Planning where to eat in Reno? The city's restaurant scene extends
from downtown and the Truckee River to Midtown and the surrounding
neighborhoods, with Italian restaurants, Basque dining, Korean
fusion, French cuisine, Chinese food, steakhouses, wood-fired
restaurants, and independent neighborhood destinations. From
Liberty Food & Wine Exchange and Arario Midtown to Louis'
Basque Corner, Beaujolais Bistro, La Strada, Campo, and other
established Reno restaurants, these 10 selections cover different
cuisines, price levels, and parts of the city.
Liberty Food & Wine Exchange is a downtown Reno restaurant
focused on wood-fired cooking, artisan pasta, house-made breads,
meats, shareable plates, and a broad wine program. The restaurant
operates in the Riverwalk District near the Truckee River and is
useful for travelers who want a substantial dinner within the
downtown Reno area rather than inside a casino resort.
Price: $$$
Why go:
Liberty combines a downtown location with wood-fired cooking,
house-made pasta, artisan breads, and a menu designed for
sharing.
What to order:
Check the current menu for house-made pasta, wood-fired pizza,
seasonal vegetables, seafood, meats, charcuterie, and rotating
preparations.
Best for:
Couples, groups, food travelers, downtown visitors, and diners
looking for a restaurant near the Truckee River and Riverwalk.
Travel tip:
The restaurant changes portions of its menu seasonally, so
review the current dinner menu and reservation information
before visiting.
Location:
Downtown Reno, near the Riverwalk District.
2
Arario Midtown
Arario Midtown is a Korean fusion restaurant in Reno's Midtown
district. The menu combines Korean dishes and flavors with
international influences, including bulgogi, bibimbap, kimchi
fries, poke, noodles, tofu stew, and other small plates and
combination dishes. Its Midtown location makes it easy to combine
dinner with other restaurants, bars, and shops in the area.
Price: $$
Why go:
Arario provides a Korean-focused dining experience with a
fusion menu and a Midtown location away from the downtown
casino corridor.
What to order:
Consider bulgogi, dol sot bibimbap, tofu stew, japchae, kimchi
fries, poke, Korean-style small plates, and current chef
specials.
Best for:
Groups, couples, Korean food enthusiasts, casual dinners, and
travelers exploring Midtown Reno.
Travel tip:
Check the current hours before visiting because the restaurant
has a weekly closure and its hours can change.
Location:
Midtown Reno on South Center Street.
3
LuLou
LuLou is a long-running Midtown Reno restaurant known for
chef-driven contemporary cooking and a menu that changes with
seasonal ingredients. The restaurant has an intimate dining-room
format and has been part of the development of Reno's Midtown
restaurant scene. Its changing menu makes it more appropriate for
diners interested in the current chef's selections than for
travelers looking for a fixed list of signature dishes.
Price: $$$$
Why go:
LuLou offers a more intimate, chef-driven restaurant experience
in Midtown rather than a conventional casino dining room.
What to order:
Review the current menu for seasonal seafood, meats, vegetables,
starters, and the restaurant's rotating chef preparations.
Best for:
Couples, special occasions, food-focused travelers, and diners
who enjoy changing seasonal menus.
Travel tip:
Because the menu changes frequently, check the current menu
before deciding whether the restaurant fits your dietary needs
and dining plans.
Location:
Midtown Reno on South Virginia Street.
4
Beaujolais Bistro
Beaujolais Bistro is a French restaurant in Reno's Powning
District near the Truckee River. The restaurant occupies a
distinctive older building and focuses on French cooking,
traditional dishes, seasonal preparations, and an extensive wine
selection. Its setting is substantially different from the
casino restaurants in downtown Reno.
Price: $$$
Why go:
Beaujolais Bistro offers French cuisine in a neighborhood
setting near the Truckee River and provides a quieter alternative
to large resort dining rooms.
What to order:
Look for current French classics, seasonal specials, soups,
seafood, meat dishes, and selections from the restaurant's
wine program.
