Dining Pick of the Week: Gardunos

PICK OF THE WEEK:

GARDUÑOS

FIesta rancho, 2400 N. Rancho Drive
at West Lake Mead Boulevard, 631-7000

Garduños is not just another Mexican restaurant inside a casino. It's an award-winning Mexican restaurant inside Fiesta Rancho with a wall of awards that verify its excellence. Begin with the guacamole prepared tableside. Among the featured entrees are grilled salmon (rubbed with homemade dry-spice mix, topped with pico de gallo and served over rice), New York steak and shrimp diablo, pan roast with lobster, shrimp and crab, red chile- and honey-glazed chicken, marinated pork in red or green chile with assorted cheeses and large fajita platters. Two chef's specials are New Mexico Hatch red chile and red chile chicken and pork posole. There are soups, salads, nachos, quesadilla, chile con queso, chili gourmet bowls, stuffed chile rellenos, flautas, seafood chimichanga (shrimp and crab sautéed in jalapeno butter), tacos, burritos and enchiladas. Popular desserts include Mexican Kahlua chocolate cake, strawberry sopapillla, pecan fried ice cream and pineapple upside down cake, where homemade white cake is infused with nutmeg and cinnamon, crusted with creamed butter, crushed pecans and brown sugar and topped with grilled pineapples. Entrees begin at $9.99. Garduños is open from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
- Jack Bulavsky