Attaboy Burger inside Canteen Food Hall at Rio Las Vegas

The newly opened Canteen Food Hall, home to Attaboy Burger, at Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas

Attaboy Burger is a smash burger eatery located at the newly opened Canteen Food Hall inside the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The food hall opened in 2024 and is home to eateries serving sushi, fried chicken, Philly cheesesteaks, ramen, burritos, and burgers.

Chef Alex Resnick, the brains behind Attaboy Burger, believes that less is more when making a smash burger. All you need is a fresh, juicy patty, a good sear, a burger sauce, and a toasted bun.

He used this belief to develop his simple menu featuring smash burgers, onion rings, fries, and a few drinks including a root beer float.

On my recent visit to Las Vegas, I stopped by the Rio Hotel and Canteen Food Hall to check out Attaboy Burger.

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Attaboy Burger at Canteen Food Hall

I remember visiting the Rio as a kid with my dad. I always enjoyed visiting their buffet, which is sadly not around anymore.

In recent years, the Rio Hotel has gained a reputation as a resort past its prime. If you ask anyone what their favorite resort is in Las Vegas, odds are the Rio won’t be named.

Thankfully, Caesars Entertainment sold the property to Dreamscape, which has begun renovating the entire property.

Dreamscape has renovated rooms, added new restaurants and bars, replaced slot machines, and opened a new food hall called the Canteen Food Hall.

The Canteen Food Hall offers various foods on the casino floor, including cheesecakes, ramen, sushi, burritos, chicken tenders, and burgers.

Seating Areas

Like other food halls in Las Vegas, there were plenty of seating options. Scattered around the hall between the different eateries, you will find numerous tables and places to sit.

Some tables were communal, while others were for smaller groups of two or four. With all seats open, you can choose to sit wherever you prefer.

Additionally, a smaller room with more tables was attached to the food hall. During my visit, I chose to sit in this area as it seemed the most secluded and quiet.

Attaboy Burger Menu

The menu at Attaboy Burger, Las Vegas — The menu at Attaboy Burger

The menu at Attaboy Burger was straightforward, with smash burgers, a few sides, beverages, and desserts. As mentioned, Chef Resnick wanted the menu simple.

You had the options of single, double, or Texas toast for smash burgers. The only add-ons available were egg and bacon.

For sides, you had onion rings, seasoned curly fries, or The 50/50, a combination of both.

There was Mexican Coke, a root beer float, Miller High Life, or Truly Hard Seltzer for beverages. Finally, there was an ice cream snack option for dessert.

Single Smash Burger

I ordered the Single Smash Burger ($8.00) with a single patty, American cheese, caramelized onion, fancy sauce, and pickles. The burger looked beautiful.

The first thing I noticed was how small the burger was. But for the price and the trend of burgers getting smaller, I wasn’t too surprised.

When I took a bite, I was surprised at how flavorful the burger was. The patty, seared on both sides until crispy, tasted freshly ground with the perfect seasoning.

Even with the patty smashed, it was tender and moist, with some pink left in the middle.

A thick layer of gooey, rich American cheese, my preferred type for smash burgers, covered the entire patty. Mixed into the cheese was diced sautéed onions, adding texture and smoky, sweet flavor.

Underneath the patty was what they called fancy sauce, which was a simple burger sauce. Thin but crunchy pickles added a salty, fresh bite.

Finally, the lightly toasted bun was fresh and soft with a sweet flavor, complementing the smoky, rich patty.

The 50/50

I couldn’t decide between fries or onion rings. Luckily, they had The 50/50 ($6.00) with rings, fries, and all the sauces. The massive box could have easily served two people.

The curly fries were simple but cooked perfectly. They had a crispy exterior and were tender inside. The seasoning on them was light, with salt and maybe paprika.

The onion rings were even better. They had a crispy, light breading, which was rich but not oily. I enjoyed how the breading did not fall apart, even when dipping them into the sauces.

On the side were all the sauces, which meant BBQ sauce and ranch, both generous in size. The ranch was simple, with a creamy, rich, salty flavor enhanced by dill. On the other hand, the BBQ sauce was quite smoky and sweet.

Service at Attaboy Burger

With Attaboy Burger located inside a food hall, my interaction with the staff was limited to ordering from the cashier and picking up my food when it was ready.

The cashier was friendly, and my burger was ready about 10 minutes after I ordered it. Other than that, I had no issues.

Conclusion

While the single smash burger at Attaboy Burger was smaller than I had hoped, it was well worth the price.

I enjoyed everything about it, from the fresh ground beef to the sear to the toppings. This was not surprising, as I love simple smash burgers, mainly with meat and cheese.

With its soft bun and seared patty, the burger served here reminded me of a mix between Shake Shack and In-N-Out.

On the other hand, if you prefer your burgers with lettuce, tomatoes, and other toppings, you might find this burger a bit plain.

While simple, The 50/50 was filling. The fries and onion rings were perfect, and the sauces made them even better.

With affordable prices, quick service, and fresh ingredients, I would not hesitate to return to Attaboy Burger again.