If you’re looking for a literal hidden gem, then Tres Cazuelas definitely fits the bill. A labor of love by former Marché Bacchus GM Angelo Reyes, the intimate Latin American restaurant is innocuously tucked away in the same Polaris strip mall as the Sand Dollar Lounge. And while the area bustles with the denizens of late-night Las Vegas, it’s a bit sleepier during daylight hours unless you’re in the know.Tres Cazuelas is an amalgamation of cuisines from Reyes’ youth, beginning with housemade chips and salsa typical of Mexican restaurants, served with a chipotle aioli more akin to Spanish cuisine. Southern American influences appear in the sharp Peruvian ceviche and smoky churrasco Argentino short rib skewers, while more Spanish influences arise with sweet-and-savory Ibérico dates and pork belly pintxos (both pictured above). (Better yet, the handpicked wine selection is just as eclectic as the menu.) And don’t forget the decidedly Mexican cazuelas. In this instance, cazuelas — a catch-all term for typically casual Spanish dishes cooked in a pot — refers to the rotating trio of weekday lunch dishes where you’ll find some of the more intriguing items, including the complex, layered moles. Best of all, Tres Cazuelas’ dynamic menu makes for a good excuse to return frequently — ideally with friends — to sample the many facets of this richly diverse restaurant.
