Crashing the cantina

There is no shortage of Mexican restaurants in Reno, so the competition is pretty tough. For more than 20 years, Bertha Miranda’s has been one of the leaders in town with an overall fun dining experience.

The rustic ambience of an old stone building with tropical plants, towering ceilings with hanging fans and authentic Mexican artwork creates a friendly, relaxed environment. This place welcomes everyone who eats there. The three-tiered dining room offers a spacious feel, so you can really spread out and relax. In the summer, the patio adds even more room to sit and enjoy the Northern Mexican cooking of the Miranda family.

On a Wednesday night with no reservations, my friend’s birthday party group all wanted to eat Mexican food. There were 18 of us. Many restaurants couldn’t handle a walk-in party of 18, but Bertha Miranda’s staff flew into action and prepared us a network of tables that stretched across the entire center tier of the dining room. They even brought out an extra folding table from their storage room. I was impressed. They were so friendly and welcoming to our group, we all knew immediately that we were in for a good time. These folks are professional.

Our party was so large, I couldn’t list all the food we ordered, but I can say that the chips and salsa arrived quickly at the tables, and the drinks were right behind them. House-made tortillas are one of the nuances that makes Bertha Miranda’s a truly authentic Mexican restaurant. My friend Cherie and I had to cut ourselves off from the chips and salsa because we couldn’t stop eating them.

The menu is big, but it’s not confusing like some large menus. It appears larger than it is because it has the same items listed in both English and Spanish, so you can become bilingual while you decide what to eat.

The prices range from $3 to $15 per person. Within our sprawling party, the most popular items were the combinations ($10.95 to $12.95) and the tostadas ($11.95). Cherie and I both ordered #6, “The Main Event,” ($12.95). It came with a pork tamale, an enchilada, a taco, beans and rice. A choice of chicken or beef is offered with the taco, cheese or chicken with the enchilada and fried or whole beans. We chose the fried beans because they taste the best. The plates came with the food hot and fresh out of the oven. Cheese melted over the beans, and there was no shortage of food. This meal will satisfy the hungriest of all “hungry hungry hippos.”

Health-conscious eaters will be pleased to know that the beans are not fried in lard but in cholesterol-free corn and soy oils. So, you aren’t going to die of a heart attack if you eat the fried beans— they are delicious.

The food was great, and the service really made the evening enjoyable. Bertha Miranda’s is a perfect place to come for lunch with your family or for an evening fiesta with your craziest friends.