Dining pick of the week: Dispensary Lounge

2451 E. Tropicana Ave. at Eastern Avenue, 458-6343

The Dispensary Lounge has been around since 1976, and it's the perfect place for friendly conversation and for discovering one of the best hamburgers in town. The steak burger is a half pound of fresh ground beef, charbroiled and cooked to order. It is served on a garlic toasted bun with lettuce, tomato and red onion, along with shoestring fries. The discovery is that this meal is only $3.95. You want bacon? An extra 75 cents. Other burgers are the Texas Barbecue Cheeseburger and patty melt on grilled San Francisco sourdough. They're $6.95. Featured sandwiches are Philly beef, tuna cheese melt, roast beef with chipotle ranch, Caribbean chicken breast, turkey club and the Tavern Baked Ham and Cheese on grilled sourdough or served hot in a French roll. Give the sandwiches a little extra by asking for the homemade honey mustard. Popular appetizers include shrimp basket, onion rings, zucchini and mushrooms fried in a homemade batter made fresh daily, halibut fish and chips, large chicken wings and Munch Skins, deep-fried potato skins with melted cheese and bacon bits, served with sour cream and chive sauce. Sandwiches begin at $8.95. The Dispensary Lounge is open 24/7, with the kitchen open from 11 a.m. to midnight. -- Jack Bulavsky