Keeping you informed of Northern Nevada and Tahoe/Truckee’s local food-and-drink news.
To say it’s been a busy couple of months in the food-and-drink industry would be a big understatement. It seems every day there’s more news about restaurant openings and closures, property sales, redesigns, and more. We’ve done our best to compile it all here to keep you as up to date as possible.
Openings
We have yet more news to report on new restaurants opening in Northern Nevada. Let’s start with Marcolino’s Italia, which began as a food truck before moving into a brick-and-mortar location at 254 W. First St. in Reno, formerly the home of Handcrafted Gourmet Burger Bar. The owners, Marco and Lynette Brown, celebrated a soft opening in early March and offer take-out and self-service meals featuring a menu heavy on the food truck’s previous favorites. But there are also some new dishes worth trying.
In other food-truck-turning-into-brick-and-mortar news, The Fix vegan food truck shut down its mobile operations and in March moved into the West Street Market in Reno in the spot previously occupied by another former food trucker and now defunct business, Nom Eats. The move comes with expanded hours and menu for the seven-year-old business, which specializes in falafel-based dishes and sides.
There’s a new plan for the former site of Silver Peak Restaurant & Brewery on Wonder Street in Reno, which was Huntsman Brewing for a brief stint in 2021 and 2022. On Jan. 31, Jim Phalan, the owner of Carson City-based The Fox Brewery & Pub, announced he would be expanding operations into Reno by taking over the building’s lease and would oversee the new location. It is just the latest in a line of announcements from the popular eatery that include branding changes at its historic St. Charles-Muller’s Hotel location, adding tanks to expand brew operations, and the hiring of chef Charlie Abowd to spice up the menu.
A new shopping center across from Reno Ice dubbed MeadowCreek is opening soon with more than 35,000 square feet of space available. Tenants include Zephyr Wine Bar and Piñon Bottle, as well as another Yogurt Beach. Other business owners who have committed to the center include a fitness facility called TREMBLE. Some units also include space for outdoor dining.
Twisted Sugar has more than 50 locations across the country and recently opened its newest spot in Sparks — its first Northern Nevada shop and the latest installment of the Utah-based company that launched in 2017. While the Sparks store had been operating for several weeks prior, the grand opening took place on March 5. Its menu is filled with creative sodas, “twisters” (like milkshakes), and decadent cookies.
Toss Your Greens, a fresh salad, smoothie, and grain bowl concept, quietly opened its new Sparks store, at the corner of Prater Way and Sparks Boulevard, in November 2022.
CaiE Oriental Asian Bistro, which closed its South Reno location several years ago, has reopened in Sparks at The Outlets at Legends. The restaurant specializing in yum cha dim sum — the Cantonese tradition of brunch with tea and dim sum — as well as other authentic Cantonese favorites, opened its doors on Feb. 9. Started in 2010, the business also manufactures dim sum at a production facility in Sparks.
On Jan. 21, Teaspoon opened in Reno on Vista Knoll Parkway. This franchise, owned by locals Ana and David Orozco, serves boba, Asian-inspired teas and coffees, and desserts.
Siam Thai Cuisine, owned by Natchaya Saengsri, has replaced Lanna Thai Café on Caughlin Parkway in Reno. Fans of Thai cuisine will be able to get many of the same dishes at the new eatery, which has operated a Truckee location since 2013.
On March 15, Dorinda Vance, founder of Dorinda’s Chocolates, celebrated the opening of her newest shop on Donner Pass Road in Downtown Truckee.
Closures
A few businesses have closed their doors this year. Jan. 31 marked the last day for the German cuisine restaurant Brauhaus 701. After five years in business, the owners said goodbye to their Midtown eatery and their loyal customers. In mid-March, under the same ownership, the space was reimagined as a Mexican tequila bar (reportedly housing more than 500 bottles of tequila) and restaurant, called Tequila Catador.