Best for:
Couples, French-food enthusiasts, wine-focused diners, and
travelers looking for a distinctive dinner setting.
Travel tip:
Check the current dinner menu and reservation availability,
particularly when planning a weekend meal.
Location:
Powning District near the Truckee River.
5
Louis' Basque Corner
Louis' Basque Corner is one of Reno's longstanding Basque
restaurants and has served as a local connection to Northern
Nevada's Basque heritage since opening in 1967. The restaurant
serves traditional Basque-style food in a family-style format,
making it a particularly distinctive choice for travelers who
want to experience a regional culinary tradition rather than
another conventional steakhouse or resort restaurant.
Price: $$$
Why go:
Louis' Basque Corner connects Reno dining with the city's
longstanding Basque heritage and provides a family-style
restaurant experience.
What to order:
Look for current Basque specialties, including traditional
meat, seafood, lamb, and family-style selections.
Best for:
First-time Reno visitors, groups, food travelers, history
enthusiasts, and diners interested in Basque cuisine.
Travel tip:
Family-style meals can work particularly well for groups,
but review the current menu and dining format before visiting.
Location:
Downtown Reno, near The ROW and the Truckee River.
6
Campo
Campo is an Italian restaurant associated with Reno's Midtown
dining scene and chef Mark Estee's local restaurant group. The
restaurant focuses on pasta, wood-fired cooking, seasonal
ingredients, and Italian-inspired dishes while maintaining a
neighborhood restaurant setting. Its location makes it practical
to combine with other Midtown restaurants, bars, and shops.
Price: $$$
Why go:
Campo provides Italian-inspired dining in the Midtown area,
away from the large casino-resort restaurant complexes.
What to order:
Check the current menu for house-made pasta, wood-fired
preparations, seasonal vegetables, meat dishes, and Italian
desserts.
Best for:
Couples, pasta lovers, groups, Midtown visitors, and travelers
looking for a sit-down Italian dinner.
Travel tip:
Review the current menu and reservation schedule before visiting,
especially during busy weekend dinner periods.
Location:
Midtown Reno.
7
La Strada
La Strada is an Italian restaurant inside the Eldorado Resort
Casino at THE ROW in downtown Reno. The restaurant focuses on
Northern Italian cuisine and provides a more formal resort dining
experience than many independent Midtown or neighborhood
restaurants. Its location is convenient for travelers staying
downtown or combining dinner with entertainment at THE ROW.
Price: $$$$
Why go:
La Strada provides a traditional Italian dining option directly
within the downtown resort corridor.
What to order:
Current selections may include fresh pasta, seafood, meat
dishes, and Northern Italian specialties.
Best for:
Couples, special occasions, Italian-food enthusiasts, business
dinners, and visitors staying near THE ROW.
Travel tip:
Because the restaurant is inside a resort complex, allow extra
time to navigate the property before your reservation.
Location:
Eldorado Resort Casino at THE ROW in downtown Reno.
8
Brasserie Saint James
Brasserie Saint James is a brewery and restaurant in Midtown Reno
combining European and American-style food with house-brewed beer.
The restaurant's brasserie format gives travelers an alternative
to formal dining and makes it useful for both daytime meals and
dinner. Its Midtown location also puts it close to other
independent restaurants and bars.
Price: $$
Why go:
Brasserie Saint James combines restaurant dining with a local
brewery in one of Reno's most concentrated independent dining
districts.
What to order:
Look at the current menu for brasserie-style dishes, steaks,
seafood, brunch selections, and seasonal specials, along with
the current house beer list.
Best for:
Groups, casual dinners, brunch, beer enthusiasts, and travelers
exploring Midtown Reno.
Travel tip:
Midtown has several restaurants within walking distance, so the
area works well for travelers who want to combine dinner with
drinks or other stops.
Location:
Midtown Reno.
9
Kwok's Bistro
Kwok's Bistro is a Chinese restaurant in Reno known for traditional
and regional Asian dishes, including roasted duck, noodle soups,
five-spice pork, Sichuan-style preparations, and rice dishes.
