HEIDI’S PICKS

Heidi's Picks is a weekly selection of restaurant suggestions from Review-Journal critic Heidi Knapp Rinella. Price 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.

B&B RISTORANTE

The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 266-9977

This is clearly not your parents' Italian restaurant; ueberchef Mario Batali and partner Joe Bastianich skip the Sinatra in favor of the screamin' guitar and breathe fresh air into their fare, such as a roasted beet salad, prosciutto San Daniele Riserva, orechiette with sweet sausage and rapini, grilled lamb chop with eggplant, roasted cherry tomatoes and a limoncello and poppy seed torta. (9/28/07)

Overall: A- $$$$

CATFISH ALLEY

3620 E. Flamingo Road; 450-3474

It's pretty much all fried, all the time at Catfish Alley, but that's OK (as long as your cardiologist doesn't mind), because they sure know how to fry. We loved the fried green beans and the corn nuggets -- crisp-coated lumps of creamed corn -- and also the hush puppies, catfish, fried shrimp and baked beans. (5/1/09)

Overall: A- $

KILROY'S

1021 S. Buffalo Drive (also at 4340 S. Grand Canyon Drive); 363-4933

Kilroy's reputation as the home of top-notch burgers is time-honored but there's no resting on laurels here; they continue to bring it each and every day. Don't be scared off by the poker-bar location because the dining room is blissfully smoke-free -- all the better to enjoy such half-pound all-American delights as The Bleu Baron with blue cheese and a mountain of onion straws, the Three Cheese Mushroom Burger with jack, Cheddar and Swiss and plenty of gently sauteed 'shrooms, a side of crisp shoestring fries and cups of decent enough baked beans and cole slaw. (5/11/09)

Overall: A $