Heidi’s Picks

Heidi's Picks is a weekly selection of restaurant suggestions from Review-Journal critic Heidi Knapp Rinella. Price symbols are based on the cost of an average entree: $ = entrees less than $10; $$ = entrees between $10 and $20; $$$ = entrees between $20 and $30; and $$$$ = entrees more than $30.

BROADWAY PIZZERIA

840 S. Rancho Drive (and 8125 W. Sahara Ave.); 259-9002

The original Rancho Drive location of Broadway Pizzeria is always packed, and it's not because of atmosphere or customer service. The reason is the food -- good, solid preparations of old-fashioned Southern Italian favorites -- and the prices; a two-slice-and-a-drink lunch special costs about the same as fast food. We loved the garlic knots, an eggplant Parmigiana sub, a pepper-and-egg sub and two slices of pepperoni-and-mushroom. (9/3/10)

Overall: B+ $

MARSSA

Loew's Lake Las Vegas, 101 Montelago Blvd., Henderson; 567-6125

Marssa's happy hour is a little unusual in that it's only an hour, fairly late as these things go -- 6 to 7 p.m.-- and Tuesdays through Saturdays, instead of just weekdays. We think that's a bid to get people to come in and try the place, and it works, because Marssa puts on an awfully good face during happy hour. We were particularly enamored of the crunchy salmon roll, the beef kushiage and the lumpia, and the sake portion that was very generous at happy-hour prices. (10/2/09)

Overall: A- $$

McCORMICK & SCHMICK'S

335 Hughes Center Drive; 836-9000

Our most recent visit to McCormick & Schmick's was for happy hour, which is in the bar from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. to closing on weekdays and which features such bargains as a half-pound cheeseburger with fries for $2.95, or crispy cod sliders and fries for $4.95. But we also like McCormick & Schmick's for lunch and dinner, when fresh fish and seafood dishes like trout almondine, lobster and various types of crab in season show what the kitchen can do. (8/21/09)

Overall: A- $$$ ($ during happy hour)

VIC & ANTHONY'S STEAKHOUSE

Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont St.; 385-7111

Aside from some Lyonnaise potatoes that weren't -- just because somebody didn't let well enough alone -- we liked just about everything about Vic & Anthony's. That would include the lobster bisque, mozzarella-and-tomato salad, creamed spinach, shrimp scampi, 16-ounce Prime rib-eye and, for dessert, a pecan ball that was as perfect a finish as we could have hoped. (4/11/08)

Overall: A-$$$$