Noodle Box Kitchen - Reno, NV

I thought I’d seen all Reno has to offer, but Noodle Box popped up next to The Discovery, and it might be the best discovery I’ve made.  

Even the drinks are irresistible. Thai Lime Tea has the flavor and creamy sweetness of the original minus condensed milk. A lift of lime takes it from dessert-like to refreshing. Vietnamese Coffee hits the spot if you're craving a caffeinated classic.

Boat Noodle Soup is the one they recommend, a bone broth with a bite. The flavor is savory beef with a slightly spicy afterburn and lots of notes of sweet, sour, and salty all adding so much depth. The slices of pork shoulder are tough and the meatballs are bland, but I do love the soup itself. 

Tom Yum is a solid choice if you're craving the sweet n' sour. It's a tangy broth with fabulous, fresh shrimp and soft, flavorful fish balls. 

Khao Soi Fried Chicken is the best thing they make. They fry up the thigh meat which has a lot more flavor than a blander breast, and the curry is so thick and sweet it's practically a solid. Pickled veggies and red onion break up the rich, creamy bites, and the contrast of cream and crisp is a feast for the senses. 

For dessert, they have mochi cakes in matcha, regular, and Ube. Try them. ALL. 

We loved Noodle Box so much we went twice in a single week. Service is spectacular, from some of the most genuinely nice people I've ever met, and though the tables are no frills, they make you feel like royalty when they bring your fantastic food. 

The Growler Guys - Reno, NV

You had me at beer. 60 rotating taps of beer and a few fancy sodas, many local and most from not too far, someone had their priorities straight when they built this taproom. 

A tasting flight is the best way to try, though they're happy to let you taste before you buy. I tried the Deschutes Squeezy Rider IPA to start, and it was love. This bright bash of citrus from Bend, Oregon is one of the freshest, most memorable IPA's I've had to date. 

Imbib is in the Reno scene, and their Cutthroat Cream Ale should be in every scene. It's a cream soda but beer, and it's brilliant. 

High Water makes a Cucumber Kolsch so refreshing you could put it on your eyelids at the spa. It's ice-cold and cuke-loaded all the way from Lodi. 

Save some beer to wash down dinner. They're all about the bar bites, and you'd do well to order their wings. Both the Sweet Chili and Classic Buffalo have some zing to them, but neither is too hot to handle, and they'd almost make you lick your fingers but maybe don't because covid.

Great service. The guys at the bar are passionate about their beer, and they care about the product they sell. The outdoor area lets you seat and eat in the sunset, though I can't say the strip mall has the best view. Still, this place is everything you'd want from a casual watering hole with a serious selection. 

Land Ocean - Reno, NV

Sooo...I guess I found my other favorite lunch spot. 

It's only a weekday lunch but they don't hold back the heavy hitters. That Macadamia Nut Crusted Chilean Sea Bass melts in my mouth like magic, and they do a nice job on the bed of rice and broccolini. I'm wary of soy-ginger glazes from any place that isn't Asian, but this one is okay. Its presence doesn't overpower all the others, and I can honestly say I don't hate it. 

They make a good burger too. The Mushroom Burger is covered with mushrooms and caramelized onion. Gruyere gets all over those burger bits as it melts.

Getting a dessert with lunch is pretty over the top, but so is the Banana Cream Pie. It's served in a skillet, and it's almost an entire sliced banana over a crazy-good custard on an oreo crust.

Way to make a first impression. Reno is a bit too inland to be known for its seafood, but Land Ocean seems to do well with both. Great food, pretty place, definitely worth another visit. 

The Grill at Quail Corners UPDATE - Reno, NV

A favorite of the grandparents because they treat you like family here. They know all the servers by name, and they love that menu to pieces. 

I feel the warmth, and I love the family feel, but I can't say I feel the food. 

The Louie-Louie became the Louie-Louie-Louie. Love the idea, love the extra crab mixed into the ball of extra crab, and they're generous on the shrimp, but it's so full of water because it's fresh...from the defroster.

The Special is an open-face prime rib au jus. Good job on the medium rare, good job on the grill marks, love the mushroom and onions on top. The side of Chicken & Rice Soup has a lot more lemon than I'm used to. 

The Black Angus New York Sandwich is similar, an alright slab of steak. A little on the thin side but goes good with gorgonzola and it's tender enough that it can be eaten without a knife and fork. 

I'm the one who stays seated in the theatre until the credits are over, and so far, that's paid off for every Marvel movie...and at The Grill. Because they give you a cute little plate of cookies at the end, whatever they felt like making that day. These are oatmeal raisin, and they're just so perfectly chewy and soft. 

A cute little neighborhood place, frequented by many, loved by all. The food is okay - you're mostly here for the people. But the people are pretty great so enjoy your lunch!

Lardo - Las Vegas, NV

My friend Jeff once coined a term that I find most endearing. The word is "lardassio," used to describe a glutton, a person who just has all the fat and eats all the fat. 

