Keeping you informed of local food-and-drink news.
Fall brings a sense of beginning. The sound of school buses ushers in a new school year, and crisp leaves floating through the air remind us that cooler weather is on the way. This season, the food-and-drink scene is experiencing some fresh starts, too, in the form of brand-new businesses and exciting undertakings. In this issue, we’ve rounded up the latest news on where to eat, drink, and explore.
OPENINGS & EXPANSIONS
Mr. Yummy Yummy, a new food truck from the owner of Ijji Noodle House, Kurtis Tan, debuted at Food Truck Friday on July 5. The Japanese barbecue and grill truck features Asian fusion cuisine prepared on a hibachi-style grill.
Polecat Tavern, a new live-music venue on West Winnie Lane in Carson City, celebrated its grand opening on July 13.
Grafted Kitchen, a passion project of Jade and Chad Bogan, the owners of Grafted Whiskey and Wine in South Reno, came to life in June. The nonprofit uses a 2,500-square-foot culinary training facility on Oddie Boulevard in Sparks to offer food-related education to at-risk youths ages 15 to 19. The project was established in memory of the couple’s late son.
Locals may remember the old Laughing Cat Coffee, a coffee roaster that first opened in the 1990s in South Reno. What’s old is new again. Under new ownership, the beloved coffee brand reopened on Reno’s Airway Boulevard on June 7.
Have a hankering for Korean chicken wings? You’re in luck! The popular Incline Village restaurant Wings Korean Chicken opened a second location this summer, bringing its menu of Korean-style wings and tenders to Sparks.
Non-alcoholic bar 4th Street Brewery held its grand opening on June 30. The sober-lifestyle hot spot specializes in coffee and live music.
Aubrey and Tyler O’Laskey, owners of Reno’s Perenn Bakery and Claio, announced plans to open a new Perenn location — in Tennessee. The couple is renovating a historic boat home on the Harpeth River in Franklin as their first Tennessee location. The couple didn’t announce plans to make changes to their Reno businesses.
After Thomas Porto, owner of Tiger Tom’s in Reno died in April, at the age of 74, ownership of his bar was up in the air. Since, his daughter, Alise Porto, filed with the City of Reno to transfer ownership to her. A celebration of life was held for Tom at the bar on July 4.
J Resort reopened The Buffet, celebrating with a grand opening event on May 23. The eatery debuted a brand-new menu of American comfort food plus themed specials.
Mountain Mike’s Pizza featured a grand opening of its new Sparks location on Baring Boulevard on May 22. The location is owned by local franchisees, with locations in Reno and Stockton, Calif.
CLOSURES & BUSINESS CHANGES
Pink Elephant Kitchen in Carson City announced the closure of its physical location on May 15. The owners will continue to sell their popular curry sauces at local farmers’ markets.
Jay Ryu had to shutter his Bab Café restaurant in Reno on June 10. The closure came after Ryu was cited for serious and repeated health department violations since opening in 2018. His health permit was permanently revoked in May and he appealed the decision.
Smee’s Alaskan Fish Bar closed its Downtown Reno Riverwalk location July 2, citing building ownership changes. According to a Facebook post on the business’ page, Smee’s will reopen later this year on Kietzke Lane.
Drama surrounds the end of Sizzle Pie in Downtown Reno, including allegations of not paying rent and not informing employees of the closure. Regardless of the rumors, the outcome is the same: The Portland, Ore.-based brand shut its Reno location in mid-June.
Dean Smith sold South Reno’s Twisted Fork to Joe Clements and Cindy Tietjen. Both have been with the restaurant since the beginning. The change took effect on July 1.
Centro in Midtown Reno changed hands in June. Alberto Gazzola sold the restaurant to his former La Vecchia chef, Travis Stehman.
Delta Saloon, one of Virginia City’s most recognizable bars, was sold to Jim Grimes, a fourth-generation Nevadan who was born and raised in Reno-Sparks, May 9. The famous bar has been serving drinks since 1880, when it first opened during the mining boom. The sale included portions of the Delta parking lot across the street and the Virginia City Trolley, which is co-owned by Marshall McBride, owner and proprietor of the Bucket of Blood Saloon. Grimes reopened the Delta after making repairs to both the outside structure, including the balcony, and interior improvements in the kitchen and beyond. He also owns Comstock Distillers.
