Many people have this propensity to go to the same restaurants because they know what to expect regarding the quality of food and service. However, going out of your “comfort zone” to try out a different place shouldn’t be a hit-and-miss experience if you take into account this list of criteria: location, value for money, ambiance, cuisine, service, and hygiene. 

Here, we list our top 5 Fernley restaurants and eateries based on the abovementioned criteria.

1. Gourmet Deli at 76

This pizzeria provides Greek & Mediterranean cuisine that includes homemade naan dough, spicy chicken sandwiches, and burger patties that combine beef and lamb with herbs and spices grilled to perfection. 

You may also want to try their chicken tikka masala pizza, turkey with pesto panini, and tzatziki & mint chutney (Greek yogurt). 

The pizzeria is located inside a food mart, just next to a gas station. Hence, if you think that eateries and kiosks at a gas station only serve bland and disappointing menus, Gourmet Deli at 76 will definitely surprise you. 

Location: 605 E Main St. Fernley, NV 89408

Contact: (755) 835-0377

Schedule: 

Sunday – Thursday 6 am – 8 pm

Friday – Saturday 6 am – 9 pm

2. Papa’s Ranch House 

Last year, shortly before the nationwide shutdown and the onsite dining ban due to COVID-19, Papa’s Ranch House opened its doors. Despite the unfortunate timing, the Sicilian-American restaurant has earned loyal patrons through their take-out service. 

Now, the restaurant is arguably most famous for its 18-inches, New York-Style thin crust pizza topped with mozzarella cheese. Other pizza toppings include meatballs, sausages, red and yellow bell peppers, pepperoni, tomatoes, pineapples, mushrooms, tomatoes, salami, artichoke hearts, jalapenos, or a combination thereof. 

Other crowd’s favorites include pan-seared artichokes, golden tender chunks with authentic Italian tomato sauce, and open-face sandwiches. 

Take note that Papa’s Ranch is more than an eatery. Just behind the restaurant, the owner, who has a background in professional bodybuilding, also operates a wheelchair-accessible weightlifting gym where he trains children, including those with physical disabilities, free of charge. The only condition is that they compete in youth bodybuilding competitions. 

You may want to visit the restaurant on Saturdays when live music is played in the courtyard or stay in their onsite room if you need a place to spend the night. 

Location: 100 Main St. Wadsworth, NV 89442

Contact: (775) 404-1005

Schedule: 

Monday – Sunday 5 pm – 8 pm

3. Silverado Casino’s Ranch House Restaurant 

Even though this restaurant is located inside a local casino, the food and drinks are reasonably priced and excellent that they have become the town’s favorite, including those who are not even gamblers. 

The restaurant serves all-American breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. Their bestsellers are “grilled to perfection” barbecue pork ribs served with ranch beans, cornbread, & coleslaw and the juicy steak & shrimp with a side dish of potatoes and vegetables. 

Every month, they also feature a new “special burger.” Currently, their “Burger of the Month” is a half-pound patty topped with a Tennessee whiskey sauce, two slices of Colby-Jack cheese, and deep-fried onion rings served with shredded lettuce, red onion, tomato, and pickles with some seasoned fries. 

Location: 1380 West Newlands Drive, Fernley, NV 89408

Contact: (775) 575-3551 (for takeout) 

Schedule: 

Sunday – Thursday 6:30 am – 9 pm

Friday – Saturday 6:30 am – 10 pm 

4. Red’s Bar and Grill 

If it’s your cheat day, why not try Red’s Bar and Grill to eat to your heart’s content? You may want to try their “Fire Pumper Wings,” their own version of deep-fried Buffalo wings dipped in a Louisiana hot sauce served with blue cheese or ranch dressing and celery & carrot sticks. 

The restaurant is also known for its hearty homemade fry bread that is served plain or sprinkled with cinnamon & sugar or parmesan cheese. It also comes with different dipping sauces that include honey, rank, and marinara. 

Aside from their hearty, scrumptious food, Red’s Bar and Grill’s is also known for its eclectic decor that makes it a perfect spot for a fun night out with friends. 

