:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68994721/Screen_Shot_2021_03_19_at_10.20.42_AM.0.png)
The man behind Más Por Favor Taqueria y Tequila, the Chinatown Mexican restaurant with a secret speakeasy in the back, has another restaurant on the way, this time headed to Downtown Summerlin. La Neta Cocina y Lounge takes over the former Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken space, as well as a vacant location next door, to bring a 5,336-square-foot restaurant filled with stained glass murals and modern takes on traditional Mexican fare along with mezcal and margaritas.
Ryan Labbe and his company, 81/82 Group, created the restaurant that he felt should go on the Strip or at Downtown Summerlin.
The lavish decor includes stained glass murals and exposed brick walls accented by wooden beams and vaulted ceilings. Overhead, chandeliers light the space, while a living tree anchors the dining room. The lounge at La Neta features a living wall art installation decorated with greenery, creating an indoor garden.
Labbe brought on chef Israel Castro to create the menu along with Lanny Chin of The Slanted Door, Slurp Society, and more, to consult. Castro, a veteran of restaurants such as Javier’s at Aria, created dishes such as cochinita pibil with braised and slow-roasted pork with habanero onions and topped with chicharron crumble. The Taquero Mucho comes with choices such as chicken, carne asada, escabeche, mushroom, and panela cheese. Castro also has his rendition of paella, served with shrimp, calamari, lobster, oysters, and fish topped with white wine lemon butter. Other menu highlights include a chicken relleno, a stuffed chicken with arroz verde and poblano cream, and a savory roasted acorn squash served with sauteed seasonal veggies, garlic, and spritzed with a herb vinaigrette.
The lounge offers the margarita de la casa served with blanco tequila and El Jefe Carajillo with spiced rum and horchata foam. Other playful cocktails include the vodka-based Birds of a Feather and Como La Flor with gin and elderflower.
La Neta, Spanish for “be real,” plans to open this summer.
