Heidi’s Picks
Heidi’s Picks is a weekly selection of restaurant suggestions from Review-Journal critic Heidi Knapp Rinella. Her reviews are done anonymously at Review-Journal expense.
FUDDRUCKERS
4195 S. Grand Canyon Drive; 732-3933
Our medium-rare burger was barely pink but we liked everything else about Fuddruckers, which generally knows how to make a burger and provides the fresh produce and condiments to gild the lily. Besides the basic 1/3-pound burger we had a delicious 1/3-pound Black and Blue topped with balsamic-glazed onions, bacon and blue cheese, and some quite tasty Firehouse Boneless Buffalo Wings, Tricked-Out Nachos and white-chocolate-studded chocolate cookies. (8/29/08)
Overall: A- $
R.E. TAPAS KITCHEN AND LOUNGE
467 E. Silverado Ranch Blvd.; 617-9220
One of the best things about tapas spots is that they enable you to share little dishes and try new tastes and that’s especially true at R.E., which raises tapas innovation to new heights. Worthy of note: carpaccio of beef, feta fries, grilled hearts of romaine, baked artichoke hearts, quesadilla margarita, rolled eggplant, osso buco piccolo, albondigas and local chevre cheesecake, for dessert. Oh, and don’t forget the sangria. (5/16/08)
Overall: A- $$
FUSIA
Luxor, 3900 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 262-4778
Fusia is uncommonly friendly for a Strip-resort restaurant; it also flies under the radar, but its food quality compares quite nicely with that of the big boys. The white-miso-lacquered sea bass with sambal aioli was flaky, firm and sweet, and we also liked the duck spring rolls with mandarin relish, spring field greens and Cinnamon Monkey Bread — the best dessert we’d had in a long time, on the Strip or off. (5/9/08)
Overall: B+ $$$
PINOT BRASSERIE
The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 414-8888
Pinot Brasserie is kind of easy to overlook among the more attention-grabbing residents of The Venetian’s restaurant row but that would be your loss, because this unassuming place is brasserie at its best — with California verve. Particularly appealing were the foie gras, Belgian endive with Roquefort cheese, braised short ribs, seared scallops and strawberries with balsamic vinegar and Humboldt Fog goat cheese. (3/2/07)
Overall: A $$$$