The restaurant provides a different dining experience from the
Italian, French, and Basque restaurants concentrated around
downtown and Midtown.
Price: $$
Why go:
Kwok's provides a Chinese dining option that broadens a Reno
restaurant itinerary beyond the city's more familiar Italian,
steakhouse, and casino dining categories.
What to order:
Check the current menu for roasted duck, noodle dishes,
Sichuan-style preparations, pork, seafood, vegetables, and
other regional specialties.
Best for:
Groups, Chinese-food enthusiasts, adventurous diners, and
travelers looking for a substantial meal outside the resort
restaurant corridor.
Travel tip:
Chinese dishes are often well suited to sharing, so groups may
want to review several categories of the menu rather than
ordering only individual entrees.
Location:
Reno, outside the central casino corridor.
10
7 Spices Indian Cuisine
7 Spices is an Indian restaurant in Reno offering a broad selection
of Indian dishes, including curries, tandoori preparations,
vegetarian dishes, breads, rice, and other regional specialties.
It provides another side of Reno's dining scene for travelers
looking beyond the downtown resort restaurants and more familiar
American and European cuisines.
Price: $$
Why go:
7 Spices adds Indian cuisine to a Reno restaurant itinerary
and offers a broader range of vegetarian and spice-forward
dishes than many conventional American restaurants.
What to order:
Consider current curry selections, tandoori dishes, naan,
biryani, vegetarian specialties, and other regional Indian
preparations.
Best for:
Indian-food enthusiasts, vegetarians, groups, families, and
travelers looking for a different cuisine during a Reno visit.
Travel tip:
Ask about spice levels and current menu recommendations if
you are unfamiliar with the restaurant's regional dishes.
Location:
Reno, outside the main downtown resort corridor.
How to Plan a Reno Restaurant Trip
Reno dining is spread across several distinct areas rather than being
concentrated in one restaurant district. Downtown Reno places restaurants
near casinos, the Truckee River, the Riverwalk, and The ROW. Midtown has
a strong concentration of independent restaurants, breweries, cafes, and
bars. Other parts of Reno add Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese, Mexican,
Japanese, and neighborhood dining.
Dining Area
Good For
Downtown Reno
Casino restaurants, independent restaurants, Basque cuisine,
Italian dining, the Truckee River, Riverwalk, The ROW,
entertainment, and evening dining.
Midtown Reno
Independent restaurants, Korean fusion, Italian food,
breweries, brunch, cafes, cocktails, bakeries, and
neighborhood dining.
Riverwalk District
Restaurants near the Truckee River, downtown walks, outdoor
dining, wine bars, and restaurants that can be combined with
downtown sightseeing.
Powning District
Neighborhood restaurants, French cuisine, historic buildings,
and access to the Truckee River and downtown.
South Reno
Neighborhood restaurants, shopping-area dining, casual meals,
family restaurants, and options convenient to visitors staying
outside central Reno.
North Reno
Neighborhood restaurants, casual dining, international cuisine,
and options convenient for travelers staying north of downtown.
Reno Casino Resorts
Steakhouses, Italian restaurants, Japanese restaurants,
buffets, seafood, casual dining, and meals combined with
casino entertainment.
Best Reno Restaurants by Interest
Fine dining restaurants
Reno's higher-end restaurant choices include Italian restaurants,
contemporary chef-driven dining, steakhouses, French restaurants,
and casino-resort dining rooms. LuLou, La Strada, Liberty Food & Wine
Exchange, and other destinations provide different formats, so travelers
should compare cuisine, price, location, and expected dining time before
booking.
Best restaurants for Italian food
Reno has a strong Italian restaurant presence. Campo provides Italian
cooking in the Midtown area, while La Strada offers Northern Italian
cuisine inside THE ROW. Travelers can also find additional Italian
restaurants throughout the city, ranging from family restaurants to
formal dining rooms.
