Durango Casino is Swapping Italian for Tacos, Nobody’s Perfect
The booming locals casino, Durango Casino & Resort, is opening a new taco restaurant in its Eat Your Heart Out food court, Villa’s Tacos.
Villa’s Tacos will set up shop in the space where the short-lived Fiorella Pasta Bar used to sit.
Typically, we would say something along the lines of “whenever an Italian place closes an angel loses its wings,” but we got a rendering, so we’re good.
From the announcement of the new Durango restaurant: “Marking its first location outside of Los Angeles, the famed taqueria, founded by Chef Victor Villa, will bring its beloved tacos Estilo Los Angeles identity to the southwest Las Vegas resort. Devoted fans line up daily to enjoy the restaurant’s signature homemade blue corn tortillas, crispy Monterrey Jack cheese skirt, and meat, guacamole, crema, cotija, onion and cilantro. Recognized as a Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand destination and the only restaurant featured during Bad Bunny’s Big Game halftime performance, Villa’s Tacos is a destination known for its authentic cuisine and humble Los Angeles roots.”
Some translation required: “Estilo Los Angeles” means “L.A.-style.”
“Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand” means “like a Michelin Star, but cheap eats.” Also, “Bib” comes from “Bibendum,” the official name of the Michelin Man. Created in 1898, his name is derived from the Latin phrase “Nunc est Bibendum,” which translates as “Now is the time to drink.” No, really. Which is an incredibly terrible name for the mascot of a motor vehicle-related company, if you ask us.
“Cotija” is a Mexican cow’s milk cheese known for its salty, crumbly texture. Also known as Parmesan. Awkward.
“Cilantro” is Spanish for “the green stuff you are likely to find in your teeth later, especially on dates.”
One last translation: “Big Game” is “Super Bowl” in casino speak. They’re paranoid about using the term “Super Bowl” despite the fact no company has ever been pursued by the NFL for using their trademarked term in a news release about a taco shop. The rule is “Super Bowl” can’t be used in advertising or promotions. A news release is using the term in a news context. “News release” has news right in the name of it. If you are in public relations and still calling it a “press release,” you are old and need to retire, all due respect.
Mexican food is a staple of Las Vegas casinos, as it is one of the main food groups appealing to the vast majority of visitors: 1) tacos, 2) burgers, 3) Asian, 4) steak and 5) chicken fingers.
Yes, Italian typically sits atop that list, but it just didn’t work at the Durango food court.
You can argue there are other very popular cuisines, but there’s a total of one Indian restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip (Gymkhana at Aria), so don’t get too worked up.
Here are some additional words from the news release so it doesn’t appear we spent just 15 minutes writing this story: “Guests can look forward to Villa’s Tacos’ signature bases including tacos, queso tacos and mulitas filled with the guest’s choice of chicken thighs, skirt steak, chorizo, grilled soyrizo, frijoles con nopal or papas a la plancha, all topped with a refreshing trio of radishes and lime wedges. Guests can also expect Villa’s signature fried baja fish taco, along with a new-to-the-menu wood-fired tacos al pastor offering, prepared on a wood-burning grill.”
More translation: “Mulitas” are “small mullets.”
“Soyrizo” is a plant-based version of chorizo sausage, sometimes referred to as “a blasphemous, mutant food that shouldn’t exist on Earth.”
“Chorizo” is a highly-seasoned sausage. Yes, “chorizo sausage” is redundant, like saying “sausage sausage” or “ATM machine” or “PIN number” or “chai tea.” Don’t get us started.
“Frijoles” are beans that don’t cost anything.
“Con nopal” means “with cactus.”
“Papas a la plancha” means “potatoes cooked on a griddle or grill.”
“Radishes” translate “food that started as a prank” or “a crunchy root vegetable that is not edible without being drenched in Ranch dressing.”
A “baja fish taco” is a “Baja fish taco.” Durango used lower case as a description of a style, not a formal title, so we’ll let this one slide.
“Tacos al pastor” is “tacos prepared by a member of the clergy.”
Now that we’ve satisfied your word count expectations, we will move on to other stories we can hopefully also fluff up by cutting and pasting and getting canceled by foodies who take their translations very seriously.
Durango Casino didn’t specify when Villa’s Tacos opens, but we assume it will happen in Q2-Q3. Although, the three new food court concepts at Red Rock Resort in Summerlin (also owned by Station Casinos) have been six years in the making, so don’t hold your breath. Let’s go, Good Pie (pizza), With Love Always (burgers) and Randy’s (carbs), already.
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