Bellini at Sterling's inside Silver Legacy

Marching along through summer, I was fortunate enough to attend the brunch at Sterling's inside the Silver Legacy.

At $40 a head, it's the priciest drink that I didn't actually pay for, but to be fair that comes with the best brunch buffet I've ever had in my life.

There are so many things to eat there, but their specialty Bellini is delightful.  It's made with champagne and peach nectar, it is almost like the non-slushy version of the wine slushy at the Marketplace Wine Bar, but with higher quality booze.

It's very fancy there, so make sure to bring your big boy pants and brunch and do some major adulting.


Sterling Seafood Steakhouse inside Silver Legacy
775-325-7573
407 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89501
Open 7 Days a Week--Opening at 5 Daily
Sunday Brunch 9AM-2PM

Campo Pop at Campo

Summer time, a view of the river, good food and great drinks?  Must be Campo!

While I was helping out with a video shoot, I was able to try the Campo Pop, their popular brunch drink.

Simply put, it is heaven.  It's made from their homemade limonello, homemade strawberry mix, and Prosecco.  It's light, airy, and you could drink a million of them before realizing that you can no longer get out of your chair.

The cherry at the bottom is booze-soaked heaven, and if you've read anything of mine before you'll know that I adore snacks with my drink.

The bartender Anthony made these so well, and it was his first day behind the bar!  So go visit him, ask for this drink, and tell him he has beautiful eyes!

Campo
50 N Sierra St
Reno, NV 89501
Monday-Friday 11:30 AM-9PM
Sunday 11:00 AM-9PM

Summa Summa Summa Time at Rawbry

It's been awhile, but with my summertime drink series, I figured I had to come down to Rawbry since I hadn't tried one of their smoothies yet.

I went before a rehearsal to Malvolio, which was co-written by local playwright Rachel Lopez.  Rachel actually bought this drink for me, so thank you so much!

Because I'm not really down for bananas in anything, and because of it being the dead of Summer, I chose the "Summa Summa Summa Time" which had almost every berry you can think of, Bee Pollen (?!?), Honey and Coconut Water.

It was super tasty and if someone shoved one my way I wouldn't hesitate to drink it.  Because it is Rawbry, I'm sure that it is made with all the best ingredient.  In fact, the cashier was very happy we liked it, because it was her recipe.

At the end of the day though, it tasted the same as something I would get at Java or Keva Juice.  Don't get me wrong, I like those...but there is more smoothie for the price.

Rawbry
The Basement
50 S. Virginia St
Reno, NV 89501
775 384 3468

Monday-Friday

7AM–7PM

Satruday-Sunday 10AM-6PM

Wine Slushy from The Marketplace Wine Bar

As summer continues to press down on us with it's oppressive heat, I'm seeking out cooler drinks.

At The Great Western Marketplace sits the Marketplace Wine Bar.  It's beautifully designed and looked like it just grew out of the floor of this building.  Inside the building there are small businesses with various things for sale, one of those businesses being the wine bar.

With prices comparable to Total Wine, you can buy wine and take it home, or you can enjoy by the glassful.  They also have tons of craft beers, and the bartender Tony is a total joy.  Sometimes 90% of a bar is how well you get along with your bartender, and I'd come back just to chat with him.

Along with a partnership with Sierra Nevada Scoops for an Adult Root Beer Float (with Not Your Father's Root Beer), they also offer a "Wine Slushy" that changes flavors from week to week.  The week  I was there the flavor was peach.  Tony uses a different white wine and combines it with peach puree in his slushy machine.  The mix was perfectly balanced and delicious, despite me feeling a little silly slurping through a straw in a wine glass.  Maybe I spent too much time in Vegas, but it seems like it should be in some kind of sippee cup.

I bought some wine that I will be reviewing later, but for now you should head down to the wine bar this Friday, as they have live music from 5-7.

