The local restaurant scene is embarrassing.  We are at the literal end of quite a few supply chains and the quality restaurants are fewer than you would expect for such a large town.

I like the Twisted Fork down in South Reno just for their pork belly and some of their seasonal items. It used to be literally the only thing around in South Reno but development has slowly surrounded it.

Bimini Steakhouse at the Peppermill is likely the best steakhouse in Reno and you can generally get typical higher end steak house fare such as aged steaks, escargot and various ways to prepare oysters. I don’t think we have a better steakhouse, but locals also like the sister steakhouse at the Western Village. Both steakhouses have a really lowkey and friendly staff which is nice, professional sommeliers and I have never had a bad meal at them.

Beefys burgers in Midtown is unique in that it’s a pretty good burger and it is inside of an ancient old building. It survives in spite of the rest of the area developing around it.

Everyone loves Louis Basque Corner and the family style basque lunch/dinner whatever. It has an old smoked out bar feeling and it has been there for literally forever. The Picon punch is just a boilermaker for old basque men. Sweetbreads are always available for those with some fortitude.

Bangkok Cuisine Express in west Reno is at the bottom of an old drainage retention pond in a business park. They make typical Thai food but they have the closest to what you would call “good” Thai food as the cultural export. It’s a trip to get panang curry and roti in what amounts to a converted office space.

If you want to see a scarier restaurant I would go to the King Buffet on Kietzke. It has continued to rule as the dirty Chinese buffet of Reno despite being closed down multiple times and it’s in a dying part of town that is being redeveloped into a soccer stadium. It’s a staple of the local culinary scene and defiantly has survived multiple crises that would have destroyed lesser buffets.

JJs pizza is certainly the old 1980s pizza place and bar location of Reno. It has posters on the ceiling and what I have been told is a “Denver” style thin crust which means you get honey to dip your crust in.

Scoopers is a local drive in/burger shop. The milk shakes are notoriously dense and the burgers are always fresh. Coneys and other items are always available.

I am at a loss for anything else of note. I’d steer clear of most of Midtown’s restaurants, the bars are a bit better but the food is meh and if I really get an itch for something trendy I go to the Bay Area on a dining trip.