Visitreno

[SeahawkSiren]

Hello Reno lovers, it’s trip report time! It’s been two years since my last review, so long overdue for another one. Settle in with your favorite fall season beverage and enjoy the review!

I have not been to Reno for two years so was pretty happy to get four of the six nights comped on this trip despite almost zero gambling the last two years (I don’t gamble much anymore, not even at the local tribal casinos near where I live). Got all three nights in Tahoe comped and one of three nights in Reno comped.

Who decides to get up at 3:30 AM on their first day of vacation? Well, we do. Had an early flight out of Sea-Tac Airport and had to be at the airport before 5:00 AM. But that means a good chunk of the first day in Tahoe, right?

LAKE TAHOE

We stayed at Harveys in Tahoe. I did not read good reviews about this place so didn’t have high expectations staying here. The place can certainly use some updating in a big way. The casino is very dingy, dated and uninviting. Paint peeling off all the room doors, broken escalators, among other things.

Our room itself was recently renovated so that part was pretty nice. We had a “Premium” room on the 10th floor which is not a Lake View room but we did end up having a bit of a lake view. An unexpected nice bonus.









We had so much going on during our time in Tahoe that I ended up not having time or the desire to gamble there. Instead of gambling we had fun taking a 2 hour cruise on a yacht, driving the entire 72 mile loop around the lake, enjoyed several great restaurants, and got in some good walks/level hikes as my severely arthritic ankle would allow.









I will give a big shout out to the Sage Room Steakhouse at Harveys though. Just an outstanding dining experience all around – great views of the lake from the 19th floor, fabulous service, and excellent food which can include tableside preparation of certain items if you so desire.

Really enjoyed our time in Tahoe and I was kicking myself that it had been 40+ years since my one and only other visit there. I won’t make that mistake again and will definitely go back as soon as I can. And it’s only about an hour or so drive from Reno!

RENO

Goodbye Tahoe, hello Reno! Time to check in to the Silver Legacy. We arrived in Reno on a Saturday long before check-in time so caved to one of their money grabs of charging $20 to check-in before 3:00 PM.

The Row casinos just didn’t have the same vibe for me this time around. Numerous slot machines have been removed from all three of The Row properties, most of which seemed to be the ones that had the potential for large payouts. So my favorite carousel of Buffalo Grand machines which had been at the same spot for many years have apparently been sent into the slot machine abyss somewhere.

And if you want to watch your college football team and it just happens to be a Pac-12 team, well too bad for you because the SL sportsbook does not carry the Pac-12 network! WTH! Guess we won’t have those issues after this season since we will be joining the Big 10. But my Washington Huskies pulled off the victory over Arizona!

Café Central at SL is closed until the new year for remodeling so eating there was not an option.



Another SL restaurant update. After sitting empty for five years, the former buffet space is getting two Gordon Ramsay restaurants, Ramsay’s Kitchen and Gordon Ramsay Fish and Chips. Both are scheduled to open late this year.





So I look forward to the newly remodeled Café Central and trying Ramsay’s Kitchen the next time I’m in Reno! Here is an article in the Reno Gazette Journal with more information about the Ramsay restaurants.

https://www.rgj.com/story/life/food/2023/05/18/gordon-ramsay-opening-2-new-reno-restaurants-at-the-row-caesars/70232388007/

Dinner Saturday night was at Brew Brothers at Eldo.

Spent most of the day Sunday watching the NFL games in the SL sportsbook. Such fun! That is one of the main reasons I love going to Reno in the fall is for watching football there.

My gambling on Saturday and Sunday included some decent size slot hits.







Sunday night dinner was at El Jefe’s Cantina at CC where I enjoyed a margarita and taco salad.





On Monday it was time to venture away from The Row and check out the new J Resort. What a beautiful property! Really hard to believe this place used to be The Sands. I loved it so much that I am considering staying there for at least part of my next Reno adventure.



We ate breakfast at Hanna’s Table at J. Good food and a nicely done restaurant. I ordered their signature HT’s Pancakes which were very yummy. Note to self, do not order any pancakes in the future which contain the word “oversized” on the menu!







Time to walk off some calories from those pancakes (which I only managed to eat about one-third of) and head down for a walk along the river!





After the walk it was time to go back to SL and play slots. I like the Fu Nan Fu Nu machines and this one really liked me that day. Hit the “Major” for about $880 before it rolled back to $800. Cha-ching! I almost always hit the “Mini” which is under $20 so this was a very nice surprise! Yes, winning the $30,000 would have been much better, but I was very happy with $880! Cashed out and took it back to the room as I wasn’t going to put it back in the machines.





After that slot hit, it was time to celebrate with some champagne in my favorite bar!





Are you ready for some football? A Monday Night party (cue the old Hank Williams, Jr. song)? My beloved Seahawks were playing the NY Giants on Monday night. A great time was had by all (well, the Seahawks fans anyway) as we walloped the Giants 28-3!

Also placed my traditional Seahawks winning the Super Bowl bet. At 35/1 odds, this would be a nice payout. Fingers crossed.



Enjoyed the view from the room on my last night in Reno.





Well, vacations must always come to an end and back to reality was calling. Our ride home showed up on time.



Hello Mount Shasta!



Hello Mount Rainier (through some very weird lines in the plane windows)!



An all around great vacation! I hope to make it back to Reno in 2024 but it may not be until 2025.

It was so nice seeing this new money being put into some of the properties. Until next time, Reno. I'll always love you whether you change a little, or a lot.

[BC Dave]

Looks like you had a wonderful time Seahawk! Isn't Tahoe gorgeous? Your pictures are great. Congratulations on that nice win! Not many places to eat at the Silver Legacy right now, but it looks like that'll change soon. My trip report is a work in progress.

[Zydeco]

Another GREAT trip report SeahawkSiren! As always, your photos are awesome.

Couple of notes: The Row vibe...oh I TOTALLY get this! We have been longtime SL fans and stay there, but the last three trips we've been at the Peppermill or Atlantis. The vibe at the Row...we just weren't feeling it. We still visited Drinx for the Bloody Mary Bar and the Silver Baron (one of my fave's as we'll!) but we just weren't feeling it.

Thanks for the update about J. I really like that neon event space but did not go inside.

Thanks again!