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.

I LOVE SUSHI

11041 S. Eastern Ave.; 990-4055

I Love Sushi is one of a growing genre of sushi restaurants that are refining and redefining the art to be more in keeping with American tastes. To that end there's a heavy reliance on tuna and salmon, but we're not complaining. We liked the Joe's Special, Sex on the Beach, the I Love Sushi Special, the Lisa Hand Roll, the John Homes Roll and the Tornado. And there's teriyaki, teppanyaki and yakisoba, in case sushi's not your thing. (4/14/09)

Overall: A $$

PRIMARILY PRIME RIB

South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 797-8075

The food at Primarily Prime Rib was pretty decent but the water was awful. Just awful. That said, our shrimp cocktail had five large, succulent shrimp, off-the-boat fresh and just firm enough; onion rings were crisp and sweet; a South Point cut of prime rib was decently flavored and reasonably priced and although we thought a blackened Cajun-style prime rib a little too tame, that's much better than being a little too wild. (7/18/08)

Overall: B $$

RAO'S

Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South; (877) 346-4642

We had to reserve well in advance to dine at Rao's; in keeping with the New York original, this is a tough table. Was it worth it? For the most part, yes. Clams oregonata had been overbrowned, but we liked the Insalata Caprese, fettucine alla Bolognese, Uncle Vincent's Famous Lemon Chicken and ricotta cheesecake. (6/1/07)

Overall: B $$$

VIA BRASIL STEAKHOUSE

1225 S. Fort Apache Road; 804-1400

We have several Brazilian steakhouses/churrascarias in Las Vegas, most of them on the Strip. And while we're big fans of dining on the Strip -- there are, after all, a lot of world-class restaurants there -- for this genre we'd suggest you head to the suburbs. That's because Via Brasil does it all up right, with an extensive, high-quality buffet/salad bar, great side dishes and excellent meats (18) that keep on coming, such as truly moist bacon-wrapped turkey, salmon with an optional mango sauce and garlickly garlic picanha (top sirloin). (6/26/09)

Overall: A $$$