BLT Burger turns an American staple into culinary genius
By Brock Radke
Photos by Beverly Poppe
Lamb tandoori burger
BLT Burger in The Mirage, a comprehensive and creative burger experience, boasts a laid-back yet lively atmosphere—it’s a fun place to dine no matter your taste. But the best seat in the house is at the bar, where choosing just one from this sumptuous sandwich selection will become impossible as you watch the grillmaster work his magic in the completely open kitchen. You’ll be mystified not only by how the flavors pop, adding new dimension to America’s favorite meal, but also how BLT Burger turns out such a consistent, delicious experience from this tiny workstation.
If you are lucky enough to snag a stool at the bar, why not begin with dessert: a classic Black & White milkshake of vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup. Step up your shake game with the Mocha Mudslide, full of Oreo cookie bits, or spike it with the All Nighter, concocted with Kahlua, Bailey’s, espresso and coffee ice cream. BLT also serves an extensive beer list, wines by the glass or house cocktails such as Strawberry Sin, with Hendrick’s gin, mint and basil. Take your time in choosing the right beverage to pair with your burger.
You’ll have to work some can’t-miss sides into that equation. French fries come skinny, fat or in waffle form, or sweet potato spiced with chili. Sweet Vidalia onion rings or jalapeño poppers with tomato-cilantro salsa mix things up. BLT’s version of the Cobb salad has crisp Southern fried chicken and chipotle ranch dressing, or opt for the Chinese chicken salad with five-spice seasoning, cabbage and peanuts.
It’s burger time. What sets BLT apart? It’s the perfect blend of beefy goodness, a ground of sirloin, short rib, chuck and brisket cuts to achieve the crucial balance between fat and protein, a juicy, savory bite every time. The namesake burger is a 7-ounce Angus patty topped with smoked bacon on a soft bun with tomato, red onion, iceberg lettuce and pickles. Behold, simple burger perfection. But to create your own heaven, build a burger with toppings including Oregon cheddar, American, Swiss or jack cheeses, grilled red peppers, portobellos or even a fried egg.
Mocha mudslide shake
You’ve only scratched the surface. The Tex-Mex burger features jalapeños, housemade chili, avocado, salsa and sour cream. The Cowboy has barbecue-chipotle sauce, fried onions, bacon and pepper jack cheese. There are plenty of non-beef burgers, too, including the most popular lamb tandoori burger. A juicy Colorado lamb patty is decked out with mint-cilantro sauce, cucumbers, an olive relish, red onion and tomato, creating an exotic taste of the Mediterranean with that luxurious meaty pleasure you’ve come to expect from a burger. Or move away from land-dwelling creatures altogether with the salmon burger, with avocado, watercress and cayenne tartar sauce, a vegetable falafel burger or the Buffalo chicken burger.
The choices are infinite, but none of these options will be anything like the boring old burgers you’re used to. BLT Burger has achieved redefinition, in the most delicious way.
The Mirage
11 a.m.-2 a.m. Sun.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-4 a.m. Fri.-Sat. 702.792.7888