The Marketplace Wine Bar inside Great Western Marketplace
Friday 11:00 AM-7:00 PM
Saturday & Sunday 11:00 AM-5:00 PM

Tahoe Sunrise from @1864 Tavern

It's been awhile since I've been to 1864, and as my friend was having a daiquiri, I decided to also reach a little outside my wheelhouse and try something a little...fruity.

The Cap Morgan really made this drink as boozy as possible, but the rest was like drinking out of the bottom of someone's fruit salad.  Maybe that is because the ice is slushy and the pureed strawberries just make it so hard to get to the actual liquid in the glass.

In the end I wouldn't order it again, but everyone in my party that ordered it loved it. 


The search continues!


1864 Tavern
290 California Ave, Reno, NV 89509
(775) 329-1864

Monday	3:00 – 11:00 pm
Tuesday	3:00 – 11:00 pm
Wednesday	3:00 – 11:00 pm
Thursday	3:00 – 11:00 pm
Friday	3:00 pm – 2:00 am
Saturday	3:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sunday	3:00 – 11:00 pm

Cappuccino at @MagpieRoasters

Magpie is in a location so unassuming, at first I didn't even realize there was a coffee shop there.  There is just an adorable Magpie printed on the side of on the counter facing street-side, and some to go coffee bags littering the counter top.

The menu is very bare bones, and leaves you helpless unless you really know something about coffee.  I don't, so I panicked and ordered a cappucino.

It was still a little too much coffee tasting for me, but it looked beautiful!  For not really enjoying lattes, I really enjoy a good latte art!

The service was great and the location convenient, and despite the lack of a sign on their door, many people were sitting around enjoying beverages, from hipsters to young moms.

Because it is near where I do Saturday Yoga, I'm sure I'll be in again!

Special thanks to Sue Kephart for buying this drink for me!

Magpie Coffee Roasters
1715 S Wells Ave, Reno, NV 89502

(775) 393-9442

M-F 7:00AM-5:00 PM

S-Su 8:00AM-5:00 PM

Half Past 5 at Silver Peak

Maybe it's the Elderflower Liqueur, the Sweet Vermouth, or maybe even the orange bitters...but this drink is 10 kinds of amazing.

It honestly feels like the best after work drink of all time, it is so aptly named.  It tastes sweet, rich, fruity, and above all...super boozy. 

It's kind of perfect.  It tastes grown up, and the perfect drink for unwinding after a hard day.

So, like all great loves, is has already been lost.  They recently changed up their cocktail menu, and this masterpiece is gone.  Next time I'm there I'm going to ask if they have it anyway, and hope to reconcile soon.


Silver Peak Restaurant and Brewery 
124 Wonder St
Reno, NV 89502
775-324-1864

Open Sunday-Thursday 11:00 AM- 10:00 PM
Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM-11:00 PM

Coffee from Gold 'N Silver

I realized as I was searching for a new drink to review, that I had coffee at Gold and Silver about a million times since moving back to Reno...and I never thought to review it, I had always taken it for granted.  Figured it would always be there.

Hopefully I'm not wrong about that last part.

Gold N Silver is the quirky dive that every local either loves or should love.  It's the place you go for breakfast when you are hungover, it's the place you go while you are still drunk from the night before, and it's a place that your dad would think of as "fancy" because it has different kinds of Eggs Benedict on the menu.

Gold 'N Silver really is for everyone.

Their coffee might not be the best, but it is about the experience.  There is something about those extra thick coffee mugs with the faded GNS logo that just feels cozy...like your home away from home.  Even in decaf form, this is the ultimate comfort drink for any Northern Nevadan.  It's certainly in the running for me for state drink.

Gold 'N Silver Inn
790 West 4th Street
Reno, NV 89503
775-323-2696
Open 24/7

Arugula Gimlet @RoyceReno

Royce has been talked up for a long time, so eventually I had to make it there.  It was described as "grandpa's cabin in the woods" and I can certainly see where that description came from.

