If you’ve been craving Crystal Shrimp or longing for a Godzilla Roll but cannot decide where to satisfy your hunger, you’re not alone. With fresh fish flown in daily, Reno Tahoe has an abundance of the freshest sushi bars in the country. We believe you can’t go wrong with choosing any of the region’s sushi restaurants, but here are a few of our fans’ favorites.

We asked our near 20,000 followers on our Facebook page, “Where is your favorite all-you-can eat sushi spot?” Many responded, casting their votes for a variety of local sushi bars but it was Hiroba Sushi on Skyline Boulevard that came out on top. Hiroba Sushi offers an exciting menu in a hip and energetic environment. Their chefs are quick to take and prepare your order, even when the recently expanded restaurant is packed, as it usually is. Enjoy their all-you-can eat lunch menu for $17.95 or their all-you-can eat dinner menu for $22.95.

Taking second place was Ijji Sushi on East Prater Way in Sparks. Larger than most sushi bars, Ijji Sushi is the perfect place to bring a large party for any occasion.  They recently added, to their already extensive menu, an assortment of delectable new items such as the Island Long Roll and the Hawaiian. Stop by for all-you-can eat lunch for $15.95 or all-you-can eat dinner for $20.95. 

Coming in at a close third was Sushi Pier 2 on South Virginia Street. Sushi Pier 2 has been a local favorite for many years, and for a good reason. Their friendly service compliments the restaurant’s relaxed and social atmosphere equipped with large flat screen TVs. Join in on the all-you-can eat fun at lunch for $16.99 or at dinner for $24.99. 

Along with these local favorites, Reno Tahoe also offers exotic sushi dining experiences inside our casinos. Explore your mouth-watering options at:

Sushi Bar on the Sky Terrace – Atlantis Casino Resort Spa

Oceano – Peppermill Resort Spa Casino

Sushi Sake – Eldorado Hotel Casino

Rim – Grand Sierra Resort and Casino.

Kokopelli’s Sushi - Circus Circus Hotel and Casino

Ichiban – Harrah’s Reno

Noodle Hut – John Ascuaga’s Nugget

Sushi Saga – Siena Hotel Spa Casino

Written by,
Cody Haener

After a weekend full of hot weather and hotter wings, the 10^th Annual Great International Chicken Wing Society Cook-off and Street Faire has packed up for another year.  Circus Circus Hotel & Casino Reno, Eldorado Hotel Casino, Harrah’s Reno Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino are proud to announce the Wing Cook-off winners in four categories.

Out of nearly 20 cookers from as far away as Texas, a new hometown favorite and cook-off rookie took the Championship Trophy home for Best in Show.  Judges voted Pie Face Pizza Co. of Reno’s wing sauce the most flavorful of the weekend.  Coming in second was another popular pizza joint, Reno’s own Pizza Plus.  After winning the annual event for several years, Havin’ an Affair of Las Vegas fell to third place, but did take home the People’s Choice Award.  Redneck BBQ of Reno and Famous Dave’s rounded out the list of favorites, placing fourth and fifth at the 10^th Annual Cook-off.

Each of the Downtown Reno casinos also challenged each other to a cook-off of their own at this 4^th of July weekend affair.  Winning for the second year straight was Silver Legacy, whose secret sauce was chosen over Club Cal-Neva and Harrah’s, who tied for second place honors.

In a special judging Friday afternoon, members of the local media tasted wings prepared by featured cookers.  The 2011 Media Choice Award was given to Circus Circus for a unique and tangy mango habanera sauce that pleased the most palates.

With so many winners, you’ll just have to try all the top picks to determine your favorites.

Congrats to everyone who participated in the 10^th Annual Great International Chicken Wing Society Cook-off and Street Faire, see you next year!

Rain, snow or shine, a trip to Lake Tahoe is a guaranteed good time. I knew regardless of my dining experience, I would at the very least enjoy my drive up to the Lake. Working in the tourism industry and social media world, I couldn’t escape the buzz surrounding the new West Share Cafe - the newest indulgence along the shores of Lake Tahoe, directly across the street from Homewood Ski Resort.