Location: 1330 HWY 95A N Fernley, NV 89408 (located at the Fernley Village Marketplace beside McDonald’s)

Contact: (775) 993-3395

Schedule: 

Sunday – Thursday 3 pm – 8 pm 

Friday – Saturday 3 pm – 9 pm 

(for limited dine-in or curbside pickup) 

5. Black Bear Diner 

This town’s favorite combines homestyle cooking with friendly service and serves a wide selection of breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. But perhaps the most interesting is their “breakfast for dinner” selections that include their mouth-watering chicken & waffle & eggs, New York Steak & eggs, and smoked beef brisket & eggs. 

You may also want to try out their full-course, hearty dinners such as chicken fried steak, housemade meatloaf, slow-cooked pot roast, roasted turkey, and homestyle fried chicken. All these come with a cornbread muffin and a cup of soup or house salad. 

The restaurant also offers a wide variety of desserts, although the most notable are the “dreamy cream pies” (combination of banana, chocolate, and coconut), five-layer chocolate cake, and California cheesecake. But if you crave for something cold, you may want to try out one of their shakes and malts that come in different flavors like chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, cookies & cream, and cold brew mocha. 

Location: 1190 B E. Main St. Fernley, NV 89408

Contact: (775) 835-8512

Schedule: 

Sunday – Thursday 6:30 am – 9 pm

Friday – Saturday 6:30 am – 10 pm 

Silverado Casino is a family-owned casino that has been serving the Fernley community for over 25 years. It also has its own restaurant, Ranch House, which has become the town’s favorite–including patrons who aren’t even a player.

Range of Games

The casino has a sports betting kiosk that allows patrons to bet on the big games, i.e., in-play wagering and parlay cards. They can also sign up for a mobile sports account where they can make deposits if they want a more convenient way to bet.

Their casino floor also houses a wide range of slot machines that include Wolf Peak, Buffalo Gold, Lock It Link, Lightning Link, Ocean Magic Grand, Fortune Charm, The Hobbit, Dancing Drums, Gong Xi Fa Cai, Tarzan, Farmville, Dragons Wealth, Hephaestus Cash Eruption, and Dragon Lights.

Town’s Favorites

Buffalo Gold has always been the most loved and played slot machine on the casino floor thanks to its rich gameplay, excellent graphics, and multiple ways to make a bet.
Lightning Link provides players two ways to receive “free coins.” The first is through the hold and spin feature, and the second, via rewards that they can earn after completing their missions and gaining “lightning” points.
This multi-level progressive jackpot game has a high limit of 500 credit bets amounting to 250 credits and 50 pay lines.
Lock It Link by WMS/Scientific Games has 50 lines and is available as a penny slot machine with a maximum bet per spin of $5.

This traditional slot machine gameplay has two bonus rounds: the free spins triggered by three scattered diamond/city symbols, and the “Lock It Link” bonus game triggered by any combination of 3-5 city symbols or hearts in a row.

While both bonus games provide huge rewards, the free spins are better because they give players access to a five-tier progressive game and a chance to win a big Grand Prize jackpot.

Note: As of this writing, the casino has no live dealer and table games.

Players Club Membership

Silverado Casino offers Players Club members the opportunity to unlock daily promotions that come with bigger wins. Other membership awards include $20 in free play for new members and $20 during their birthday month.

Note: The “birthday” gift will be automatically added to the Players Club card during the member’s birthday month.

Daily Casino Promotions

Trail of Treasures

Every Monday and Wednesday, starting at noon till midnight, patrons get a chance to win $1,000 in Trail of Treasures. The casino randomly selects Players Club members who can roll the dice and possibly win cash, Ranch House restaurant gift cards, or free play.

Trail of Treasures allows players to take the prize they land or risk it for a chance to win the jackpot.

Crack the Safe

Every Friday and Saturday starting at noon till midnight, players can earn random free play rewards and win big if they break into three safes.

4X Points

Players Club members can earn 4X points if they visit the casino on Sundays, from 6 am to midnight.

Bingo Blitz

This is just one of the Silverado Casino’s 15 weekly bingo games that allow players to win up to $10,000. If they win, they can choose cash or Free Play. This is held every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday, at 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, and 7 pm.

Ranch House Restaurant

This restaurant, which is located inside the casino, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner not just to players but also to walk-in diners looking for an all-American dining experience.

