We handed this one over to food critic and Eating Las Vegas author Al Mancini. Here's Al's take on the best fancy buns in town.
Gourmet burgers have swept the country over the past few years, and there’s probably no other city on earth where you’ll find so many of them within just a few miles of each other. Personally, I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Burger Bar t Mandalay Place. That’s where master French chef Hubert Keller shocked the world by opening a burger restaurant in 2004. And it still has more toppings and a better beer selection than any of its competitors.
The signature burger here is called The Rossini, and it features American wagyu beef topped with foie gras and fresh shaved truffles on an onion bun. But if you want a similar experience without the $60 price tag, you can build your own version by adding fresh foie gras and truffle sauce to a Black Angus patty. You’ll never miss the extra fat of the wagyu, thanks to the super-fatty foie gras, and the meal will only cost you $27. If you don’t want to get even that extravagant, a basic patty with onions, lettuce, and tomato starts at $9.50.
In the meantime, Kerry Simon makes a mean burger at his K.G.B. (Kerry’s Gourmet Burgers) at Harrah’s. His build-your-own options start at $11, while his specialty burgers are priced between $12 and $14, with fries. And don’t leave without sampling a Captain Crunch milkshake!
Finally, Laurent Tourondel’s B.L.T. Burger in The Mirage offers some pretty amazing burgers in the $12 to $13 price range. One of the most creative is the tandoori Colorado lamb burger, served with mint cilantro yogurt sauce, cucumber, olives, red onion, and tomato. If you’re over 21, their spiked milkshakes can’t be beat – particularly Grandma’s Treat, made with vanilla ice cream, caramel, and Maker’s Mark.
