Bite of Reno: 5th Street Bakehouse

These were some of the sights and tastes of 5th Street Bakehouse in Reno last weekend.

I had a "California Breakfast" sandwich that was out of this world. The bread was super fresh, along with the tomato and avocado. The egg was cooked superbly, and was quite fluffy. All in all, I had a good time with that sandwich... And I'm not usually into breakfast sandwiches.

In addition to that lovely sandwich, I also sampled their delectable pastries. In particular, the peanut butter toffee scone really put a smile on my face. It was rich and sweet, but not overly or sickly sweet. The scone also had a flaky texture that made it that much more enjoyable.

Oh, and this place also knows how to do coffee right! My white mocha tasted the way a mocha should, meaning I could still taste the coffee. And thankfully, they used good quality coffee.

And you know what the best part about this breakfast was? It felt "down home"... In a good way. I never felt rushed. We held our table as we awaited more friends. Magazines were available at a table near the front door. It truly felt like a neighborhood cafe.

Getting back to what I talked about yesterday, Reno's culinary culture is quite different from Vegas'. Here, true neighborhood hangouts are few and far between. There, it's just another day at the favorite corner bakery. Here, breakfast on The Strip can be an elaborate affair with eclairs and sushi and sparkling champagne... While breakfast off The Strip is considered "decent" if it didn't come out of a freezer or paper bag. But in Reno, this may actually be awaiting you upon awakening.

Strange, isn't it?

Style: Bakery, Neighborhood Hangout
Price: $
Open: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

The Rating
---

Food: 4.9 (out of 5)
Service: 1.8 (out of 3)
Ambiance: 2.0 (out of 2)
Overall: 9.7 (out of 10)
Outstanding Destination Eating!

How Do People Eat in Reno?

Over the weekend, I will be posting reviews from the places I ate during my Northern Sojourn. There was some good grub... And some not so good grub.

But before I get into specifics, I want to talk about this. Reno is just so gawd-damned different! No, really. Think about it.

Reno is proud of its history. And food wise, it cuts both ways. It means there are great culinary institutions in Northern Nevada that stand the test of time, regardless of whatever the hot new foodie trends of the minute may be. However, it may also mean that some places can slack off because they think they can just rest on their past laurels. Honestly, I tasted some of both last weekend.

And in The North, they know what they like. Just because something is hot down here in Vegas doesn't mean Reno or Carson will be following along any time soon. If our foodie fad of the moment is tapas or gourmet burgers or fussified Frenchie fare, Reno may still be happy with down home, local "cowboy cuisine".

I'll get into the specifics more this weekend. I just wanted to prepare you first for what's about to come. Bite of Vegas just took a bite of The North! ;-)

Road Trip!

This weekend, I'll be heading north. Yes, that's right. I'll be going to Reno, then to Carson City!

And while up north, I'll take some time out to taste what's happening. Stay tuned to see what I discover. ;-)

Settebello Still Satisfies

My birthday was earlier this month, and I didn't quite know what to do for my special day. After I had a meeting in West Las Vegas that developed into a sort of "surprise party", a friend suggested Settebello.

Oh, good old Settebello!

No really, it serves as THE go-to pizzeria here in Henderson. And thankfully, my last time there was just as delicious as the first.

And the margherita con funghi remains my favorite go-to pizza there. The delightfully earthy flavor of the mushrooms actually complements the bold, rich tomato sauce. The fresh mozzarella melts well on top of the sauce and the mushrooms, and none of these overwhelm the just right (crispy outside, chewy inside) crust.

And even better, I found a new guilty pleasure for dessert! It may be ridiculously simple, but the Banana-Nutella Pizza with shaved almonds helped me forget for a moment that I was growing yet another year older. The same great pizza crust is used, but this one is (of course!) topped with sliced bananas and sweet, creamy Nutella. And as an admitted "Nutella freak", I was happy. ;-)















All in all, Settebello still keeps me satisfied, still keeps me smiling, and still keeps me coming back for more.

Style: Pizzeria
Price: $$
Open: Lunch & Dinner

The Rating
---

Food: 4.9 (out of 5)
Service: 1.8 (out of 3)
Ambiance: 2.0 (out of 2)
Overall: 9.7 (out of 10)
Outstanding Destination Eating!

Holstein's... Revisited

I know, I know, it ended up being nearly a month! I'm ashamed of myself. :-(

But after nearly a month of being tied down by other obligations, I'm back... And I recently had a chance to revisit a new favorite.











