I'd like to take some time to add a page to recommend places for people to visit and give credit to great bars, restuaruants and staff that I have experienced. I live in Reno, so most of these Recommendations will be in the surrounding area, but as I get the time to travel and experience other places, I will be adding to this page as I see fit.
CinCin in the Eldorado Casino
Reno, NV
-It's only fair that I get to start with my place of Employment. I work at CinCin (It means "cheers" in Italian) in the Eldorado. I started there in January of 2011 and have had a wonderful experience thus far. We offer a variety of Artisan Cocktails made with fresh fruit and some really cool liquors. I work Wednesday - Friday, but if its not my shift, you will have the pleasure of being served by Annalisa, my other half. We work very hard to make this bar exceptional. Check out the drink list and try something out of the ordinary. And although we make great Cosmo's and Lemondrops, you can get those anywhere, give something else a shot. Don't see anything you think you would like? Ask us! We can tailor cocktails to your specific desire and really enjoy doing so. We serve food from our neighboring resturaunts so its a great spot to grab a bite to eat or a full dinner away from the hustle and bustle of the casino lights.
Sezmu
Mt. Rose St.
Reno, NV
-Great, great, great! It's small, so make reservations. The chef here does continental bistro style food and his menu is constantly changing. Although they don't play up the drinks much here, let the bartender make you something that she would like. She has an amazing palat and they are always doing innovative things here. Don't skip dessert. The menu is constantly changing so its always something new, but one time I had this dried pineapple creme brulee that was to die for.
LuLou's
S. Virginia St.
Reno, NV
-Skip the tables and sit at the bar, its fun and swanky. They have an exceptional wine list (for Reno), try the Sancerre. Don't miss the Ceviche here, it is amazing. Also the dish that they do as a crab cake with sunchoke is lovely. I've never had a full dinner here, we always to the appetizer thing and have never been disappointed. Its a little pricey, but worth it if you savor each bite. Plus they have in house Brandied Cherries, a must have for the Manhattan lover.
Chapel Tavern
S. Virginia St.
Reno, NV
-Right across the street from LuLou's this bar has a great cocktail list, don't let the divey appearance shake you. It is great. They have a ton of cool beers and the owner, Duncan, does a hell of a job with the cocktail list. Don't play the dice game, just watch the first couple times you go in unless you fancy an empty wallet and waking up on the bathroom floor.
St. James Infirmary
California St.
Reno, NV
-Its kind of a hipster place, so I prefer to sneak in when its not totally busy, which is not always easy, last Tuesday night it was packed. Great cocktail list and fun bartenders. The owner, Art, makes a point to feature which Bartender is working for his happy hour specials, which I think is pretty damn spiffy. You can order food from the Rubicon Deli that sits just behind the bar and they also have a roof top patio that is pretty cool.
4th St. Bistro
4th St.
Reno, NV
-Great seafood here, killer burgers on Thursday nights and great service. It's a small place and they do a lot of local grow and sustainable farming stuff here. So if you are into the Green thing, its all on the up and up. They have a great bartender there who comes up with some really interesting cocktails. I like to go in and just grab a quick drink at their bar, which is very small, but cozy and intimate.
ZoZo's
Moana & Lakeside
Reno, NV
-Italian place, great prices and good size portions. Try the ZoZo's chicken, the Paella is great too, or anything they have on special. We hit this place for lunch at least once a week. The strawberry lemonade is one of my favorite non-alcoholic wines. Ask to sit in Davien's section, he's a little overly cheery at first, but he does a great job and makes dining fun and light hearted. He really cares about his customers.
To Be Continued....
