There’s something luxurious about going out for a nice meal during the winter.
The process of making a reservation, exchanging cozy sweats for a smart outfit, and resisting the urge to just curl up and microwave leftovers makes me feel like I’ve got my life together. So this month’s Best 3 Things are slightly more upscale than my usual picks, which makes each spot great for date night—including, ahem, Valentine’s Day.
(Hint, hint: All three of these places take reservations.)
What: Fettuccine carbonara
Where: The Kitchen Table, 530 W. Plumb Lane, Suite A, Reno
Price: $23
Contact: 775-384-3959; www.thekitchentablereno.com
The Kitchen Table consistently crafts some of the best house-made pasta in town. The atmosphere is casually elegant; the service is always on point; and I have yet to hear a bad word from anyone who has paid the restaurant a visit.
While one of their most popular—even iconic—dishes is the raviolo uovo (a single, large, raviolo filled with ricotta, spinach and a runny egg yolk), I’d like to shine the spotlight on the fettuccine carbonara. The dish features perfectly al dente ribbons of house-made fettuccine noodles tossed in a glossy sauce, with pieces of tender, salty pancetta that shine in every bite.
If you’ve been hunting for good, proper carbonara in Reno, The Kitchen Table is your answer.
What: Lemon piccata meatball
Where: Centro, 236 California Ave., Reno
Price: $10
Contact: 775-737-9062; www.centroreno.com
My favorite thing about Centro is being able to order a bunch of different small plates to share without breaking the bank, and the menu rotates seasonally, so each time I visit, there’s something new to try.
During my last visit, I opted for the lemon piccata meatball per the server’s recommendation. If you like chicken piccata, then you’ll enjoy this dish: It’s a four-ounce chicken meatball on a bed of creamy polenta with a lemon caper sauce on top. The meatball is tender with a slightly spicy kick; the polenta is a welcomed texture; and the bright sauce ties everything together.
What: AYCE sushi
Where: Oceano, Inside the Peppermill, 2707 S. Virginia St., Reno
Price: $42.99 for dinner
Contact: 775-689-7050; www.peppermillreno.com/dining/casual-dining/oceano
When people ask me where to get good all-you-can-eat sushi, I always forget about our casinos. If I’m craving AYCE sushi, I’m usually too lazy to make my way through a clamoring casino to get it, but on the rare occasions that I do, I’m reminded of how good it can be.
I recently went to Oceano and was really impressed by the quality of the fish and the diversity of rolls; anything with maguro (tuna) tended to be a favorite. While the price point is a bit higher for dinner than it is at other AYCE places in town, Oceano and other Peppermill restaurants offer a 20 percent discount for locals. (You need a player’s club card.) If sushi isn’t your thing, Oceano also has a vast dinner menu, making it a safe bet for a seafood meal—whether you prefer it raw or cooked.