Casale's Halfway Club

The Best Restaurants and Bars in Reno, Nevada | Eater Vegas

"To some, it’s a dive. To others, it’s home. Casale’s Halfway Club has been around since 1937 when it doubled as a roadside food stand and family residence. You can even see old doorway frames from what were once bedrooms throughout the dining room. Named after what was then the halfway point between Reno and Sparks, it evolved into a classic Italian American restaurant with red-and-white checkered tablecloths, heavy use of red tomato sauce, and meatballs made with breadcrumbs. The lasagna is cooked to order in single-serve portions. It’s probably the newest thing on the menu — and even that was added about 40 years ago. The ravioli is legendary. Get it split between the meat and cheese versions. The same family has looked after Casale’s Halfway Club for generations, most notably under the guidance of late matriarch “Mama Inez” Casale Stempeck, who’s almost a mythological figure in Reno." - Rob Kachelriess