Best Date Restaurants in Reno
Until about 10 months ago, I was one of those "always the bridesmaid" type of gals; the perpetual single; matchmaker extraordinaire. "Fiercely independent," I liked to tell myself. Well let me tell you this: I am one fiercely independent woman who's gone out on a ton of first dates. Here are the places I liked and would consider going back to--unfortunately I can't say the same about the men who took me there.
E.J.'s Jazz Cafe-- Although somewhat hidden behind Dreamer's Coffee along the Truckee River in downtown Reno, this little place stands on its own when it comes to good food and a lively atmosphere. I had the Shrimp Creole, which was spicy and New Orleans-esque, and to help me forget the fact that my date's pants were the equivalent of male Capri's, a few glasses of wine. The best part was definitely the music, however. A good, live jazz band is hard to beat.
Silver Peak Restaurant and Brewery-- Okay, this is important: There are two Silver Peaks in Reno, and although owned by the same people, they are extremely different in atmosphere. So unless you're willing to chance an awkward run-in with an ex or a previously discarded date, (hello Capri pants man!), steer clear of the downtown location, which is usually much busier and a bit more of a social hot-spot. The location I prefer for a quiet, delicious, possibly romantic meal, is the original one not far from downtown. The prices are fair, the food is really good and the beer is home-brewed. And if your date orders a plate of chicken nachos for his entree and tells you he'll at least pay for his meal, like mine did, Silver Peak's central location allows for a somewhat cheap cab ride home.
Java Jungle Vino-- This is actually two different places located next door to each other, owned by the same people. There's the coffee shop and the wine bar. I suppose either would be nice for a date, but I'm sure you could guess which one I'm recommending. So let's talk about wine. My date and I spent a couple of hours talking over a bottle (or two?) of Fume Blanc that I could have smuggled home in my purse it was so good. They have all kinds of wines, as well as liquor and some food, and they proudly support local artists and musicians. I have nothing bad to say about the place or the date, unless you factor in the whole "ex-wife" story. Ouch.
Sierra Tap House-- Okay, let's not beat around the bush: This is where I met my boyfriend of almost one year. I guess technically, we never went on a date here, but I've often observed and overheard other would-be first daters ("So like, do you watch TV?") and I've always thought, "Yeah, I'd take a date here." Basically, it would be great for a weeknight drink thing, or if you don't mind crowds (maybe you're bad with conversation, I don't know) the weekends are fun too.
So good luck to all of you daters, and make sure to send me a wedding invite if things work out. And here are a few more places that either opened after I took myself off the market or just didn't have a chance to experience date-style for myself:
Imperial Bar and Lounge
La Famiglia
Ciao
LuLu's
Birtha Miranda's
Ichiban's Japanese Steakhouse
