Las Vegas’ Mundo at Mingo aims to offer best of two eateries
June 29, 2017 - 4:47 pm
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Mundo at Mingo, a restaurant described as "Latin chic meets American comfort," is in the Arts District at 1017 S. First St. (Katelyn Umholtz/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @kumh0ltz
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Enchiladas are a popular menu item at Mundo at Mingo, and it can be served with chicken, vegetables or brisket. (Katelyn Umholtz/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @kumh0ltz
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Some dishes, such as the enchiladas, offer customers a side of rice and beans as an add on. (Katelyn Umholtz/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @kumh0ltz
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Mingo Collaso, owner of Mundo at Mingo, decorated this restaurant to resemble a "vampire's apartment in New York City." (Katelyn Umholtz/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @kumh0ltz
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Mundo at Mingo has a full-service bar complete with built-in phone chargers for its patrons. (Katelyn Umholtz/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @kumh0ltz
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After combining Mundo and Mingo together to make Mundo at Mingo, Collaso still wanted the restaurant to keep its fun and urban vibe, while also catering to other customers by adding Mundo dishes to the menu. (Katelyn Umholtz/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @kumh0ltz
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Collaso said Las Vegas summers affect his business because people are less likely to leave their homes. (Katelyn Umholtz/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @kumh0ltz
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Formerly a mechanic shop, Collaso kept the garage doors when designing the restaurant. (Katelyn Umholtz/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @kumh0ltz
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Mundo at Mingo has patio seating as an option for customers, with a design similar to the look inside. (Katelyn Umholtz/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @kumh0ltz
Mundo at Mingo owner Mingo Collaso at one point had his plate full operating Mundo, an upscale Latin food restaurant at World Market Center, and Mingo, a bar with American comfort food in the Arts District.
He merged them two years ago, when Mundo closed because of an expired lease. Collaso had to get crafty in mixing the two very different restaurants.
“Mundo was a much more upscale, 250-seat restaurant,” he said. “Initially, a lot of the Mundo guests didn’t want to come here because we had a completely different crowd at Mingo — more artists, musicians, the occasional doctors and attorneys in the neighborhood, more urban and fun.”
Attracting Mundo’s customers meant bringing its menu, too.
Those accustomed to the Mingo menu can still get favorites such as fish tacos, the All Up in My Grill chicken sandwich and the distinctively named hot dogs Notorious PIG and the Kanye. Hashtags are commonly used.
Mundo added to the menu Latin staples such as chips and salsa, a filet mignon relleno, and enchiladas with vegetables, chicken or brisket.
The decor of the combined restaurant was easy, as Collaso stuck with Mingo’s look; he describes it as being a “vampire’s apartment in New York City.” It includes bright-blue chairs, black fabric walls and built-in phone chargers at the bar.
“We’ve been busier since we’ve added both menus together,” Collaso said. “The easier part now is that I can just stay at one restaurant instead of running back and forth, but it’s hard to run a restaurant in Las Vegas. There’s so many options.”
Contact Katelyn Umholtz at 702-383-0279 or kumholtz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @kumh0ltz on Twitter.
Mundo at Mingo
Where: 1017 S. First St.
Information: 702-685-0328 or eatmixmingo.com
Social media: Facebook or Twitter