Carmelita's Mar Y Tierra

Leticia Mitchell has been wowing Las Vegas foodies with her Mexican cuisine for 15 years, earning a die-hard fan base that has gladly followed her through a couple of location changes. Her supporters include rock star Carlos Santana and UNLV grad Guy Fieri, who featured Mitchell’s birria tacos on Dinners Drive-Ins and Dives.

Carmelita’s Mar Y Tiera is her latest outpost, created with her niece Sue Kipple. Located in the up-and-coming stretch of Charleston Boulevard to the east of the Huntridge Theater, It’s gritter and more urban than her flagship restaurant in Sata Fe Station (Leticia’s Cocina de Cantina), and much larger than her hip Arts District outpost (Letty’s de Leticia Cantina).

They’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And as the name indicates (to those who speak Spanish), the menu offers selections from both sea and land. The seafood –- grilled or breaded, served in ceviches, torres (towers) and molcajetes (large stone bowls) –- is what really stands out here. But the large menu also offers standards like tacos, enchiladas, rellenos, burritos and huevos rancheros.

For something as visually stunning as it is delicious, check out the Pulpo Zarandeado – a massive whole grilled octopus, seasoned in garlic, lemon and chimichurri, and served in a molcajetes with spicy chorizo, whole potatoes, corn and tortillas.