Casino restaurant reprimanded for wild Robin Leach party

ANGIE WAGNER

Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1999 | 9:16 a.m.

LAS VEGAS - Robin Leach won't be returning to a casino restaurant where he and several naked woman had a raucous party, but Delmonico Steakhouse won't lose its liquor license because of the wild night.

The Clark County Commission voted Tuesday to issue the restaurant inside The Venetian an administrative reprimand.

"It was a spontaneous event," said Ardel Jorgensen, director of the Clark County Department of Business Licenses. "It was unexpected."

An investigation by the department found that Leach, 57, and five female companions engaged in "lewd conduct" while attending a party in a private room on May 31. Several employees and managers witnessed the party because the room was enclosed in glass windows.

Jorgensen said several employees also joined in the party. Several girls with the former host of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" were accused of removing their clothing, exposing themselves to the kitchen staff and having physical contact with each other and several men. They were also accused of spreading whipped cream on one another in full view of customers.

Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, who owns Delmonico, called Leach's behavior "outrageous" and apologized for the incident.

"It happened, and I take responsibility. It happened with a breakdown in command," he said. "Who would ever dream something this bizarre would happen?"

An attorney for the restaurant said Leach has been told he is no longer welcome at Delmonico, several employees have been fired and some have been reprimanded.

Commissioner Erin Kenny said she was disappointed Leach didn't show up to apologize for his actions.

"Mr. Leach is the person that's kind of let everyone down," she said.

Leach, who was hired as a consultant by the Venetian to help lure top-notch restaurants to the $1.5 billion resort, could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.

He issued a statement in June saying the allegations were a "gross exaggeration." He said no sexual acts took place.

"There was a harmless fun whipped-cream fight that lasted less than two minutes when dessert was served," he said.

Venetian Chairman Sheldon Adelson was present at the restaurant the night of the party, but Jorgensen said he was unaware of what was happening because he couldn't see Leach's private room from where he was sitting.

Employees said the incident began at 9:30 p.m. and continued until Leach was asked to stop the party at 11 p.m.

"You can't control a patron that decides to do a spontaneous act," Jorgensen said. "But you can control how long that goes on," she said.

In addition to the reprimand, the commission voted to require employees to go through a crisis management program to prevent similar incidents and designate managers to make sure appropriate conduct is maintained. Any future incidents will be reported directly to the district attorney's office for citation.

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