Beni Velazquez Returns, This Time to Lake Las Vegas

It’s been a busy couple of years for former Bar + Bistro chef Beni Velazquez, who saw his Latin Fish and Isabela's restaurants, Republic coffee shop and fellow tenant Soho Pizza Bar all shutter at Desert Shores. Last June, Velazquez told the Review-Journal he had "a large following in Henderson" and now hopes to prove that claim with his latest venture, a revamp of Essence & Herbs at Montelago Village at Lake Las Vegas.

The former steak and seafood restaurant has been re-branded as Essence & Herbs Tapas Joint by Chef Beni. Chanthy Walsh is still the owner and general manager and also operates Mexican restaurant Sonrisa Grill at the Village. Velazquez has already signed up as guest chef for an event at Sonrisa on July 21.

Walsh is behind Henderson's CB's Legacy at the former Bernard's Bistro space, which continues to pay tribute to the late chef and namesake restaurateur Bernard Tordjman, who died late last year.

The new Essence & Herbs menu features "eclectic Latin" dishes, with tapas options such as the $15 Latin Cangero, created with Baja stone lump crab meat, the $13 mahi-mahi fish tacos and a $15 mofongo. Soups, salads, and a Cubano panini are also featured, plus more substantial dishes like a $42 bone-in aged Ribeye al Esponola and the $36 Paella Velazquez.

If you can give three days notice and have up to 12 people in your group, a roasted lechón dinner can be created for $495.