There was a very diverse group of people when we stopped in, but I was very excited to see that one of the specials was a gimlet, one of my favorite drinks.  Hardly anyone offers it because it's so unfashionable. I think it's like living in an alcoholic garden and I've never had a bad one.

Until now.

I'm just kidding, it was totally delightful!  Royce is a nice little bar with food offerings from next door's Granite Street, and it is a place I'd love to come to again.

Royce
115 Ridge St
Reno, NV 89501
775-440-1095
Saturday-Friday 4:00 PM-12:00 AM
Sunday CLOSED

Bee Rummy @ChapelTavern

Chapel is such an interesting space, I can never quite figure out who their demographic is.  On one hand it looks like an old man's log cabin, on the other it has a DJ station and a pool table.  It's all over the place, but their drinks are always on point so I don't really mind.

Patron of the blog Marki took me out for a couple of these Bee Rummy's, and they are delightful.  Recently they've been taken off the drink menu, but you can still request them if you want one.

It was very much a boozy throat coat tea kind of drink.  I honestly enjoyed the crap out of it, so much so that I had one over my usual limit.  It's worth asking for if you are in Chapel.

Chapel Tavern

1099 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502

 (775) 324-2244

Monday	2:00 pm – 4:00 am
Tuesday	2:00 pm – 4:00 am
Wednesday	2:00 pm – 4:00 am
Thursday	2:00 pm – 4:00 am
Friday	2:00 pm – 4:00 am
Saturday	10:00 am – 4:00 am
Sunday	10:00 am – 4:00 am

Dirty Martini at Silver Peak Restaurant & Brewery

After a show, my pal Stacy (of Utility Players fame) and I went to get some after show drinks and snacks at Silver Peak in Midtown.

It was fairly late at night and we sat in the bar area.  Service was a bit slow, but after a little while I finally had a dirty martini in front of me.  It was shortly afterwards that I found the specialty drink menu hidden under some things under the table.  Next time I'll order off of that one.


I asked for it very dirty, but it came out slightly naughty instead.  It tasted very much like the well drink liquor version of the "Well Mannered Martini" from Cheesecake Factory.  (Note to self, go there next.)

Nothing great, but their grilled cheese is my favorite in town.

Silver Peak Restaurant and Brewery 
124 Wonder St
Reno, NV 89502
775-324-1864

Open Sunday-Thursday 11:00 AM- 10:00 PM
Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM-11:00 PM

The Winnamocha at Global Coffee

When I first arrived I noticed they've changed their logo, which looks great!

I keep seeing new and clever names for coffee every time I arrive, and this time I saw a coffee called a Winnamocha, after my favorite small town of Winnemucca, Nevada.  I've always liked Mocha because it's like chocolate, so this seemed like the perfect fit.


Though good, it tasted almost exactly like my coffee from my last visit.  Which even though it said it had all this fun extra stuff in it, it just tasted like regular coffee.  Good coffee, but regular coffee.

It looks like the search continues!


Global Coffee
50 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89501

(775) 448-6818

Monday-Friday 7AM-7PM

Saturday 10AM-7PM

Sunday 10AM-3PM

Double Chocolate Oreo Shake from Mel's Diner

I've been burned by Mel before.  Twice.  Yet I keep coming back like a masochist.

I guess when someone else is buying I'm willing to punish myself.

I tried the Double Chocolate Oreo shake this time around, and it was actually a delight.  So much of one that I didn't end up finishing it...the entire table did.  They were in love with it, from the cherry to the inch-thick pile of broken oreos at the bottom.

In case you are wondering, I took the cherry.  Hey, it was my milkshake!

I personally would love to make any milkshake the official state drink, but I think I'm going to keep looking.


The Original Mels
345 North Arlington Ave Reno, NV 89501
775-337-6357
Open 24 Hours

The Original Asskicker from The Nugget

I've gone back more times than I care to admit to have another Asskicker.  I did realize that I never really went over the original margarita before, so I thought it warranted another post.

The last time I grabbed an Asskicker I took it to see the new bridge and the new show at Bruka.  The original margarita has a great taste, though I would choose Pancho & Willie's over it.