Pizzeria Lupo in Reno served its last pizzas on March 19. The business’ managers are searching for a new home with a larger kitchen. The torch passed to Jerod Domenichelli and his team at Satisfaction Pizza. Domenichelli studied Italian cuisine and pizza making while traveling in Italy, and he trained under Reno local chef Dino Bugica, further expanding his knowledge. His pizza place will be open daily and serve late-night pies on weekends.
Saint Mary’s Fitness Center closed on Feb. 28. Christina Ghiggeri, the executive director, announced the closure and assured the public that Saint Mary’s Medical Group and Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center will both continue to operate.
Notable Mentions
The last few months have been busy for Northern Nevada tastemakers. There’s plenty to celebrate, including brand takeovers, big birthdays, and some nationwide recognition for our impressive community.
We got word in mid-March that 27-year-old Bricks Restaurant & Wine Bar in Reno changed hands. Jeanne and Steve Budija decided to retire and sold both the fine-dining establishment and Virginia Street building to Arlene and Lewis Pierrott, who also purchased 43-year-old Josef ’s Vienna Bakery & Café in Reno from Sonya Pasa in 2021.
Every year, Yelp publishes a list of its top 100 places to eat in the U.S. based on consumer reviews. This year, three Reno restaurants made the list. Arario Midtown, a Korean fusion restaurant on Center Street, has made the list before and graced it again in the 19th spot; Rice Box Kitchen, an Asian fusion restaurant featuring hot pot and dim sum in Midtown, landed at 33; and La Condesa Eatery on Wells Avenue made it to 45th place for its collection of Spanish- and Italian-inspired fare.
Her name is Toshiko Kato, but many at Bonanza Casino call her “mom” or “grandma.” Although she assists the Branding Iron Café chef regularly while her daughter and son-in-law play at the casino, she is not an official employee. Nonetheless, the City of Reno celebrated her 105th birthday with a mayoral proclamation at the casino and dinner at the casino’s Cactus Creek Prime Steakhouse, with her family and extended Bonanza family, which took place on Jan. 20 to commemorate her Jan. 13 birthday.
Speaking of sweet treats, Kimmie Candy acquired Good Day Chocolate, which creates chocolates infused with supplements for sleep, energy, and calmness. The announcement was made in late February.
This season, Shirley’s Farmers Markets is celebrating 30 years of organizing Reno and Sparks farmers’ markets. They currently serve the community on Saturdays at two locations — The Village on California Avenue in Southwest Reno and Tamarack Junction in South Reno — in the spring, summer, and fall. The markets start on June 3 this year.
Great Full Gardens celebrated 10 years in business with free cookies and giveaways all day and night on March 17. The company started with one location in Midtown Reno and now also has locations in South Reno, Sparks, and East Reno.
Reno-owned, California-produced Double Bond Wine performed well at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the largest competition for American wines in the world. With three wines entered into various categories, the 2021 Grenache Blanc, 2019 Rose, and 2019 Discombobulated all garnered awards. The first took home Best in Class while the other two earned Double Gold in their respective categories (one varietal dry rosé and a grenache-leading blend).
On Feb.15, the owner of The Cake Slice (with locations in Reno and Sparks) announced via social media that franchising opportunities are now available with her company. She cited South Reno and Truckee specifically as good locations. As a result of the expansion, the name has changed to The Cake Slice by MK. Over the years, Michelle Obenrader-Kitchen has opened and closed several locations of The Cake Slice (including the Northtowne Lane area and South Reno) but currently has shops in Northwest Reno and Sparks.
Charlie Abowd is keeping busy. The chef, widely known throughout Reno-Tahoe for his years of work at his family’s restaurant, Café at Adele’s in Carson City, released his own cookbook titled Recipes and Rambles That Made Adele’s a Nevada Hot Spot.
