Bazaar Mar brings Spanish-influenced seafood dishes to Las Vegas

When you think about the José Andrés Group, you may be inclined to think more of meat than any other type of food. But that wouldn’t give you the fullness of the food and hospitality group’s offerings, which stretch from Bazaar Meats in several cities to the recently opened Bazaar Mar in The Shops at Crystals at Aria, many of which celebrate the chef’s Spanish roots.

In The Shops at Crystals, you’ll actually find two José Andrés offerings, and you may want to schedule a long drinks-and-dinner experience to take full advantage of the serendipitous location. Bar Centro sits on a landing between the ground floor and the second-floor Bazaar Mar, and beckons you into a lively space with a pergola overhead. 

You can get drinks and food here all day, and at night the cocktail menu features a roster of items like the Cross-Eyed Mary, a marvelous creation of Appleton Estate rare blend rum, passion fruit, absinthe, honey, lemon and ginger, capped by fluffy passion fruit. In addition to signature items, you’ll find a range of Spanish beer, wines and spirit, and plenty of local varieties of those as well. If you’re looking for a nonalcoholic option, try the Emerald Coin, with Seedlip 42 Grove nonalcoholic spirit, with the fresh flavor of lemongrass accompanied by honeydew, lime, celery and lemongrass.

Upstairs at Bazaar Mar, finish that off, then grab another, like the The Modifier, a strong beverage with Avuá Amburana cachaça, amaro Montenegro, Licor 43, sherry and chocolate bitters. You’ll want to make sure to experience the river trout cone, a tiny bit with Smoke in Chimneys trout, preserved Meyer lemon and dill. (A savory cone, regardless of filling, is a staple at many Andrés restaurants.) Another classic is The Jamón Experience, where you’ll taste  jamón Ibérica, the acorn-fed black-footed Spanish pig that’s well-known in Bazaar’s venues.

Other great small plates and snacks include the kueh pai ti, tiny dumplings with a filling of amaebi shrimp, peanuts and chili sauce. Marinated “Ferran Adriá” liquid olives come served with four traditional manzanilla green olives. It’s so satisfying to slurp up the briny green globules. And “Honey, I Shrunk the Elote” serves you a few baby corns on a stick, with cotija cheese, popcorn powder and Tajin. They are so cute and so very tasty.

If you choose one of Bazaar Mar’s tasting menus, you’ll get a sampling of many of the best from the menu, like the super-fragrant Maine lobster croquettes, with extra seafood kick delivered by the addition of shrimp. The tomato and wakame salad features heirloom baby tomatoes, pearl onions and a kombu sesame dressing. 

The woodfire-grilled Ora King salmon is served with roe and lemon air, while pollo al ajillo present chicken thighs plus wilted spinach with apples raisins and pine nuts. 

Round that off with desserts like the Key Lime Beach, a treasure chest of a dish that cunningly arranges key lime mousse and lime air with a graham cracker “sand.”

The Shops at Crystals. 702.803.1100. thebazaar.com

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