And once again, my Urth Burger was out of this world! I'm still trying to figure out how Holstein's manages to make a veggie burger so "meaty", so bursting with farm fresh veggie flavor, so absolutely delicious! It's really great on its own... Really! But if you're not a strict vegan, add the Point Reyes Bleu Cheese for an even more otherworldly experience.

The fries were again super fresh. The popcorn was still addictive. Oh, and this time I had the chance to try a chocolate malt. And jeez, was that rich and bursting with down home chocolate goodness!

Someone help me. I think I'm falling in love with this place. ;-)

(For the first time EVER, I'm giving a perfect score to a non French-i-fied high-society uber-bucks fine dining joint. Lordy help me!)

Style: Upscale Burger Joint
Price: $$
Open: Lunch & Dinner

The Rating
---

Food: 5.0 (out of 5)
Service: 3.0 (out of 3)
Ambiance: 2.0 (out of 2)
Overall: 10.0 (out of 10)
Have I found "THE Perfect Burger"??!!

Sorry for the Wait...

Again, life intervened. I feel like a terrible blogger this weekend, but I promise to have more good stuff up soon. Stay tuned...

My First Take on PJ Clarke's

Bar food. We hate to admit it, but we absolutely love it. And I was finally able to stop at a bar with some exemplary bar food that... Well, let's say they're raising the bar.

For quite some time, I've been hearing about this place. But last week, I finally had a chance to taste the magic of PJ Clarke's for myself. I was at a special event, and I had a very special opportunity to sample all sorts of goodies for dinner.

Before dinner, I tried a few appetizers. (Disclaimer: I couldn't snap photos of these.) The bacon wrapped dates had the perfect marriage of sweet, savory, and salty. The mini sliders were quite beefy, which should satisfy just about everyone who enjoys the flavor of that ever elusive "All American Beef Burger". And I don't think I've had so much fun with tater tots as I did with PJ Clarke's!

From there, it was onto dinner... And all the kitchen mayhem! For some reason, the servers were having a hard time serving dishes where they needed to be, leading to a bit of mass confusion. Some dishes were served out of order, and at one point it was quite difficult to order a drink. Maybe this was just because of the event? Maybe it was just a super busy night and the restaurant was overwhelmed?

Well, at least the food itself provided no confusion or consternation!

The salads weren't bad, though they weren't phenomenal either. My friends and I were served a spring salad with standard raspberry vinaigrette, and some sort of "chicken salad" with dandelion greens and shaved parmesan. I guess John Curtas was right in that regard.

However, from there onward, I was in for some amazing grub. We were served two giant buckets full of steamed mussels, and my goodness did they taste fresh! And by fresh, I mean these tasted direct from the ocean. I have a feeling I need not worry about being served nasty, "freezer burned" seafood here.

The mac and cheese followed, and then I knew I was in LOVE! At first, I didn't quite know what to think. I'm used to stick-to-one's-ribs thick mac and cheese, so I was surprised when I saw this mac & cheese with more of a soupy sauce. However as soon as I tasted it, I was smiling. The sauce may have been loose, but it was still quite rich and full of fresh, sweet peas and fatty bacon.

Following the mac and cheese, I was surprised by the crab cake. It was full of sweet crab meat, but not too heavy or bogged down by too much mayonnaise. I've usually not been into crab cake, but I was actually liking this!

And then, dessert arrived. Oh jeez, where do I start! The chocolate pudding was quite divine, as it had just the right amount of sweet, a rich and deep chocolate flavor, and a lovely house made whipped cream topping. The bourbon bread pudding was quite hearty, and dazzled with its hearty custard and "bejeweled" raisins. Oh, and the apple cobbler just screamed, "America, F*ck Yeah!" to me... And yes, that's a compliment. ;-)

Were there some bumps in the road on my journey to great American Bar Food at PJ Clarke's? Honestly, yes. Hopefully, the service kinks will be worked out and the salads will be more interesting. Otherwise, the (rest of the) food was quite solid... Enough to catapult it to the best of the bunch. And perhaps as PJ Clarke's grows into its new digs at The Forum Shops, it will become as much of a Vegas landmark as it already is a New York legend.

Style: Gastropub
Price: $$$
Open: Lunch & Dinner

The Rating
---

Food: 4.7 (out of 5)
Service: 2.4 (out of 3)
Ambiance: 2.0 (out of 2)
Overall: 9.1 (out of 10)
Good Eats, Worth the Trip