Food & Drink
Readers’ choice
“Once in Star City … I took my place in a sort of long, post-office single file of miners, to patiently await my chance to peep through a crack in the cabin and get a sight of the splendid new sensation—a genuine, live Woman! And at the end of half of an hour my turn came, and I put my eye to the crack, and there she was, with one arm akimbo, and tossing flap-jacks in a frying-pan with the other. And she was one hundred and sixty-five.”
ILLUSTRATION BY Asa Gilmore
Best Cooking School
1. Back of the House
800 W. Second St., 284-1080
2. Nothing to It! Culinary Center
225 Crummer Lane, 826-2628
Best hot dog
1. Freeman’s Natural Hotdogs
106 California Ave., 322-3434
2. Sinbad’s Hot Dogs of Nevada
418 N McCarran Blvd.
Sparks, 331-4762
3. Costco
2200 Harvard Way, 689-2200
4810 Galleria Pkwy., Sparks, 356-4400
Best frozen yogurt
1. U-SWIRL
57 Damonte Ranch Parkway Bldg 20-E, 284-8721
2. TCBY
900 W. Moana Lane, 829-7447
2900 Clear Acre Lane, 337-8229
3. Honey Treat Yogurt
5000 Smithridge Drive, 827-2221
Best French fries
1. McDonald’s Restaurant
various locations
2. In-N-Out Burger
280 Pyramid Way, Sparks
8215 S. Virginia St. (800) 786-1000
3. Imperial Bar and Lounge
150 N. Arlington Ave., 324-6399
Best smoothie
1. Keva Juice
various locations
2. Jamba Juice
various locations
3. Organic Juice Bar at Ageless Zone Medical Spa
5060 Meadowood Mall Circle, 826-8888
Best chicken wings
1. Bully’s Sports Bar & Grill
various locations
2. Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar
13967 S. Virginia St., 853-9464
3. Imperial Bar and Lounge
150 N. Arlington Ave., 324-6399
Best salad
1. Süp
719 S. Virginia St., 324-4787
2. Silver Peak Restaurant & Brewery
124 Wonder St., 324-1864
135 N. Sierra St., 284-3300
3. Plum Good
530 W Plumb Lane, 826-7586
Best salad bar
1. Whole Foods Market
6139 S. Virginia St., 852-8023
2. Sizzler
615 E. Prater Way, Sparks, 356-3969
3. Plum Good
530 W Plumb Lane, 826-7586
Best Mexican
1. Beto’s Mexican Food
575 W. Fifth St., 324-0632
2. El Adobe Café
55 W. Arroyo St., 327-4422
3. Murrieta’s
various locations
Best Italian
1. La Famiglia Ristorante
170 S. Virginia St., 324-1414
2. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
4900 S. Virginia St., 829-1500
Legends, 1481 E. Lincoln Way, 356-9500
3. Johnny’s Ristorante Italiano
4245 W. Fourth St., 747-4511
Best Indian
1. India Kabab and Curry
1091 S. Virginia St., 348-6222
2. India Garden
1565 S. Virginia St., 337-8002
3. Taste of India
315 E. Moana Lane, 825-3008
Best Japanese
1. Ichiban Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar
206 N. Virginia St., 323-5550
2. Hiroba Sushi
3005 Skyline Blvd., 829-2788
3. Kyoto Restaurant
915 W. Moana Lane, 825-9686 (closed?)
Best Thai
1. Bangkok Cuisine
55 Mount Rose St., 322-0299
2. Thai Lotus
6430 S. Virginia St., 852-5033
3. Cafe De Thai
7499 Longley Lane, 829-8424
Best Chinese
1. Palais De Jade Fine Chinese Cuisine
960 W. Moana Lane, 827-5233
2. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro
5180 Kietzke Lane, 825-9800
3. Francis’ Asian Bistro
4796 Caughlin Pky., 827-3111
Best Salvadoran
1. El Salvador Restaurant
517 Forest St., 329-3022
2. Asi Es Mi Tierra,
1020 S. Wells Ave., 323-3119
3. El Paisano Taqueria y Pupuseria
1901 Silverada Blvd., Sparks, 324-5255
Best sandwich shop
1. Deli Towne USA
3650 Lakeside Drive, 826-4466
2. Port of Subs
various locations
3. Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop
1530 S Stanford Way, Sparks, 356-2700
5140 Kietzke Lane, 336-4906
Best French restaurant
1. Beaujolais Bistro
130 West St., 323-2227
2. 4th St. Bistro
3065 W. Fourth St., 323-3200
3. Lulou’s Restaurant
1470 S. Virginia St., 329-9979
Best Vietnamese
1. Pho 777 Vietnamese Noodle Restaurant
102 E. Second St., 323-7777
2. Golden Flower Vietnamese Restaurant
205 W. Fifth St., 323-1628
3. Pho Restaurant
6775 Sierra Center Pkwy., 852-6100
Best sushi
1. Hiroba Sushi
3005 Skyline Blvd., 829-2788
2. Sushi Pier 2
1507 S. Virginia St., 825-5225
3. Ijji Sushi
685 E Prater Way, Sparks, 356-8668
Best vegetarian
1. Pneumatic Diner
501 W. First St., 786-8888
2. Anthony’s Dandelion Deli & Catering
1170 S. Wells Ave., 322-6100
3. Whole Foods Market
6139 S. Virginia St., 852-8023
Best burger
1. Awful Awful at The Nugget
233 N. Virginia St., 323-0716
2. In-N-Out Burger
280 Pyramid Way, Sparks
8215 S. Virginia St. (800) 786-1000
3. Juicy’s Giant Hamburger
301 S. Wells Ave., 322-2600
Best doughnuts/pastries
1. Doughboy’s Donuts
57 Damonte Ranch Pkwy, 853-6844
2. Jelly Donut
1750 S. Virginia St., 324-7272
3. Josef’s Vienna Bakery & Cafe
933 W. Moana Lane, 825-0451
Best bakery
1. Josef’s Vienna Bakery & Cafe
933 W. Moana Lane, 825-0451
2. 5th Street Bakehouse
953 W. 5th St., 323-1885
3. Franz’s Backstube Austrian Cafe Cakes & Pastries
3882 Mayberry Drive, 624-2921
Best fresh bread
1. House of Bread
1185 California Ave., 322-0773
2. Great Harvest Bread
530 W. Plumb Lane, 323-7733
3. Whole Foods Market
6139 S. Virginia St., 852-8023
Best coffee
1. Bibo Coffee Co.
various locations
2. Starbucks Coffee
various locations
3. The Hub Coffee Co.
32 Cheney St., 323-3482
Best seafood
1. Rapscallion Seafood House and Bar
1555 S. Wells Ave., 323-1211
2. Oceano
Peppermill Resort Casino, 2707 S. Virginia St., 826-2121
3. Oyster Bar & Sushi
Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, 3800 S. Virginia St., 825-4700
