Top 9 Food Stories of Reno in 2017

Jonathan Wright of the RGJ has prepared a bird’s-eye view of how Reno’s food scene has evolved over the past year.

In 2017, the foodie scene in Reno flourished like never before. Many new restaurants opened, online food services arrived and officials essential to Reno’s reimagining made their acknowledgements.

Image courtesy of 10best.com

1)      Restaurant Openings

They say that to go into the restaurant business, you have to be willing to be lucky. Last year, we saw that many folks showed that they were more than willing. Baski Acai Café arrived in Midtown with their trendy Acai bowls, along with sushi burritos from Finbomb Sushi Burrito. Arario mixed up the crowd by bringing Korean fusion to Midtown and Bab Café bringing the Korean flavors to downtown.

More openings came in the dozens including Washoe Public House, Poke King, Pola Poke Bowls, the Shore Room in the new Renaissance hotel, Creazian Vietnamese, Redwood Rotisserie, Hard Water House, Habit Burger in the Circus Circus Reno and Canter's Deli in the Silver Legacy.

2) Uber Eats

Uber Eats is exactly what it sounds like - Uber for food. The online service is at your fingertips and brings incredible convenience for quick food delivery. Choose from around 50 restaurants, from cupcakes to sushi to grilled cheese. Use the app, or access the service on their website.

3) Sprouts Farmers Market

Walk into a Sprouts Market and it feels downright home-y. Similar to Trader Joe's, but with a much larger choice from organic and fresh brand's that don't totally break the bank. The chain arrived in Reno at the South Meadows Parkway in September 2017. They are a welcome selection to shoppers who frequent TJ's and Whole Foods. Sprouts offers 18,000 products including vegan muffins, prepared foods, health and wellness items, organic produce and grass-fed beef.

4) Passings

Co-founder of one of Sonoma County’s leading wineries, Eldorado patriarch Don Carano passed away in October at the age of 85. The legend helped change how Reno eats and believed that casino dining should focus on good food and good wine, not cheap buffets.

Louis Erruguible, the founder and owner of Louis’ Basque corner also passed away last year at the age of 90. He and his wife Lorraine opened the Basque dining establishment in 1967 and helped popularize the food genre.

5) Closings

Blue Moon Pizza closed in 2017 after more than 25 years. The owner, Friedrich Taylor, retired. The menu was highlighted by its 36 different toppings and delicious pizza crust. The Iron Man Pie, consisting of Italian sausage, spicy pepperoni, roasted pepper, mushrooms and a drizzle of hot pepper oil, was a favorite of customers throughout the years.

In Midtown, Wedge Cheese Shop closed in April after five years in business. Owner Laura Conrow will be taking a year's sabbatical in which she will explore the New York and Vermont cheese country, enroll in business class and perhaps travel to Europe for more cheese experiences.

6) Instacart

Instacart online grocery launched and soon allowed click to equal groceries. Accessed through the app or website, customers select partner stores in their zip code and indicate delivery window. One of their first partner stores? Costco.

7) Sale of the Cheese Board

When the Cheese Board opened in 1981, it was in a closet in the Arlington Gardens Mall. Owner Debbie Branby brought artisan cheese to Reno and thirty-six years later has sold it. The restaurant and catering powerhouse now belongs to sisters Krista Kintop Phillips and Caitlin Kintop Fletcher. The sisters had long helped Branby run the shop and the new ownership is the next progression.

8) SoDo Sells

Founder-Owner Joel Giandalia sold the restaurant to chef Brett Moseley. The establishment has long been one of Reno's most watched and a clubhouse for a certain segment of the Reno business community. Chef Moseley has remodeled the space, creating new menus and opening Washoe Public House. The restaurant has nicely settled in and Giandalia has moved on to becoming the new food and beverage director of the Renaissance hotel.

9) Harrah's Steakhouse Celebrates 50 Years

Known for its polished service and tableside dishes, this Reno institution celebrated 50 years with a new philosophy. Attracting the next generation of customers that doesn't care about formality.

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