Hey, you think if I went to Pancho & Willie's with my Asskicker bottle, they'd fill it up?

No?

Well okay then.

I'd still pick the Asskicker as the official state drink of  Nevada right now, both because of the taste and the experience you get with it.

The Little Nugget
233 N Virginia St Reno NV 89501
Open 24 Hours

Coffee Shake from @TheCoffeeBarnNV inside the @GWMarketplace

Milkshakes have pretty much always been a favorite of mine.  Since I've started an office job, I've made coffee a thing of mine too.  So a coffee milkshake was right up my alley as I visited the GWM this past weekend.

The Coffee Barn is the Great Western Marketplace's new flagship restaurant, and as soon as I saw they had a coffee milkshake I was excited.  I was there for their Friday night music and decided to grab a yummy sandwich with my milkshake.

Though super-tasty, I don't think it tasted like coffee at all.  I was also super tired a few hours later, so I'm not sure there was actually any coffee in my milkshake.  It was still enjoyable, and I love all that Coffee Barn has to offer.

Great Western Marketplace is only open on weekends, so make sure to go down and enjoy shopping, food, and drinks from the Wine Bar and Coffee Barn!

The Coffee Barn
Inside Great Western Marketplace
4855 Summit Ridge Dr
Reno, NV 89523
Friday & Saturday 11:00 AM-7:00 PM
Sunday11:00 AM-4:00 PM

Masala Chai Latte at Coffee Bar

Walking into Coffee Bar made me feel like I was walking onto a movie set about a place where only intellectuals go.  I felt accepted and also not good enough to be there at the same time, which is a hard feat.  Everyone was on a laptop, most of them Macs.  The music put me at ease but also built me up.  I felt like I was going to meet someone there that would change my life, or at the very least engage me in some intense conversation.

I thought I could just do the simple thing and order a chai latte, but there were around 3 different kinds.  Embarrassed, I asked the difference between the two.  I was told that the Masala Chai has caffeine, so that is what I went with.

They had other intriguing drinks on the menu like a Lavender latte and a Lemon Chiffon latte, the latter I would love to try very soon.  As I was walking to our table, an attractive guy stared into my soul and I thought he was going to say something profound as he walked by, but that was it.  This place is intense, and I love it.

The chai ended up being a little watery, but the decor and atmosphere more than make up for it, and I have more drinks to try.  I'm making a future date with myself to read a book and try a new drink very soon.

Coffee Bar
682 Mt Rose St Reno, NV 89509
(775) 800-1090
6AM-9PM 7 Days a Week

Margarita at Los Compadres Mexican Restaurant

Before a night of taking in a show at The Potentialist, local actor Ryan Kelly and I decided to go to Los Compadres for dinner.  It's proximity to the Workshop was a plus, but it also had a great deal on margaritas.

We ended up ordering an entire pitcher, and it was worth every penny.  In the photo it does look a little thin, like it is more water than booze, but it actually was the perfect combination.  It was very comparable to the 99 cent margarita at Pancho and Willie's, and I would go again in a heartbeat.  The food was great, the atmosphere was good even though we were sat in the bad table by the kitchen/bathroom.  I like that it is a local place, and we have enough of the culture here in Reno to warrant it being considered for the official state drink.  Of course, I'm going to keep going out there and trying more things to compare!

Los Compadres
(775) 786-9966
1490 E 4th St, Reno, NV 89512
Monday-Thursday 11AM-9PM
Friday-Saturday 11AM-10PM
Sundays CLOSED 

Cereal Killer from @Rawbrybar

Even though their specialty is juice, I picked up a Cereal Killer this time around because money was tight.  The girl behind the counter said it was good on it's own, but that she really liked it as creamer in her coffee.

I took a sip and decided it would be a coffee-only sort of thing.  The only way I could describe the taste would be like a chalky, runny, milk like liquid.  It was like coconut water, it even tasted a bit like coconut.

