Burgers, beers form tasty combination at Anthony’s

The carnivores among us who would consider a hefty burger and a cold beer to be the height of culinary satisfaction probably will find much to like at Anthony's Gourmet Burgers & Brews.

First, of course, is the considerable selection of bottled beers and featured brews on the restaurant's menu. But there's also this: Anthony's considers stout-marinated short ribs to be a burger topping.

Anthony's opened about three weeks ago at the M Resort, 12300 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and Josef Pilz, the resort's executive chef, says it's already attracting a nice crowd of burger-with-a-brew fans.

Part of the reason is those burgers.

"We are using a real prime meat," Pilz says, and the burgers are "oversized, so they stick out of a bun."

Anthony's burger variations include the Imperial Burger, topped with those stout-braised short ribs as well as mushrooms, Gruyere cheese and caramelized onions ($9); the Stout Burger, with Irish cheddar, smoked bacon and stone-ground stout mustard ($9); and the Lager Burger with Peroni, beer-poached Italian sausage, onions and peppers and provolone cheese ($9).

Sides include homemade fries in flavors ranging from "Just Simple" with a bit of salt to garlic-Parmesan, truffle and sweet potato varieties, as well as beer-battered (of course) onion rings ($4 each).

Pilz notes that beers are incorporated with some of the ingredients in many of Anthony's offerings. Then, Anthony's bottled beer menu currently includes five hefeweizens, seven ales, seven lagers and four stouts, while the featured beer menu includes five brews.

For lovers of other libations, Anthony's drink menu includes eight wines by the glass, seven martinis and 11 tequilas.

With burgers running from $8 to $9, Anthony's price points are designed to be appealing, Pilz says. "That's part of the consideration for our local market. We are not in the middle of the Strip where we can charge $20."

The dining room seats about 85. Anthony's Gourmet Burgers & Brews is open daily from 4 to 10 p.m., and no minors are admitted.

Starters: Lollipop wings (choice of garlic, buffalo or ginger Thai chili sauce), $8; seared ahi tuna with Sapporo wasabi dip, $11; three mini brats with German kraut and Arrogant Bastard mustard dip, $9

Salads: Tsingtao chicken salad (soy-caramel glazed chicken, cabbage, carrots, mandarin oranges and water chestnuts with a Tsingtao peanut vinaigrette), $9

Burgers: Pilsner (cheeseburger with yellow and white American cheese, smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato and onion), $8; Hefeweizen (free-range turkey burger with cranberry-Blue Moon orange mayonnaise, basil, lettuce, tomato, onions), $8; Red Ale (topped with pastrami, creamy coleslaw, lettuce, onions and tomatoes), $9

Desserts: Gelato tasting for two, $9; vanilla creme brulee, $6; red velvet cake, $6

Information: 797-1000

By JOHN PRZYBYS