner at The Bedford!

The sour cherry and rosemary focaccia deserves all the hype it’s getting and my New Years goal is to recreate it.

Our table, specifically the seat my husband was in, was Snoop Dogg’s seat on his visit.

Speaking of Snoop, they played a song of his with Dr. Dre in between Christmas songs and Bon Iver. Loved the eclectic music selection that combined classics and modern hits.

The service was truly a stand out of the visit. Our waiter and I traded stories from when we met Martha. He shared that Martha taught him how to make cappuccino so we declared him the winner.

While the holiday pre-fixe menu looked delicious, we had our hearts set on the carved table side roast chicken and we have no regrets.

Cocktails: Martha-tini and the Meyer lemon drop, then red wine for dinner

Apps: bread basket and Big Martha’s pierogis

Main: Roast chicken, Martha’s smashed baked potato and matchstick fries (I’d pass on the fries)

Dessert: Upside down lemon meringue pie

Price: Sure it’s gauche to talk about money but whatever I’m going to do it. As a family that follows chefs like most people follow rock stars and is used to large bills, this one made our eyes water and now holds the record as our most expensive meal to date at $390 USD ($520 CAN) for two people.

The food was excellent but seemed to lack the special quality that would truly make this an elevated dining experience worthy of the cost. I was hoping for more green options in the side dishes, specifically a root vegetable medley would have been appreciated on a winter menu. Vegetarians and those with dietary restrictions would have a difficult time ordering, I think.

The gift shop next door has a few items for purchase. Keychains, t-shirts, water bottles and the one I purchased, a large umbrella.

The vibe is elegant but you can tell patrons were hoping for the more “colourful” Martha of the past. This must have been raised by patrons before as the staff educate patrons on the inspiration of the restaurant's decor, which is her current home. I overheard a few people (clearly not super fans, like us) who didn’t know about her Bedford home or its style.

Overall, we had a truly lovely visit and enjoyed our time immensely. It’s a must do for the Martha super fans, but it’s a one and done for me. After dinner we visited the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower which was a nice end to the evening."

Rox-Anne looking lovely and elegant at her table. Her dress was inspired by one she had seen that Martha wore in the late 1980s: image below.

 The Christmas decorations were subdued but impressive. 

Inside the "Brown Room" are enormous 'windows' with seasonal scenes from Martha's farm.

The simple and elegant menu, with Martha's trademark faux-bois motif in classic Bedford Gray.

Big Martha's Pierogi 

The signature bread basket, which has become the most popular item on the menu.

The Roast Chicken

The Upside Down Lemon Meringue Pie

A visit to the Paris gift shop after dinner is a must: there is a lot of 'Martha merch' on hand, including many of her books, plus souvenirs specific to the restaurant: t-shirts, key chains, water bottles, umbrellas and Martha's signature wine.

MICHELLE ZABELL: From Vancouver, Washington. Visited February 22 and February 23, 2024.

"My overall impressions were that my expectations were surpassed. As a dedicated, longtime fan and Martha aficionado, I had a deep appreciation for the aesthetic, color scheme, furniture and personal touches that we would notice. These included the faux-bois planters, the paintings, photography, the glassware collections - all were on point. The life size view of Martha's farm through the windows was also the perfect touch. The entire staff of greeters, waitstaff and tableside food preparers were friendly, knowledgeable and delivered a level of hospitality that is worthy of a restaurant connected to Martha Stewart. The food was incredible. We had the famous bread basket, the ricotta-stuffed zucchini flowers, the creamed spinach, the baked potato, the prime tomahawk for two (carved tableside), and the upside-down lemon meringue pie for dessert. For drinks we tried the frozen pomegranate Martharita, a delicious cabernet sauvignon from California and the meyer lemon drop cocktail. We will absolutely be back again...and again!"

Michelle visited The Bedford with her husband on a recent trip to Vegas. Here she is holding a frozen pomegranate 'Martha-rita' - one of the restaurant's signature cocktails.

The famous Bedford bread basket is a must-have, according to everyone who has visited.

Big Martha's pierogis. Michelle says they are not to be missed!

Ricotta-stuffed zucchini blossoms: "Crispy, flavorful and light," Michelle says.

Their tableside server prepared the prime tomahawk for two. Michelle says it was cooked exactly as requested and came with two sauces: Bearnaise and Borenaise.

For dessert it was the upside-down lemon meringue pie.

Michelle returned the next day for cocktails and tried the Meyer Lemon Drop, which she said was her favorite.

Throughout the restaurant are personal Martha touches, such as these framed lithograph bird portraits - copies of the originals that Martha has on her walls at her home in Bedford.

ABOUT THE BEDFORD MARTHA STEWART:

The Bedford is a 194-seat dining destination at The Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, created by Martha Stewart in partnership with Caesars. The menu, which was created by Martha and her food department head, Thomas Joseph, features French-inspired cuisine as well as some of Martha's signature American classics. Some of the offerings include classic Nicoise Salad, Oysters Rockefeller, Whole Roast Herb Chicken served with Smashed Baked Potato. For dessert there's Upside-Down Lemon Meringue Pie, Creme Brulee and a classic Chocolate Cake. Signature cocktails include the Martha-tini and the frozen pomegranate Martha-rita. The entire restaurant is decorated to emulate Martha's home in Bedford, New York, right down to the most minute finishes and fixtures. The decor was overseen by Martha's EVP of merchandising, Kevin Sharkey, who has been instrumental in honing Martha's design aesthetic over the years. Click here to see the menu and learn more about the restaurant.