RN&R Dining Guide 2019

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Dining Guide

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don’t know about you, readers, but it’s been a busy year here at the RN&R. Personally, between some lengthy days at the office and keeping up with the city’s comings and goings, I’ve found the idea of spending hours turning an expensive grocery list into my usual semi-decent dinners less than appetizing lately—so I’ve been eating out more often than not. In the past year, I’ve come to recognize how lucky I am to be living through Reno’s culinary renaissance, where it seems like no matter where I go or what I’m in the mood for, the hard working staff in both the front and back of the house—and occasionally, a friendly Uber Eats driver—never leave me disappointed.

Eating out every day, however, gets real expensive, real quick. And while that’s a budget I more than happily break on occasion, Reno’s one of those towns where smart diners can find delicious food for a few dollars a day. Check out page 4, where contributor Nicole Szanto did exactly that—put together a full day’s breakfast, lunch and dinner from Reno restaurants for just 12 bucks.

Speaking of cash-strapped, students at the University of Nevada, Reno, might be used to a shoe string budget, but new students, transfers or the perpetually library-bound might not know that there are great places to eat—and more than a few Reno traditions—within walking distance of campus. On page 14, RN&R writer and current UNR student Kirk Geller lays out a student’s guide to getting a meal from somewhere other than the cafeteria.

As previously established: there’s a lot of great places to eat around town—so many that they keep our food columnist, Todd South, pretty busy with his weekly entries. But it seems like every other week that Todd is visiting a new and delicious taqueria, food truck or other example of the valley’s Mexican and Latinx offerings, so check out a collection of some of his best writeups on the subject on page 11.

Finally, we’ve been conditioned to believe that eating anywhere with cloth napkins and metal cutlery should be a group occasion. That is to say, plenty of people might read about a restaurant and mentally bookmark it for their next date night/great aunt’s visit/rendezvous with a secret agent (you know, for example).

However, Associate Editor Jeri Chadwell has learned that life’s simple pleasures are sometimes better enjoyed solo, and a dateless dinner can be an exercise in personal and culinary freedom.

Check out her piece on ordering a table for one on page 7.

That’s all for this year’s menu of dining stories and I hope you find something you like in the following pages. Or, at the very least, you’ve got an idea of just how many options are available in town lately—for whatever suits your taste.

Best regards, Matt Bieker Special projectS editor

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Dining Guide

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ole

by Nic

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s t ea Los Cuatro Vientos stand is a small outdoor space that serves up big flavors on a budget.

Shop-N-Go 641 E. Moana Lane

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eno’s getting more expensive. Rents are increasing faster than inflation, and restaurant prices keep notching upward, but it’s still possible to find local grub on the cheap. Whether its donuts on Damonte, bahn mi in downtown, or a hot slice in midtown, this lineup of restaurant deals can carry diners through the day on just $12 (tax and tip not included). Since this is a community newspaper, this story abides by a few rules to keep things as local as possible while still finding the best options for budget-friendly diners: No fast-food chains and no table service restaurants that require tipping (but throwing your change in the tip jar is always good karma). The options are also broken up into breakfast, lunch and dinner for ease of access. As a disclaimer, vegans, the gluten-intolerant and the waistline-conscious might as well stop reading here.

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Breakfast Doughboys Donuts 5115 Mae Anne Ave., 57 Damonte Ranch Parkway or 5272 Sparks Blvd.

DoughBoys Donuts has three locations: one in Sparks, one in South Reno and one in Northwest Reno, all with the same classic doughnuts made fresh daily. Its star deal is the $2 doughnut and coffee combo. The deal applies to everything but “Doughboy Fancies,” but Bavarian cream, jelly-filled, old fashioned, traditional glazed and the signature “Wolf Pack Paw” are all fair game. The buttermilk bar has a moist, tangy center with a sweet glaze that balances out the bitterness of coffee. They also sell breakfast sandwiches for $3.95. A couple of other places in town with $1 donuts are Holey Schmidt (490 Center St.) and Jelly Donut (1750 S. Virginia St.).

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Commuters can get their morning meal and fill their tanks at the Shop-N-Go on Moana Lane. Made from scratch biscuits and gravy are served fresh daily at this “not your typical convenience store,” as stated on their website. For eats on the cheap, heaping pours of sausage gravy on top of buttery biscuits are served in Styrofoam clamshells for $3.

the Daily bagel 485 Morrill Ave.

