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

Pearanha from Z Bar

I'm glad to be closing out the year with a drink from Z Bar.  KJ has always been my favorite bartender in town, even though sometimes he just plops a drink down in front of me without telling me what it is.

I walked in and picked this drink after he told me that this was the best seasonal drink that wasn't too boozy, since I was driving straight to another location to drop off Christmas gifts.

I really liked this one, it reminded me of a Toasted Almond, but with a festive shortbread cookie rim that really brought the holiday/winter spirit out.  It was the perfect end to the Christmas season, freeing me up for champagne toasts into the new year.

I hope you all have a great new year, and I'll see you in 2016!

Mojitio at @Se7enbar

Mojitios are a pain in the butt to make.  I always feel bad ordering one.  Thankfully my new friend ordered one first to alleviate the guilt.  She's about to be a new momma, so my first one was a virgin.  The second one I ordered with booze to compare.

Our bartender was an awesome laid back chick (I accidentally got her cute mug in my photo of the drink), and was cool about us taking our drinks outside to the patio.  She didn't even judge us when we came back in minutes later because we were being eaten by bugs. 

The drinks actually tasted identical except for the booze addition.  If I was a designated driver for the night, that drink would hit the spot and keep me happily sober.  Both versions were incredibly tasty, and I would for sure go back and try what else they had.  Most of the time Mojitos are too sugary of a drink for me, but this one was the perfect amount of sweetness.  I'll for sure be back.

I know this isn't really a food blog, but I have to mention it.  While we were hanging out in the West Street Market we also had some dolmas from Niko's Greek Kitchen and some Ramen from Gamen Ramen.  Both were some of the best I've ever had, and now WSM is my new favorite spot for drinks and dinner.

Se7en Teahouse/Bar on West

148 West St Reno, NV 89501

(775) 284-3363

Wed - Thu:	3:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Fri:	3:00 pm - 2:00 am
Sat:	12:00 pm - 2:00 am
Sun:	12:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Happy Hour/Wednesday-Sunday /4-7 pm
Buy 1 get 1/2 off all wells drinks

"Nevadas" at Death and Taxes

I have to say, I'm a bit miffed that Death and Taxes doesn't have a Twitter account.  I guess they might have found it too "mainstream" and decided that just a Facebook page would be enough.

I've heard a lot of talk about this bar, and visually it is a great space.  I love that the bathrooms say "office" on the door and it looks like an honest to blog speakeasy/tax office.

Sadly that means the clientele are a little too hipster for their own good.  While we were there we encountered a documentary filmmaker and his crew that thought they were doing the world a favor by arriving on the scene.  A few of them went outside to smoke and didn't bother closing the door.

The bartender was very nice, and I couldn't find fault in the bar itself.  However sometimes the bar is only as good as the clientele, and they were the fatal flaw.  Since I figured I wouldn't be allowed back to this bar, I thought I'd go straight for the one that might make the short list for Official Drink of Nevada.  I ordered the "Nevadas," which is Plymouth navy gin, Orleans sherry, mandarin kaffir syrup, and lime. 

The citrus hit my taste buds right off, and comes with sage garnish. You know I love a garnish I can eat, so I was a little sad that I didn't have a snack with my drink.   It was slushy, like a drink on the strip. It was tiny, unlike a drink on the strip. In the end it sort of tasted like the margarita at Pancho and Willies.  I'd rather have a 99 cent margarita at P & W's frankly.

Because I don't have enough hipster factor to return, this might be it for Death and Taxes.  Unless American Apparel opens up a location in Northern Nevada.

Death & Taxes
26 Cheney St, Reno, NV 89501
(775) 324-2630

Monday	5:00 pm – 12:00 am
Tuesday	5:00 pm – 12:00 am
Wednesday	5:00 pm – 12:00 am
Thursday	3:00 pm – 12:00 am
Friday	3:00 pm – 1:00 am
Saturday	3:00 pm – 1:00 am
Sunday	11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Margarita at Pancho and Willie's @WVSparksCasino

I hadn't been to Pancho and Willie's since I was about 15 years old, so it was fun to go back and see that literally nothing inside the restaurant has changed.  It was oddly comforting, considering that the Peppermill coffee shop has been remodeled and no longer really looks like itself.

The chips still maintain their structural integrity, and their salsa is still pretty darn good.  They also have 99 cent margaritas, something that I wasn't able to partake in before.

When I was younger, margaritas were my favorite.  I'm still down with tequila, but since I've been relegated to a low-carb diet it has fallen out of favor with me.  I'd like to think my tastes have evolved, but really I think it just comes with age.

It is an excellent margarita for the price.  It's more fruity tasting than I was expecting, which is a good thing.  It's got a great salt rim, and the frozen version is great.  The only thing that I wasn't expecting was that the lime inside was frozen.  I would have liked to squeeze it for a little more flavor, but that was really the only complaint that I had while drinking it.

Afterwards I felt really sluggish, so I'm guessing there is way more sugar in it than you could really taste.  I'm not a fan of sugar crashes, so I don't think I'll be partaking of it again anytime soon.

Pancho & Willies at Western Village
775-331-1069
815 Nichols Blvd, Sparks, NV 89434
Open 24 Hours

Moscow Mule with @TahoeBlueVodka @RedRockBar

Belly up to the Red Rock Bar and chill out to Reese's tunes.  He was hitting the Beatles hard while we were there last weekend, and I was loving it.  I'm not sure where he finds his remixes, but they are pretty amazing.

If music isn't your thing, Reese is from New Zealand and has a fantastic accent, as well as does an awesomely killer impression of Rodney Dangerfield.

If you are just in this for the drinks, then Reese is also a kick-ass bartender.

When Neon Beast and I got to the bar, our friends were already deep into their Moscow Mules.  Their copper glasses were advertising local awesomeness Tahoe Blue Vodka, so I thought I'd go ahead and give it a go.   Since I'm not overly fond of beer, this was my first full Moscow Mule, although I had tried someone else's at another bar recently.

I think Reese set out to get us "up to speed" with our friends, and made that drink really strong.  I loved the strong flavor of the beer mixed with the lime juice, which is my favorite mixer in drinks.  The vodka did sort of get lost in the rest of the flavors for me, but I'll have to try it by itself sometime in the future.

The drink was delicious, but it set me back.  I was glad that I didn't drive, in fact I didn't even really want another drink.  Reese seemed really disappointed that I ordered just a water afterwards, but since they came to about $8 each, my money was spent for the night.  Unemployment will do that to you I guess.  Although $8 didn't really break the bank, it was a little on the pricer end for bar.

All in all it had an amazing kick to it, was very tasty.  The bar itself is a great space, with pool tables downstairs and a small bar upstairs.  It felt like a house party, and people drifted in and out for drinks.  If you are looking for a great drink and a good bar to hang around for awhile, I would strongly suggest Red Rock Bar.  I know I'll most likely be back soon.

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