Best steak
1. Steakhouse at Harrah’s
219 N. Center St., 788-2929
2. Charlie Palmer’s Steak
Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 E. Second St., 789-2458
3. Sterling’s Seafood Steakhouse
Silver Legacy Resort Casino, 407 N. Virginia St., 325-7573
Best pizza parlor
1. Pie-Face Pizza Co.
239 West Second St., 622-9222
2. Blind Onion Pizza & Pub
various locations
3. J.J.’s Pie Company
555 W. Fifth St., 786-5555
Best breakfast
1. Peg’s Glorified Ham and Eggs
various locations
2. Squeeze In
5020 Las Brisas Blvd., 787-2700
10060 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, 587-9814
3. The Stone House Cafe
1907 S. Arlington Ave., 284-3895
Best business lunch
1. Grill At Quail Corners
6520 S. McCarran Blvd., 827-6262
2. The Stone House Cafe
1907 S. Arlington Ave., 284-3895
3. Silver Peak Restaurant & Brewery
124 Wonder St., 324-1864
135 N. Sierra St., 284-3300
Best greasy spoon
1. The Nugget
233 N. Virginia St., 323-0716
2. Gold-N-Silver Inn
790 W. Fourth St., 323-2696
3. Peg’s Glorified Ham and Eggs
420 S. Sierra St., 329-2600
6300 Mae Anne Ave., 624-2700
Best new restaurant
1. Old Granite Street Eatery
243 S. Sierra St., 622-3222
2. Pie-Face Pizza Co.
239 West Second St, 622-9222
3. 775 Gastropub
5162 Meadowood Mall Circle, 828-0775
Best Reno restaurant
1. 4th St. Bistro
3065 W. Fourth St., 323-3200
2. The Stone House Cafe
1907 S. Arlington Ave., 284-3895
3. Lulou’s Restaurant
1470 S. Virginia St., 329-9979
Best Carson restaurant
1. Adele’s Restaurant and Lounge
1112 N. Carson St., Carson City, 882-3353
2. Red’s Old 395 Grill
1055 S. Carson St., Carson City, 887-0395
3. The Firkin & Fox Pub
310 South Carson Street, Carson City, 883-1369
3. The Basil Restaurant
311 North Carson Street, Carson City, 841-6100
Best Sparks restaurant
1. Great Basin Brewing Company
846 Victorian Ave., Sparks, 355-7711
2. The Vista Grille
1250 Disc Drive, Sparks, 626-9922
3. Jazz Louisiana Kitchen
1180 Scheels Drive, 657-8659
Best Tahoe restaurant
1. Garwoods Grill & Pier
5000 N. Lake Blvd., Carnelian Bay, Calif., (530) 546-3366
2. T’s Mesquite Rotisserie
901 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village, 831-2832
3. Lone Eagle Grille
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, 111 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, 886-6899
Best casino restaurant
1. Steakhouse at Harrah’s
219 N. Center St., 788-2929
2. Biscotti’s at the Peppermill
2. Sterling’s Seafood Steakhouse
Silver Legacy Resort Casino, 407 N. Virginia St., 325-7573
Most romantic restaurant
1. 4th St. Bistro
3065 W. Fourth St., 323-3200
2. La Vecchia Italian Ristorante
3501 S. Virginia St., 825-1113
3. Roxy’s Restaurant and Bar
Eldorado Hotel Casino, 345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700
Best fine dining
1. 4th St. Bistro
3065 W. Fourth St., 323-3200
2. Steakhouse at Harrah’s
219 N. Center St., 788-2929
3. Lulou’s Restaurant
1470 S. Virginia St., 329-9979
Best wine list
1. West Street Wine Bar
