edible notables
HOT DOG!
Beefy’s serves up classic diner favorites with nostalgia on the side.
WRITTEN BY JEANNE LAUF WALPOLE
PHOTOS BY JAMIE KINGHAM
Diner fans and history buffs alike have made Beefy’s on South Virginia Street in Reno a must-stop locale for those who crave delicious comfort food served in old-fashioned diner style. The extensive menu showcases dozens of typical varieties of hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and side dishes. Some of the regulars’ favorites include the chili cheese omelet, onion strings, chili cheese dog, tuna melt, garlic fries, and chicken sandwich (which includes lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onion).
But the not-so-typical offerings are quite something, too. How do the Surf ’N’ Turf burger with grilled shrimp, the Kon Tiki Dog with bacon and pineapple slices, and Stacy’s Green-Eyed Monster sandwich — a grilled cheese with green chiles and avocado slices — grab you?
And then there’s Beefy’s tantalizing selection of about 30 craft beers and made-from-scratch milkshakes.
Old-fashioned hospitality
Considering most of these menu choices, however, you shouldn’t expect kudos from your cardiologist for overindulging.
“We don’t play the health card here,” says owner and manager Roy Brennan.
The card they do play, however, is offering lots of delectable, high-quality food prepared just the way you like it.
“Everything is cooked fresh to order and is very personalized,” Brennan says.
As a seasoned veteran of the hospitality business, Brennan also is proud of the friendly, down-home service his customers enjoy.
“We’ve created a place where I would like to hang out and have a beer,” he says.
In fact, Brennan can be found personally greeting the customers and running the show most of the time.
Tucked into the former location of Landrum’s restaurant, Beefy’s showcases a landmark example of the porcelain-covered steel buildings that functioned as diners all around the country beginning in the 1930s. The building parts were manufactured in Pennsylvania, shipped to Reno on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, and then assembled on site in 1947 under the direction of the restaurant owner, Eunice Landrum. The structure has the distinction of having been listed in the Nevada State Register of Historic Places in 1984.
With just 21 seats, the diner is intimate and neighborly, but when the weather permits, Brennan adds more seating outside, which also is dog friendly. Dining at Beefy’s isn’t just a culinary experience, but a historic adventure as well.
Reno-based freelance writer Jeanne Lauf Walpole believes that nothing beats a juicy hamburger when you’re in need of comfort food.
Resources
Beefy’s
1300 S. Virginia St., Reno • 775-870-1333 • Beefysreno.com
Open 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Mon. – Thurs., 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Fri. – Sat. Closed Sun. After satisfying your palate Beefy’s style, be sure to check out the historical wall map dubbed Where in the World Are You From? with pins showing the many places around the world where customers of Beefy’s and Landrum’s have come from. Who knows? You might be able to add a new pin to the mix.
