Reno, NV

Eating out in Reno, NV

With a vast array of restaurants in Reno, every appetite is sated, whether for steaks, seafood, Chinese, or Mexican. Ranging from very formal to casual atmospheres, the city is a haven for food and drink connoisseurs. Casinos and hotels usually have excellent restaurants, but there are plenty of all-you-can-eat buffets too, the best of which is Eldorado's on the main drag.

Gourmet

La Strada, a Fodor's Choice Italian restaurant on Reno's main street, is designed to complement its name, which means a small street in an Italian market. The Italian chefs imported a special wood-fired brick oven from Italy, and specialize in wild-mushroom ravioli, handmade pastas, and of course, pizza. Eldorado Casino, 345 N Virginia Street.

Highly Recommended

Café de Thai is a fancier version of most Thai restaurants in Reno, except that it features exquisitely prepared cuisine by Thai national Sakul Cheosakul, who trained at the Culinary Institute of America. A Fodor's Choice restaurant, it features a creative menu with unique dishes like Oriental sausage salad, and the more traditional rice noodle items. 3314 S McCarran Avenue (Mira Loma Shopping Center).

Local Flair

For over 20 years, the Coffee Grinder has been a Reno institution for family dining and huge breakfasts. The house specialty is chicken-fried steak, but the huge menu and full bar will satisfy any craving. 575 Keystone Avenue.

Romantic

Romanza Ristorante Italiano in the Peppermill Hotel Casino features wood-fired Italian cuisine underneath an enchanted sky dome. Around the dome are pillars topped with flaming torches, and in the middle are grand statues of the Roman hero Antinous and two fair maidens that slowly revolve to classic Italian music. Rated 4 diamonds by AAA, this restaurant has a huge selection of pastas and seafood prepared by master chefs, and an exclusive wine list that earned the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. 2707 S Virginia Street.

Going party in Reno, NV

The glitz and glamour of Reno is most apparent when the sun goes down, as thousands of neon lights beckon you to the many casinos, bars, and nightclubs. Live entertainment is as vibrant as it is varied, from all-night cabaret to fresh, up-and-coming comics, to pop superstars like Bonnie Raitt or Everclear. Whatever your taste, there is always for you.

Casino

The birthplace of Nevada gaming still lives up to its reputation as one of the world's best gaming cities. Dozens of busy casinos keep Reno ringing day and night, but much of the action late at night can be found around Virginia Street. Each casino is made up in a different theme and offers various activities in addition to gambling, so find the lights, fill up your wallet, and walk around!.

The Eldorado Hotel Casino has a unique reputation as "one of the 10 casinos where you're most likely to win." Besides all of the standard games though, this casino also features the Race and Sportsbook, and Stadium Bars. The Brew Brothers restaurant, boasting over 80 beers from around the world, was voted the "Best Microbrewery" and has 8 custom microbrews, plus live rock and jazz on the weekends. This is also where you can find one of the best buffets in town, fine dining at Romanza Ristorante Italiano, and even take in a hit show at the Eldorado Showroom.

The Reno Hilton not only has a great casino, but also 70,000 square feet of shopping, plus a bowling alley, movie theatres, a comedy club, health center, tennis courts, driving range, laser tag arena, bumpers cars and, of course, a wedding chapel.

Circus-Circus has all the greats; roulette, craps, pokers, and slots. But the "Big Top" is what sets this place above the norm, with free circus acts every half-hour, including trapeze artists, wirewalkers, jugglers, and acrobats.

Fitzgerald's is Reno's most famous casino, in the center of downtown right next to the Reno Arch. The game floor is styled into the Lucky Forest, which is at the end of the Rainbow Skyway, which leads to the Lucky Waterfall, where you toss a coin into the Mystical Waters. Then you will come across the magical Genie's Lamp, and a statue of Ho Tei, the Japanese God of Luck, who offers his round belly for you to rub. Just in case this isn't lucky enough for you, the horseshoes of Triple Crown winner Secretariat are on display. It almost feels like they don't want your money!.

The Sands Regency has a great casino but also features the "Just for Laughs" comedy club, with a comfortable non-smoking lounge. The country's best comedians perform all week, as do the musical entertainers in the Empress Lounge.

Theater

The stage has a strong presence in Reno, as there are dozens of theaters that put on diverse and experimental plays. The Brewery Theater, the Lear Theater, and the Gothic North Theater are all popular institutions in the city, as is the Summer Shakespeare Festival near Lake Tahoe.

Common events in Reno, NV

Celebrate the River

A summer celebration of the Truckee River, with entertainment and food lining the banks of the River in Reno. June.

Reno Rodeo

The Reno Rodeo has stomped into town every June for over 80 years, and is known as the wildest, richest rodeo in the West, and is the third-largest professionally sanctioned rodeo in North America. Besides the best cowboys and cowgirls in the world competing in traditional rodeo events, there are also family carnivals, great food, and kids riding sheep, in what can only be called "mutton bustin'!" June.

The Big Easy

The spirit of Louisiana fills Victorian Square in downtown Sparks, with good food, loud music, parades, and dancing in the streets. July.

ARTown

There are free concerts at Wingfield Park, special art shows in the local galleries, and ballet by the river, during this month-long festival, when Reno displays the high quality of the arts that permeate throughout the city all year. July.

Hot August Nights

The most popular event by far in Reno is this citywide tribute to the 50s and 60s. For 15 years now, the main drag in Reno has been flooded with vintage cars parading in front of thousands of fans, while retro-cover bands sing the golden oldies, and the sock-hop dance-a-thons go all night long. Over 5,000 cars from around the world register for the event! July - August.

Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival

For almost 30 years, Sand Harbor on Lake Tahoe has transformed into the exalted stage of the Bard during the summer. Under the snowcapped Sierra Nevada and overlooking the Lake, the sandy natural amphitheater hosts outdoor Shakespeare plays every night, earning national acclaim, and was named as one of the 2001 Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association. July - August.

Street Vibrations

The Hottest Time on Two Wheels! It's music, metal, motorcycles, and more, with concerts and other entertainment, poker walks and runs, special slot tournaments, ride-in shows, parades, and some of the finest scenery in the West. September.

The Great Reno Balloon Race

The nation's top hot-air balloonists compete in exciting events such as the Target Drop and the Key Grab, while displaying their spectacular flying machines. September.

National Championship Air Races

This international event is the world's longest air race, featuring military jets, old biplanes, and much more. Besides a variety of races and competitions, there is also historical information about the planes, and dazzling acrobatic displays. September.

Celtic New Year Celebration

With dancing, food, arts and crafts, and live entertainment, downtown Reno hosts a huge celebration culminating with a great Pipe Band competition. October.

National Senior Pro Rodeo Finals

Over 1,400 contestants from the US and Canada compete all year just to qualify for this event. Over a million dollars are awarded to the winners of the 70 rodeos, besides the esteemed title of World Champion in individual activities. November.

Festival of Trees

To the get the children of Reno in the spirit of Christmas, this downtown festival celebrates the arrival of Santa with lights, music and, of course, the Christmas Tree Lighting in Wingfield Park. November - December.

Sparks Hometowne Christmas

Reno's little neighbor holds this festive Christmas celebration in Victorian Square with a parade, tree-lighting ceremony, food, and caroling. December.