Dining pick of the week: Carlos’ Kitchen

PICK OF THE WEEK:

CARLOS' KITCHEN

Inside Charlie's Saloon, 4420 S. Durango Drive at Peace Way, 207-6556

Executive chef Carlos Fernandez always wanted his own kitchen, where he could upgrade what he calls "bar food." The former Strip chef found his kitchen, and he has seriously dignified "bar food." He'll make your grilled cheese with American, cheddar, jack, pepperjack, Swiss or smoked Gouda on white, wheat or rye. Other sandwiches are 100 percent Angus beef burgers, the hoagie club, Reuben, spicy chicken, turkey cranberry, half-pound patty melt and grilled portobello mushroom with roasted red pepper, grilled onion and jack topped with balsamic vinaigrette greens on toasted hoagie. All sandwiches come with fries and dill pickle. There are salads (Caesar, chopped, Buffalo chicken) and popular appetizers such as nachos (add beef or chicken), beer-battered onion rings with ranch dressing and Chef's Special Hot Sauce Chicken Wings. Among the dinner entrees are chicken Angelina, grilled vegetable tower, pork chop with apple chutney and herb polenta, rib-eye and pasta fettuccini Don Carlos, fettuccini tossed with sautéed shrimp, spicy Cajun sausage, red peppers, onions and roasted garlic cream sauce. Ask about daily specials and the Chocolate Molten Lava Cake. Sandwiches begin at $5.99 and entrees at $8.99. Carlos' Kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. -- Jack Bulavsky