MOD MEX IS THE KEYWORD FOR NEW SUPERSIZED PALAZZO RESTAUARANT
Holy Guacamole! Chef Scott Lindquist’s twist of Mod-Mex fare won so many rave reviews in New York at his Dos Caminos restaurant that owner Steve Hanson had him open two more in Manhattan within a year. Now he’s moved to Vegas and created a giant 700-seat south of the border hangout, the likes of which you’ve never seen before. Olé!
Scott’s new Dos Caminos at The Palazzo is a super-sized space that’s literally open around the clock from 10 a.m. to 3:30 a.m., and it’s a masterpiece from genius restaurant designer David Rockwell.
He’s divided it into different environments, each with a nod to a specific aspect of Mexican life. A waterfall and hand-hammered gates greet guests as they enter the intimate Sala lounge, where snakeskin leather banquettes carve up the space. An abstract nightscape of a Mexican village frames the natural edge wood bar atop iridescent gold and fuchsia tile. Maybe I had too many phenomenal tequilas, but I swear it all resembled a “Day of the Dead” celebration with crosses under metal grates with raised open coffins. The main dining room walls and ceiling are covered with panels from Mexican markets and a candle-lit serpentine chandelier of glowing glass gems leads guests to an ancient stone-carved Mayan temple of fire connecting to a rear dining room of eternal flickering candlelight reflections off copper colored glass. More tequila shots made me realize that one wall there was filled with a thousand miniature skulls marking The Day of the Dead.
As remarkable as the decorations are, so is the food. Yes, there’s the authentic inventive Mexican fare, but Scott has built on the classic staples with his own signature items and the made-to-order guacamole. Scott tantalizes the taste buds with roasted chicken enchiladas, lamb shank Barbacoa, Chilean sea bass Veracruzano and more.
The selection of tequilas is mind-blowing, and Dos Caminos even has a mixologist, Eben Klemm to match up any of the 35 hand-selected tequilas and specialty organic margaritas (anybody for Pomegranate or Frozen Prickly Pear?) to go with the unique food festival. The Sala bar by night turns into a lush ultra-lounge complete with DJs Cyber Kid and Mega Man, plus bottle service and an after-midnight cravings menu! Believe it or not, tomorrow is National Margarita Day, and to celebrate, Dos Caminos is offering $14 flights of the El Camino, Frozen Prickly Pear, and the Quatros Caminos margaritas. This is definitely one new Vegas restaurant to add into your regular routine when dining out.