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.

CANAL STREET

The Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave.; 365-7111

Prices at steakhouses across the valley have gone sky-high in recent years, and in most cases, they're not worth it. So we were particularly pleased to find good value at the elegant Canal Street, where we enjoyed a salad of mozzarella and peppers, oysters Rockefeller, a filet mignon, Parmesan-crusted veal cutlet Tuscan and a chocolate lava cake. Excellent (but not snobby) service put the icing on the cake. (6/29/07)

Overall: B+ $$$

IBO TURKISH & MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT

9755 W. Flamingo Road; 365-6111

Mediterranean restaurants aren't exactly a rarity in the valley, but usually they're few-frills-and-lots-of-hookahs kinds of places. Ibo is, instead, linen tablecloths, soft lighting and polished service. Oh, and great food, including a cold mixed appetizer plate of hummus, baba ghanoush, eggplant salad, haydari and stuffed grape leaves; grilled-beef patties with kasseri cheese; chicken stuffed with fresh spinach, feta cheese and garlic; and just-sweet-enough baklava. (8/7/09)

Overall: A- $$

ORIGIN INDIA

4480 Paradise Road; 734-6342

We 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 $$

THE STERLING BRUNCH

Bally's Steakhouse, Bally's, 3645 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 967-7999

We thought the food at the venerable Sterling Brunch was as good as ever but were more than a little turned off by the clumsily engineered seating system differentiating high-rollers from those who are not. But if you're the former or a highly tolerant member of the latter, and if you like roasted half-lobsters, lobster bisque, pepper-and-mint-crusted rack of lamb, desserts, salads, fruits and pastries, you'll likely feel right at home. (5/8/09)

Overall: A if you're a high roller, B- if you're not $$$$