As you could probably tell, I'm not a big fan of coconuts.  Big Hint: You'll most likely never see a Pina Colada reviewed on this site.

It's possible that I should have just stuck with the juices.  I'll try that next time.

Rawbry
The Basement
50 S. Virginia St
Reno, NV 89501
775 384 3468

Monday-Friday

7AM–7PM

Satruday-Sunday 10AM-6PM

Grasshopper from Z Bar

A few months ago KJ said that the Grasshopper was part of his seasonal drinks, so I should get it before it got taken off the menu.

I was so glad I did, because it was like a boozy mint chocolate chip ice cream, which is my favorite thing in the world.  Not a crappy mint chocolate chip ice cream that you pick up from the store without any regard to the brand...this tastes like someone named Jerry or Ben had a hand in it.  I was actually sad at how small the martini glass was, because I wanted more of it.  It was like a delicious minty mudslide.

I'm actually a little sad that this is a seasonal drink, because I would have it year round with pleasure.  Maybe with enough encouragement we can convince him to leave it on.


 Z Bar
1074 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502
(775) 348-1723

Monday	4:00 pm – 12:00 am
Tuesday	4:00 pm – 12:00 am
Wednesday	4:00 pm – 12:00 am
Thursday	4:00 pm – 12:00 am
Friday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Saturday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sunday	Closed

Cucumber Chili Drop at Silver Peak Brewery

"This looks right up your alley for the blog" my best friend said, and I didn't bother looking at the rest of the menu.  I ordered the Cucumber Chili Drop because it had two kinds of vodka, lemon juice, and super syrup...pretty much all my favorite things.

I had high hopes for it, and sadly I was a little disappointed.  It tasted like a watered down ghost of a gimlet, and I didn't really get the cucumber or chili flavor out of it, although it had a smoky chili after burn.  I really wanted more flavor out of it, so I was a little let down.  Of course I'm always willing to give a place another chance.  Maybe it was an off day for the bartender, or just not a well thought out drink.  Either way, I'll be back for happy hour trying something else out for $6.

Silver Peak Grill and Taproom
135 N Sierra St, Reno, NV 89501
Monday-Sunday 11AM-1AM

The Irishman at Global Coffee

There are a lot of drinks to enjoy at the basement, including coffee bar Global Coffee.  After my morning yoga class I went there with a friend who was nice enough to buy me a cup.

I've never been a fan of basic coffee, but as of late if there is enough sugar and cream, I can handle it.  I'm almost to the point where I enjoy it instead of just using it for the caffeine.

I thought the Irishman would be a good in-between coffee, and it mostly was.  It was surely a strong coffee flavor, but I did expect a little more Irish cream to come through and it didn't.  In fact, it barely tasted like there was any cream in there, Irish or otherwise.

I guess coffee is still not my "cup of tea," even though I don't like tea either.  I'll try something new there again though, as they were very nice and helpful while I was there.

Global Coffee
50 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89501

(775) 448-6818

Monday-Friday 7AM-7PM

Saturday 10AM-7PM

Sunday 10AM-3PM

The Asskicker from The Little Nugget

I hate dives.

Whew.  There.  I said it.

I hate dives.  I hate sticky floors, "well" drinks that are anything but, and dirty bathrooms.  I don't like having to wonder what else is in my drink besides booze.

That being said, there are exceptions to this rule.  I love Gold N Silver, and now that I've been, I've also become fond of The Little Nugget.

I know, I know...I'm a terrible local for having never been there.  I've still never had an Awful Awful, but I did want to have an Asskicker as soon as I saw that it came with a souvenir sports bottle.  Plus a drink called the ass kicker, I had to be like "challenge accepted."

I should have gotten the original, which is to the right in the photo and is a delightful margarita.  Instead I decided to turn my tongue blue with a raspberry vodka.  It was slushy, didn't taste that strong, and was delightful.  I only finished about as much as you see in the photo that night, then I took it home to throw in my freezer to finish it the next day.  Yep, it kicked my ass that much, and I ain't even mad at it.

