Jaclyn recommended we head to Burger Bar in Mandalay Bay on our initial Vegas post.  Well, after searching for awhile for it, we made it to Burger Bar.  We will be returning, and would recommend it to anyone heading to Vegas.  We were looking for it off the casino near Rum Jungle and Red Square, but it was actually in the Mandalay Bay mall, called Mandalay Place, between Luxor and Mandalay Bay.  After we got that little bit squared up, we were on our way to a great meal.

Yes, the picture’s a little blurry, but we are generally sensitive to the tremendous security presence in places like malls and casinos (and airports, and office buildings, and, and, and…).  The picture looked generally clear on the little LCD, so we didn’t take too many pictures.  Once we got inside, the lighting was off, so you’ll notice a lot of our pictures are only so-so today.  Rest assured, we were doing our best.  =)

It didn’t take long to be seated.  It really had a “high-class” sports bar feel to it.  Maybe it’s just the martini glass that makes it all feel a little more elegant, I’m not sure.

Our booth had its own TV, which was pretty small, considering it was a 6-person booth.  I suppose if you were just trying to keep up with a game or some piece of news, it might be ok.  I wouldn’t want to try to follow a football game on it, though.

The menu was impressive.  From burgers to beers to desserts.  It had a great selection of everything.

Once again, we weren’t super hungry, probably because we were still feeling a little under the weather, and neither an alcoholic beverage NOR a milkshake seemed like a prudent idea, but check out the options for milkshakes!  How could you go wrong!?!  They looked delicious. Interestingly, I have had a beer float before.  Corona and moose tracks; it was awful.  I somehow think that it was the choice of ingredients more than the concept of a beer float that was terrible.  Guinness and coffee ice cream?  I could give a beer float another try.

I expected something more like The Counter, which we have in Charlotte.  Really, though, Burger Bar was a far more upscale restaurant/sports bar.  Check out, not only the prices (which can be misleading in Vegas), but also the KINDS of ingredients available for both toppings AND for burgers.

Since we were going “light” for the evening, it was just burger and fries for us.  The Wife had the Country Natural burger with cheese, on a honey wheat bun, with skinny fries.

I had the buffalo burger, with peppercorn bacon, monterey jack cheese, and a fried egg, over easy, on a sesame bun, with some buttermilk zucchini fries.

The fries were really good, although a little more soggy than I expected.  Not flat out mushy, just a little softer than I thought they would be.  I was impressed.  The burger was top notch.  I ordered medium-rare, and it the meat was cooked appropriately, but the meat wasn’t cooked quite long enough to make it all cohesive.  I’m guessing that the lean buffalo just doesn’t stick together quite as easily as most beef does.

There were six of us at dinner, and everyone was very impressed with their burgers (and respective beers). It certainly made an impression on us, and we’ll be making it a point to hit up the Burger Bar again sometime when we’re back in Vegas.  If you have a chance, put it on your list.