Keeping you informed of local food-and-drink news.
Chihuahua’s Cantina & Grill
On July 5, family-owned Chihuahua’s Cantina & Grill is celebrating 20 years since opening its Winnemucca, Nev., location. Chef/owner Dora Rivera brought the flavors of Riva Palacios, Chihuahua, to the restaurant, with recipes passed down through generations. She runs the restaurant with her husband Javier, son Javier II, and daughters Sofía and Julia by her side. Its Reno location opened in March 2018.
The Edge Restaurant & Lounge
On July 1, 2025, Edgewood Tahoe Resort, a premier luxury resort located on the shores of Lake Tahoe in Stateline, unveiled its newest fine dining concept, The Edge Restaurant & Lounge. Formerly known as Edgewood Restaurant, the new concept will give guests five-star dining with panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada. Diners will enjoy a menu that balances seasonal flavors with modern culinary techniques, such as tableside presentations, multi-course tasting menus, and artisanal craft cocktails. In addition, The Edge will house an expansive wine collection featuring more than 1,000 labels worldwide, including rare estate vintages and boutique Californian wineries – all hand-selected by expert sommeliers. In partnership with Plant Construction Company, L.P. and Collaborative Design Studio, the remodel reflects a high level of luxury. The project also includes the interior of the existing entry, restaurant, bar, north and south ballrooms, kitchen, and lower-level restrooms, among other shared spaces.
Tadaima Shabu Shabu
In early June, Tadaima Shabu Shabu opened in The Basement, at 50 S. Virginia St. in Downtown Reno. The Japanese restaurant specializes in shabu shabu, a hot pot dish consisting of fresh vegetables and meats that you cook in your own simmering broth tableside. People are raving about the chicken meatballs, which simmer in the broth. The owners, husband-and-wife team Sean and Yumi Patterson, are hands on and friendly. It’s open for lunch and dinner every day except Monday. Reservations required.
Sage Leaf
We are excited to announce that Sage Leaf restaurant, located in Incline Village, is opening a second location in the soon-to-be-vacated space held by Laughing Planet in Midtown Reno. Laughing Planet is closing permanently and leaving the location on Tahoe Street at the end of July. Shane and Lara Hammett, owners of Sage Leaf, will receive the keys in August and hope to open in October. The Hammetts met in 2007 while working at the Napa Valley Grille in Yountville and they worked around wine country before moving to Lake Tahoe in 2011 and opening Sage Leaf. Shane also is the restaurant’s chef and sommelier. The couple prides themselves on using local, sustainable, and humanly raised products, including Niman Ranch and other small purveyors, and have a commitment to family-owned farms and sustainable agriculture. Menus feature seasonal and fresh ingredients. Photos by Jen Schmidt
28th Annual BBQ, Brews, & Blues Festival’s Best Tasting Beer Awards
On June 13 – 14, the Eldorado Hotel & Casino hosted its 28th annual BBQ, Brews, & Blues festival and crowned several local breweries as the winners of the best tasting beer at the Downtown Reno festival. The local winners were: First Place Dark Ale (Highland Stag 18 Year Elijah Craig Bourbon aged Wee Heavy Ale) – Schussboom Brewing Co. in Reno, Second Place Hazy IPA (Thunder Pip Hazy IPA) – Lead Dog Brewing in Reno, and Second Place Red Ale (Irish Red Ale) – The Fox Brewery in Carson City. Photo by Donna Victor
Nevada State Entomologist Jeff Knight
Nevada State Entomologist Jeff Knight is retiring on July 4th after 40 years with the Nevada Department of Agriculture. The entomology program identifies, surveys, and provides management solutions for insect pests that can impact agriculture and our food supply. In 1977, Knight started his career with the NDA as an “entomology seasonal.” In 1993, Knight was promoted to state entomologist where he safeguarded Nevada’s economy and food security by responding to invasive species and agricultural pests. His passion and dedication to the development and curation of the State of Nevada Entomology Collection has catalogued the discovery of new species within the state and expanded the formal state records for species. He also has identified innumerable samples from the public and agriculture community, offering insights and management recommendations. Knight is regarded as a tireless advocate for environmental stewardship, educating Nevadans on the importance of sustainable practices to preserve our state’s valuable ecosystems. His dedication to protecting Nevada’s agriculture has been invaluable. Photo by Chris Holloman
Playfield Sports and Games
On June 20, Playfield 76 became Playfield Sports and Games and the business moved from 150 N. Arlington Ave. to 235 Lake St. in Reno. Under new ownership, the barcade that shuttered its doors in January reopened in the old Santa Fe Hotel building where The Fe restaurant operated. The new owner is Joe Abate, who had long supplied and maintained the business’ games. You’ll still find retro arcade games such as pinball, air hockey, and classics such as Pac Man in the spot. Playfield also has a full bar with specialty cocktails as well as small bites such as loaded mac and cheese, a cheese and birria dish, and a churro dessert. Paige Montgomery is the general manager/owner operator (and the creative-mind behind the craft cocktail menu) and Nate Stevens is the bar manager/owner operator.