Best restaurants for Basque food
Louis' Basque Corner is one of Reno's most distinctive dining destinations
because Basque cuisine is closely connected to Northern Nevada's history.
The restaurant has operated in Reno since 1967 and provides a family-style
approach to traditional Basque food.
Best restaurants for Korean food
Arario Midtown is a useful choice for Korean and Korean-influenced food,
with dishes ranging from bulgogi and bibimbap to kimchi fries, noodles,
tofu stew, and fusion preparations. Midtown also provides several other
Asian restaurants and food businesses nearby.
Best restaurants for French food
Beaujolais Bistro provides French cooking in the Powning District near
the Truckee River. Its neighborhood setting distinguishes it from the
larger casino-resort restaurants elsewhere in Reno.
Best restaurants for Chinese food
Kwok's Bistro provides a Chinese dining option with dishes including
noodle soups, roasted duck, pork, Sichuan-style preparations, seafood,
vegetables, and rice dishes. Travelers interested in Asian food can also
explore the broader Reno-Sparks dining scene.
Best restaurants for Indian food
7 Spices provides Indian cuisine with curries, tandoori preparations,
breads, rice, vegetarian dishes, and other regional specialties. It is
a useful option when a Reno itinerary needs a meal outside the city's
Italian, American, Basque, and casino dining categories.
Best restaurants for special occasions
LuLou, La Strada, Beaujolais Bistro, Liberty Food & Wine Exchange,
and other destination restaurants can work when dinner is intended to
be an important part of the evening. Check current menus, pricing,
reservation policies, dining duration, and cancellation requirements
before booking.
How Much Does It Cost to Eat at Reno Restaurants?
Reno restaurant prices range from inexpensive casual meals and
counter-service restaurants to formal dinners at independent restaurants
and casino resorts. Downtown and Midtown include both moderately priced
restaurants and higher-priced destinations, so a Reno food itinerary
can be structured around different budgets.
Budget Level
Typical Approach
$
Casual restaurants, tacos, sandwiches, bakeries, food courts,
quick meals, inexpensive Asian restaurants, and neighborhood
dining.
$$
Casual sit-down restaurants, Korean food, Chinese food,
Indian restaurants, breweries, cafes, and moderately priced
neighborhood meals.
$$$
Upscale neighborhood restaurants, Italian restaurants,
French dining, chef-driven menus, premium ingredients,
and more elaborate dinners.
These price levels are planning categories rather than fixed menu prices.
Restaurant prices, specials, portions, service charges, and menu formats
can change, so check the current menu before visiting.
Best Time to Eat at Reno Restaurants
Reno restaurant demand changes with weekends, conventions, sporting
events, concerts, holidays, casino activity, and major events in the
Reno-Sparks area. Midtown and downtown restaurants can also become busy
during popular evening periods.
Weekday lunch:
A practical option for restaurants that serve lunch and for travelers
who want to keep dinner available for entertainment or other activities.
Early dinner:
Dining earlier can provide more flexibility when your evening includes
a show, concert, casino visit, or other reservation.
Weekend dinner:
Popular independent restaurants and downtown dining rooms can become
busy, so reservations are useful when dinner is central to your plans.
Before a show:
Allow enough time to travel from the restaurant to your entertainment
venue, especially when moving between Midtown and downtown.
Convention periods:
Events at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center and other venues can
increase restaurant demand in nearby areas.
Winter:
Snow and mountain weather can affect driving conditions around Reno,
particularly when your restaurant plans extend toward the Sierra.
Always check current restaurant hours, reservation policies, holiday
schedules, seasonal menus, and menu availability before visiting.
How to Get to Reno Restaurants
Downtown Reno:
Many downtown restaurants are within walking distance of hotels,
casinos, the Truckee River, The ROW, and other downtown attractions.
Midtown:
Midtown has a concentrated collection of restaurants, bars, cafes,
and shops, making it practical to park once and explore several
nearby businesses.
