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.

CAFE DEIA

4165 Grand Canyon Drive; 222-3342

The service at Cafe Deia was excellent -- we like a waiter who'll warn us off a dish that might be a little sketchy -- but no less than the food. We took the tapas route (paella, pizza, burgers and more also are available) and liked the baba ghanoush, bacon-wrapped figs, spinach-stuffed mushrooms, beef kabobs, Serrano and Manchego, red sangria and, for dessert, the Spanish-style creme brulee. (4/3/09)

Overall: A $$

NAKED FISH'S SUSHI & GRILL

3945 S. Durango Drive; 228-8856

Naked Fish's is a Japanese restaurant with Japanese owners, but this isn't your father's Japanese restaurant -- witness the Japanese rap music. And dishes such as For Sizzle My Nizzle, which was jalapeno peppers stuffed with spicy crab and cream cheese and then deep-fried. Mmmmm. We also liked the sauteed clams in sake butter, sauteed asparagus, Little Darling Roll, tamago nigiri, chicken katsu and a Pa-Pa-Pa Parfait for dessert. (4/18/08)

Overall: A- $$

PEPPERMILL RESTAURANT

2985 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 735-4177

If you haven't eaten at the Peppermill you should, because it's nothing if not unique. A very cool throwback whose magnolia-and-neon decor looks like a Southern plantation exploded and rained down on the set of a futuristic '70s TV show, it also happens to serve good (and reliable) food, and in copious portions. We ran into a bit of a service snag but liked the Pastrami Burger with creamy potato salad, and the Walnut Creek Salad with pear-cilantro vinaigrette and rosemary focaccia. And don't miss the lounge, complete with fire-breathing fountain. (3/16/09)

Overall: B+ $$

VIC & ANTHONY'S STEAKHOUSE

Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont St.; 385-7111

Aside from some Lyonnaise potatoes that weren't -- just because somebody didn't let well enough alone -- we liked just about everything about Vic & Anthony's. That would include the lobster bisque, mozzarella-and-tomato salad, creamed spinach, shrimp scampi, 16-ounce Prime rib-eye and, for dessert, a pecan ball that was as perfect a finish as we could have hoped. (4/11/08)

Overall: A- $$$$