Northern Nevada food and drink news.
COVID-19 has caused some notable changes in the Reno-Tahoe dining scene, but it’s not all bad. We’re embracing more to-go options, outdoor dining, and other COVID-safe trends while still welcoming new restaurants and other exciting developments in the region.
First, let’s bid a fond farewell to some old friends and important figures in the Reno-Tahoe food-and-drink scene. Although, fortunately, we still are welcoming many new businesses to the area, we also must say goodbye to some of our favorites, either due to COVID-19 or for other reasons entirely. The following businesses have shuttered in recent months:
- 4th St. Bistro in West Reno cited COVID-19 as its reason for closing in May after 20 years in business.
- Sugar Love Chocolates closed its brick-and-mortar location at The Basement in Downtown Reno in June after nearly five years in business, citing COVID-19 as the cause. The business still sells its goods at local farmers’ markets and online.
- Santa Fe Basque restaurant in Reno closed for good on July 11 after 70 years in business.
- Little Nugget Diner on North Virginia Street in Reno, home of the iconic Awful Awful hamburger, closed its doors for good on July 30, citing the pandemic as its reason for closing after 66 years in business.
- Luciano’s Italian Restaurant announced its closure on Facebook in May after 25 years in business.
- Bently Butcher Shop and the Bently Ranch meat program in Minden closed in August after eight years in business.
- Rounds Bakery closed retail operations on July 17, after six years under the ownership of Anton Novak and Sean Cary and, prior to that, 24 years under different ownership.
- Great Full Gardens’ University of Nevada, Reno location closed. Four other locations remain open, including The Kitchen in South Reno.
- St. James Infirmary bar closed after 12 years in business, as well as its sister restaurant in Midtown, Brasserie Saint James. The Saint bar and taproom in Midtown is up for lease, too.
- The Gas Lamp in Midtown is closed.
- Tofu House on Moana closed in May after nearly three years in business.
- Zeppelin closed after two years in business. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the eatery never reopened after its March closure.
- Mindful Cupcakes, which opened its brick-and-mortar shop in October 2019 (but still produced baked goods), ceased wholesale operations in July due to COVID-19 losses.
- We Olive & Olive Bar in Reno closed.
- Basik Acai Café closed on June 23 after nearly three years in business.
- Bavarian World German restaurant, bakery, and store in Reno, which opened in 1973, closed and the building went up for sale in early August because the owner, Klaus Ginschel, retired.
- Artisan Café in Carson City closed.
- Stoneyhead Brewing Co., a craft brewery and tasting room on Longley Lane in Reno, closed its doors in June after seven years in business.
- At locals’ hangout Truckee River Bar & Grill on California Avenue in Reno, a For Lease sign was seen on its door in August, signaling the end of an era for the restaurant, which opened in 1985.
- After two years in business, ĂN – Asian Kitchen & Bar closed in August, citing struggles related to the coronavirus as its cause.
- True NY Pizza in Sparks was getting ready to celebrate its 10-year anniversary before the shop announced its closure on Facebook on July 1.
Included in our losses were three important food-and-drink pioneers in the Reno-Tahoe area. Dr. Shaji Mathew, a longtime local pediatrician who, along with his wife, Vijna, founded the wine-import company Sierra Nevada Imports/Terra Vigna, passed away on April 18. And in July, we lost Jim Crowell, founder of Sierra Gold Seafood in Sparks, as well as John Jesse, founder of Deux Gros Nez (with Tim Healion of Laughing Planet) and Pneumatic Diner in Reno, who died in a road-biking accident. These local icons will be dearly missed in our community.
For every door that closes, a new one is ready to open — and this is especially true for the Reno-Tahoe food scene. Let’s take a look at what positive new developments we’re seeing.