It's totally worth the $8 price tag, although mine was actually purchased by my friend Ryan Kelly, who is acting in The Shape of Things at Bruka this week.  It's an amazing love story with a hellva twist, and you should purchase tickets right away, as it closes at the end of the month.

I think the Asskicker should be a major contender for the official state drink.  The experience of the divey casino and the strongness (and tastiness) of the drink makes for an original experience that you can't get in another state.

The Little Nugget
233 N Virginia St Reno NV 89501
Open 24 Hours

Hey Bartender

The Craft Cocktail is back, and I'm obviously very happy about it. This documentary (currently on Showtime) is an amazing love letter to bartenders and their craft.  It's a bit long for a movie about cocktails, but I was never bored watching it for the first time.

It opens on a quote: "The culture of drink endures because it offers so many rewards...above all the elusive promise of friendship and love." -Pete Hamill

One opening comment is "There should be a drinks column in every newspaper in America.  There should be shows on TV." I couldn't agree more.

They go through prep in a bar, and honestly I have a huge appreciation for everything they set up.  I often admired the set up in different bars (such as Z Bar), but I never really thought that someone had to set that up every night.  It's a lot to set up, and if you are high quality like 1864, you have to sculpt ice as well as set up everything for the night.

Employees Only in NYC is featured in the documentary has an amazing cast of characters.  They go into the background of a few people that work there that is fascinating. You really find yourself rooting for all the people involved in everything they want to do, and you are not disappointed.

However I have to say my favorite quote, maybe of all time, is from Frank of Rao's.  He says "The object is to bring your job, whatever it is, to the level of art."  He goes on to say "There is an art to being a waiter, there is an art to being a chef.  There is an art to being a bartender.  Be the best bartender anyone has ever dealt with."  This is around 45 minutes into the documentary (a little less than halfway through), and when I heard that it really changed how I felt about not only bartenders, but jobs in general.  It is a profound statement; you should always give it your all and take it to another level, a level of art.

Thank goodness for Dale DeGroff, and this documentary for really expanding my view of this profession, and of the craft cocktail.  Check it out soon!

Hot Toddy at Red Rock Bar

Although Bourbon is usually used, Red Rock gave me a Whiskey Hot Toddy a few months ago.  The snow was just over Mt. Rose and headed our way, and that bite was in the air.  We were at the bar and I just couldn't bring myself to have a cold drink and go back out there.

I'd never had a hot toddy before, but my friend insisted that I'd like it, and that it was made with local honey, which would be in one of my rules for the official state drink!  I was excited for my prospects before I took my first sip.

I'm not gonna lie, this is not my kind of drink.  It just tasted like hot Whiskey.  I didn't taste the lemon I clearly saw in there, I didn't taste any honey, and I had to constantly sir it so I didn't get a mouthful of....spice?  Nutmeg?  Something floating in it.

As I continued to muscle my way through it, I found the hot was really warming me up, and the whiskey was rather nice.  By the time I finished, it made me warm and drunk enough that I liked it.  Once I sobered up though, I knew it was a drink I'd never order again, unless I moved to Alaska.

Red Rock Bar
241 S Sierra St, Reno, NV 89501
(775) 324-2468

Monday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Tuesday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Wednesday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Thursday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Friday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Saturday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sunday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am

A Wine of a Tale

During the holidays I got a panicked call from a friend.  Apparently an important gentleman in the community had decided to come to the party last minute, and he only drank a certain type of wine.  The caterers were nearly there, and she asked me to stop by a Liqour store and pick some up.  I asked her to text me the exact type of wine so that I didn't screw it up.  When I got the text I was flabbergasted.  This guy's only request is that he only drank what amounted to just above a 2 Buck Chuck?  I was embarrassed for him, then for me for having to pick it up.