Lardo is the lardassio's culinary spirit animal, fat-packed sandwiches executed with skill and class. You won't find glorified deli sandwiches behind this counter - they squeeze a lot of cohesive thought between two slices of bread. Each sandwich just screams of luxury, like these silky threads of Korean Pork Shoulder. The meat is marinated so far through you won't find a single thread not soaked. The house kimchi adds an acidic bite, and the chili mayo some spice and cream. It's heavy and it's rich, but few sandwiches complement a tall beer so well. 

The Pho'Rench Dip is a little lighter, a purse full of shaved beef with a dash of hoisin and mayo. Dipped in pho, the broth fills in all the nooks and crannies and soaks into the bread while clinging to the beef. 

If you're going to get dirty, Vegas is the place to do it. Try the Dirty Fries, crisp potato strips scrambled with pork scraps, pickled peppers, and plenty of parm. You don't need a side with sandwich portions like these, but I'm betting no one ever regretted these fries. 

Channel your inner lardassio at Lardo. They're all about the kind of gluttony that is so completely satisfying minus the grossness and regret. These sandwiches will get you through any hour of any day, and there's one for every mood.

Tekka Bar - Las Vegas, NV

Let's face it, affordable food in Vegas doesn't really exist. Unless you're hunting down McDonald's or Chipotle, even PF Chang's will set you back a Benjamin. 

But if you do want food with a bill that won't make you pass out harder than the booze, Block 16 at the Cosmo is a welcome new-ish addition to their repertoire. 

Hand rolls for here, cut rolls to go. The fish is fresh, and I had a nice time with the Lobster, Lump Blue Crab, and the Vegetable. The daily special was Spicy Shrimp with a creamy mayo and no objection here. 

Wash it own with Green Tea - they have it on nitro and the difference is clear. Sencha is lighter and matcha is darker and deep. It's sushi at its most basic but at least the prices aren't terrible. Detox at Tekka Bar if you're looking for a healthier choice.

Bently Heritage Estate Distillery - Minden, NV

Someone put a lot of thought into this place. 

From the gorgeous copper Carlos to the sensible layout and streamlined distilling process, Bently is exactly what happens when family money goes toward a worthy cause.

One of few truly estate breweries in the country, Bently is a special place. 

The tour is worth taking more than once, and the tasting is heavy but enlightening. There's a Juniper Gin that tastes like a forest of evergreens, and the Vodka finishes like marshmallow cream. Their variation vodka is rested in sherry oak casks, and it channels the darker notes of whiskey with a much lighter ending. It tastes good, but it messes with your mind in a way that is most delightful. 

You should visit, and you kind of have to visit. Their reasonably-priced spirits make a spirited mixer and a fantastic gift, and they only sell in three states. Pick up a bottle next time you're near Minden, and try to stop by their downstairs bar. A lot of creativity is mixing with their cocktails, and my goal is to make it back for their whiskey. 

The Pink House - Genoa, NV

It’s the perfect day for the Pink House. Or is it the Pink House that makes it the perfect day? The shade of pink is sweet, and it channels Victorian charm with its intimate parlours and wrap-around porch.

It's a house that feels like home, channeling dolls and tea parties as well as adult lunches with family and friends. The ambiance is one of quiet content, the cozy warm and fuzziness you seek as the snow falls in a thin veil all around. 

Push against the cold with a steaming bowl of Cauliflower Soup. The soup is creamy, but the cauliflower is light. There's an inherent sweetness to this versatile vegetable that gives it a lighter lilt. Sip it up and slip it on like a warm coat.

Salmon Poke sticks out like a sore thumb on a menu of soups and sandwiches, and it certain doesn't fit in with the charcuterie and cheese counter either. Bite into some fresh salmon, and you'll have nothing to be sore about. The avocado mousse is thick like a spreadable creme fraiche, and the salmon is coated to make it more buttery and warm. The fresh-ground ginger adds some spunk and a pop of garlic adds the funk.

They serve a hearty Steak Sandwich if you're more hungry than poke and soup. Thick slices of medium ribeye splay across a chewy ciabatta, and veggies balance a hearty aioli and creamy cheese. 

They also have an enticing cheese counter and meat market if you can see past the apple tarts that beckon under a covering glass. The Apple Tart is fabulous. They serve it lukewarm like it cooled from the oven, and the apples are just baked enough to be soft but not too long to lose their firmness. They float in a rich creme anglaise and work well with a whippped cream that tastes like pure, fluffy sugar. 

Try some of the Flourless Chocolate Cake too, if you have room. It's decadent and moist, and the heavy sugar is the perfect offset for the fruit.

The Pink House is perfect for a small group on almost any occasion. It's a small house with close quarters so take the bottomless-brunch committee somewhere else, but if you're looking for an inviting peace or a buzzing quiet and a fantastic lunch in Genoa, look no further.