Coffee is always free at Daily Bagel, and dough lovers can sip a cup with an order of one of their 16 bagel varieties toasted with one of seven different types of cream cheese for $3.25. The tomato pesto cheddar bagel with chive cream cheese is a pure and simple pleasure.

Another option is Truckee Bagel Company (538 S. Virginia St. and 18130 Wedge Parkway), where a bagel with simple cream cheese is $2.95, and a bagel with peanut butter, jam or honey is $3.50.

Photos/Logan Veith

Dining out in Reno for less than $12

Lunch

Bazaar European Deli and Café

Tacos Las Campesinos 1555 Vassar St.

Hidden in a strip mall on Vassar, Tacos Las Campesinos is a gem for authentic Mexican food. The small restaurant makes a fantastic gordita for $3.25.

Choose from asada, al pastor, fajita de pollo, buche, lengua or tripa. They come topped with lettuce, tomato, cheese and sour cream. Otherwise, plain cheese or bean gorditas can be found for $2.99.

3652 S. Virginia St.

Dinner

Reno’s spot for traditional Russian fare is Bazaar European Deli and Café. The place is half grocery store, half café. The budgetconscious should try the belyash—fried dough shells stuffed with beef and onions— or the pirozhki—baked, boat-shaped buns filled with ground beef with rice, cabbage, or potato and mushroom—both for $2.99.

Another option under the $4 mark is a cup of the hearty borsch. Their version of the Ukrainian bright maroon soup has a beetroot base with potatoes, carrots and finished with sour cream and dill.

Los Cuatro Vientos Stand 1507 Wells Ave.

If it’s Thursday through Sunday, hungry diners can find this taco stand that pops up in front of 1507 Wells Ave. that sells tacos for $1. The pop-up is an affiliate of Los Cuatro Vientos restaurant on Casazza Drive. The street meats are cooked on an open grill and served on warm corn tortillas, and the salsa bar has several choices, from mild to scorching. Purchase a house-made agua fresca for two bucks to ease the burn. There’s also a seating area in the building behind the stand.

Chavelita’s Cocina Mexicana 2080 Mill St.

999 Pho

Concealed slightly behind fast-food chain Wienerschnitzel, Chavelita’s is known for its slow-cooked pork carnitas. Customers can try it inside one of their tacos ($1.50 to $2). The cheesy pupusas are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and they come in chicharron, frijole, and chorizo for $2.75.

A few other “pricey” options for $5 are the spanakopita or Greek salad at Nick’s Greek Deli (600 S. Virginia St.)

2309 Kietzke Lane

999 Pho is named after the quintessential Vietnamese rice noodle soup, but their banh mis are also on point. The filling Vietnamese sandwiches come stuffed with meat, carrots, radishes, cucumbers and cilantro for $4.50— making them a bit of a splurge for this list, but well worth it.

Sizzle Pie 190 S. Center St.

Any discussion of cheap meals has to include pizza. Reno’s got a few places with well-priced slices, but Sizzle Pie wins for the best combination of size and price. The plain cheese slice costs $3.50. Getting one of their creative combos, like the “Queen” with fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, crushed garlic and tomatoes costs $3.75, and half-slices are available between $1.75 and $2. Other dinner options are a grilled cheese from Juicy’s Giant Hamburgers (301 S. Virginia St. or 3981 S. McCarran Blvd.) for $4.45, or the $4.95 all you can eat spaghetti and at Bonanza Casino (4720 N. Virginia St.) The endless spaghetti bowl is available on Wednesdays from 4–10 p.m. Budget-conscious foodies can mix and match these options for a few days worth of dining on the cheap, but they should indulge with caution. The fruit and vegetable intake in this lineup is pretty dismal. Partakers should eventually stop at a grocery store for a piece of fruit or a maybe a carrot or two. Ω

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Dining Guide

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Dining Guide

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by Jeri Dav co m je rid @ ne ws re vie w.

PHOTO/MATT BIEKER

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hink about the things you do alone out in public. Maybe it’s grocery shopping or grabbing a lunchtime coffee at one of the local shops. What else? If you’re taking the time to read this, chances are you’re not the kind who’s comfortable doing everything solo, from trips to the movies to cocktails on a Saturday night or a meal at a restaurant. That last one seems to be a big one for people.