We are excited to report that culinary students from Academy of Arts, Careers and Technology in Reno won the ProStart competition in Nevada for both the culinary and management competitions. It’s the first time in 20 years that one school has won in both categories at the state level. That means the teams were off to Washington, D.C. May 2 through 4 for the national competition (the results were too late for press time). Youths involved in the culinary team are Kaylee Martin (sophomore), Dylan Highline (freshman), Riley Marshall De La Mora (freshman), Kaya Banuelos (sophomore), and Noah Musni (manager, sophomore). And students on the management team are Kyle Moyer (sophomore), Rylee Schoenbachler (freshman), Hannah Figurski-Weeks (junior), and Laisha Sanchez (freshman).
Sad Farewells
It’s with heavy hearts that we say final goodbyes to some of the industry’s most influential people and businesses.
Joanne Ferrari, the matriarch of Reno’s Ferrari Farms, passed away in January. Her husband, Frank, died in 2018. They are survived by their son, Frank Jr. While the land was sold many years ago to Truckee River Flood Management Authority, the lease is up in August. The decision about what comes next for the farm is up to Frank Jr.
Laurel Pine of South Reno’s The Flavor Studio and Living Luxury, a fine foods supplier featuring high-end items such as truffles and caviar, passed away in February of complications from a heart transplant she had on Oct. 25 at Stanford Medicine. At the time of her death, chef Araceli Barrera, Pine’s operations manager at The Flavor Studio, said she and employee Katy Martinez would continue to run operations until further notice.
Steve DiPietro, a 45-year-old chef with Roundabout Catering and formerly a banquet chef at Whitney Peak Hotel, also passed away in February. Friends and family members gathered on March 25 to celebrate his life. He was born and raised in Reno and was happiest in the kitchen. His biggest influence was Colin Smith, and he loved being a banquet chef at Whitney Peak. On social media, Roundabout co-owner Colin Smith said DiPetro “was a great chef and a better friend to so many.”
In March, THE Urban Market, at the 3rd Street Flats on Third Street in Downtown Reno, best known as a downtown marketplace specializing in local goods, said its final farewell after nearly six years in business. The store liquidized its remaining inventory following a Facebook announcement of the closing on March 13.
Truckee-Tahoe News
Folks around Lake Tahoe also have been busy these last few months creating their own food-and-drink news.
Those who have visited South Lake Tahoe at some point are likely familiar with the Raley’s that was a must stop for vacationing families or those in need of a few necessities while in the area. The popular grocery store at 4000 Lake Tahoe Blvd. will close its doors on June 30 after 60 years in business. The Emerald Bay Road location will remain open.
In February, leaders at Resort at Squaw Creek in Olympic Valley announced the addition of Iron Road Noodle House. The Asian restaurant will feature tonkotsu ramen, wonton noodle soup, chashu buns, karaage chicken, and more alongside handcrafted, signature cocktails. The restaurant recognizes the influence of Asian culture in North Lake Tahoe dating back to the 1800s. Located at the bottom of the resort chair lift connected to Palisades Tahoe, the restaurant will be open 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily. Also, in March leaders at the resort unveiled its new name, a decision made out of respect for the Washoe Tribe and Native Nations. The new name is Everline Resort & Spa, a nod to the resort’s forested surroundings.
Lake Tahoe, at least on the California side, has some new restrictions that affect how residents and visitors receive ordered food. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a few bills into law, including a ban on polystyrene (or Styrofoam) products such as cups and food trays. Another bill maintains that single-use, plastic food-service items such as silverware and condiment cups and packets may only be doled out on customer request. One final law banning single-use plastic water bottles is slated to take effect on April 22, 2024; however, residents and visitors to Lake Tahoe may notice businesses starting to make the change before that date.
And that’s all she wrote … for now! Stay tuned for a busy summer of food-and-beverage offerings in Northern Nevada and beyond.
Nora Heston Tarte is a longtime Reno resident. You can follow her local exploits and travel adventures on Instagram at Wanderlust_n_wine.
