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    Empire Diner

    3.6 (101 reviews)
    ModerateDiners, American
    Open 7:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Empire Diner Photos

    Business Info

    EMPIRE DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Empire Diner

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    Reviews With Photos

    Allen N.

    Empire Diner inside Baldini's Casino is a great spot for a good meal. What really stood out was our server, who impressed us by taking and remembering our entire order without writing a single thing down--and everything came out just right. That kind of service really adds to the experience and makes this diner worth visiting.

    Diane S.

    My husband is obsessed with the awful waffle and he said it is good as ever. I loved the $10 steak deal with sides they even included shrimp. Service was fast on a Sunday, they take card and have waiters for drinks and parking is free. I liked the Halloween decor

    The awful awful
    Serena L.

    For those who have ever had the OG awful awful at the little nugget, the empire diner brought it back and it's pretty spot on. Do we need a pound of fries with our giant burger? No. But do we enjoy the pound of fries that comes with it? Absolutely. It's definitely a meal for two. Our server was friendly and our food came out quick. Don't judge the diner because it's at the Baldinis, it was definitely busy the whole time we were there.

    Senior Breakfast
    Lana O.

    Yay! Empire Diner still offers a Senior Menu. There are approximately 10 entries for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Today, I enjoyed the 1/4lb Beef Patty, Scrambled Eggs, Home Fries, and Sourdough Toast--a large portion for under $10.

    Awful awful
    Ben H.

    Not a bad place to eat. Prices are right and they have specials all the time. My review is for the awful awful. Burger is a little small, the top half of the bun completely fell apart after the first bite so that was disappointing. You do get a ton of fries like the original so that's a plus. The fries were really salty though, I mean really salty. I'm glad they went back to using plastic cups instead of paper cups they were using for a while. Service is usually good. Interior can use some updating but it's not bad.

    John G.

    Hard to find this diner being situated in a casino. It was worth the search. Cat, my server, was amazing. Excellent bus support as well by the Spanish gentleman.

    2/21/23 $12.99 New York Steak & Shrimp promo with fries
    Lee D.

    Quality/Quantity - We got the following today: Two orders of the NY steak with shrimp specials, one with fries and one with brown rice. Who do you think ordered the one with fries, LOL. I also got a small cup of chicken noodle soup for 99¢ more. It was hearty, but too salty for me. Fresh fish of the day = just okay. Senior fish and chips as my buddy is an even lighter eater than I am. Overall, all the food was okay. But the fried foods, fries and shrimp, were done very well! I would come back just for this. I was torn between ordering this versus the prime rib; the advertisement photo sold me. The food looks much better than it tasted. Atmosphere - Good space, looks larger than it really is with all the mirrors. Booth and table seating. Actually, the booths were fairly large, and could seat 6 comfortably. This place and casino advertise towards locals. Very local focused. Open 7 days a week. Plenty of casino parking. Service - Waiter was good, okay. The bus girl was awesome. She was proactive, checked up on us more often, friendly, etc. Price - $50 + generous tip due to the bus girl. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success. Great job with your deep fryer, but I suggest working on your other recipes...

    Prime Rib
    Red B.

    While visiting Reno for Hot August nights, we happened upon Baldini's Casino. While playing a slot machine, my wife was awarded a free steak & shrimp dinner, so understand that this meal was comp'd. The food came out very fast. I had the sirloin steak & shrimp (free) dinner and my wife ordered prime rib. My steak was on the smallish size, however with the 4 shrimp, it was the perfect portion size. Everything tasted good and my steak was tender. My wife's prime rib was also tender and delicious. The only weird thing is the water had an unusual taste. It wasn't a soapy taste but I cant quite put my finger on what the taste was. It may have been iced tea remnants, I just can't say. We will go back again.

    clubhouse sandwich
    Lexi V.

    The service was amazing, very friendly staff. Food came quickly. We also had the mozzarella sticks and they were AMAZING. My boyfriend loved the sandwich and the omelet was one of the best i've have. definitely will be back! :)

    Christian D.

    Finally got to try the famous Awful Awful burger after so long! The burger lives up to the hype--absolutely delicious. I'd highly recommend checking this place out. The service was great, and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting.

    Baldini's....not worth the effort to walk in...especially in a storm!
    Julie A.

    One star. I stood in line waiting for the hostess to seat a line of people. Hostess not to be found. The poor cashier could not help. She had a line to cash out. If you only have a short time to eat, waiting in line for a hostess is not a way to have lunch. So disappointing. The hostess/ manager should be fired! I asked to speak to a casino manager. Waited another 20 minutes. He did not show up. I just left. Wasted my lunch hour. Service was horrible. Julie A

    Tex mex eggrolls (very good, new item) & ribeye
    Chastity L.

