Reno, Nevada: A Foodie Destination?
The Biggest Little City Has Surprisingly Fantastic Foodie Options
There is no chance of competing with fabulous Las Vegas,
Nevada for entertainment, shopping, dining, leisure and gaming, but standing on
her own two legs and attracting a different type of tourist is Reno, Nevada.
Slowly but slowly, Reno is becoming a more popular destination city and part of the appeal, is
the growing number of high-quality, interesting and varied gastronomic
experiences.
It doesn’t hurt that Reno is right next door to Lake Tahoe,
California and Nevada’s winter sports-lover’s paradise and summer-time beach retreat. If given a chance, however, you might be surprised and pleased at what
Reno has to offer.
As a San Francisco Bay Area native who traverses narrow
lanes and constant congestion, the wide roads, laughable traffic and ample
parking make Reno an easy city to navigate. This also becomes important when
you’re hungry for a hearty breakfast first thing in the morning. Don’t be
fooled by the unlit neon sign that says “Landrum Café,” Carlillos Cocina, in nearby Sparks, is the spot for healthy
portions of colorful and delicious Mexican breakfast and lunch plates. The only
seating is 25 stools surrounding an open kitchen and the organized chaos of
three people making everything to order, including constant to-go meals, is the
entertainment in this diner-type restaurant.
Breakfast Burrito with chorizo, scrambled eggs, cheese,
onions, tomatoes, grilled potatoes, avocado and a pickled jalapeno.
After a long nap from a filling and fulfilling breakfast,
the idea of lunch may be on the horizon. A quick stop at the Great Basin Community Food Co-op, https://www.greatbasinfood.coop/
for artisan Celtic salt, grab-and-go pastries for the work week, and lingering
aromas of soup from the café upstairs might whet the appetite.
This might inspire ideas of ramen from Haru. Located in a strip mall with ample parking, this authentic
Japanese ramen restaurant has been garnering positive reviews, from critics and
locals alike, since opening in 2018. The traditional long-simmered broths and
chewy noodles with savory meats and fresh vegetables may just hit the spot,
even in 95 degree Reno weather.
Kuro Ramen with pork stock, pork belly, soft-boiled egg,
beansprouts, woodear mushrooms, fishcake, green onion, seaweed and black garlic
oil.
If in the mood for a drive to help digest your savory noodle
soup, a good stiff drink might be a nice pre-dinner leisurely activity. Downtown
Reno has numerous bars of all types for adult libations, but if you’re the
curious type to learn how your libation was created, about 45 miles South of
Reno is the little town of Minden, where a very extravagantly remodeled
distillery is located.
Bently Heritage https://bentlyheritage.com/ took apart, revamped
the insides and then painstakingly put back together six historic buildings located
on their property. A current purveyor of high-quality unaged vodka, gin and aged
vodka (with whiskey in the works), this distillery takes their blast to the
past, with key modern touches, very seriously. Your visit can include a guided
tour of the facility, escorted by a bow-tied expert, new found knowledge of each
step of the booze-making process, samples and, of course, access to both lounge
areas for a well-crafted cocktail or two. You can also feel good about the
farm-to-bar philosophy they embody by growing their own grains for all their
spirits.
The entrance to the main lobby and lounge rooms of Bently
Heritage Estates.
To keep the joy going, Overland
Restaurant & Pub https://overlandrestaurant.com/
is just a hop, skip and jump away. Their rotating menu includes cocktails made
with their neighbor’s spirits (Bently Heritage) and mouth-watering options for
dinner, which may include meatballs, bacon-stuffed burgers and house-made pasta
dishes. The dark wood interior creates a romantic atmosphere but the games on
TVs in the bar section make it casual enough for a guys’ or gals’ night out.
Meatballs with marinara at Overland Restaurant & Pub.
After a very healthy night out at the smoke-free slots of
Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, https://www.grandsierraresort.com/
a carb-loaded breakfast may sound like a good idea before heading home. Some
hot biscuit sandwiches or shrimp and grits from Pine State Biscuits https://www.pinestatebiscuits.com/
might just fit the bill. Their flagship brick and mortar opened in 2008 in
Portland, Oregon, and the Reno location is the first, from the three North
Carolina natives, outside of Oregon. The lines can encompass the length of the
sidewalk on weekends, so get there early or be left waiting while salivating.
If you do get caught in the line, never fear, as the shop is run like a
well-oiled machine with fast counter service, quick turnaround for seating and
self-serve coffee, soda and water.
BBQ Biscuit from Pine State Biscuits with pulled pork,
Carolina-style bbq sauce, and coleslaw.
A long weekend may not be enough time to really explore all
the joys of eating in Reno, but rest assured, she will always be there for
future visits.
