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.

BUZZ BBQ

7121 W. Craig Road; 294-2899

Well, butter our butts and call us biscuits; this was some of the most amazingly tender, juicy brisket we've ever had, and the ribs and andouille sausage were right up there, too. The vinegar-based slaw was so tart it squeaked (that's a good thing), and we liked the black-eyed peas and rice, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, sweet iced tea and -- Oh! -- caramel-walnut-apple pie that was indeed heaven on a plate, as billed. (12/28/07)

Overall: A $$

FIREFLY ON PARADISE

3900 Paradise Road; 369-3971

Firefly isn't the only tapas restaurant in Las Vegas -- and the others are praiseworthy -- but it brought the old Spanish tradition here and continues to do it proud, not only with traditional tapas dishes but also those that borrow from other cuisines and cultures. Among the best are Serrano ham and Manchego cheese, tortilla Espanola, albondigas, Firefly fries, stuffed dates, eggplant cannelloni and, for dessert, banana-Nutella sandwiches with Nutella dipping sauce. (11/20/08)

Overall: A- $$

MORELS FRENCH STEAKHOUSE & BISTRO

Palazzo, 3325 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 607-6333

Asking us if we'd like filtered tap water instead of bottled charmed us right off the bat, but Morels easily stayed in our good graces with a combination of good service, a pleasant interior (and a patio) and top-notch food that included an amuse-bouche of a prosciutto-wrapped fig with a cherry-ginger reduction, mushroom bisque, a summer heirloom tomato salad, the daily fish (Loch Duart salmon), a Kansas City steak and Truffled Creamed Summer Corn. We even loved the good yeast rolls -- and the tapenade and butter rolled in sea salt that were served with them. (7/4/08)

Overall: A $$$$

PIE TOWN PIZZA

2822 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson; 244-2246

Even among the main American pizza genres -- which would be New York, Chicago and, of late, authentic Neapolitan -- there are dozens of sub-genres, so that no two Chicago pizzas, for example, are necessarily alike. Pie Town's is more deep-dish than thick-crusted, with lots of gooey (that's a good thing) toppings, so fair warning if that's not your favorite. The Gold Coast Garlic Knots were worth going back for time and again, and other Windy City greats include a Pepperoni Pizza Puff and Eli's cheesecake. (10/3/08)

Overall: B+ $