Libre rebrands Red Rock Resort spot with Mexican wrestling theme

Libre has entered the culinary ring at Red Rock Resort — the cantina with a Mexican wrestling theme recently moved into the spot vacated by Mercadito.

Captializing on the popularity of Lucha Libre, or Mexican professional wrestling, the rebranded space by Clique Hospitality features colorful, masked wrestlers on the walls and a less-formal vibe than its predecessor. Highlights include a large tequila selection and $6 happy hour menu items, offered from 4 to 6 p.m. daily in the bar, lounge and patio. Along with $5 cocktails and $4 draft beers, select happy hour menu items are guacamole, cheese nachos, bean and cheese dip, Mexican street corn fritters, street tacos with Achote chicken or carne asada steak, cheese quesadilla, and shrimp ceviche with crispy plantains. Tacos & Tequila are featured every Tuesday evening, offering all you can eat and drink for $24.

Chef Brian Massie's dinner menu is helmed by entrees including fajitas, burritos, traditional or street tacos, enchiladas, brown rice bowls and vegan selections, including grilled portobello tacos ($16) and veggie and tofu fajita with vegan cheese ($10). Dinner entrees range from around $16 for tacos (traditional ones come with rice and beans, while the street version is served with pickled vegetables and crispy chips) to $26 for carne asada skirt steak, shrimp veracruz or the grilled fish plate. The Bubbling Short Rib Molcajate, with guajillo chili, soft tortilla, sour cream and pickled red onions, is the most expensive menu item at $28.

Appetizers average around $10 and include the corn fritters from the happy hour menu ($12), with cotija creme, poblano and cilantro; mini crab ceviche tacos ($13), and meatballs al pastor with caramelized pineapple, cotija creme and cilantro ($9). The most expensive appetizer is the crispy dynamite shrimp taco ($19), with coconut rock shrimp, jicama, avocado and Sriracha creme.

Along with the tasty house margarita, the La Casa Libre ($10, with Hornitos Plata Tequila, fresh lime juice and agave nectar), other cocktail selections include The Heated Moment ($12, with Espolon Reposado Tequila, passion fruit, Fresno chili, lime, agave nectar and cinnamon sugar rim) and the Chica Bonita ($12, with 50 Bleu Vodka, aloe vera, hibiscus-cranberry cordial, lemon, seltzer and orange bitters). Frozen options include the Prickly Pear margarita ($10).

Libre's beverage menu also has a decent selection of wines, draft and bottled beers, and the aforementioned tequilas, with varieties of Blanco (not aged), Reposado (aged in oak from two months to one year) and Anejo (aged a minimum of one year).

A children's dining menu is available. Libre is open from 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

For reservations, call 702-478-5118, or for parties of 12 or more, call 702-478-5118. Visit librelasvegas.com.