My husband and I were in Reno for business and decided to stay at The Grand Sierra Resort while we were in town. The resort is a giant megaplex with clubs, bowling alleys, movie theaters, amusements, in addition to the ample casino space. Families visiting Reno would never have to leave the resort. They even feature an outdoor driving range adjacent to the pools, and RV resort located on the property. The staff is friendly and very accommodating. While staying here, we got the chance to dine at three of the resort’s restaurants located in the row.
RIM PAN ASIAN BISTRO
The first night we decided to try this attractive Asian concept which combines Chinese, Thai, Japanese, and Vietnamese dishes all in one menu. The inside of the space is warm and inviting, featuring Buddha busts, and other colorful modern accents throughout. The restaurant wasn’t overly crowded that night, and we were quickly seated in a very comfortable booth. Our server was pleasant and very attentive. We started with their mussel’s appetizer, a hot and very delectable offering complimented by a drizzle of sriracha mayonnaise, then moved on to their sashimi appetizer. Next, we ordered a couple of pieces of unagi sushi and capped off the whole meal with their take on pad Thai. We enjoyed every dish and got excellent service and enjoyed our night. I’ve had better takes on pad Thai; the sauce had a tomato-ish flavor to it that didn’t seem to fit with the other flavors. Overall though, we enjoyed our meal and would make a return visit to Rim if we ever stop by The Grand Sierra again.
UNO MAS
The next night of our trip, we decided to try the Mexican restaurant in the resort Uno Mas. The restaurant had a decent crowd, and we were seated promptly, then given our chips and salsa to share while we perused the menu. I tend to order the same thing at Mexican restaurants enchiladas of some kind, but tonight we decided to venture out my comfort food zone and try a few different menu items. We started with the Mexican Street Corn roasted corn topped with guajillo cilantro butter, chili lime mayo, and cotija cheese. It was terrible; the corn tasted like it must have started frozen and had a mushy texture to it. Next, we tried their queso fundido with chorizo another swing and a miss the cheese was crumbly and had a soupy quality to it rather than the stringy delight you usually hope for when ordering this appetizer. Starting to lose hope, we decided to try their street tacos a plate of three with black beans. We got one grilled mahi-mahi taco, the shredded chicken taco, and their pork al pastor. I don’t think of myself as the greatest cook in the world, but I do think tacos are a hard dis h to mess up. Uno Mas’s street tacos were a mistake to order. The fish taco had a strange taste to it; we couldn’t finish it, the shredded chicken served on a stale crunchy shell was awful, and the pork was just not that great. I generally don’t like to be a pesky patron, but the tacos were so bad that it turned our stomachs. When our server came to check on us, we told her how awful the dish was she promptly left, and then returned and very rudely let us know the manager had taken the tacos of our bill and left our receipt with a huff. It was one of the worst dining experiences that I’ve had in quite some time. Uno Mas, no gracias.
THE GRAND CAFÉ
In the morning we decided to get some breakfast at The Grand Café. The bright, colorful restaurant was very welcoming as we settled in their very comfortable booth seating. Our server was quick to take our orders and bring our coffee. My husband ordered the steel-cut Irish oatmeal, and I decided to try their garden vegetable frittata. Both came quickly to the table. The oatmeal was served with brown sugar, cream, dried cranberries, walnuts, and a side of toast. The portion was very generous; the dish labeled a “healthy alternative” felt like a decadent dessert, not a diet. My garden vegetable frittata, an open-face omelet with green peppers, onions, portobello mushrooms, and fresh baby spinach was delicious. Topped with a luscious swirl of hollandaise, it was a great balance between getting a few veggies in and treating yourself to something special. The food came quickly to our table, making this an excellent spot for those like us about to catch a flight out of town.