Brad Brennan

Managing Partner
Commander's Palace Las Vegas

The youngest member of the Brennan clan, Brad Brennan was greeting and seating guests at Commander's Palace New Orleans before he was ten-years-old. The restaurant business is part of the Brennan genetic code.

During holidays from school, Brad worked behind the grill and in the pantry at Brennan-owned Mr. B's Bistro. He then moved to Commander's in 1984 and worked in the kitchen under Emeril Lagasse.

While attending Westminster College in Missouri and Tulane University in New Orleans, Brad stayed in the kitchen mastering all stations at Commander's. During a stint in Innsbruck, Austria Brad studied Comparative Social Studies, World War II and Great Historic Emperors at the University of Innsbruck. His studies also included German, Italian and French wines while in Europe.

After studying finance from Tulane, Brad moved to Chicago where he managed Eccentric restaurant owned by Rich Melman. His next move was to the West Coast, where he was back in the kitchen at Kulato's in San Francisco. While living in California, Brad explored the wine country, spending his weekends in Napa, Sonoma and Carneros.

In 1991 the Brennans asked Brad to open Palace Cafè in New Orleans with cousins Dickie Brennan and Ti Martin. Palace Cafè was chosen by Esquire magazine as one of the "Top New Restaurants in America" in 1991. Palace Cafè has continued to receive local and national kudos.

Following Brad's four years at Palace Cafè, he returned to Commander's where he settled in as Beverage Director and joined cousins Lally Brennan and Ti Martin in the day-to-day operations of the five star restaurant he proudly calls "home."

After being at the helm of Commander’s Palace Las Vegas, Brad and his team have moved the restaurant in the Zagats rating from 9th place in 2005 to 6th place in 2006 as best restaurant in Las Vegas! In the past five year’s the restaurant has been honored by many; most recently: Named one of “The Best Bites of Food in the U.S.A.” (Esquire Magazine, 2005) ~ Named among the “Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiR_NA)” (October 2005) ~ Wine Spectator Award of Excellence (May 2005

In the restaurant industry, Brad is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, James Beard Foundation, the National and Louisiana Restaurant Association, and he is on the Board of Directors of the Nevada Restaurant Association.