T & T Tacos & Tequila

Michael Frey brings a high-energy, Mexican-style, "not yo grandma's cantina" themed restaurant to Las Vegas with culinary delights from Master Chef Robert Sandoval and interior design from Adam Tihany.

T & T is an up-and-coming Vegas hotspot -- "think Pink Taco meets Coyote Ugly interpreted by Quentin Tarantino," says Frey.

The interior features rock music, dancing skeletons, a color palette of yellows, reds, greens oranges and blues and a full-on bullfighting arena feel. Seated on stadium-style shelves, the liquor bottles are arranged to resemble spectators overlooking a fierce bullfight, which is painted below onto a large mural. Industrial steel lighting installations with small cut-outs give the open-air restaurant a peek of light and add mystery to the space.

But the restaurant’s cool, edgy, rustic décor is in stark contrast to its hotter cuisine with bold flavors and refined touches.

The queso fundido is a blend of three cheeses served in a hot mini-skillet. A word to the wise: if ordering multiple appetizers, eat this one first before the cheese coagulates.

And I do suggest you order other “small plates” like made-to-order guacamole or beef flautas with tender and moist shredded beef.

Let’s talk about the crab tostadas. This sensational dish, made from fresh jumbo lump crab meat kept in large chunks, is mixed with roasted sweet corn, bell pepper, pico de gallo and avocado. The crab is mixed with a tangy but light chipotle aioli and finished with an Oaxaca chile sauce.

My only complaint at this point is that T&T isn’t an all-you-can-eat buffet, because I would definitely eat all I could in crab tostadas. But T&T is far from a buffet — the restaurant’s cuisine is made fresh to order.

T&T offers a trio of quesadillas that are modernized. Try the adobo shrimp with Oaxaca cheese and chile chipotle

The menu also features traditional favorites like ceviches, soups and salads, enchiladas and burritos.

Unique tacos include the Mediterraneo, a taco filled with falafel, tahini, tomato and green bell pepper, mint, lettuce and tamarind pico de gallo

T & T is a great place to go to keep the fun going and the tequila flowing.

-- By Nikki Neu