START THE DAY RIGHT

Breakfast out: Ahhh, and Argh -- Ahhh because you finally have time to have breakfast out, Argh because of the SSDD (same stuff, different day) factor. When IHOP's most recent pancake special represents the only variety in your breakfast routine, it may be time to try something different.

But where? Maybe at one of the restaurants in the valley that offer offbeat and/or ethnic breakfast selections. Herewith, some suggestions, with the hours breakfast is available:

Border Grill, Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South: You can breakfast poolside on the fare of chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, including their huevos rancheros (flour tortillas stuffed with refried beans and three Mexican cheeses, topped with two eggs, guacamole, salsa fresca and black beans), Santa Fe breakfast enchiladas and, in a break with tradition, banana brioche french toast. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bouchon, The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South: This model of a French bistro serves such classics as boudin blanc, quiche du jour, beignets, sourdough waffles and Bouchon French Toast -- layers of brioche, custard and apples -- with heartier dishes at brunch. And you can dine al fresco, overlooking the Venezia Tower pool and gardens. Breakfast 7 to 10:30 a.m. weekdays, brunch 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekends.

Crown & Anchor British Pub, 1350 E. Tropicana Ave. and 4755 Spring Mountain Road: There aren't a lot of breakfast dishes here, but they make up for that with authenticity and bounty, as in the English breakfast, also known as The Full Monty (eggs, English bacon, a banger, grilled tomato, English Heinz baked beans and toast). There's also gammon and eggs -- ham and eggs to you and me -- and a breakfast sandwich, all served 24/7.

Dona Maria Tamales, 910 Las Vegas Blvd. South and 3250 N. Tenaya Way: Here's a place -- two places, actually -- where you can trust that the huevos rancheros (eggs on a corn tortilla with ranchero sauce) are authentic, but there's a lot more on this breakfast menu, including torta de huevo (a Spanish omelet with tomato sauce), and even a breakfast burrito. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. downtown, 11 a.m. (9 a.m. weekends) to 10 p.m. on Tenaya.

Jean Philippe Patisserie, Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South: Want a French pastry chef's take on breakfast? Try Jean-Philippe Maury's ham and cheese croissant or breakfast panini -- or one of his I-shouldn't-do-this-but-I'm-going-to pastries including tarts (fruit, raspberry, strawberry, Key lime, Chocobana, pecan or lemon), eclairs, Napoleons, even the aptly named Intense (dark chocolate mousse, chocolate cremeux, chocolate macaron and chocolate glaze). And crepes, sweet and savory. Breakfast items from 7 to about 10:30 a.m. daily.

La Creperie, Paris Las Vegas, 3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South: You'll have to stand in line to order and then seat yourself, but the crepes are real and they're spectacular -- in variations including fresh berries with raspberry coulis, roasted apples with cinnamon and Calvados, Nutella and Suzette, plus a number of savory versions, including ratatouille with scrambled eggs, cheese and bechamel. 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Lindo Michoacan, 2665 E. Desert Inn Road and 10082 W. Flamingo Road: The Lindos serve authentic huevos rancheros as well, plus chilaquiles (in this case tortilla chips with green or red sauce, topped with cheese and sour cream; the eggs are optional). Other choices: huevos con machaca (shredded roast pork or beef with pico de gallo and scrambled eggs) and the colorfully named huevos divorciados, in which one egg is topped with red sauce, the other with green. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays.

M&M Soul Food, 3923 W. Charleston Blvd.: Chicken wings and a waffle? This is indeed soul food. Other breakfast foods include liver and onions, pork chips and catfish, and breakfasts are served with a choice of Mississippi-style potatoes, rice or grits. 7 to 11 a.m. daily.

McMullan's Irish Pub, 4650 W. Tropicana Ave.: If you're truly hungry, it would be tough to beat a Farmhouse Irish Breakfast (three eggs with black and white pudding, sausage, Irish bacon, baked beans, grilled tomato, breakfast potatoes and homemade brown bread), although other choices include miniversion of the same, corned beef and eggs, steak and eggs and sides of all of the above. Breakfast midnight to 11 a.m.; Farmhouse Irish Breakfast served 24/7.

Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro, Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South: Here's another French pastry chef's take on breakfast -- from François Payard, whose specialties include his Payard chocolate waffle (with Nutella and banana) plus brioche french toast, croque monsieur (ham, bechamel and Swiss cheese) and croque madame (sunny-side-up egg with ham, bechamel and Swiss cheese). 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. daily.

Tableau, Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South: The usual players -- omelets, eggs Benedict -- plus breakfast-with-a-flair dishes such as Kobe short ribs (with scrambled eggs, potato cakes and bearnaise sauce) and steak-and-forest-mushroom hash (with poached egg and roast-tomato hollandaise). Breakfast 8 to 10:30 a.m. weekdays, brunch 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekends.

Zoozacrackers, Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South: There's not a lot on this breakfast menu, but who could resist the Zooza Benny -- latkes, poached eggs, corned beef, pastrami, Swiss cheese and Russian dressing? 9 to 11 a.m. daily.

Contact reporter Heidi Knapp Rinella at hrinella@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0474.