“Sadder than destitution, sadder than a beggar is the man who eats alone in public. Nothing more contradicts the laws of man or beast, for animals always do each other the honor of sharing or disputing each other’s food,” so said 20th century French philosopher Jean Baudrillard. And, funnily enough, people seem to agree.

Surveys routinely reveal that when dining alone people’s biggest worry is what others will think of them. But let’s be very clear; that Baudrillard guy was totally wrong. When you eat at a restaurant alone it says just two things about you: 1.) you’re hungry, and 2.) you can afford to treat yourself to a meal.

Let’s get one more thing straight before we move on. Doing things with other people is wonderful. So, this is not an ode to the perpetual loner. It’s not geared toward seasoned misanthropes.

This is a practical guide for folks who think doing things with others is wonderful but are curious what it’d feel like to strike out on their own.

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Get out of your own head

Seriously, get out of your head. Don’t worry about what others think of you.

The wait staff and other customers aren’t going to judge you for being alone. Do you sit there and judge solo diners when you see them? No. (And if you do, then you deserve to be alone.

Shame on you, you jerk.)

The way I see it, it’s basically like Eleanor Roosevelt—obviously smarter than Jean Baudrillard—so eloquently said, “You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.”

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Make some decisions

You’ve got some thinking to do before you ever head out for your solo meal.

First, consider which meal will you go for. Any meal of the day on any day of the week is acceptable, but you need to decide which you’d prefer. A busy breakfast joint on a Saturday morning can be daunting for a first timer—as can a nice dinner place on a Saturday night.

If the thought of either of those makes your palms sweat, perhaps you should consider a weekday lunch.

You can also opt for a place that has bar seating, which lends itself to solo dining. If after picking your place and time you’re still a bit nervous, take the time to peruse the menu online, if available. This will help save you from

“stress ordering,” i.e., looking at your server like a deer in the headlights and blurting out the first menu item you see when asked for your order.

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Make your strategy

You thought you’d already strategized, right? It’s OK. There’s only a little more to consider.

One thing you should decide is if you’ll take something with you to distract yourself. You can bring a book along to read. It’s also fine to plan on playing games or scrolling Facebook on your phone, but a book also works as a seat reserver—something you can leave on your table if you need to pop off to the bathroom but don’t want the server to think you’ve pulled a dine-and-dash.

Something else you might consider is bringing cash to pay for your meal, especially if you opt for a busy restaurant during peak hours. It’s totally fine to dine by yourself during these times, but you should be prepared to get in and out in a timely manner. Having cash will let you avoid waiting for your server to drop your check, return for it and run your card through their POS system.

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Make your move

It’s time to do it. Grab your cash, keys and distraction and go.

It might sound cheesy, but don’t underestimate the power of a smile.

A speciAl supplement to Reno news & Review

Power—or at least confidence—is what a smile really conveys. Wearing one when you walk into your chosen restaurant can help set the tone for your meal.

If you’ve brought a distraction, don’t dive right into it. Take the time to converse with your server and take in your surroundings. And when your meal arrives, take the time to savor it and your solo dining success.

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Associate Editor Jeri Davis is one of those people who enjoys flying solo, but even shy folks can get something out of dining alone.

Make it a habit

The first time you do something new is generally the most stressful. Provided you didn’t find the whole experience awful, you should dine alone again. You should make it a habit. Try new places and things. When you dine alone, you’re free to pick whatever restaurant and whatever meal appeals to you most in that moment.

If your first solo dining experience was a weekday lunch, you can work your way up to a Friday night dinner. If you went to a place with bar seating, you can go somewhere and try out a table for one. If you brought a distraction, you can put it aside and opt to people watch and listen to the conversations around you of couples on first dates, families, business partners. If you went for a table the first time, try bar seating instead and strike up a conversation with the people around you. Just do what feels right—because solo dining should be a fun and empowering experience. Ω 11.14 .19

Dining Guide

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Dining Guide

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BJ’s BBQ

80 E. Victorian Ave., Sparks, NV 89431 355-1010 bjsbbq.com Established in 1986, we are proud to be family owned and operated. Our ribs have won several awards at the “Best of the West” Rib Cook-off. Come on in and join us for breakfast, lunch or dinner and taste our great food for yourself!

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Blaze Pizza

s g n i t s Li

537 S. Meadows Parkway, Reno, NV 89521 293-4042 blazepizza.com Everyone can benefit from making smarter decisions about what’s in our food, how we treat each other and protect this planet we all share. It all starts with a commitment to Keepin’ It Real. FRESH DOUGH NEVER FROZEN. CLEAN INGREDIENTS. ECO-FRIENDLY PACKAGING.

