If you're looking for great food at even better prices, you've come to the right place. Nowadays, you don't have to settle for buffet food when you're looking for a best buy, either. There are plenty of sit-down restaurants that offer great deals every day. Here's my list of the best buys in Reno and Lake Tahoe.
THE LITTLE NUGGET 233 North Virginia Street, Reno, 89502 (775) 323-0716 If you want the best burger in Reno, head to the Little Nugget Casino in downtown Reno and ask for the "Awful-Awful." For only $3.99 every day, you'll get a massive burger with all the trimmings, served along with a huge basket of crispy french fries. It's the best deal in town, and the best burger to boot. The restaurant, if you can call it that, is miniscule, with a counter and only a few seats. It's located in the very rear of the casino, and expect it to be crowded no matter what time of day you visit. The food is simple, homemade before your eyes, and anything you choose here is good. However, nothing packs the punch of the Awful-Awful.
Estimated cost per person = $3.99
Open all Holidays
THE PEPPERMILL COFFEE SHOP 2707 S. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89502 (775) 689-7474 The Peppermill has been a local favorite for years, they always serve up good food, and in the coffee shop, they offer great specials. Monday through Friday, you can have the lunch special for only $4.95, and it's a different special each day. They also offer an $8.99 prime rib dinner special and full comfort food menu for $5.95. The Steak House and Romanza also offer early bird specials Monday through Thursday, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, for as little as $14.95.
Estimated cost per person = $4.95-$8.99
Open all Holidays
ROSIE'S CAFÉ 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. Rosie's Café, the Nugget's take on a coffee shop, offers specials from 11:00am to 11:00pm every day, for only $5.95 on weekdays and $6.95 on weekends. Choose from three different specials every day of the month. The food here is always good and plentiful, and if you visit in the off hours, you usually won't run into too many crowds.
Estimated cost per person = $5.95-$6.96
Open all Holidays
FRESH MEX RESTAURANT 985 West Fifth Street, Reno, 89503 (775) 322-6866 Locals are just beginning to discover this hidden gem on Fifth Street near Keystone. It serves up great tasting Mexican food, and tacos start at $1. That's right, a buck for some of the best tacos in town! This is a fast-food type restaurant, so don't expect a lot of ambiance inside. However, if you like tasty tacos, complete with homemade tortillas and all the trimmings, you won't be disappointed here. Many people make the mistake of thinking Fresh Mex is a chain, but it's not. It's locally owned and operated by Jesus Gutierrez, a chef who worked in casinos before he had the opportunity to own his own restaurant.
Estimated cost per person = $1-$8
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sat., 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun. Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
CROWN ROOM CAFÉ AT THE CRYSTAL BAY CLUB 14 State Highway 28, Crystal Bay, 89402 (775) 831-0512 For the best breakfast bet at Lake Tahoe, try the Crystal Bay Club coffee shop on the North Shore. For $2.99 you'll get two eggs, a waffle, hash browns, and bacon or sausage. They also have daily lunch and dinner specials, like Spaghetti and Meatball Mondays, for $7.95, and Steak and Shrimp Wednesdays for $9.95. The best part of this best buy is the drive to Lake Tahoe. Any time of the year, the view is worth the drive, and these prices are worth the drive, too!
Estimated cost per person = $2.99 - $9.95
Open all Holidays
LA STRADA AT THE ELDORADO 345 North Virginia Street, Reno NV 89501 (775) 786-5700 La Strada is one of the best restaurants in the Eldorado, which makes their early-bird specials even more appealing. The restaurant offers Friday through Tuesday specials from 5:00pm to 6:00pm. The specials are only $12.50, or $15 with a glass of wine, and they include Caesar salad or minestrone soup, a choice of several entrees, including pasta, pork, and veal, and gelato or tiramisu for dessert. Now that's a fine dining bargain! The Eldorado makes all their own pastas by hand, so you can't go wrong with any of their pasta dishes.
Estimated cost per person = $12.50-$15.00
Open all Holidays, closed Wednesday and Thursday
LEXIE'S AT THE SIENA 130 West Street, Reno, NV 89501 (775) 321-5831 Lexie's is the upscale dining room in the Siena, and those upscale prices are over the top. However, Lexie's offers an "early bird" special every day (yes, EVERY day) that includes three courses for the price of only $14.95. The food is worth the price, and the view of the Truckee River is just the icing on the cake here. These specials are available only from 5:00pm to 5:45pm. It's a good idea to call ahead for reservations, and to make sure the specials are available during some special holidays. You'll enjoy a salad, a choice of four different entrees, and three different desserts.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $14.95
Open all Holidays.
CHINA EAST RESTAURANT 1086 South Virginia Street # A, Reno, 89502 (775) 348-7020 Known to many locals as "Cheap Chinese," this close to downtown Chinese restaurant offers $4.99 lunch specials every day. Specials include soup, an egg roll, entrée, and fortune cookie for dessert. What's one of the favorite specials in our family? The Three Flavor Plate with Garlic Hot Sauce, it's the best. Be sure to come here hungry, because the portions, even for the specials are large. Prices for other meals are reasonable as well, and this makes a nice alternative to the casino dining scene downtown.
Estimated cost per person = $4.99
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
MINT CASINO COFFEE SHOP 1130 Victorian Avenue, Sparks, 89431 (775) 359-4944 If you remember counter service of old with fondness, then you'll love the Mint Coffee Shop in Sparks. You know you're in a real best buy restaurant when the priciest item on the menu is $6.99, and they only take cash! This is a great value in a central location. The Coffee Shop serves bargains for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, and you can gab with local regulars if you'd like. Breakfast best bets are omelets served with toast, and for dinner, try the catfish or one of the daily specials. The Mint serves up food that will make you think of the "good old days" at prices that will really surprise you!
Estimated cost per person = $3.29 - $6.99 (Cash only)
Open all Holidays
SPORTS BAR AT THE CLUB CAL NEVA Second & Virginia Streets, Reno, 89502 775-323-1046 This is a sports bar, so the ambiance is well, sporty and noisy at game time. But the food specials that are available all the time are fantastically cheap. Try a locals' favorite, a dog and a draft for only a buck and a half. Also available are two tacos and a draft for just two bucks, a hot dog and a Heineken for two dollars and fifty cents and two tacos and a Heineken for only three bucks! Now you can't get much cheaper than that for a filling lunch, dinner, or snack.
