Our Top Date Night Spots
Looking for a great night out, away from the smoke filled casino? Willing to step outside the slot machine laden lobby to find some top tier tastes? Here is where the local Reno-ite takes their sweetheart out for their anniversary. A list of some of those restaurants that make for a special evening instead of just a Thursday night dinner.
Kauboi Izakaya
1286 S Virginia St,
Reno, NV 89502
First things first – it's pronounced 'cowboy', and this Midtown spot is about as far from your typical Japanese restaurant as you can get. Think punk rock meets izakaya, where culinary creativity runs wild and pretension goes to die. Their small plates are the kind of food that'll make you want to order basically everything on the menu – and honestly, we won't judge if you do. Weekend waits are real (and yes, worth every minute), so bring your patience and maybe a friend who appreciates culinary adventure. This is the place where fine dining gets kicked to the curb in favor of seriously delicious, wildly inventive food that doesn't take itself too seriously. Pro tip: their drink menu is as playful as their food, so come hungry and thirsty. Just don't expect to waltz in and get a table immediately – this spot is more 'first come, first served' than 'let me check my reservation book.' But trust us, when those small plates start rolling out, you'll forget all about that wait.
2. LuLou’s
1470 S Virginia St,
Reno, NV 89502
Let's be real: in a city of hearty casino buffets and no-frills local joints, LuLou's is playing an entirely different game. This is the kind of restaurant that would make a Chef's Table producer weep with joy – where every plate is a work of art so beautiful you'll hesitate before destroying it with your fork (but only for a second). Every dish is a carefully composed symphony of flavors that feels like it's pushing Reno's culinary boundaries into entirely new territory. Think Instagram-worthy presentations that actually back up their visual drama with mind-blowing taste. It's the kind of spot that transforms a simple date night into a full-blown culinary experience, proving that Reno's food scene is way more sophisticated than most outsiders realize. Pro tip: Reservations aren't just recommended, they're practically mandatory. Show up without a booking, and you'll be watching other lucky diners enjoy their meticulously plated magic while you're left staring through the window like a foodie version of a sad puppy.
3. La Famiglia Ristorante Italiano
170 S Virginia St,
Reno, NV 89501
Forget your trendy, Instagram-ready Italian spots – La Famiglia is serving up the kind of old-school Italian-American experience that makes you half expect Ray Liotta to walk through the door. This isn't about reinventing the culinary wheel; it's about executing classic dishes so well that you'll forget all about those fancy fusion spots. Right next door to the Pioneer Center for Performing Arts, it's the ultimate 'dinner and a show' destination that proves sometimes the best date nights are deliciously simple. The atmosphere feels like it's been perfectly preserved from another era – white tablecloths, classic dishes that your grandpa would approve of, and portions that laugh in the face of those tiny, artfully plated meals. Pro tip: Come hungry, bring someone who appreciates a good marinara, and time your meal with a show at the Pioneer Center. It's the kind of classic Reno evening that reminds you why sometimes, the old ways are the best ways.
4. Bricks
1695 S Virginia St,
Reno, NV 89502
Step into Brick's and you're basically time-traveling to when 'fine dining' meant white tablecloths and classic dishes that your parents dressed up for. This family-run spot isn't trying to reinvent the culinary wheel – they're keeping the flame alive for dishes that feel like they were pulled straight from a '90s steakhouse greatest hits album. We're talking lobster thermidor, rack of lamb, and yes, even baked Alaska (because some desserts deserve to live forever). While trendy spots are busy deconstructing your dinner, Brick's is confidently serving up the classics that made fine dining, well, fine. The cocktail menu reads like a greatest hits of traditional favorites – and that's exactly the point. Pro tip: bring your parents, bring a date who appreciates the classics, or just bring an appetite for nostalgia served with a side of serious cooking chops. Sometimes the old ways are the best ways, and Brick's proves that perfectly cooked classics never go out of style.