The restaurant is known for its reasonably priced “basic comfort food,” including ribeye steak, roast turkey, and barbecue pork ribs. But if you have a huge appetite, you may want to visit them on weekends when they serve steak and shrimp with a choice of potato, a dinner roll, and vegetables all priced at $17.99.

Note: Weekend Specials are served after 5 pm.

Restaurant’s operating hours:

Sunday – Thursday / 6:30 am – 9 pm
Friday – Saturday / 6:30 – 10 pm

Takeout: (775) 575-3551

Fernley is a small city in Nevada that has been attracting new residents over the past five years thanks to its economic growth, new housing developments, and numerous green patches that make this ideal for anyone who loves nature. It is also near lakes, streams, and rivers that are perfect for fishing, boating, and other water sports activities.

Economic Opportunities

Established in the early 1900s, Fernley used to be an agricultural and ranching community near Reno. But since the mid-sixties when the Nevada Cement Company opened its door in the area, it began its steady transition to an industrial hub, which has paved the way for the booming Fernley Nevada real estate market.

Nowadays, the biggest employers in the city are from the manufacturing, transportation, and logistics industries, with many economists predicting that it is set to be the epicenter of distribution for the state in the next coming years.

The manufacturing industry is also experiencing growth in the city, with multiple companies making it their home due to its convenient location (i.e., close proximity to Interstate 80) a growing population of skilled workforce.

Some of the corporate giants that call Fernley their home include Amazon, UPS Worldwide Logistics, Inc., Trex Company, World Color Corp., Wal-Mart Stores, Allied Signals, Johns Manville, Agru America, Nevada Cement Company, and Lowe’s Companies.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in Fernley is lower than the national average (5.4% vs. 5.8), and has posted positive job growth in recent months. Another bonus is the lower poverty rate compared to the national average.

Livability of Fernley

According to citytistics.com, the city’s overall livability score is above average when the cost of living, education, crime, and resident’s overall happiness are taken into account.

The survey also showed that the cost of living in Fernley is lower than the national average when these factors are calculated: housing cost, healthcare, grocery bills, utilities, transportation, and other services.

In terms of education, Fernley also has a good ranking based on public school graduation rates, teacher-to-student ratios, student/parent reviews, and enrollment rates.

Another bonus of living in Fernley is the significantly lower crime rates compared to other rural areas, making it particularly attractive to young families who want to raise their children in a safe, tight-knit community.

Population and Demographics

According to the most recent survey (2019 US Census), the residential population is around 21,500 and has a median age of 34.8, younger than the average national age.

Another notable demographic trend is the high concentration of families (vs. single residences), representing over 75% of the population. This might be due to the city’s tight-knit communities, recreational parks, and new housing developments that attract young families.

Meanwhile, the homeownership rate is around 80%, notably higher than the national average which is only 66%.

Things to Do

Despite having a small-town vibe, Fernley offers many activities and exciting places to visit thanks to its convenient location. For instance, it only takes a 30-60 minute drive to the Buckland Station, Pony Express Station, Fort Churchill, Native American Petroglyphs, and Virginia City.

Due to Fernley’s proximity to Lake Tahoe, Pyramid Lake, Lahontan Reservoir, and Walker Lake, this small city also attracts nature lovers, fishing and hunting enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys outdoor activities.

However, you don’t have to go outside the city to enjoy a green space because it houses 10 community parks that include baseball and softball fields, rodeo grounds, basketball courts, tennis courts, and a skate park.

Other recreational areas you may want to visit include Desert Rose RV Park, Fernley Raceway, 18-hole Desert Lakes Golf Course, paintball gaming facility, and ATV racetrack.
Fernley Nevada Weather

The city has a semi-arid climate with abundant sunshine, and light snow and rainfall. May, June, and September are considered to be the most pleasant months, while December and January are the least comfortable.

On average, the city gets 253 sunny days annually, while the national average is 205 days. In terms of rainfall and snow, it gets 5 inches of rain and 11 inches of snow per year, compared to the national average of 38 inches and 11 inches, respectively.

Winter low (January): 21 degrees Fahrenheit
Summer high (July): 94 degrees Fahrenheit