Edible Notables – Sip speakeasy style

Edible Notables – Sip speakeasy style

edible notables

SIP SPEAKEASY STYLE

Fallon watering hole is more than a tea party.

WRITTEN BY JEANNE LAUF WALPOLE
PHOTOS BY TY O’NEIL

Jo Petteruti, co-owner of Jo’s Stillwater Tea Room in Fallon

Looking for a comfy, cozy place to relax with friends over your favorite libation? Jo’s Stillwater Tea Room in downtown Fallon could be just the spot. With comfortable seating surrounded by historic collectibles, the tea room looks and feels like your own living room. The former location of D.L. Coffee Jeweler on South Maine Street was lovingly restored to become a 1920s-era drinking establishment by tea room owners Jo and Alan Petteruti.

“It’s a throwback to a speakeasy with the name ‘tea room,’” Jo says.

The name also references the Stillwater mountain range east of Fallon, which the Petterutis have grown to love since arriving in Nevada from Rhode Island in 2007.

Prior to taking the leap into self-employment, the Petterutis both had experience working in the food-and-beverage industry.

“We patterned it after places we’d been,” Jo says. “It’s a typical mom-and-pop operation.”

Jo The bar (4)
Jo’s Stillwater Tea Room features a full bar,
a wide assortment of teas, and décor made up of historic collectibles

A perfect blend

It may be called a tea room, but alcoholic beverages rule the roost here. Martinis are hands down the most popular offering, but with a full selection of spirits available at the bar, you can choose traditional cocktails or personalized drinks handcrafted to your liking by Jo, who delights in being creative behind the bar.

“I have quite a few of my own. It’s not unusual to get a little silly,” she says.

One of her most popular custom libations is the Amaretto Sparkle, a sinfully exquisite concoction containing a shot and a half each of amaretto and Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur, topped off with a splash of Champagne.

Guests also will find a selection of wines, as well as domestic, imported, and even local craft beers on tap, including Brasserie Saint James’ Red Headed Stranger and Great Basin Brewery Co.’s Ichthyosaur “Icky” IPA.

Jo Amaretto Sparkle.Jo Petteruti created the Amaretto Sparkle, a cocktail made of amaretto,
Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur, and a splash of Champagne, with an orange twist

And what would a tea room be without tea? Choose from a wide variety of local Davidson’s Organics teas as well as some from Jo’s own inventory that includes hundreds of tea bag varieties. If you must have your java jolt, you’re welcome to order a steaming cup of brewed coffee or a freshly prepared espresso drink. Snacks are available to customers, but you’re also welcome to bring in your own food if you wish.

With a couple of years of ownership under their belts, the Petterutis are delighted with the success of their business.

“It has far exceeded our expectations,” Jo says. “The community has really embraced this place.”

Freelance writer Jeanne Lauf Walpole thinks it’s too bad the tea room wasn’t there when she lived in Fallon some years ago.

Resources

Jo’s Stillwater Tea Room

85 S. Maine St., Fallon • 775-423-3600 • Josstillwatertearoom.com

Open 4 – 9 p.m. Tues. – Sat. Also available for private parties and meetings.

From left, Jan Solberg, Brenda Horton, Susan Hamarlund, and Sue Higgins of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet Reserve Association serve muffins to veterans at Carson City’s Veterans Memorial Hall

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