C h e r r y B o m B C at e r i n g 421 W. Plumb Lane, Reno, NV 89509 287-4121 cherrybombreno.com

Simply the Bomb. We take great pride in our attention to detail and dedication in building unique menus, working in various venues, and working with dietary and allergy needs, all while staying within your budget.

ChurrasCo Brazilian steakhouse 425 S. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89501 322-4000 churrascobr.com

Churrasco Brazilian Steakhouse provides an unforgettable experience through authentic chef-driven cuisine and unparalleled hospitality.

Enjoy 15 different mouth watering skewers of wood-fired meats sliced fresh at your table and an all you can enjoy fresh market table with 50 assorted sides, salads and more!

Fa m o u s D av e ’ s

4925 Kietzke Lane, Reno, NV 89509 826-7427 famousdaves.com Our passion for barbecue is famous! We are honored to be consistently chose as America’s favorite barbecue restaurant. We also like heading to competitions and putting our barbecue up against what other elite pitmasters are cooking. We serve amazing barbecue to friends and fellow food lovers. Grab a seat, get your order to go, or have us cater your event!

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5150 Mae Anne Ave. #204 Reno, NV 89523 322-8888

555 S. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89501 324-2013

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g r e at F u l l g a r D e n s e x P r e s s at t h e university oF n e va D a , r e n o Joe Crowley Student Union 1664 N. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89557 682-9590 greatfullgardens.com

This concept serves students, faculty and guests with the same wholesome food in a Quick Service model.

the kitChen By g r e at F u l l g a r D e n s 5220 Longley Lane, Ste. 100, Reno, NV 89511 384-6420 greatfullgardens.com

NOW OPEN! The Kitchen by Great Full Gardens, is a self-serve organic salad, soup and hot bar. Featuring GinoTheSoupMan Soups, rotating specials such as lasagne, and grab and go wraps—as well as an organic salad bar!

th e g rowle r gu ys

First place winners for Best Hawaiian Restaurant, L&L serves up authentic Hawaiian comfort food at three locations for dine-in or takeout. We also cater, giving any event a distinct island flair. Aloha and mahalo!

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50 N Sierra St. Reno, NV 89501 622-8829 facebook.com/SmeesAlaskanFishBar

Jon Smee and his fleet have fished the Alaskan waters for over 40 years. Enjoy his fresh catches and delicious signature cocktails at his beautiful downtown restaurant overlooking the Truckee River.

the human Bean

m y Fav o r i t e m u F F i n & Bag e l Ca Fe

8050 S. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89511 853-2326 3915 S. McCarran Blvd.

Reno, NV 89502 800-1544 thehumanbean.com

340 California Ave. Reno, NV 89509 333-1025 2868 Vista Blvd.

Sparks, NV 89434 351-2868

The best coffee, the best service, the best customers! Oh, and other awesome stuff too, like tea, smoothies and baked goods. Yum!

myfavoritemuffin.com/reno We do so much more than make from scratch over 30 flavors of Muffins and Bagels every single day. Breakfast and lunch, sandwiches, smoothies, coffee, espresso, soups and salads round out the offerings. Locally owned and operated.

ni ko s g r e e k kitCh e n 171 Disc Drive Sparks, NV 89436 499-5777 nikosgreekkitchen.com

Nikos Greek Kitchen has been voted Best Greek Food in Best of Northern Nevada for the last 9 years in a row. Everything is made to order with high quality ingredients. Try the homemade baklava!

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7530 Longley Lane #106, Reno, NV 89511 800-1186 thegrowlerguys.com

235 Lake St. Reno, NV 89501 499-5263 santafereno.com

We love beer (obviously!)—but we also offer a variety of other delicious drinks, including kombucha and CBD beverages.

Buy your growler once and then come back for a refill, which can cost as little as $8.99.

After extensive renovations the wait is finally over! Reno’s traditional family-style Basque restaurant at the historic Santa Fe Hotel is back open for business. Bring your friends and family today and keep the tradition alive!

