Bigfoot ball
I’ve never seen a sasquatch, but I don’t discount the fact they could exist. If so, it seems a lot more likely that the sasquatch would hang out in Verdi rather than Reno. Bigfoot just strikes me as more of a small town creature who wouldn’t get into the gambling and nightlife that Reno has to offer, so it makes sense that Verdi would offer up a tavern and grill named for the illustrious creature.
My friend Tim and I headed up there on a weekday for lunch. The Sasquatch Tavern and Grill is a small setup with a large bar on one side and a smaller dining area on the other. While it’s dark inside, it’s not scary dark. A large stone fireplace sits in the corner with a sasquatch statue on the mantel. There’s also a mural of a sasquatch hitchhiking. The place appears to have been recently updated as the floors and booths all looked new. The bar is still old-school style, but welcoming none the less. Tim and I sat down and were promptly greeted by the smiling, attractive bartender, Lauren. We decided to start with some beers, a Newcastle and Icky, both on draft ($4.50), while we looked over the menu.
The menu was so varied that I was kind of shocked. Choices ranged from a brie plate covered in apricots to prime rib to stir fry. The call of the Yeti must have awakened the carnivores inside us, because both Tim and I opted for a burger. I got the Black and Blue Burger ($9.50) while Tim went with the Mushroom Burger ($9.50). When the burgers arrived, I was astounded by the size of the plates that were filled with a giant burger and a giant serving of french fries. I had actually ordered onion rings, but when I saw how good the fries looked, nice and crispy, I didn’t bother to say anything. My burger was large and cooked perfectly, still pink inside just the way I requested it. The meat had a nice fresh flavor, and I liked the blue cheese on top. The menu indicated that the burger was pan fried in Cajun spices, but I didn’t taste any heat. The bun was soft, and the lettuce and tomatoes on the side were crisp.
Tim’s burger was frigging amazing. Not just a typical mushroom burger, this was a mushroom Swiss teriyaki burger with sautéed mushrooms and onions that brought out the flavor of the meat so well, I knew right then and there that I would drive back out to Verdi for this hamburger anytime. This is a messy burger, but Lauren quickly returned with more napkins and even some wet naps.
During the meal, we decided to order a Tanqueray and tonic ($4.25) for me and Maker’s and Coke ($4.50) for Tim. Holy Moses, do they pour a strong drink there! I was practically breathing fire after one delicious sip. Thank goodness we had the giant burgers to balance out the strong drinks or it would have been a dangerous ride out of town. We had arrived right before lunchtime, and the place started to quickly fill up with what appeared to be a lot of locals. The overall vibe was relaxing and comfortable and if I lived in the area, I would be there all the time. Do yourself a favor and head up to Verdi and check this place out. Even if you never get to see a real sasquatch, at least you can eat at the tavern and grill.