Le Burger Brasserie dresses up typical American fare

Consider the lowly hamburger: ground beef, pickles, onions, tomatoes, bun.

At Le Burger Brasserie Sports Grille inside Paris Las Vegas, 3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South, that all-American comfort food gets a working over, with a variety of burgers made with a variety of meats, from traditional ground beef to lamb, chicken, salmon and vegetarian.

The most unusual is the Kobe beef and Maine lobster burger with caramelized onions, imported brie cheese, prosciutto, 100-year aged balsamic vinegar and a bottle of Rose Dom Perignon Champagne or Chateau "Latour" 1982 Bordeaux, all for just $777.

There also are 15 specialty beers and a specialty cocktail menu, plus a big screen TV and nine smaller plasma screens, hot pants-wearing servers and flair bartenders.

Le Burger Brasserie seats 200 guests and is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays through Saturdays.

Starters: Chicken wings, spicy hot, medium or mild, carrot and celery sticks with chunky blue cheese dressing ($8.99); potato skins with bacon, cheddar, tomatoes, green onions and sour cream ($7.99); chicken tenders with creamy ranch dressing, and carrot and celery sticks ($9.99); and shrimp cocktail ($12.99).

Soups and salads: New England clam chowder with oyster crackers ($6.99); Cobb salad with diced turkey, ham, Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, tomato, cucumber, avocado, chopped eggs and bacon with a choice of dressing ($12.99); assorted heirloom tomatoes with feta cheese, green olives and a choice of dressing ($10.99); organic bibb lettuce with Granny Smith apple, Gruyere cheese and lemon mustard dressing ($9.99); and spinach salad with baby spinach, chopped boiled eggs, cooked beets, blue cheese crumbles and choice of dressing ($9.99).

Entrees: Hamburgers, featuring a half-pound of ground Angus beef, include "Le Classique," with a choice of cheese ($8.99); "Le Paris," with brie, caramelized onions and smoked bacon ($9.99); "Le American," with American cheese, sauteed mushrooms and fried onion rings ($9.99); "L'Italian," with mozzarella, arugula and prosciutto ($9.99); "Southern," with goat cheese, sauteed spinach and barbecue sauce ($9.99); and "Le Bleu," with blue cheese, avocado and smoked bacon ($9.99).

All hamburgers include a choice of boulangerie artisanal bread or bun and are served with iceberg lettuce, tomato, red onion and pickle. Other bun choices include whole egg, sesame seed, caramelized onion, parmesan cheese, mini ciabatta or oven dried tomato ciabatta.

Other toppings include garden (avocado, caramelized onion, coleslaw, grilled onions, mixed greens, portabella mushroom, roasted peppers, sauteed mushrooms and sauteed spinach, 69 cents each); dairy (American cheese, blue cheese, brie, cheddar, goat, mozzarella, parmesan, pepper jack, provolone, smoked Gouda or Swiss, 99 cents each); proteins (smoked bacon, pancetta, prosciutto, cooked ham or fried egg, 99 cents each); and sauces (Thousand Island, balsamic vinaigrette, black olive paste, blue cheese, Caesar, cheese sauce, cranberry, lemon aioli, pesto, ranch or salsa, 99 cents each).

Le Burger Brasserie also serves grilled lamb burgers, grilled salmon burgers, dark and white meat chicken burgers and vegetarian burgers ($6.99-$9.99).

Extras: Cole slaw ($2.99); pasta salad ($2.99); onion rings ($4.99); and potato salad ($2.99).

Desserts: Warm banana doughnut filled with passion fruit and served with chocolate sauce and whipped cream; cheesecake with pecan crust and berry compote; brioche donuts with vanilla custard, coarse sugar mixed berry sauce; and chocolate coconut macaroon with chocolate mousse and caramel peanut sauce ($7.99 each).

Appetizers is a weekly informational column about new developments on the Las Vegas dining scene. Items should not be considered reviews or recommendations and none is a paid advertisement. Contact Ken White at 383-0256 or e-mail him at kwhite@ reviewjournal.com.