Mexican, Italian, and Cocktails Head to The Bend in 2020

That huge retail and entertainment center now has new tenants locked into opening at this major new dining hub in the southwest, facing Ikea. The Bend, at 175-acre plot at Sunset Road and Durango Drive, now has some new dining outlets joining already announced restaurants and bars coming to the 84,250-square-foot retail center proposed at “the bend” of the 215.

Tacos & Beer from John Simmons opens a second location of its Mexican fare, according to The Bend’s website. Simmons already has a location on Paradise Road.

Chef Marc Marrone, formerly of Tao Group, brings Italian Graffiti with an attached pizza window.

Southern California’s Saint Felix Spirits & Fare makes the leap to Las Vegas with craft cocktails and food.

Other restaurants on the way include Thai stalwart Lotus of Siam and Freed’s Dessert Shop, a new steakhouse from Cory Harwell, the owner behind Carson Kitchen, and Union Biscuit, a new breakfast and brunch kitchen that will feature biscuit sandwiches as well as Asian-influenced dishes.

Lotus of Siam opened a location on Flamingo Road in 2017 after the roof collapsed on the original location at the Commercial Center. Owner and chef Saipin Chutima’s northern Thai cuisine earned her a Best Chef Southwest from the James Beard Foundation in 2011.

Freed’s Bakery, the bakery behind Vegas Cakes, has been a stalwart on Eastern Avenue since 1959. Last year, an outlet of the original opened in the northwest.

Last year in September, The Bend announced that Henderson’s The Great Greek would take over 2,200 square feet with a menu of gyros, wraps, and rice bowls. Mothership Coffee Roasters from Henderson fills another 1,500 to 2,000 square feet with nitro coffee, a slightly effervescent, ice-cold coffee on tap, as the big draw. And Shang Artisan Noodles features dumplings and noodles made by hand and aficionados can choose between hand-pulled, the knife-shaved-style of north China’s Shanxi Province or a simpler, plain option. Shang already has a location at 4983 W. Flamingo Road and plans to fill 1,500 square feet at The Bend. Aces & Ales Brewery from the beer haven with two locations in Las Vegas also has a brewery on the way.

• All Coverage of The Bend [ELV]