Martis Valley Lodge
On July 1, Martis Valley Lodge is opening in Truckee after a $9 million transformation. The property, a Hilton Tapestry Collection hotel, will have a new restaurant called Trailhead Social, which will serve “elevated comfort food and après-style dining.” The restaurant will include dishes such as Truckee River trout crostini, Truckee cheese fondue, Sierra sliders, and a signature Sierra wild berry cheesecake. In addition, the hotel is partnering with local artisans and purveyors to offer, for instance, coffee from Drink Coffee Do Stuff and beer from Truckee Brewing Company. The property was previously a Hampton Inn & Suites location.
Haumbody Sanctuary
This fall, Haumbody Sanctuary plans to open in the former Junkee space in Midtown Reno. The gathering place for wellness and community building comes from married founders Amber Campion and Peter Lam. It will be a yoga and fitness studio fused with an elegant tea house, medicinal mocktail and elixir lounge, and eatery with nourishing and wholesome dishes. The social space is meant to stimulate meaningful connection, mindful movement, and restorative rituals. For details, follow Haumbody Sanctuary on Instagram.
Perenn at the Museum
Perenn — the popular bakery, restaurant, and grocery store founded in Reno — is opening a new café inside the Nevada Museum of Art on Aug. 15. Until then, the café will be closed for renovations. The space will be designed in collaboration with Anton Anger of Studio Meadow based in Brooklyn. The new café menu will include house-made croissants, pastries, and bread, as well as organic coffee, specialty lattes, and loose-leaf teas. Guests also will enjoy scrambled eggs in a croissant with Boursin cheese, a BLT on griddled country sourdough with citrus aioli, and a kale salad with a tahini-lemon vinaigrette. Diners will be able to eat and sip inside the café as well as in the atrium and on the museum’s patio. While Roundabout will no longer run the café, the company will continue to be the museum’s caterer for on-site events.
Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows
The Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows just launched its Workforce Readiness Food Truck, giving teens hands-on job experience while they serve homemade pizza, fresh cookies, and watermelon lemonade. The truck debuted at Idlewild Park’s Food Truck Fridays on June 6, and will be back every Friday through August (except July 4). It’s more than a food truck; it’s a career readiness classroom on wheels. The club teens are getting involved — from taking orders to learning small business operations.
Frey Ranch Distillery
In June, Frey Ranch Distillery received many honors at this year’s ASCOT Awards, with a total of 28 medals awarded to its portfolio of bourbon, ryes, and specialty American whiskeys. The Fallon-based distillery took home the title of “Most Awarded Distillery of the Year” with five double platinum medals and 16 platinum medals in a variety of categories. The Fallon-based distillery took home the title of “Most Awarded Distillery of the Year” with five double platinum medals and 16 platinum medals in a variety of categories. Out of hundreds of submissions across multiple spirits categories — including domestic and international whiskey, tequila, gin, vodka, rum, and others — Frey Ranch was the most awarded distillery in this year’s competition. The platinum medal winners include Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut, Frey Ranch 100% Barley Whiskey, Frey Ranch 100% Wheat Whiskey and Frey Ranch 100% Oat Whiskey, among other expressions.
South Shore Brewery Trail
In June, the Tahoe Chamber announced the launch of the South Shore Brewery Trail, a free hop-on, hop-off brewery shuttle running every Tuesday and Wednesday throughout the summer and into Oktoberfest. The Brewery Trail connects five South Lake breweries: South Lake Brewing Co. (original location at The Y), Cold Water Brewery and Grill, Sidellis Lake Tahoe Brewery & Restaurant, South of North Brewing Co., and The Libation Lodge Kitchen & Taproom (by South Lake Brewing Co.). As part of the experience, guests can pick up a Brewery Trail passport at any participating brewery. If they collect a stamp at each location and turn in the completed passport, they can receive a custom South Shore Beer Trail pint glass.
Cluckers
Cluckers, the restaurant on Center Street in Reno famous for its hand-breaded fried chicken thigh sandwiches, is moving a few streets away into the old DOPO spot at 18 Saint Lawrence Ave. Owners of the restaurant hope to open at the end of August and the new space will have a full bar, extended hours, an updated menu, and TVs for sports and entertainment. Cluckers also is known for its whole wings, fresh-cut fries, and fried pickles.
Assembly Bill 375
On June 12, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo signed Assembly Bill 375, a new law that permits certain food establishments in Nevada to sell and deliver sealed alcoholic beverages for off-site consumption, if authorized by local ordinance. The law allows county commissions and city councils to approve regulations letting qualified businesses sell and deliver sealed alcohol. These sales will include a surcharge of up to 50 cents per transaction, with the money funding administrative costs and the state’s DUI reduction program. Changes to craft distillery rules also were included. Distillers with exclusive contracts created before Jan. 1 may now import spirits to create a specific product and produce up to 40,000 additional cases for out-of-state sales. They may also use spirits made by other manufacturers for those exclusive products. The law also designates the Picon Punch, a traditional Basque drink, as Nevada’s official state drink. AB 375 passed with strong support in both the Assembly and Senate before being signed into law and enrolled as Chapter 421. Most provisions take effect October. Photo of Picon punch at JT Basque in Gardnerville by Shea Evans
