Mercadito May Rival Border Grill with Upscale Mexican

Al Mancini takes his turn reviewing Mercadito, the new Mexican restaurant at Red Rock Resort that will open this fall at Green Valley Ranch.

He says, with the exception of Border Grill, Mercadito offers "a level of Mexican food that's relatively rare in this town." He recommends going with a group and ordering the trio of guacamole ("be sure to sample the tocino (bacon) variety, which mixes the salty meat with corn, hominy, pico de gallo and habanero peppers"), queso fundido ("delicious enough to stand on its own"), pancita tacos ("spicy chili-rubbed pork belly with sweet grilled peach salsita"), swordfish tacos ("topped with spicy aioli and cabbage-jalapeño slaw") and mac and cheese ("just enough poblano that you could taste the freshness of the pepper without totally blowing out your taste buds with heat.").

On the weekends, he says crowds have already discovered the restaurant, but "it's worth braving the crowds."
· Mercadito Fills a Mexican Food Niche [VS]
· All Coverage of Mercadito [~ELV~]
· All Week in Reviews [~ELV~]
Mercadito [Photo: Jenna Dosch]