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.

THE CRACKED EGG

7660 W. Cheyenne Ave. (also at 6435 S. Rainbow Blvd., 5570 Painted Mirage and 100 N. Green Valley Parkway); 395-7981

The Cracked Egg lived up to its reputation as a great little breakfast place, serving such creations as an amazing banana-topped and macadamia-and-coconut-crusted French toast and a truly well crafted Bacon Cheeseburger Skillet, both of which were much more than the sum of their parts. And the homemade coffee cake is worth the trip alone. (3/30/09)

Overall: A $

FUDDRUCKER'S

4195 S. Grand Canyon Drive; 732-3933

Our medium-rare burger was barely pink but we liked everything else about Fuddrucker's, which generally knows how to make a burger and provides the fresh produce and condiments to gild the lily. Besides the basic 1/3-pound burger we had a delicious 1/3-pound Black and Blue, topped with balsamic-glazed onions, bacon and blue cheese, and some quite tasty Firehouse Boneless Buffalo Wings, Tricked-Out Nachos and white-chocolate-studded chocolate cookies. (8/29/08)

Overall: A- $

LE PROVENCAL

Paris Las Vegas, 3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 967-7999

The high-profile guys who get all the hype provide great adventures, but hidden gems like Le Provencal are lots of fun to find. We loved the free entertainment -- our waitress and two colleagues, singing operatic-style -- and the slightly Provencal-inspired, mostly Italian dishes that included bruschetta, stuffed clams Nicoise, open lobster ravioli, a grilled veal T-bone and buttery crepes Suzette. (4/13/07)

Overall: A $$

PINOT BRASSERIE

The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 414-8888

Pinot Brasserie is kind of easy to overlook among the more attention-grabbing residents of The Venetian's restaurant row, but that would be your loss, because this unassuming place is brasserie at its best -- with California verve. Particularly appealing were the foe gras, Belgian endive with Roquefort cheese, braised short ribs, seared scallops and strawberries with balsamic vinegar and Humboldt Fog goat cheese. (3/2/07)

Overall: A $$$$