“The Mirage is a defunct casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States.”

So begins the Wikipedia page for one of our favorites spots on the Las Vegas Strip. I was fortunate enough to find out just in time to visit one last time before my work conference began this week. Literally by a few minutes: the roads in and out had already been barricaded, but they were letting people in for a farewell press conference with staff under the porte-cochère in front.

I took a bunch of pictures outside of the Siegfried and Roy Plaza and the iconic volcano, then headed in the entrance on the Caesars Palace side. The door was unlocked, but almost everything was closed (not Starbucks) and all of the slot machines were powered off. I wandered back by the Cirque Love theater (last show there was July 7), then up to the tropical dome and over to the front entrance (all the fish were gone, but the bronze mermaids remained).

Colleen and I stayed at Mirage a number of times, including our trip for the Morrissey concert in 2021 (which was probably the last time). We also picked the Mirage as the place we stayed for the girls first Vegas trip in 2018. The rooms had just been refurbished and they really liked going to the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. SK and I also went to see the Beatles-themed Cirque show as part of her landmark birthday trip in 2019 and I also remember having birthday dinner there with the Millers in 2009 (and the first time I saw Love). Lots of visits to the Carnegie Deli too.

Thanks Team Mirage for all the great memories!

Earlier this week, Colleen and I battled the construction of Uptown to visit Chef Jorge Guzman’s new spot, Chilango. Located in the former Calhoun Beach Club spot that was previously Urban Eatery, the space has been updated with beautiful art and had a nice Mex-Tex vibe. That said, the menu seemed to be heavy on the Mex and light on the Tex. We also agreed that having daily specials make up half the menu meant your options seemed to be more limited than they needed to be.

We had high expectations, based on Stephanie March’s glowing preview story in MSP Magazine and our past experience at both Brewer’s Table (RIP May 2015 – August 2018) and the excellent Petite Leon. Chilango opened on April 18, 2024 and chef was there on our Tuesday night visit (not sure how he splits his time between the two spots).

I drove from work to meet Colleen and was glad I made it in time. I had no idea that Hennepin Avenue is half torn up for much of my journey from downtown (and completely shut down once you hit Uptown). I was detoured west to Lake of the Isles, which of course goes one way the opposite way I needed to go to get to Chilango. And since everyone was diverted to side streets, things got very backed up the further I went. Thankfully, there was a small MINI-sized parking spot on the marathon route a block over from the restaurant.

Here is the list of things we ordered (along with the menu descriptions):

• Chile con Queso: melty cheese, roasted chiles & charred onions served with tortilla chips $9
• Enchiladas Verdes: heritage breed chicken, cheese, chilessalsa de tomatillo verde, cilantro, crema y queso fresco $26
• Baja Fish Taco: (2 tacos per) battered white fish, red cabbage slaw, pico de gallo, chipotle crema $14
• Gem Salad: gem lettuce, jalapeño – mango vinaigrette, hooks aged cheddar, peanut yaji, cucumbers & radish $15
• Banana Pudding: bananas, vanilla wafers, toasted coconut, salted peanuts, whipped cream $11
• I live across the street: Mexican Gustoso, rum, watermelon, olive oil drizzle, lime, salt $13
• Mexican Coke $4
• Riesling, Raimund Prun “Solitar”, Germany $14

We thought prices were a little on the high side for what was served, but overall I liked everything I had. Colleen didn’t think it matched the quality of his past work, but it is a different type of operation (as the March story mentions). With a lot of other strong Mexican options in town (and the current traffic issues), it might be a tough ask. I do think it’s worth a visit, though.

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