As well as Mexican Independence Day, a new Mexican restaurant is coming to Encore Las Vegas. Casa Playa opens today with Mexican coastal dishes celebrating the playacitas of the coastal communities. The restaurant, which is taking over the former Elio area, is next to the Encore Beach Club with a menu from chef Sarah Thompson, cocktails from Wynn Resort mixologist Mariena Mercer Boarini, and a mezcal and tequila collection from agave expert Noah Arenstein.
Thompson’s menu features a Mexican blue prawn ceviche crudo with young coconut, tomatillo, and cucumber; Yellowfin tuna tartare served with pasilla chilli and avocado; and seafood platters with kusshi oysters, Hokkaido scallops, king crab legs, lobster tail and prawn cocktail. On the starter menu, guests can order Tostada with black truffle with Cabot cheddar and corn cream; Duck confit tamal with mole de la casa and ricotta; and octopus served with coloradito mole and potatoes in escabeche. Guests can opt for main courses such as whole cauliflower al pastor with pineapple butter and cashew salsa macha; Branzino a la Talla with guajillo adobo, herbs and salsa cruda; and Yucatan chicken pibil with orange annatto adobo and potatoes, or order family dishes such as whole roasted carnitas with crispy skin, smoked agave syrup, chipotle coleslaw, chilli toreado and charred cucumber salsa or Casa Playa Surf and Turf with Wagyu Carne Asada, lobster and chorizo, short rib suadero, green chorizo and serrano.
A seafood tower in Casa Playa. Wynn Las Vegas
Mercer Boarini spent her time at Wynn revising and creating cocktail menus, and here she brings a line-up of margaritas like the Temple of Doom with Mal Bien Espadin Mezcal, grilled pineapple, chipotle and lime; the frozen Forbidden Fruit Margarita with El Tesoro Blanco, Mango, Lime, Chamoy Caramel and Mango Trinity Salt; and the City of Dawn with Gray Goose Essence Watermelon Basil Vodka and Cucumber-Mint-Agua Fresca.
On the tequila and mezcal side of the menu, deputy general manager Arenstein has developed a rotating collection of agave spirits from regions from Oaxaca in southern Mexico to the borders of the United States in the north. The program includes a range of barrel picks, some from rare batches of 200 bottles or less, that can be ordered as a drink, curated flight, or fully paired tasting. Highlights of the selection include Neta Mezcal Tepextate, Cascahuin Extra Añejo Tequila, Fuenteseca 18 Yr. Tequila and Vago Mezcal Tobala de Aquilino, which is only available at Casa Playa with a limited 125 batch.
Wynn Resorts creative studio, Wynn Design and Development, created the look of Casa Playa with bright colors and patterns that celebrate Mexico. Two lights with cascading marigolds anchor the main dining room, while the lounge offers customers a chic ambience.
Casa Playa, Encore Las Vegas, 3121 Las Vegas Boulevard S., 702-770-5340. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 6 p.m. to midnight.
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