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The Top List of Best Brunches - Reno, NV
Invite family & friends to savor the best cuisine in town.
by Sherril Steele-Carlin
If there's something a gaming town like Reno does best in the food department, it's brunch! Every casino buffet offers sumptuous weekend bounties, but many other local eateries serve up some hot brunches, too. Here are my choices for the best places to nosh on a Sunday morning.
THE ROITISSERIE AT JOHN ASCUAGA'S NUGGET
1100 Nugget Avenue, Sparks, NV 89431
800-648-1177 or 775-356-3300
The Nugget is one of Reno's standbys for years. That's because it always presents dependable food and service, in a pleasing atmosphere. Does the Nugget offer the biggest buffet or the most food alternatives? No. But it does offer a great selection of brunch items, and the hand-carved roast beef and ham are always perfect. There's a create-your-own omelet station, many fresh fruit choices, and the Nugget's desserts are always outstanding. They also offer a selection of no-sugar added desserts. My absolute favorite item is the smoked trout, and I'm not a big seafood eater, so that's saying a lot. Look for the chocolate chip dessert bars, too, they are absolutely the best, and the Nugget will hand out recipes for them if you ask. There's a private room that will hold up small parties up to about 10 or 12, but they don't reserve it, you just have to hope it's free. We like the Nugget so much we held our wedding rehearsal dinner there, and it was quite a memorable evening. The Nugget always offers dependable service, too, unlike some other buffets in town. Champagne, orange juice, and coffee are included with brunch.
Estimated cost per person for brunch = $15-20
Open all Holidays
TOUCAN CHARLIE'S BUFFET & GRILLE AT THE ATLANTIS
3800 South Virginia Street,. Reno, NV 89502
(800) 723-6500 or (775) 825-4700
This buffet consistently gets voted one of the best in Reno for Sunday brunch. Sometimes service can be spotty, which drops it down on my list. The food choices are almost endless, however, from oysters on the half-shell to custom-cooked omelets and an Asian wok station, Mongolian BBQ, and South of the border choices. I particularly like the Mongolian BBQ, where you can watch the chef prepare the ingredients you choose, and the omelet station. My husband swears by the seafood choices here, which seem endless. Champagne is included with brunch, which makes it a great deal, too.
Estimated cost per person for brunch = $20
Open all Holidays.
CARVINGS AT HARRAH'S
219 North Center Street, Reno, NV 89501
775-786-3232
Carving's is an entirely redesigned buffet inside Harrah's, and it's a beautiful space. The food offerings are pretty special, too. It's one of the few buffets to offer freshly made sushi, even at brunch, and you can enjoy a Champagne brunch on Saturday or Sunday, another plus. The new buffet offers Italian, wood-fired made-to-order pizzas, Mexican, and Asian specialties, tons of fresh seafood and salads, and every day they offer a different type of fresh sausage as well as other roasted meats (including hand-carved buffalo from time to time). I recommend the wood-fired pizza and the crab cakes if they're on the menu for your brunch, they are excellent! Oh, try the bananas foster or cherries jubilee for dessert, and the no-sugar items, too.
Estimated cost per person for brunch = $15 - $20
Open all Holidays
CHEF'S BUFFET AT THE ELDORADO
345 North Virginia Street, Reno NV 89501
(775) 786-5700
The Eldorado has been known for its food for years, and it's always been a locals' favorite. The Chef's Buffet serves up a great brunch, with all the accoutrements, from a Mongolian BBQ station to make-your-own omelets. The fresh salads are especially tasty here, and so are the Italian items, which are always Eldorado specialties. They also offer a wide array of fresh seafood, even during brunch. The pizzas are great, and if they have ravioli, definitely give that a try. Save room for dessert, because those are always wonderful too, including the make your own ice cream bar. Check for the fresh smoked meats at the carving station, too.
Estimated cost per person for brunch = $15 - $20
Open all Holidays
HUNGRY BEAR AT THE RIDGE TAHOE
400 Ridge Club Drive, Lake Tahoe, NV 89449
(775) 588-3553
The Hungry Bear offers a relaxing sit-down brunch, rather than the oh so common buffet. The warm banana bread that starts off the meal is a treat in itself, and the Hungry Bear offers several standard brunch entrees to choose from. This is a four-course affair, so come hungry, and leave very satisfied. Your meal begins with that banana bread and a fresh fruit tray. Then comes a small shrimp cocktail, followed by the entrée and dessert of your choice from the dessert cart. If you're really hungry, try the traditional country breakfast, otherwise, the Belgian waffles and the frittata are great choices. The upside of this restaurant is you have a gorgeous view of Lake Tahoe from this resort, but the downside is, you're not eating right on the lakeshore. Try Sunnyside's (below) for a lakeside dining experience.
