ENCORE AT WYNN LAS VEGAS TO DEBUT CASA PLAYA, A VIBRANT COASTAL MEXICAN CONCEPT, THIS SEPTEMBER
Helmed by Executive Chef Sarah Thompson, the enhanced dining experience will bring entertainment and the ambiance of a lively Mexican playacita to the Las Vegas Strip
This September, Encore at Wynn Las Vegas will debut Casa Playa, a coastal Mexican concept featuring authentic dishes, innovative cocktails, and a lively lounge. Located adjacent to the renowned Encore Beach Club, the restaurant is the ultimate destination for those seeking an all-encompassing dining experience boasting an upscale twist on authentic dishes and a buzzy aura in a chic setting.
With a menu from Executive Chef Sarah Thompson, cocktails from Wynn resort mixologist Mariena Mercer Boarini, and a curated mezcal and tequila collection from agave expert Noah Arenstein, the restaurant will offer distinctive flavors that will leave guests feeling as if they’ve been transported to the Mexican seaside.
Designed by Wynn Resorts’ creative studio, Wynn Design and Development, Casa Playa transports guests to a Mexican escape with its rich textures, bright colors and lively patterns that celebrate the spirit and craft of the country. From two dazzling fixtures of cascading marigolds in the main dining room, to the chic atmosphere of the front lounge, guests can enjoy an upscale feet-in-the-sand resort style dining experience. “We wanted the space to feel as if it’s illuminated by candlelight along a moonlit beach,” said Michael Wood, Creative Director of Wynn Design and Development.
Drawing inspiration from the hidden playacitas found along the shores of Mexico that serve up fresh grilled seafood, Chef Thompson puts her own twist on authentic Mexican flavors with a menu of playful dishes as well as classics including a squash blossom quesadilla, baja fried fish tacos and queso fundido with house made chorizo. Guests can curate a multi-course experience by selecting an array of offerings, enjoy sumptuous shareable plates, or opt for a large-format feast. Menu highlights include:
- Crudo – Mexican Blue Shrimp Ceviche with young coconut, tomatillo, and cucumber; Yellowfin Tuna Tartare served with pasilla chile and avocado; and towering Seafood Platters piled high with Kusshi oysters, Hokkaido scallops, king crab legs, lobster tail, and shrimp cocktail.
- Appetizers – With options extending beyond exceptional seafood, diners can also expect elegant and bold flavors like the Black Truffle Tostada with Cabot clothbound cheddar and corn cream; Duck Confit Tamal with mole de la casa and ricotta; and Octopus served with coloradito mole and potato in escabeche.
- Mains – A selection of shareable mains includes dishes such as Whole Cauliflower Al Pastor featuring pineapple butter and cashew salsa macha; Branzino a la Talla topped with guajillo adobo, herbs and salsa cruda; and Yucatan Chicken Pibil made with orange annatto adobo and potato.
- Para La Mesa – Casa Playa also features options served family style with house-made tortillas and salsas including Whole Roasted Carnitas with crispy skin, smoked agave syrup, chipotle slaw, chile toreado, and charred cucumber salsa; and the Casa Playa Surf and Turf featuring wagyu carne asada, lobster and chorizo, short rib suadero, green chorizo, and serrano.
“My goal when crafting the menu for Casa Playa was to balance creativity with tradition to ensure that every item is a culinary adventure,” said Chef Thompson. “Casa Playa will offer a lively social atmosphere, so we wanted to complement that with food that is designed to be shared and enjoyed with great company and conversation.”
As service continues into the evening, guests will experience live entertainment from a roster of acclaimed DJs. Casa Playa’s dynamic atmosphere is ideal for revelers seeking fresh flavors, adventure, and an uninhibited nightlife experience all in one.
Mercer Boarini’s thoughtfully crafted and cutting-edge lineup of cocktails includes margaritas like the Temple of Doom made with Mal Bien Espadin Mezcal, grilled pineapple, chipotle, and lime; while the Forbidden Fruit is a frozen margarita featuring El Tesoro Blanco, mango, lime, chamoy caramel, and mango trinity salt. For something a little different, guests can opt for offerings like the City of Dawn comprised of Grey Goose Essence Watermelon Basil Vodka and cucumber mint agua fresca; as well as the Ojo De Tigre with Uncle Nearest Bourbon, Patrón Roca Añejo Tequila, salted peanut marzipan, and plantain.
Casa Playa also delivers a mezcal and tequila selection that is truly unmatched. Curated by AGM and agave expert Noah Arenstein, the list features a rotating collection of the best and most exclusive agave spirits from regions spanning Oaxaca in the south of Mexico to the borders of the United States in the north. The program features a number of sought-after barrel picks, some from rare batches of 200 bottles or less, allowing guests a wholly unique sip, curated flight, or fully paired tasting. Highlights of the selection include Neta Mezcal Tepextate, Cascahuin Extra Añejo Tequila, Fuenteseca 18 Yr. Tequila, and Vago Mezcal Tobala de Aquilino, which, with a limited 125 bottle batch, is only available at Casa Playa.
Casa Playa is the latest in a series of venues set to debut at Wynn Las Vegas throughout 2021 that redefine the resort’s singular guest experience. More information about the restaurant will be shared in the coming weeks.
For more information, please visit www.WynnLasVegas.com.
ABOUT WYNN LAS VEGAS
Wynn Resorts is the recipient of more Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Awards than any other independent hotel company in the world and in 2021 was once again honored on FORTUNE Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies list for the thirteenth time. Wynn and Encore Las Vegas consist of two luxury hotel towers with a total of 4,748 spacious hotel rooms, suites and villas. The resort features approximately 194,000 square feet of casino space, 20 signature dining experiences, 11 bars, two award-winning spas, approximately 560,000 square feet of meeting and convention space, approximately 160,000 square feet of retail space as well as two showrooms, two nightclubs, a beach club and recreation and leisure facilities, such as the recently renovated Wynn Golf Club and 18-hole, 129-acre championship golf course. For more information on Wynn and Encore Las Vegas, visit press.wynnlasvegas.com