A speciAl supplement to Reno news & Review

sizzle Pie

smee’s alaskan Fish Ba r a nD m a r ketPl aCe

landlhawaiiannv.com

Great Full Gardens Cafe & Eatery features a wholesome menu for breakfast, lunch & dinner, full barista services, beer & wine in a casual full service environment. Our restaurant caters to people with specialized dietary needs, such as vegan, gluten-free or Paleo, as well as to the person just looking for great flavor and a menu that is unique and delicious! We are proud to support and feature many items from local vendors and farmers.

Based in the Convention Center, SAVOR… Reno-Sparks can handle all of your catering needs. Finding yourself on-the-go this Holiday season? SAVOR’s got you covered with precooked meals for pick-up or delivery.

From Portland to Reno, Sizzle Pie is now open.

Offering classic and unconventional pizza, a selection of vegan and veggie options, a full bar, huge patio & fire pit. Open late every day.

4978 S. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89502 683-9960 1495 E. Prater Way Sparks, NV 89434 384-1940

748 South Meadows Parkway Reno, NV 89521 324-2016 greatfullgardens.com

4590 S. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89502 360.8607 685.8255

190 S. Center St. Reno, NV 89501 Follow @SizzlePie on social media for updates

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Enjoy a “10 minute vacation” at our five locations where we offer 30+ flavors of frozen yogurt, custard & gelato and over 50 toppings that include fresh cut fruit, nuts candy and sauces.

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Dining Guide

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Reno, NV 89502 (775) 800-1544 COMING sOON 3380 Kietzke Ln. Reno, NV 89502 A speciAl supplement to Reno news & Review

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4978 S Virginia St. Reno, NV 89502 (775) 683-9960

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a o v i c i V x é M h d SouT

by Tod

The Truckee Meadows are home to plenty of authentic and delicious Mexican and Latinx food—something the Reno News & Review’s dining columnist, Todd South, knows well. here are some of his favorite places para comer from the past year.

Reno is full of places to find Mexican and Latinx fare, like these loaded nachos from Nevada Taco Grill.

Photo/Allison Young

Casa Grande 4796 Caughlin Parkway, 828-7777

Casa Grande is an upscale MexicanAmerican restaurant—the kind of place with pleasant decor and seating for a birthday dinner, or with out-of-town guests who might not be down with the more authentic aspects of other taquerias. None of the dishes are terribly spicy, and you won’t find any “exotic” ingredients on the menu.

A basket of corn tortilla chips was served with a smooth, medium-spicy salsa and warm, spiced bean dip. We killed the first round with haste and quickly received more frijoles and salsa. House margaritas ($9.95) were served with an ice-filled, classic welled glass, heavily rimmed with salt and accompanied by a wedge of lime. The cocktail itself was in an iced shaker, to be poured by the customer. I refilled that glass at least three times before the shaker ran dry.

A half order of apretalados ($14) showed up not long after ordered. The dish is

comprised of prawns and crab meat wrapped in crispy bacon atop a plentiful bed of sauteed bell pepper, onion and mushroom, with melted jack cheese, sliced avocado and pico de gallo. The half order is more than enough for four people as an appetizer.

Entrees arrived just as fast as our appetizer and cocktails, starting with my friend’s enchiladas suiza ($15), a pair of chicken enchiladas doused in a sauce of fresh tomatillo, green pepper and onion and served with a side of sour cream, lettuce and tomato. It came with refried beans and rice on the side.

The shredded chicken was moist, and the fruity, savory sauce did the trick. The beans were excellent, though the bland rice (with corn) wasn’t my favorite.

A plate of beans and rice with barbacoa ($15)—large chunks of beef marinated in red chile sauce then slow-steamed until tender— was also everything you’d expect and want from the dish. My big “Muy Especial” plate ($19) was indeed pretty special. A poundedthin piece of marinated chicken breast, carne

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11.14 .19

asada and large prawns were flame broiled and served with several whole mushrooms sauteed in butter, garlic and spices, with plenty of guacamole, pico de gallo, and beans and rice on the side. A dish of spiced, drawn butter was provided for dipping.

Having said that, the next time I visit, I’ll definitely order my friend’s choice of camarones culichi ($16), a beautiful sea of tail-free shrimp cooked with sliced mushroom, garlic and butter, and smothered in poblano chile and creamy, cheesy Sinaloa-style culichi sauce. The sides of rice and a salad of romaine, avocado, cheddar and tomato with lime cilantro dressing were an afterthought to the main event. That heart-stopping, delicious sauce was something to be appreciated—not terribly spicy but fantastically savory.