A Made-Over Midtown
At long last, Sierra Nevada Construction wrapped up street work in Midtown Reno. In August, the area reopened to two-way traffic, and, soon after, the Virginia Street Project came to a finish. The more pedestrian-friendly Midtown makes accessing our favorite spots — and new businesses hitting the scene — easier on everyone. The Virginia Street Bus RAPID Transit project for Midtown was completed at the end of September, and the final element of the project, the grand opening of the extension of the RTC RAPID Virginia Line from Meadowood Mall through Midtown to the University of Nevada, Reno, will launch in early 2021.
Ashley Johnson, an avid homebrewer and certified cicerone (a hospitality professional with proven experience in selecting and serving beers), and Tina Nielsen, an avid crafter, bonded over their mutual love of craft beers and united their passions to open Local Beer Works in Midtown in February. This craft beer bar and culture center features 24 taps pouring suds from local, independent, and artisanal craft breweries, with the eventual post-COVID goal being to make it a space where art, culture, craft beer, and community connect under one roof.
A flight of beers from Local Beer Works in Midtown Reno
Pizza, tacos, and waffles sound like simple food, but we can assure you they’re anything but at Midtown’s food + drink. Owner Aaron Foster, an actor by trade, spent several years learning to perfect these three items, his personal favorites, before originally opening food + drink as a 300-square-foot restaurant in Blairsden, Calif., in 2016, and then reopening the restaurant this February on St. Lawrence Avenue in the Midtown space that previously housed Crème Cafe. In response to the pandemic, the eatery has shifted, focusing on pizza, ice cream, and to-go margaritas, with curbside pickup only.
The Superyummydelicious One pizza at Food + Drink in Midtown
Foster takes to Instagram to keep fans of his food entertained and share changes. Until business gets back to normal, order up a decadent pizza and finish it with a magic cookie the size of your face.
Owners at the quaint, Tuscan-inspired eatery Calafuria in Midtown announced big changes in July. Undergoing a renovation, the restaurant has shifted to a Friday night pop-up dinner model with tables available to purchase online at Calafuriareno.com. During this time, the to-go menu is unavailable. Also, you can rent the quaint space for events and micro-weddings.
A wedding table at Calafuria in Midtown
Speaking of pop-ups, Anna’s Taqueria popped up on Wonder Street in Midtown on June 28. This offshoot of the original Anna’s Mexican Grill at McCarran and Fourth Street in West Reno is small in terms of space, but it packs big flavor, serving up street tacos and other authentic tastes with a limited menu.
Another Mexican restaurant, Mexcal, opened in March at 516 S. Virginia St. in Midtown, in the former Fin & Filet location. The outdoor patio has become a popular — and exclusive — staple of the Mexican eatery, as it’s often reserved in advance for the entire night (or stop by for lunch). The restaurant serves a variety of unique tacos and other dishes, as well as Mexican-Californian favorites.
From the heart of Reno
On June 10, 2019, the vegan food truck Nom Eats unexpectedly burst into flames during a routine service at Reno Public House. A massive GoFundMe effort organized by owners Ian McIntosh, Carly Gurinskas, and Robyn Gurinskas raised $20,000, and in February, with that check in the bank, the trio replaced their sweet ride with a beautiful restaurant location in the West Street Market, conveniently vacated by The Deluxe late last year. The three have remodeled the space, bringing the electricity of the eatery to life Downtown.
#Handcrafted Gourmet Burger Bar opened in July at 254 W. First St. (where BurgerIM used to be). The same New York chef mans the restaurant, separating himself from the BurgerIM franchise to go it alone.
#Mac & cheese burger at #Handcrafted Gourmet Burger Bar in Reno
Also new to Downtown is Record Street Brewing Co. on East Fourth Street, which opened in May. Adjusting its business model to serve patrons during COVID-19, the long-awaited eatery operates in two conjoined buildings, one of which — dubbed The Alpine — will host musical acts when restrictions lift.