Perhaps it’s no surprise that Lox Stock & Two Smoking Bagels officially closed after less than one (tumultuous) year in business. The owner, Jason Branyan, announced the event on social media in early May.
NEWSWORTHY NOTES
Raise a glass to these locals who have earned some impressive accolades and successes in recent months!
Two restaurants at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa continue their winning streak with new honors from Wine Spectator. Both the Atlantis Steakhouse and Bistro Napa received Awards of Excellence for their wine programs on July 1. This marks the 24th and 23rd year in a row, respectively, for each restaurant. Meanwhile, the Atlantis’ Manhattan Deli also received a recognition of its own, which was Best Deli in Nevada from online publication 24/7 Tempo.
Charlie Palmer Steak in Reno also was honored with the prestigious Wine Spectator 2024 Award of Excellence. The steakhouse was recognized for its wine program, which features an extensive collection of California reds as well as a thoughtfully curated selection of French and Italian wines.
Frey Ranch Farm + Distillery has once again won big — this time at the American Spirits Council of Tasters (ASCOT) awards in June. The international spirits competition recognized the Frey Ranch Straight Signature Bourbon with a gold award, the Frey Ranch 100% Wheat Whiskey Barrel #1209 with a platinum award, and both the Frey Ranch American Single Malt Smoked and Frey Ranch Single Barrel Rye with double platinum awards.
Whitney Peak Hotel celebrated a big anniversary and the completion of #12 million in renovations. After 10 years in business, the Downtown Reno hotel, which became part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton in late 2023, hosted two special events on July 18 to commemorate the milestones.
Speaking of anniversaries, Ijji Noodle House and Poke Don celebrated five years in business; the restaurant opened just prior to the pandemic. While the actual date was in April, the restaurant celebrated with customers and staff at an event in June.
Eric Heaney, former owner of the Little Nugget in Reno and Pioneer Crossing in Fernley, died in a car accident on June 5 at the age of 79. Heaney also was known in the food community for opening The Wolf Den Bar and Grill and purchasing Baldini’s Sports Casino, along with five other partners, in 2018. He remained an active participant in Baldini’s operations up until his passing.
John Stempeck of Casale’s Halfway Club passed away at the age of 72 on May 26. He was the son of the family’s late matriarch, Inez Casale.
Northern Nevada Public Health announced July 1 that both the Raley’s Deli on Caughlin Parkway and Peg’s Glorified Ham n Eggs on Lemmon Drive had received the Excellence in Food Safety award, setting a high bar across a variety of categories.
The old Rapscallion building on Wells Avenue in Reno is up for sale for $2 million. There have been interested buyers, but nothing came to fruition by the time this issue went to press.
TAHOE-TRUCKEE NEWS
There’s some exciting news coming from Truckee and Tahoe, too. First, Camp Richardson turned 100 in 2024, and it celebrated by showing off a slew of renovations.
The three-star, historic hotel in Lake Tahoe will eventually undergo $12 million in renovations before all is said and done, including new furnishings and amenities, such as a lobby coffee bar for guests. There also will be extensive changes made to The Grove restaurant on site.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa, and Casino was named one of the Top 15 Best Resorts in the West by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine. In other news, Andrew De Lapp was recently promoted to the resort’s manager.
The Pour House in Truckee has a new owner. Linda Baumgardner announced she would be taking over the wine bar on May 15. According to Baumgardner, the previous owners, Dean Schaecher and Christa Finn, still will be involved in the enterprise.
The celebrity corner at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe is growing. Gordan Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen completed an expansion to offer 56 additional seats, a new bar with a 1,200-bottle wine display, and new entrance, unveiled on July 26.
Elements Eatery & Bar opened in May, serving up a selection of Mexican-American fusion cuisine. Chef Gabriela Chavez is responsible for the eclectic menu, which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Tahoe Bros. Burgers also opened in May, near Whiskey Dicks. The people behind Izzy Burger Spa, which closed in 2023, are part of the new venture alongside a new owner. Together, Andres Delgadillo, Ricardo Luquin, and Gabriel Robles own the new burger joint.
And that’s all she wrote, folks! Until next time, don’t forget to eat, drink, and support local!