 The setting is elegant, rustic, warm and inviting, and the view is absolutely breathtaking. You feel as if you’re sitting on the clear blue waters of Tahoe. The lunch menu has a nice variety of burgers, fish & chips, salads, wings, sandwiches and soups, and the kids don’t get skimped either! We ordered the chicken strips platter for our toddler, and requested a side of fruit in lieu of the fries. Her meal was hands down the best one on the table, and the healthiest kids entree I’ve ever seen - at a great price! Lunch ranges anywhere between $10 – $18, with dinner entrees starting as low as $12.

 The room was a blend of families, skiers fresh off the slopes, business meetings and a few romantic couples at the bar. With a setting this beautiful, it’s the perfect setting for any group or occassion.

After our meals, we went upstairs to tour the Inn portion of the West Shore. If you’re looking for prime lodging with a more intimate feel, this is the place for you. All suites are approximately 500sq ft and feature fireplaces, flat-screen TVs, down comforters, soy bamboo micro fiber robes, and most importantly, a deck overlooking Lake Tahoe.

For more information on the West Shore Cafe and Inn, check out their website: http://www.skihomewood.com/westshorecafe.

The popular Food Network show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives will feature Reno’s very own DISH café this Monday, March 29 at 10:00PM ET/PT. (That’s 7PM Pacific Time for those of you still doing the math.)

Food Network Host Guy Fieri’s perpetual search for the best fresh and funky restaurants in the country, landed him in three Reno restaurants in January; DISH Café, The Gold ‘N Silver Inn and Louis’ Basque Corner.

Monday’s episode will feature one of Fieri’s favorite San Francisco spots, a diner in North Carolina serving up whole turkeys and DISH Café in Reno, making home-made granola.

DISH Café’s road to national TV started way back in 2008, when show producers began their search for candidates. A DISH Café employee happened to be near the production headquarters in Minnesota at the time, and delivered samples of granola and baked goods. It wasn’t until January of 2010 that Guy Fieri waltzed into the café and spent two days filming.

“It took a lot of preparation. I wanted it to be perfect, but once they were here, even though they were on a tight schedule, it was easy to relax because the crew was so laid back,” said Nancy Horn, owner of DISH Café. “It was definitely a dream come true. I’ve known that I wanted a restaurant since I was six years old. Cooking is my passion and my dream is to teach on TV and write cookbooks. This was a very informative and exciting experience.”

DISH Café & Catering is known for its upscale comfort food made from fresh, local organic ingredients. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. See why Fieri thought they were worthy of the national spotlight and check them out at 855 Mill Street, Monday through Friday.

The Team of Atlantis Casino Resort Spa’s Culinary Artists have just opened the all new Atlantis Steakhouse! Meticulous design of the Atlantis Steakhouse is rivaled only by the love poured into the preparation of it’s menu, nurtured to bloom as a vast selection of single servings, compositions and three-course Prix Fixe selections.

Oysters Rockefeller to start? Would you like them ‘Classic Rock’ or ‘Progressive Rock,’ with Tasso Ham, scallions and a fresh mornay sauce? Fruits, vegetables and seafood are hand-picked for freshness, and arrive from various seasonal locations, while fine steak and chops are prepared to your specification after aging for 4 weeks.

The Atlantis Steakhouse seats 160, and offers all dining options whether you’re sitting around the 1,100 gallon aquarium in the lounge or in the private Cove.

Looking for a great place to have that “special occasion”?  Give them a call, they aim to please, and I have never heard them say no to a special request.

Atlantis Steakhouse
To Make A Reservation Today, call 775.824.4430

Sterling’s Seafood Steakhouse at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino presents a Ferrari-Carano Jazz Dinner featuring music from CeCe Gable on Thursday, July 9 at 6 p.m.

Chef Neil Campbell will pair the five-course meal with selections from Ferrari-Carano vineyards. The inclusive meal is $99 per person.

The first course is a Lollipop Colorado Lamb Chop surrounded in blueberry, a balsamic butter sauce (PreVail, West Face, ’04.) The second course is a Chilled Leek, Chive and Potato with English Clotted Cream (Fume Blanc, ’06,) followed by a Butter Lettuce and Double Cream Roquefort Cheese Salad (Alexander Valley, Chardonnay ’06.)

For the main course, guests will enjoy a Filet of Fresh Chilean Sea Bass with Lobster Crust, Butternut Squash Risotto and Caviar Sauce (Tre Terre, Chardonnay. ’06.)

Dessert is an Apricot Chocolate Ganache, Almond Pecan Nougatin and Chocolate Mascarpone Cream in a Hazelnut Sweet Dough Shell (Eldorado Noir, ’06.)