148 West St., 336-3560
2. Sterling’s Seafood Steakhouse
Silver Legacy Resort Casino, 407 N. Virginia St., 325-7573
3. Lulou’s Restaurant
1470 S. Virginia St., 329-9979
Best wine bar
1. West Street Wine Bar
148 West St., 336-3560
2. Jungle Vino
246 W. First St., 329-4484
3. Vintage, A Wine Shop
6135 Lakeside Drive, 824-9463
Best cheap eats
1. Beto’s Mexican Food
575 W. Fifth St., 324-0632
2. Taco Bell
various locations
3. Gold-N-Silver Inn
790 W. Fourth St., 323-2696
Best dessert
1. The Chocolate Bar
475 S. Arlington Ave., 337-1122
2. Dish Cafe & Catering
855 Mill St., 348-8264
3. Charlie Palmer’s Steak
Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 E. Second St., 789-2458
Best martini
1. Roxy’s Restaurant and Bar
Eldorado Hotel Casino, 345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700
2. The Chocolate Bar
475 S. Arlington Ave., 337-1122
3. Chapel Tavern
1495 S. Virginia St., 324-2244
Best Margarita
1. Bertha Miranda’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina
336 Mill St., 786-9697
2. El Adobe Café
55 W. Arroyo St., 327-4422
3. Miguel’s Mexican
1415 S.Virginia St., 322-2722
Best solo dining
1. Old Granite Street Eatery
243 S. Sierra St., 622-3222
2. Pie-Face Pizza Co.
239 West Second St, 622-9222
2. Pneumatic Diner
501 W. First St., 786-8888
Best outdoor dining
1. The Stone House Cafe
1907 S. Arlington Ave., 284-3895
2. Wild River Grille
17 S. Virginia St., 284-7455
3. Silver Peak Restaurant & Brewery
124 Wonder St., 324-1864
Best late-night dining
1. Pie-Face Pizza Co.
239 West Second St, 622-9222
2. Gold-N-Silver Inn
790 W. Fourth St., 323-2696
3. Golden Flower Vietnamese Restaurant
205 W. Fifth St., 323-1628
Best ambience
1. The Stone House Cafe
1907 S. Arlington Ave., 284-3895
2. Wild River Grille
17 S. Virginia St., 284-7455
3. 4th St. Bistro
3065 W. Fourth St., 323-3200
Best cafeteria
1. Sierra Café, Renown Regional Medical Center
1155 Mill St., 982-5689
2. Atlantis Casino Resort Spa
3800 S. Virginia St., 825-4700
3. Microsoft Licensing
6100 Neil Road, 823-5600
Best restaurant worth the long wait
1. Hiroba Sushi
3005 Skyline Blvd., 829-2788
2. Peg’s Glorified Ham and Eggs
420 S. Sierra St., 329-2600
6300 Mae Anne Ave., 624-2700
3. BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
13999 St. Virginia St., 853-7575
Best place to dine on a budget
1. Golden Flower Vietnamese Restaurant
205 W. Fifth St., 323-1628
2. Taco Bell
various locations
3. Beto’s Mexican Food
575 W. Fifth St., 324-0632
Best hidden treasure
1. Daughters Café
97 Bell St., 324-3447
1. Dish Cafe & Catering
855 Mill St., 348-8264
3. Beto’s Mexican Food
575 W. Fifth St., 324-0632
3. Golden Flower Vietnamese Restaurant
205 W. Fifth St., 323-1628
Best chef (name and location)
1. Paul Abowd, The Stone House Cafe
1907 S. Arlington Ave., 284-3895
2. Molly Demers Wild River Grille
17 S. Virginia St., 284-7455
3. Tae Sung Lee Tha Joint Sushi & Grill
Elise Vandenberg of 4th St. Bistro is the readers’ choice for Best Server.
