Restaurants

Nowhere is the Reno/Tahoe area’s character and diversity more apparent than in its restaurants. The menus read like the world atlas: Basque, Chinese, Mexican, French, German, Japanese, American, Italian—you’ll find it all.

And the ever-changing population expects only the finest in cuisine. Some critics have compared the restaurants here to those in San Francisco. In fact, many Bay Area restaurateurs are reaching out into the Reno/Tahoe market. The significant upside to this highly competitive market is a plethora of fine restaurants.

I’m sure you’ve heard already that every hotel/casino has its own signature steak house, gourmet dining room, coffee shop, or cafe. I’m confident that you will discover these gastronomical delights on your own, so I’ve concentrated this chapter on restaurants located away from the bright lights of the casinos. I’ll take you on a gourmet tour of restaurants off the beaten path, into the back alleys of towns, into the strip malls, into the Insiders’ neighborhoods. I’ll take you to the locals’ favorite eating establishments. I’ll give you a list of restaurants to die for.

Other venues not suggested in this chapter are chain restaurants and fast-food joints. Sure, most of the chains and most of the fast-food places are here, but you’re no doubt already familiar with these. I’ll concentrate on what’s unique to these parts.

This chapter is arranged a little differently than the others. It’s divided into two main regions—Reno/Sparks and Lake Tahoe Area—then broken down by type of restaurant (such as American, Italian, Mexican), then broken down yet again by the standard geographical areas. So, for instance, if you’re in Reno and are hankering for Mexican food, it’ll be easy to browse through the Reno/Sparks “Mexican” section until you find the taqueria that strikes your fancy (or the one closest to you). Or if you’ll be heading to the Lake Tahoe area and want to plan a special evening with that special someone, you can look through the listings around the lake to find just the right place.

Most of the restaurants have very casual dress requirements, so don’t be surprised to see someone dressed up in a coat and tie dining next to someone wearing a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.

Most of the restaurants listed accept major credit cards. Some establishments with Web sites allow diners to make reservations online.

Many of the restaurants serving both lunch and dinner open between 11:00 and 11:30 a.m., then close for a few hours before reopening again for dinner. Also, some of the restaurants around Lake Tahoe have different schedules during high season than during the off-season. And, of course, hours and days of operation change from time to time. If a particular time or day is important to you, call to confirm the restaurant’s hours. Also be aware that smoking isn’t allowed in restaurants, although it is legal in bars that do not serve food.