Casa Grande is open Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday

“Viva México” continued on page 13

Dining Guide

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“Viva México”

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Taqueria El Taconazo 555 Greenbrae Drive, Sparks, 355-3222

Taqueria El Taconazo is essentially still a fast food joint—but finally serving the real stuff.

The interior is clean and functional. The counter service on my visit was really efficient. And the food, well, Taco Bell it ain’t.

The salsa bar has green, red and orange sauces, the heat of which progressed in that order. All three were very good, though I particularly enjoyed the herbaceous, hot red stuff. Most places include a mild, pickled mix of veggies, but the escabeche here had cauliflower, carrot, onion and salty cotija cheese swimming together in a fairly spicy marinade. I highly approve.

We tried a couple of barbacoa and cecina tacos ($1.29 each); both meats were very tender, packed with flavor and well appointed with cilantro and onion. A chile relleno taco ($1.69) featured a small, cheese-stuffed and battered pepper, topped with lettuce and tomato.

The lightly crisped tortilla pocket of a nopalitos gordita ($2.69) was stuffed with plenty of marinated cactus, lettuce and tomato and might have been the best tasting item overall. If you’ve never tried seasoned strips of prickly pear, this is a great place for your first taste. A chicharones gordita verde ($2.89) was a lot spicier than expected, which helped distract from the extremely chewy pig skin.

A serving of three chicken enchiladas with rice and refried beans ($5.89) was a pretty sizeable plate of food. The nicely seasoned meat wasn’t dry, and there was just enough sauce to do the trick. The rice was fluffy and tasted pretty good on its own, but I, of course, like mixing it with the beans. These were a bit on the salty side, so the combination evened them out a bit.

My carne asada burrito ($4.99) was made for meat lovers, with way more steak than any other filling. It was a little over-seasoned, but otherwise grilled just the way I like it. Adding some of the citrusy green salsa made it that much better, though at this point I was so full I had to save most of it for the next day’s lunch. I certainly didn’t mind a bit.

Taqueria El Taconazo is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Tacos ($2.25-$2.50 each) are available with a choice of 10 meats. They come standard with onion, cilantro and medium salsa, with optional toppings of nopal (cactus, 50 cents extra), guacamole, sour cream, etc. I stuck with the basics and ordered one each of cabeza, lengua, carnitas, buche, al pastor, asada, tripa, pollo and Azteca.

Each taco was loaded with meat. The Azteca is a mix of carne asada (marinated, grilled steak) and nopal. The steak had a ton of flavor and plenty of smoky char from the grill, a great contrast with the slightly citrusy, tart cactus.

The cabeza (beef head) was soft, fatty and mildly seasoned. The lengua (beef tongue) was smooth and tender. The carnitas (slow cooked pork) was tender, moist and pulled apart with ease. Although the buche’s (beef stomach) flavor was quite good, it was a little on the squishy side. Al pastor (spit-roasted pork with pineapple) was a little crispy and spicy, with a perfect balance of pineapple. When done right, tripa (intestine) has just a hint of livery gaminess that reminds you you’re eating offal.

Though a tad chewy, this example tasted great.

Last was a better than average grilled pollo (chicken) taco that was well seasoned, moist and smoky.

Out of curiosity, I ordered a guacamole chorizo (sausage) vampiro ($4) and flour tortilla mula with saudero (brisket) and nopal ($4).

A mula is essentially the contents of two (or three?) tacos, stuffed between a pair of five-inch tortillas. There was nothing wrong with the flour discs, but they paled by comparison. The brisket was fattier than the cabeza and could have used more seasoning, but a healthy dose of salsa helped out. The vampiro was stuffed and then grilled on both sides, to the point of seriously charring the corn tortillas. The oil from the chorizo drenched the whole thing, and it was delicious—a little crunchy, a tad chewy and supremely spicy. The guacamole got a little lost in the mix, but I hardly noticed.

I’ve had mixed results with the popular combination of French fries and carne asada, but an order of campechana fries ($10) was absolutely fabulous. The mix of grilled steak and adobada (marinated pork) was killer, and there was plenty of it. The fries could have been a little crispier, but I really didn’t care.

El Original Tacos Tijuana is open Sunday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.

El Original Tacos Tijuana 2201 Prater Way, Sparks, 358-0843

El Original Tacos Tijuana has a pretty short menu, so I was half expecting a taco stand.