Beer taps at Record Street Brewing Co. in Reno
A couple ownership changes have taken place in recent months as well. Roundabout Grill’s former owners, Colin and MaryBeth Smith of Roundabout Catering, turned ownership of the restaurant over to Whitney Peak Hotel, which houses the restaurant. And in February, Midtown Eats switched hands, from founders Sadie Bonnette and Ivan Fontana to new owners Christina and Toby Savage, who moved to Reno from Arkansas to run the longtime Midtown favorite.
This June, Gloria’s Café replaced Oxbow Café & Bistro on Dickerson Road. Though not much has changed in terms of the café’s atmosphere, the new owners, the Moreno family, have developed a new menu of breakfast and lunch dishes. Patrons are celebrating this new spot for its COVID-safety protocols and ample al fresco seating.
To the west, Peavine Taphouse Eats & Beats took up residence in the Somersett Town Center in December. This neighborhood taphouse offers an appealing array of fresh salads, small plates, pastas, and pizzas, as well as a large selection of beers, wines, and cocktails. When allowed, the owners plan to promote the venue’s live music offerings.
Cocktails at Peavine Taphouse in Reno
New in South Reno
The long-awaited third Noble Pie Parlor location finally opened its doors on July 15 at The Summit. The new location features the award-winning pizza and now infamous chicken wings, along with a bar offering draft beers, wines, and cocktails; a living wall of herbs to be integrated into food and drink items; and custom art installations by Incline Village artist Ryno and local artist Ryan Fassbender.
Noble Pie Parlor’s new location at The Summit in Reno
Lolo’s opened in January, promising Filipino cuisine as good as mom’s, in the former Naan & Kabab location across from the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino. Chef/owner Lorry Lopez (aka Lolo) previously owned Manila Bakery and Cafe, which gained popularity for its homespun flavors, crispy lechon kawali (slow-roasted pork belly), and delightful baked goods with Filipino flair.
In February, Bab x Chicken, formerly Bab Café, at The Summit mall began serving up Korean fried chicken — double-fried chicken with crispy skin, served plain, with your choice of sauces and seasonings on the side. Diners order the KFC — Korean fried chicken — by weight (half pound, pound, or more), in their choice of white meat, dark meat wings, or a combination thereof.
March brought opening day for Crazy D’s Hot Chicken on South Virginia Street. Order the Nashville-style hot chicken from a simple yet drool-worthy menu featuring sliders or tenders, or a mix of both, with crinkle-cut fries cooked to crispy perfection. Crazy D’s is the only eatery in Reno serving up this Nashville classic in authentic Southern style.
Assortment of dishes at Crazy D’s Hot Chicken in Reno
Not to be outdone, Carson City also welcomes a new food-and-drink establishment: Piazza, a wine bar and tapas restaurant created by Mark and Jenny Lopiccolo, whose vision was to bring the traditional Italian and Spanish piazza to Carson City’s McFadden Plaza. In addition to small plates, desserts, and award-winning wines, Piazza offers a marketplace where customers can pick up wines and other collectibles coveted by the Lopiccolos to enjoy at home.
Flatbread-style pizza at Piazza in Carson City
Despite dining restrictions and ever-changing mandates put in place by Gov. Sisolak, no one seems to be able to dampen the spirits of local foodies turning out to taste the newest restaurants and trends exploding onto the scene. The general fervor associated with good grub in Northern Nevada is keeping local restaurants in business and allowing newbies to move forward with their opening plans, too.
Until next time, remember to eat, drink, and support local!
Nora Heston Tarte is a longtime Reno resident living on the south side of town. In addition to searching out the best food spots in Reno, her interests include wine, hiking, yoga, and travel. She graduated from California State University Sacramento with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and is pursuing her master’s degree in professional journalism as we speak. You can follow her local exploits and travel adventures on her Instagram account @Wanderlust_n_wine.
Due to the uncertainty caused by COVID, Michael Tragash was unable to continue writing this column. We passed the baton to Nora Heston Tarte. We wish to thank Tragash for writing Edible Updates for five years (the first column appeared in our May/June 2015 edition) and for contributing to this column.
