To try and decide each week where and what to eat around the basin can be a challenge – there are so many amazing choices. In this feature we’ll dive into dishes that will surely satisfy those hunger pangs and leave you wondering where to go next.

It’s not very often I come across a dish where the flavors are so unique that I draw a blank as to whether I’ve ever had something that’s come close. This week’s feature provided me with one of those moments and while I could identify the base combination, it’s what was added to it that had me wondering – and ultimately wanting more.

I should give you the CliffsNotes version of the story that our waiter gave us. Essentially, this dish started out with a customer challenging the chef to make them a spicy salad. After repeat visits and almost every type of chile or spicy ingredient used to give this customer what they were looking for (to no avail) the chef decided to lean into a different kind of spice. They took their base Caesar dressing and combined it with their atomic horseradish, wasabi powder and blue cheese and thought it would surely blow out the customer’s palette. But it was that combination that turned out to be the winner and what’s on the menu today.

So, if you can picture a classic Caesar with those ingredients, plus some garlic Parmesan croutons, you effectively have this dish. But I can assure you, you haven’t had the full effect of this salad until you’ve tried it.

It’s funky, it’s fiery, and most importantly, it’s delicious. The saltiness of the fresh Parmesan adds another layer of flavor that complements the spiciness beautifully and there’s something about it that even when you feel like that cold heat is exploding your tastebuds, you just want more.

To answer my first question of whether I’ve had something like this before, the answer is no. It is truly unique – even with the familiar friends at the table. A uniqueness that I can still taste today and one that I am completely ready to go back for.

Mastro’s Steakhouse is located inside the Golden Nugget Casino at 50 Hwy 50 in Stateline. For more information find them online at mastrosrestaurants.com or reach them by phone at 775-589-7680.