Instead I found a dining area with booth and table seating and a drive through window for take-out. The salsa bar includes the usual garnishes and four housemade salsas ranging from medium and fruity to “let’s get this party rolling” hot. You’ll have to go elsewhere for a beer, but with fresh, handmade corn tortillas, I had eyes only for the food.

Nevada Taco Grill 2995 Vista Blvd., Sparks, 376-1844

Nevada Taco Grill is a no-frills taqueria serving up the goods in a tiny space with seating for perhaps 10, assuming they’re well-acquainted. My trio ordered a few items and found a spot to sit and dine amid folks waiting on take-out.

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11.14 .19

The two-person operation was cranking out food in short order, and we soon settled into our unplanned feast. Somewhat ironically, the tacos were actually the least successful items. Curious about the difference between the “street” ($1.99 each) versus “regular” tacos ($2.99 each), we tried a couple of each. The choice of meats included shredded chicken or beef, grilled chicken, carne asada, carnitas and adobada, and they also have specials during the week that include hard-shell, house-fried tortillas.

The street variety were the typical pair of three-inch corn tortillas—topped with meat, diced onion and fresh cilantro—while the regulars were six-inch, single tortillas with the same ingredients, plus fresh pico de gallo. The pork carnitas and adobada were a bit on the crunchy side from being tossed on the grill, but they still tasted good. Beef asada was better, though a tad chewy. They were also a little light on the meat compared to other tacos around town.

A combo plate of three shredded beef rolled tacos ($7.25) was served with melted cheese and guacamole on top and sides of rice and beans.

The taquitos were crunchy with good masa flavor—filled with plenty of seasoned meat— and much better than their unfried cousins. The rice was fair, the frijoles refritos quite good, but the guacamole was a blended, runny sauce—not bad, just not the chunky stuff I prefer.

Given a choice between shredded or grilled chicken on my mother’s torta ($5.75), we went grilled. The small chunks of meat were actually tender and reasonably moist, accompanied by bell pepper, onion, tomato and lettuce on a soft, perfectly lovely Mexican roll.

Always on the hunt for a decent chile relleno—yet always with low expectations—I went ahead and got the relleno and cheese enchilada combo plate ($8.75). The enchilada was average, but the stuffed pepper was easily my favorite item of the meal. The large poblano pepper was meaty—not overcooked—and had a nice bit of kick. Stuffed with a ton of melty cheese and topped with a fresh and flavorful, just-shy-of-chunky red enchilada sauce, every bite made me sad to see it disappear.

Surprisingly, this gas station chile relleno is among my top five from the past few years.

My wife just can’t not order nachos ($9.50), and I’m glad she can’t resist. Topped with a ton of carne asada, refried beans, pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole and both melted and shredded cheese sprinkles, the thin, crispy chips did a respectable job with their burden. The chips themselves were excellent, and the bounty of well-seasoned meat and beans more-or-less made the cheese irrelevant. They were even good as leftovers the next day.

Nevada Taco Grill is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m

Dining Guide

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k c a P

h c n u l

A student’s guide to closeto-campus dining

M

any students at the University of Nevada, Reno campus have large workloads or study schedules that can cause them to choose snacks over real food, or forgo a meal entirely. There are options close to campus, though, that can easily satisfy the needs of students and are only a short walk from any building. With the amount of time the average UNR student has to spend studying, completing assignments or, hey, occasionally blowing off some steam, the restaurants below all provide easy and affordable options for any student in a rush.

Archie’s 2195 N. Virginia St. 322-9595 Open 24 hours

Archie’s has been a Reno mainstay and a go-to restaurant for UNR students since its opening in 1995. Home of the famous Giant Hamburger, Archie’s appeals to college students because of its inexpensive dining options and 24-hour service, meaning students can stay as long as they need in order to get their work done— compliments of the building’s free wifi—or just hang out with friends while enjoying daily happy hour deals for food and drinks. Archie’s is only a 10-minute walk from the Joe Crowley Student Union, and for future health care workers, a

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Dining Guide

11.14 .19

K

by Kir

Geller

field that could easily include long nights and many hours of work, Archie’s is an even shorter walk as it’s only right across the street from the School of Medicine building. Archie’s also serves breakfast 24/7, meaning even if students miss the most important meal of the day due to early classes or an all-night study session, they can partake of their favorite breakfast grub at whatever hour they choose.

