Matt P.
Yelp
What can I say about Naughty Angel? Well, words can't even describe how amazed your taste buds will be once you try anything here. It is a French restaurant with a modern take on its classics, like escargot, crab cakes, French onion soup, seared duck breast, coq au vin, chicken fricassee, and steaks. But, stop right there. Leave your preconceived notions of traditional French food and how it is usually prepared at the door, as Naughty Angel takes all things French and puts a modern spin on it like no other.
Executive Chef Angel Lopez, originally from Guatemala, who has worked alongside renowned chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Mario Carbone, and Enrique Olivera, takes you on a culinary journey with an explosion of flavors. EVERY dish we had that night was out of this world, mouthwateringly delicious! The flavor profiles and seasonings/ingredients from South America heavily influence all his creations, along with more modern cooking techniques that allow one to cook the classics, which generally take hours to marinade, down to thirty minutes or less.
We were there to celebrate my sister's birthday, and we ordered a whole smattering of dishes to share, from appetizers to soups, main courses, and dessert. We all kept asking each other what our favorite dish was, and no one could pick. We all loved each one equally and, honestly, could not single out any one over the others. Very few places in Vegas can I say that about all the dishes you will eat. Most of the time, there are a handful of favorites, or maybe just one dish you have, with the rest being just okay.
And while the food was AMAZING, what made it even that much better was the warmth, hospitality, and kindness of everyone who works there, from the moment we walked in to the moment we left. My father is a Vietnam Vet and suffers from tinnitus, which showed up later in life from his being in the war around gunfire with no hearing protection. Before we even dined there on the weekend, both my mom and sister called the restaurant to explain that my father's hearing aids, which help mitigate sound frequencies (such as music and loud, high-pitched voices) that aggravate his tinnitus, had broken the week before and would take three weeks to get new ones, so would be dining with no hearing protection. They bent over backwards when my family spoke to them on the phone, saying they would be more than happy to dim the music to a low murmur and relocate us to a quieter area in the restaurant. We met Chef Angel as soon as we walked in the door, and he immediately recognized who we were, as my dad always wears his Vietnam Vet hat. He asked, first thing, if the music was at a reasonable level, which it was. They had already prepared the restaurant for us before we even arrived for our reservation! I mean, come on, now that is top-notch service and care for your customers down to the finest details.
Chef Angel came out to our table to introduce himself and made sure to stop by throughout the night to check in on us, as well as at the end of our meal to say goodbye. Our waiter, Aaron, was terrific, attentive, and caring, always popping over to our table at the right time to ask if we were doing well or needed anything else, or to fill up our waters. On top of all that, when picking out our second appetizer, we were struggling between choosing the special of the week, a summer salad (melon, Serrano ham, strawberries, with a delicious vinaigrette dressing), or the deviled apples (Granny Smith apple slices topped with Manchego cheese, Serrano ham & spicy apple butter jam). We ended up picking the summer salad, but to our delightful surprise, shortly after we received the appetizers, Aaron came out with the deviled apples, saying it was on the house, as he knew we had both wanted it.
I eat at many places around Vegas, and it takes a lot for me to take the time to write up a review on Yelp. While the food is fantastic at many places, I can't say the same for their service all the time, like you get at Naughty Angel. Run, don't walk, there the next time you go out to eat. You will not be disappointed. Thank you again, Chef Angel, Aaron, and the rest of the staff (Raine at the bar) for making my sister's birthday a memorable night we will not forget for a long time!
