Restaurants to Try This Weekend in Las Vegas — May 2

Bar Boheme. | Jose M Salinas- Salinas media group Your handy guide on where to eat this weekend It’s the most pressing question of the weekend: “Where should I eat?” Here, Eater editors issue tried and true recommendations for places to check out this weekend. For stellar fish tacos: Bajamar Janna Karel Bajamar. Cinco de Mayo is Monday, but it’s never too early to eat tacos. Mexican food is not in short supply in Las Vegas; street tacos with flame-licked al pastor shaved from a vertical spit and packed with verdant cilantro abound. But when I crave stellar San Diego-style fish tacos, I set my sights on Bajamar. The battered cod is flaky, deeply flavorful, and nestled into a thick, supple tortilla. It gets doused with chipotle aioli, an amplifier for its salty and citrusy pico de gallo and finely sliced cabbage, all of which keeps things cool. The shop also piles crunchy tostadas with ahi tuna and guacamole or marinated shrimp with serrano aguachile. But the real standout is the spicy octopus taco. A tortilla becomes the lightly charred foundation for sautéed octopus, seared without turning rubbery. Sliced octopus gets seasoned with smoky and potent chile de arbol, then finished with chipotle sauce and melted mozzarella cheese for bites that are warm, spicy, and practically the beach itself in a tortilla. 1615 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89104 — Janna Karel, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For modern French fare: Bar Boheme Janna Karel Bar Boheme. Chef James Trees of Esther’s Kitchen returns to his culinary roots with Bar Boheme. Located just down the street from his fan-favorite Italian restaurant, service at the restaurant begins with crackly, crusty baguettes — a flavorful foundation for pats of rich French butter. Trees’ interpretation of French food reads traditional, with special attention paid to details. Steak frites come with fries that are meticulously sliced, mashed, frozen, and fried. Broths, sauces, and consommes are heavily guarded, ensuring they remain smooth and silky before finishing with oils and fresh herbs. The red wine-braised beef in boeuf bourguignon is fall-apart tender. A heaping bowl of cracked mussels in moules au safran comes drenched in a buttery sauce of white wine and tarragon mustard that pools indulgently at the bottom of the pot — good reason to spare a wedge of baguette for dunking. The restaurant is French but never stuffy, with wide windows, shades of blush and patterned wallpaper, and a dessert menu of macaron sundaes that are worth saving room for. 1401 South Main Street, Las Vegas, NV 89104. — Janna Karel, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For Asian dining with Miami vibes: Komodo Janna Karel Komodo. Before opening in Las Vegas, Komodo started in Miami. The restaurant brings that coastal swagger to its new digs at the Fontainebleau with a high-tempo soundtrack, bold and sensual interior design, and see-and-be-seen atmosphere that demands to be photographed. Komodo’s menu consists of Southeast Asian fusion dishes that are thoughtfully plated and meant to be shared. A small plate of truffle honey salmon makes an impressive start to a meal: Seven slices of silky salmon sashimi are rolled into spirals and bathed in a delicate sauce of honey and black truffle with minced scallions for texture. Rich and buttery Chilean sea bass gets glazed with a sweet, mild saikyo miso that enhances rather than overwhelms the fish’s already umami flavor. And a surf-and-turf fried rice is deceptively simple, teeming with briny Maine lobster and savory wagyu steak. 2777 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89109. — Janna Karel, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest