by AL MANCINI
THE hamburger has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years. High-end burger joints are popping up all over the globe (we have at least four in Las Vegas), and many fine dining establishments now offer burgers on their lounge menus. But until recently, Las Vegas' truly awesome, non-fast-food-burgers were concentrated in casinos.

Now, residents of the southwest valley have a local burger temple of their own. Cheeburger Cheeburger on South Rainbow Boulevard is the only Nevada outpost of a chain with operations in 20 states. The name, of course, is a reference to the catchphrase of one of John Belushi's most famous Saturday Night Live characters. And while Cheeburger Cheeburger isn't quite as old as the routine, it does predate the current gourmet burger craze -- dating back 22 years.