The Neon Beast and I were in a snarky mood, so the entire trip turned out to be one quip after another.  It took forever to find it because was literally in the "Others" section of the store.  NB said "Maybe we can try to find an earlier year than 2014."  I said "I'm sure it's all vinegar by now, the 2013 is on a salad somewhere."  NB retorted "You can use it for just cooking now, as long as you are cooking for your enemies."

We picked up the bottle and NB remarked "Oh, a screw cap; so you know it's quality!"  I'm sure we got the same kind of looks that Frasier got when he talked about wine, because as we walked to the front we shot back and forth lines like "When wine in a box is too big of an investment!"  "The brand is good for cars, but clearly they put this wine in the gas tank!"

Once we were out of the store we texted our friend, "We had to buy it with a Hustler so we'd feel less dirty."

Napa has really turned us into some horrible wine snobs.  But hey, they can't all be a de La Tour.

Of course, after all that fuss and comedy-inspired wine jokes, the guy didn't even show up.  "Maybe they can use the wine for fondue?" NB said.  I retorted "Yeah, fondue with your enemies."

Original New York Seltzer is Back!

My mom is from NYC, the Bronx.  Even though I've never been there I always feel like being a New Yorker is in my blood.  That being said, when I was a child and mom had stacks and stacks of New York Seltzer all over the house, I wasn't a fan.  It was too bubbly, and didn't have any flavor to my 6 year old palate.  I did always like the label though.

Which is why when it started popping up in stores again last year it immediately caught my eye.  I put off actually getting one for awhile, mostly due to price.  $2-5 for that new tiny bottle?  Nuh-uh.  You aren't gonna get me like that.  Unless someone else is paying...which is honestly what happened.

Because I never tried it before, I can't say what it was like before, but it's pretty good now!  Actually worth the price, since it is so rich I don't know that I'd want more.  Of course, a New York anything isn't going to be the state drink of Nevada.  However I'm still going to enjoy that cute message under the bottle cap.

Chai Tea Latte from Hi Point Cafe

I ran into a friend from college the other day and we decided to meet for coffee.  I suggested a place close to her, Dunkin Donuts.  I really wanted to try their flavored hot chocolates for the blog.  As it turns out she ended up on the other side of the valley, and suggested we meet at Hi Point Cafe.

I'm not gonna lie, I felt like I was cheating on Swill for a bit.  It's very similar set up, both independently owned coffee shops running on Square and locally ingredients.  Okay, that last bit might just be made up...but it sounds great doesn't it?

I looked for my go-to fake coffee, the Chai Latte.  The Chai Tea Latte was all I could find on the menu, so I ordered that.  It was, as suspected, more of a tea than a latte.  That is not really my jam, but it was great for what it was.  It was a great little cafe, wonderful for chatting and getting coffee if you are in the Kings Row area.  The only thing I'm not really fond of is that they close at 4:00 PM, so you have to make your dates pretty early if you want to hang out.

Hi Point Cafe
3687 Kings Row, Reno, NV 89503
(775) 787-2477
Monday-Sunday 7:00 AM-4:00 PM 

Cookie Monster Shake at The Original Mel's Diner inside The Sands

I don't have a very good history with Mel's Diner inside the Sands.  In college I got food poisoning twice, and to this day still can't eat mozzarella sticks.  I'm still wary of it, and most of the time I end up just getting a milkshake.

They recently made up some new milkshakes and I was eager to try out the "Cookie Monster," an oreo and cookie dough combo.  For the $6 price point I was hoping it was going to be good.

It tasted like a normal run of the mill oreo milkshake out of the gate.  It seemed near the end (as you can sort of tell from the photo) they had chunks of chocolate chips and cookie dough at the bottom.  Since you drink it out of a straw, and the lumps are too big for the straw, I have to think this wasn't really a great idea.  I'm also kind of sad to report that the chocolate chips were the waxy kind, and not really suitable for a quality shake.  They almost tasted like small nuts to me.

Overall I was pretty underwhelmed and won't be trying it again.  I'd be more apt to buy some oreos and put them in some cookie dough ice cream for a better outcome.  Mels does have another new one that is an orangesicle type of flavor, so I will be checking that out soon.