Riverwalk District:
Restaurants around the Truckee River can be combined with a downtown
walk and nearby attractions.
Rideshare:
Rideshare services are useful for travelers staying downtown who want
to visit restaurants farther south, west, or outside the central
restaurant districts.
Car:
A car provides flexibility for travelers combining Reno restaurants
with Sparks, South Reno, the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, or
destinations outside the city.
Public transportation:
RTC services connect major parts of Reno and Sparks, although
convenience varies depending on the restaurant and time of day.
Parking at Reno Restaurants
Parking conditions differ between downtown Reno, Midtown, casino resorts,
and neighborhood restaurants. Downtown properties may use garages,
street parking, valet service, or shared parking areas, while independent
restaurants in Midtown may have a combination of street and nearby
public parking.
Midtown is particularly useful for travelers who want to visit several
restaurants, cafes, breweries, or bars in one area. Depending on the
time of day, parking once and walking between nearby businesses can be
more convenient than moving a vehicle repeatedly.
Casino resorts can involve additional walking from parking areas to
individual restaurants inside large properties. Allow extra time when
dinner is followed by a show or other scheduled activity.
Parking rates, validation rules, valet policies, and garage availability
can change, so check current information for the specific property before
your visit.
Reno Food Experiences Beyond Restaurants
Explore Midtown:
Combine restaurants such as Arario, LuLou, Campo, and Brasserie
Saint James with cafes, breweries, bars, bakeries, and independent
shops.
Walk the Riverwalk:
Combine downtown restaurants with the Truckee River, Riverwalk
District, public art, nearby shops, and downtown attractions.
Explore Reno's Basque heritage:
A meal at Louis' Basque Corner can be combined with a broader look
at the Basque cultural history of Northern Nevada.
Try regional cuisines:
Reno's restaurant scene includes Basque, Italian, French, Korean,
Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese, and other
culinary traditions.
Explore casino dining:
Reno's casino resorts contain steakhouses, Italian restaurants,
Japanese restaurants, seafood, buffets, casual restaurants, and
other dining options.
Check current restaurant programs:
Seasonal menus, brewery events, chef dinners, special menus,
holiday dining, and restaurant openings can change throughout
the year.
Reno Restaurants by Traveler Type
Best Reno restaurants for first-time visitors
First-time visitors may want to combine one downtown restaurant with one
Midtown destination and one meal representing Reno's regional history.
Liberty Food & Wine Exchange, Arario Midtown, Louis' Basque Corner,
and La Strada provide substantially different dining formats.
Best Reno restaurants for food travelers
Travelers planning a trip around food can move beyond casino dining and
explore Midtown, downtown, the Riverwalk District, and neighborhood
restaurants. LuLou, Beaujolais Bistro, Arario Midtown, Campo, Liberty,
and other independent destinations provide different cuisines and
restaurant formats.
Best Reno restaurants for families
Casual restaurants, Italian restaurants, breweries with full menus,
Chinese restaurants, and other neighborhood dining options can be easier
for families than long formal dinners. Groups should check current menus
and seating policies before visiting.
Best Reno restaurants for couples
Couples may prefer restaurants that fit naturally into a downtown or
Midtown evening. Beaujolais Bistro, LuLou, La Strada, Liberty Food &
Wine Exchange, and other destination restaurants can be considered based
on cuisine, budget, location, and desired atmosphere.
Best Reno restaurants for budget-conscious travelers
A Reno trip does not require every meal to be expensive. Casual Asian
restaurants, Indian restaurants, bakeries, cafes, food courts, pizza,
sandwiches, and neighborhood restaurants can balance one or two more
expensive dinners.
Best Reno restaurants for special occasions
For a special occasion, consider restaurants where the dining room,
menu, wine program, or location is intended to make the meal a larger
part of the evening. Check current pricing, reservation availability,
cancellation rules, dress requirements, and dining duration before
booking.