Roberto’s Taco Shop 4455 S. Virginia St. 432-2965 Open 24 hours

Roberto’s is the perfect place for UNR students looking for a quick bite after a late night—either after studying or partying. With its 24-hour service, it may even be more popular after midnight than during typical eating hours.

Anyone visiting Roberto’s around midnight, or even later, will see lines nearly going out the door and the drive-thru so backed up it almost makes it impossible to park in the lot. This is why most students make the quick walk to Roberto’s, or “Berto’s” as its sometimes called, as it is close to the residence halls on campus.

Especially with the new Wolf Pack Tower established this semester at the Circus Circus Casino, Roberto’s is an easy—and more importantly

A speciAl supplement to Reno news & Review

safe, as it’s equidistant from downtown and campus—option for students who were forced to move after the explosions at Nye and Argenta Hall. It’s a simple choice for students looking for solid Mexican staples like burritos or quesadillas at any time of the day or night.

Little Waldorf Saloon 1661 N. Virginia St. 337-9255 Open 11 a.m.-2 a.m.

“Backing the Pack” since before most of the grandparents of current UNR students were born, the Little Waldorf Saloon is the place to go for a night out close to campus. Located nearly right across from the PBS television station at UNR, the Wal has been in operation since 1922, when Red Waldorf found a fortune cookie telling him to head west for fame and fortune. He left New York to come to Reno and opened what is now a landmark not only for UNR students, but for the entire city of Reno as well. Students who are over the age of 21 can select from a choice of 45 drafts as well as spirits while also enjoying nightly specials such as College Night or Two for Tuesday, where the purchase of one drink comes with a free second choice. On weekends, the Wal’s already decently sized parking lot becomes jammed with a flock of college kids lining up at the door trying to get into the roomy establishment. How only two or three security guards successfully manage 500 college students continues to be a mystery. The Wal also offers many different food options such as burgers, traditional Nevada barbecue and pizza cooked on the grill or smoker, as well as a few surprises like native American fry bread in either its sweet or savory incarnations.

Laughing Planet

The Union

Raising Cane’s

941 N. Virginia St. 870-9633 Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

10 E. Ninth St. 499-5711 Open Monday and Tuesday noon-midnight, Wednesday-Friday noon-2 a.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-2 a.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-12 a.m.

2175 N. Virginia St. 357-8002 Open 9 a.m.-midnight

Home to many different vegan options and located just outside of Sierra Hall, Laughing Planet is a good choice for students needing to focus on schoolwork or who want to get a study group together.

The restaurant serves as a social spot due to the open layout of the downstairs setup, which includes a room-length table and small nook for group meetings of different sizes. If students would prefer to study and eat in quiet, the upstairs seating area is full of individual tables where they can study in peace. The restaurant likes to keep the atmosphere playful and light by having small features like dinosaur figurines on each table and neon colors that pop right near the entrance, a nice change-up to the many darker bar and restaurant atmospheres around campus. Laughing Planet sources its food from local growers to ensure all of the options are fresh and healthy—a sometimes rare find for college students rushing from one meal to another.

The Union is the newest bar near the UNR campus, and it’s a quintessential college bar with good music that stays open late.

While students under the age of 21 can find bar food classics like pizza and wings or have non-alcoholic drinks, “The U”—as it’s known to most students on campus—is a safe place to go right across the street from campus if students want to hang out with friends or just relax and have a drink after a long day of classes. The full-service kitchen helps as well. Also, since the bar is typically full of college students, it’s a good place to meet up with friends or make a few new ones, and the free wifi makes it a decent study spot.

With new scanners implemented to catch fake IDs as well, The U takes every step in guaranteeing everyone has a fun—but responsible—time while partying.

Known for its famous Cane’s sauce and heavy helping of chicken and Texas toast, this national chain opened across the street from Lawlor Events Center in the summer of 2017, almost immediately becoming the place to go for any UNR student who forgets to eat dinner during a late night. Cane’s offers a simple menu of only a few items: chicken finger meals and a chicken sandwich, with Texas toast, coleslaw and fries to go along with each order. Known for big portions, students can get a large meal that will keep them full for just over $12. Cane’s has become integrated in the Wolf Pack culture on campus, cutting advertisement deals with UNR and cultivating a presence at Mackay Stadium during football games. Cane’s is located next to Ike’s Love & Sandwiches, another quick option, and down the road slightly from Little Waldorf and Archie’s, meaning hungry students can find their fill of options—and work up an appetite—with a quick walk up the Virginia Street hill. Ω

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