Photo By DANA NÖLLSCH
Best server (name and location)
1. Elise Vandenberg, 4th St. Bistro
3065 W. Fourth St., 323-3200
2. Andrea Raines Great Basin Brewing Company
846 Victorian Ave., Sparks, 355-7711
3. Phong Ho Golden Flower Vietnamese Restaurant
205 W. Fifth St., 323-1628
Best tequila selection
1. Arroyo Mexican Grill
2. El Adobe Café
55 W. Arroyo St., 327-4422
3. Chapel Tavern
1495 S. Virginia St., 324-2244
Best vodka selection
1. Chapel Tavern
1495 S. Virginia St., 324-2244
2. St. James Infirmary
445 California Ave., 657-8484
3. Roxy’s Restaurant and Bar
Eldorado Hotel Casino, 345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700
Best whiskey/bourbon/scotch selection
1. Chapel Tavern
1495 S. Virginia St., 324-2244
2. Ceol Irish Pub
538 S Virginia St., 329-5558
3. St. James Infirmary
445 California Ave., 657-8484
Best salsa bar
1. Arroyo Mexican Grill
250 Evans Ave., 334-7092
2. Baja Fresh Mexican Grill
5140 Kietzke Lane, 826-8900
2. Buenos Grill
3892 Mayberry Drive, 787-8226
Best Greek restaurant
1. Niko’s Greek Kitchen
148 West St., 284-3678
2. Nick’s Greek Deli
600 S. Virginia St., 786-9613
3. The Blue Plate
236 California Ave., 786-3463
Best barbecue restaurant
1. BJ’s Bar-BQ
754 N. McCarran Blvd., 355-1010
2. Dickey’s BBQ Pit
395 E. Plumb Lane, 324-7427
3. Coach’s BBQ Restaurant & Catering
1499 N. Wells Ave., 348-7427
Best catering company
1. Dish Cafe & Catering
855 Mill St., 348-8264
2. Men Wielding Fire
105 Hidden Lake Drive, 786-1117
3. Coach’s BBQ Restaurant and Catering
Best gourmet take-out
1. Whole Foods Market
6139 S. Virginia St., 852-8023
2. Süp
719 S. Virginia St., 324-4787
3. The Cheese Board
247 California Ave., 323-3115
Best appetizers
1. Bistro Napa, Atlantis Casino Resort Spa
3800 S. Virginia St., 825-4700
2. BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
13999 St. Virginia St., 853-7575
3. Old Granite Street Eatery
243 S. Sierra St., 622-3222
Best soups
1. Süp
719 S. Virginia St., 324-4787
2. Whole Foods Market
6139 S. Virginia St., 852-8023
3. Dish Cafe & Catering
855 Mill St., 348-8264
Best teahouse
1. Se7en
100 N. Arlington Ave., 348-9526
148 West St., 284-3363
2. Fairly Grounded Coffee & Tea
3366 Lakeside Court, 825-3247
Best place to eat when drunk
1. The Nugget
233 N. Virginia St., 323-0716
2. Gold-N-Silver Inn
790 W. Fourth St., 323-2696
3. Calvin’s Sausages
Best juice
1. Organic Juice Bar at Ageless Zone Medical Spa
5060 Meadowood Mall Circle, 826-8888
2. Keva Juice
various locations
3. Pneumatic Diner
501 W. First St., 786-8888
Best fondue
1. Melting Pot Restaurant
6950 S. Mccarran Blvd., 827-6500
2. The Chocolate Bar
475 S. Arlington Ave., 337-1122
3. La Fondue Restaurant
120 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, 831-6104
Best produce
1. Whole Foods Market
6139 S. Virginia St., 852-8023
2. Raley’s Superstores
various locations
3. Great Basin Community Food Cooperative
542 1/2 Plumas St., 324-6133
Best restrooms
1. Peppermill Resort Casino
2707 S. Virginia St., 826-2121
2. Atlantis Casino Resort Spa
3800 S. Virginia St., 825-4700
3. Eldorado Hotel Casino
345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700
