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.

Pricing symbols are based on the cost of an average entree: $ = entrees less than $10; $$ = entrees between $10 and $20; $$$ = entrees between $20 and $30; and $$$$ = entrees more than $30.

THE COUNTRY CLUB

Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 248-3463

We thought $54 was a little on the pricey side for a steak but if you're willing to foot the bill, The Country Club is quite a lovely spot to have dinner, with its vaguely clubby atmosphere and commanding view of the golf course. We also liked the starter of Kobe beef carpaccio, salad of baby field greens with sherry vinaigrette, side of creamed corn with bacon and marvelously tender blackened ahi. (8/1/08)

Overall: A $$$$

LA MADONNA

6115 S. Fort Apache Road; 586-0925

La Madonna calls its food "avant-garde" and maybe it is, but only insofar as it's more sophisticated and skillfully prepared than much of what passes for "Mexican" food in our fair city. To wit: amazing crab cakes, shrimp tamales, a fresh-corn tamale, shredded-beef enchiladas, fish tacos and some nice fruity, housemade sangria. (5/23/08)

Overall: A $$

ORIGIN INDIA

4480 Paradise Road; 734-6342

I loved the service, atmosphere -- even the ease of access and parking -- at Origin India, but especially the food, of which we sampled the dahi ke kebab (shrimp in garlic sauce), lhasooni jhinga (deep-fried patties of yogurt cheese), murg lehsooni kebab (tandoori chicken with garlic), gosht dahiwala (lamb cooked with yogurt and a cashew sauce) and, for dessert, a carrot cigar. (10/6/06)

Overall: A $$

WHITE CHOCOLATE GRILL

9510 S. Eastern Ave., Henderson; 436-7100

That the name of the White Chocolate Grill is a tad confusing does it a disservice, because this is just the kind of place we need in the suburbs; thankfully the locals have figured it out. We did have some white chocolate, in the form of a rich and silken French white chocolate bread pudding, but also liked the tomato-gin soup, grilled fresh artichoke, Dancing Crab Cake and grilled pork tenderloin with apricot glaze. (3/14/08)

Overall: A- $$$