For reservations, guests can call Silver Legacy at (775) 329-4777.

By LJ Bottjer

We’ve all been here.

One wants Italian, the other Chinese and the recurrent dieter desires nothing but salad bar fixings.

Such edible diversities can often cause strife and discord, and destroy a vacation’s harmony unless, while in Reno, your hungry horde heads for the Buffet at the Eldorado.

Read the complete article Here

By LJ Bottjer

Freshness tops the list of descriptive phrases in this tiny eatery at 719 S.Virginia St in the downtown section of Reno.

Owners Christian and Kasey Christensen, along with amiable staff, create a bistro experience similar to thousands of others across Europe. Colorful posters announcing upcoming local events surround the entrance. Small tables, inside and out, welcome not only diners but often conversation as the sharing of tables is encouraged. Small placards announcing “I will share my table” are found at a basket near the register.

Read the whole article Here

By LJ Bottjer

A good breakfast assures the day is filled with promise.

Fortify the promise by dining at Reno’s Peg’s Glorified Ham n Eggs, on 420 S. Sierra Street.

Everyone is greeted warmly whether it is the 1st or 101st time they cross the threshold. Some opt for tables or booths while others settle in at the counter. Here strangers swap conversation while the counter man generously shares a picture book and colorful insights of Guanajuato, his Mexican birthplace.

From 6:30 am – 2:00 pm daily, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, Peg’s offers breakfast standards with a flavorful twists. Over 40 items, in addition to daily specials, fill the menu. Diners overwhelmed by the choices should know longtime local favorites include fresh salmon and eggs served blackened, and grilled, or Peg’s namesake – ham steak and eggs.

Read the whole article Here

Last night I needed to pay back my wife for all the late hours at work and at home, so I recommended we try a localfondue establishment called The Melting Pot.

We arranged for a babysitter and headed out.  Upon arriving, I was first amazed at the scale of the restaurant – from outside The Melting Pot looks pretty modest, but it’s actually quite large; two stories with tables that were set for two to 10. We also noticed a large contingent of high school kids … apparently it was prom night.

After being escorted around a great bar and wine cellar, we sat in a comfortable booth near the back. Drinks were ordered and we reviewed the menu. Our waitress walked us through the menu, and made a few suggestions about her favorites. We decided to try the “Big Night Out” which includes your choice of a cheese fondue, any salad, choice from three different selections of meats and, of course, a desert fondue.

We chose the Spinach & Artichoke Cheese Fondue, which includes: Fontina and Butterkäse cheeses, spinach, artichoke hearts and garlic.  It was accompanied by three different breads, Grannysmith apples and a selection of different raw vegetables.

As we started to finish the cheese fondue, a busboy named Pablo quickly cleared our plates and refilled our drink order.  Our waitress brought or next course, two Insalata Caprese salads, and helped us decide how to cook our meats. We chose to use oil so that we could also tempura a few items, but other options include infused broths.

Meats and vegetables included lobster, teriyaki-marinated sirloin, white shrimp, marinated pork tenderloin, filet mignon, breast of chicken, potstickers, mushrooms, a spinach cheese filling, two types of tempura batter, melted garlic butter, and a variety of sauces – bleu cheese, spicy cocktail, light mustard sauce, plumb sweet-and-sour and teriyaki. For desert we indulged in fondue called the Flaming Turtle, made mostly of milk chocolate, caramel and chopped pecans, which were flambéed tableside, accompanied by several types of cake, brownies, fruits and marshmallows.

All in all the meal took a little over two hours to complete, so make sure you plan accordingly. For what we received, in both ambience and food, the price was within what I would expect.  The service was wonderful – everyone was helpful and knowledgeable about the establishment.  I would also note that this is not necessarily family friendly … not due to the restaurant, but having hot oils and broths with skewers can’t be a safe option for smaller children. I would suggest you try out this if not for dinner, then for at least a special dessert for you and your significant other.  Also I would suggest making reservations, especially if it is a special day for you.

The Melting Pot
6950 S McCarran Blvd, Reno 89509
(775) 827-6500
www.meltingpot.com

Lunch Hours
Daily 11 AM to 2 PM

Dinner Hours
Sundays 4 PM to 9 PM
Monday to Thursday 5 PM to 10 PM
Friday and Saturday 4 PM to 11 PM