Reno Restaurant Reservation Tips
Some Reno restaurants have limited seating or reservation calendars
that fill around weekends, holidays, conventions, concerts, and major
events. Casino-resort restaurants can also become busy around major
entertainment schedules.
Reserve special-occasion restaurants early:
Check the restaurant's booking calendar before finalizing your
itinerary.
Check the menu before booking:
Seasonal menus, prix-fixe formats, specials, and individual dining
options can vary.
Review cancellation policies:
Some restaurants require deposits, credit-card holds, or cancellation
fees.
Confirm dietary accommodations:
Contact the restaurant ahead of time if you have significant dietary
restrictions or food allergies.
Plan transportation:
Allow additional time when traveling between downtown, Midtown,
South Reno, Sparks, and other parts of the metropolitan area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Reno Restaurants
What are some of the best restaurants in Reno?
Reno has a varied restaurant scene that includes Italian, French,
Basque, Korean, Chinese, Indian, American, and other cuisines.
Liberty Food & Wine Exchange, Arario Midtown, LuLou, Beaujolais
Bistro, Louis' Basque Corner, Campo, and La Strada provide different
dining formats and price levels.
What food is Reno known for?
Reno has a particularly strong connection to Basque cuisine because
of the Basque communities that developed in Northern Nevada. Louis'
Basque Corner is one of the city's longstanding Basque restaurants.
Reno also has established Italian, Asian, steakhouse, and casino
dining traditions.
What is a good Reno restaurant for a special occasion?
Reno has several restaurants that can work for special occasions,
including contemporary restaurants, French dining, Italian restaurants,
steakhouses, and upscale casino-resort restaurants. LuLou, Beaujolais
Bistro, Liberty Food & Wine Exchange, and La Strada are examples
to consider based on cuisine, budget, location, and dining format.
Where should I eat in Reno for Italian food?
Campo and La Strada are two options with different settings. Campo
is associated with Reno's Midtown restaurant scene, while La Strada
is located inside THE ROW in downtown Reno and focuses on Northern
Italian cuisine. Additional Italian restaurants are available
throughout the city.
Where should I eat Basque food in Reno?
Louis' Basque Corner is one of Reno's established Basque restaurants
and has operated in the city since 1967. The restaurant provides
traditional Basque cuisine and a family-style dining format.
Are Reno restaurants expensive?
Prices vary significantly. Reno has inexpensive casual restaurants,
bakeries, cafes, Asian restaurants, Indian restaurants, and food
courts, as well as upscale independent restaurants, steakhouses,
Italian restaurants, and casino-resort dining.
Do I need reservations for Reno restaurants?
Not always. Casual restaurants may accept walk-ins, while popular
independent restaurants, special-occasion dining rooms, casino
restaurants, and weekend dinner spots can require advance
reservations. Check the restaurant's current booking policy before
visiting.
Is it worth leaving the Reno casino area for a restaurant?
Reno has substantial restaurant options outside the downtown casino
corridor. Midtown, the Riverwalk area, the Powning District, and
other neighborhoods include independent restaurants and cuisines
that provide a different setting from casino resorts. Whether to
leave downtown depends on the restaurant, schedule, transportation,
and the rest of your itinerary.
Which Reno neighborhood is best for restaurants?
There is no single dining district covering every type of restaurant.
Downtown is useful for casino dining, the Truckee River, The ROW,
and Basque restaurants, while Midtown has a strong concentration of
independent restaurants, breweries, cafes, and bars. Other Reno
neighborhoods provide additional international and neighborhood
dining options.
Reno Restaurant Planning Tip
Reno restaurant menus, prices, hours, reservation policies, special
menus, parking rules, and resort policies can change throughout the year.
Before visiting, check the restaurant's current official information,
especially for reservations, seasonal menus, holiday schedules, parking,
and dining locations inside casino resorts.
Planning Your Reno Trip?
Explore more Reno attractions, museums, outdoor activities, neighborhoods,
free things to do, places to stay, restaurants, and itinerary ideas
to build a practical Reno trip around your dining plans.