Dining Pick of the Week: Wiener’s Circle

Wiener’s Circle

Red Rock Resort, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-823-4700

The Wiener’s Circle elevates the lowly hot dog to a new level. The key is the char broiling, which locks in the flavor. The concept comes out of Chicago, where the Wiener’s Circle is a longtime staple. This is the company’s first franchise. Hot dogs start at $4.99, and there are also burgers, including turkey and veggie. Hot dogs and burgers are dressed with mustard, relish, onion (choice of grilled or raw), pickle, tomato, celery salt and sport peppers on the side — and chicken fingers. Serve yourself soda, or orange juice and coffee are available. Thick milkshake flavors are chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. Breakfast also is offered, and Wiener’s Circle has an agreement with Krispy Kreme Doughnuts that resulted in the Kripsy Kreme doughnut with bacon, egg and cheese item for $7.99. It uses American cheese and one egg cooked over easy with bacon between two warm doughnuts. No calories until you walk out of the place, but with food like that, why would you want to leave? A lot of attention goes into making the food. “We marinate the chicken in a spice blend with some buttermilk and then we hand-batter each order,” said James Reyes, business partner. There’s also an Adult Happy Meal with its signature Chicago Char Cheddar Dog, fries and a Pabst Blue Ribbon. The eatery is tucked in near the casino’s sportsbook. In fact, if you don’t want to sit at one of the 11 tables, you can pull up a chair at the out-facing countertop and have an unobstructed view of the sports broadcasts. Two additional locations are planned at Santa Fe Station, 4949 N. Rancho Drive. Wiener’s Circle is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.