Estimated cost per person for brunch = $20 - $30
Open all Holidays
LEXIE'S AT THE SIENA
130 West Street, Reno, NV 89501
(775) 321-5831
Lexie's makes the list because it's got something no other brunch in Reno can offer, a beautiful view of the Truckee River right outside, and that's a great way to start any day. The dining room is contemporary and very hip, comfortable and elegant at the same time. Inside, the Sunday brunch offerings aren't as numerous as other buffets in the area, but they do offer a variety of seafood, a crepes station that's unique, and make-your-own omelets. They offer mimosas with brunch, will grill a steak or lamb chops to order, and even offer a special children's brunch, so it's a place the entire family can enjoy. The food is a step above most casino buffets, too, which adds another plus to Lexie's.
Estimated cost per person for brunch = $25 - $35
Open all Holidays.
FOREST BUFFET
Harrah's Lake Tahoe, 15 Hwy 50, Stateline, NV 89449
1-800-HARRAHS
Often voted the best brunch in Lake Tahoe, the Forest Buffet offers brunch on Saturday and Sunday, with a wide array of brunch offerings, from make-your-own omelets to seafood and hand-carved meats. Probably the best thing about this brunch isn't the food, it's the magnificent view of Lake Tahoe from the 18th floor of Harrah's. The brick oven pizzas are great too, and if you're not visiting for brunch, they'll grill you a steak for dinner right in front of your eyes. Be aware that waits can be long during the busy summer months here, so if you want the freshest items with the shortest lines, visit as soon as the buffet opens, or wait until the lunch rush passes.
Estimated cost per person for brunch = $25 - $35
Open all Holidays
RAPSCALLION SEAFOOD HOUSE AND BAR
1555 South Wells Avenue, Reno, NV 89509
(775) 323-1211
Rapscallion made the top ten Reno restaurant list, and it's back on the list for Sunday Champagne brunch. Why? Well, it's another sit-down brunch with entrees, unlike most local brunches which are buffets. The atmosphere is typically unbuffet-like, too, which is a plus for many locals. You can find fresh seafood on the brunch menu, because that's what Rapscallion's is famous for, but they offer a variety of tasty breakfast items, too, like stick-to-the-ribs Chicken Fried Steak and a variety of omelets and egg dishes. The Cajun Coconut Prawns are on the brunch menu too, don't miss them. Try brunch on the patio when it's warm enough, it's very charming and relaxing.
Estimated cost per person for brunch = $20 - $30
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
THE ISLAND BUFFET AT THE PEPPERMILL
2707 S. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89502
(775) 689-7474
Chances are, if you visit Reno, you'll hear the Island Buffet at the Peppermill is the best in town for brunch. I agree the array of choices here is phenomenal, and the Peppermill is known to the locals for great food. However, the buffet barely placed on my list because of service. Each and every time we have eaten there, the service was so pitifully bad it ruined the rest of the experience for us. You'll beg for champagne during brunch, or even a cup of coffee, and refills, forgetaboutit! Clean plates or a cleared table while you refill your plates? Not anytime soon. That said, the food is above average for a buffet, and the offerings seem endless, from Mexican to oak-grilled steaks and halibut to your order. There is the requisite make-your-own omelet station, along with made-to-order fajitas and a dizzying array of desserts. The Peppermill would make number one if they could manage their service issues, which is odd, because the other Peppermill restaurants offer outstanding service. So, go for the food, but don't expect to be satisfied with the service here.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $20-30
Open all Holidays
JAZZ BRUNCH AT THE NEVADA MUSEUM OF ART
160 West Liberty Street, Reno, NV 89501
775-329-3333
The only reason this jazzy brunch shows up last on my list is it only takes place once a month, on the third Sunday of each month, to be exact. However, this is one of the most satisfying brunches around – combining a new jazz group each month paired with Café Musée's always elegant offerings. Café Musée, located inside the Nevada Museum of Art and operated by the owners of the popular Cheeseboard and Wine Seller, serves up a special menu for this Sunday brunch, and it's a winner. Two of our favorites are the omelet with wild mushrooms, gruyere, spinach, fresh herbs, white truffle oil, and the roast turkey sandwich with a Lingonberry aioli, havarti, and baby greens. The food is excellent, and the music is always good, too. Too bad it's only one Sunday a month, and Champagne isn't included (but it is available).
Estimated cost per person for brunch = $11 - $15
Open 3rd Sunday of each month inside the museum
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