The Original Mels
345 North Arlington Ave Reno, NV 89501
775-337-6357
Open 24 Hours

Pack a Mean Punch at Rawbry

The Basement has officially opened, and it is hipster paradise.  The grey walls with stark white faux brick, the low black ceilings...it's a beautiful design.  You forget that you are actually in the basement of the old post office, even though you took a rickety looking set of stairs to get there.

Until it is revealed which "major retailer" is taking over upstairs (my money is on an Anthropologie or UNIQLO), this is all there is.  While I was there they were doing lots of construction, I think on a stage small enough it could only take poetry slams, and even then only Haiku's.

That's a joke, son.

Anyway, along with a coffee shop, flower shop, barber shop, and chocolate shop, there is a juice bar.  Locally owned Rawbry says that they are raw juice, and I think their location was inside the old jail cell, so robbery.  Raw + Robbery= Rawbry.  They even have a video on their site that looks like a local filmmaker saw Spring Breakers and decided to get creative.  The branding is so intense that I really thought this was a national brand that had deigned to come to Reno.

However it ended up happening, I'm very glad that they came.  When we arrived, they were very nice and gave us a lot of information about how they make their juice.  They gave us a sample of their "juice of the day" which happened to be the "Pack a Mean Punch."  It has Pineapple, Apple, Lemon, and Ginger.  It actually does have a bit of a kick to it, due to the ginger, but I loved it.  I love all four  ingredients, and together they were so great.  This amazing drink comes in a large glass bottle that looks like a wide mouth version of an old time milk bottle.  Because it's pretty, and made of glass, you feel like you need to hold onto it.  Rawbry gets that, and you get a dollar off your next drink if you bring it back to them.

You'll need that dollar, because this particular juice will set you back just under $10.  That's not a mis-type, you could go cheaper by getting the most expensive burrito bowl at Chipotle.  However, as I sit here thinking about how much I want the rest of the juice, eyeing the fridge, feeling my mouth water...geez it's almost worth it.

As I perused their website, I saw a few others that I wanted to try out; the Rawket Science, Matcha Latte, and the Jalapen'yo Business.  Of course the ones that sound the best to me are also the more expensive ones.  They do go as low as $5, and that might be the one I get next time.

As they are a local business, they might actually be in the running for the official state drink of Nevada.  I'll just have to take out a small loan in order to try the rest.

Rawbry
The Basement
50 S. Virginia St
Reno, NV 89501
775 384 3468

Monday-Friday	7AM–7PM		Satruday-Sunday 10AM-6PM

A Look Back: Dirty Martini @ParkonFremont

Happy New Year!

I started this blog about a year ago, and it's important to remember where I came from.  I've had many drinks in the last twelve months, and all of them are better than anything I ever got in Las Vegas. 

Case in point: The photo is a dirty martini that I ordered from Park on Fremont.  Let me first say that I love this bar.  It has a secret see-saw in the back, an amazing back patio, and the art on the walls is beautiful.  They have taxidermy animals all over the inside of the bar arranged in a way that makes it look like they are en flagrante.  It's that kind of interesting take on things that makes me want to come back to a bar, and I did go frequently while I was a Las Vegas Local.

That being said, the photo is a dirty martini that I ordered from Park on Fremont.  This wasn't after I finished half of it, and it's not a full size mason jar either.  This tasty 3/4ths of a shot of dirty martini set me back $10.00.  Though this was good, it tasted the same as the dirty martini I've gotten at Shea's in midtown, a super dive bar, for $5.00. 

If I found myself in Las Vegas again, I wouldn't turn down a trip to Park, but I wouldn't dare order something not on the special cheap menu.

Park on Fremont
506 Fremont St Las Vegas NV 89101
(702) 834-3160

Sunday-Thursday 11:00 AM-1:00 AM
Friday-Saturday 11:00 AM-3:00 AM