    I'm giving 2 stars because half my order was correct the other half was not. Asked for a grilled cheese with lettuce tomato and onion and ended up with a ham sandwich. Which I couldn't eat due to dietary restrictions. I get hash n eggs all the time and that's always great. They remembered my drink for once so thats a plus. I went 30 minutes before closing and didn't look at it til I got home. Everything I give the benefit of the doubt it always wrong. Gonna have to make it a habit of checking everything before I leave.

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    9 months ago

    Over priced to go buffet not impressed with the quality of food and service improve on the price to go order a buffet, please thank you

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    Ask the Community - Empire Diner

    Sparks Coffee Shop - Supreme French Toast

    Sparks Coffee Shop

    4.6(1.2k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    I haven't been here for awhile and it's totally worth the wait as it gets very busy. Their food…read morenever disappoints. Their breakfast menu is tempting, but it was after Eleven A.M. and I was craving a hamburger bad. My friend who accompanied me wanted a plain cheese omelette, she is a very basic eater which is her choice to only order familiar food. Boring ! Anyway, beyond the food, the service was great and the staff is wonderful. I urge anyone who hasn't tried this place to definitely add it to your list, I'm certain it will become a favorite. The only complaint is that on this particular day the kitchen was short staffed and we did wait awhile for our food to arrive, but I'm patient with these kinds of things after working in the restaurant industry for many years. So the food arrived and my eyes popped out of my head when my burger arrived, the patty was meaty and the vegetables on the burger were fresh. I chose the Mushroom Swiss burger, Wow ! Every bite was delicious and the French Fries were so crisp and delicious. I filled my belly to its limit with this meal. Oh, and my friend's omelette was unbelievable it was so fluffy and it was served steaming, every bite steam kept rising from it, it's like nothing we had ever seen, unbelievable ! As for me I probably won't be ordering a burger anywhere else. Excellent ! I did also order a Latte and it was filled to the rim and quite good. They definitely deserve 5 Stars.

    Food is good BUT...: they charge you a credit card FEE when using a DEBIT CARD!!! Debit cards…read moredon't have a FEE, they are same as cash. I asked about this and was told 'yeah, well so?' I won't go back for this reason alone.

    Photos
    Sparks Coffee Shop - 4/8/26 FYI. Men's room.

    4/8/26 FYI. Men's room.

    Sparks Coffee Shop - Country Sausage and eggs

    Country Sausage and eggs

    Sparks Coffee Shop - Cinnamon Roll French Toast

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    Cinnamon Roll French Toast

    Los Altos Breakfast Lunch

    Los Altos Breakfast Lunch

    4.4(451 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    Got to try this place for the 1st time today & boy was it a good choice! Was super busy due to…read moreGraduation celebrations & it being lunchtime, did that affect the service & food, Nope!! We were pleasantly greeted & seated immediately, then just like that, our server (Ramon Jr) was at our table, took our drink order & answered a few questions. I'm glad I had perused the menu yesterday & pretty much knew what I wanted, my daughter ordered Ramon's Skillet & I had the Chicken Fried Steak and eggs ( gravy on the side). Portions were huge. I was glad cuz I had been fasting due to a medical procedure. They know what they are doing in the kitchen, eggs were perfectly over medium w/ crispy edges just the way I like them. The chicken fried steak was really Milanese style, perfectly crispy like I'm used to in Mexico, I tasted the gravy & it was really good but once I realized it wasn't American style CFS, I asked our waiter for salsa & pico to put on top!!! Perfection!! I had a lot to tangle with on my own plate but my daughter & I swapped bites of each others dishes, hers came with soft tortillas, the bite I had melted in my mouth! Couldn't finish either plate so decided to take the rest to go. There are many items on the menu I want to try so we will definitely be back!

    Los Altos is a really good cafe. Our server Rigoberto was…read moreover the top friendly. His service was fast and the quality of the food was amazing. The ambience is plain, but clean & modern. The rating is dropping to 4 stars on this review due to costly increases in their prices. A small glass of soda or iced tea will now set you back $5 each. Additionally, if paying by credit card, you'll pay additional fees.. OUCH !! If you're in the area, I still recommend you give Los Altos Breakfast Lunch a try. This is a locally owned business.

    Photos
    Los Altos Breakfast Lunch - Dining area

    Dining area

    Los Altos Breakfast Lunch - Steak Nacho Fries

    Steak Nacho Fries

    Los Altos Breakfast Lunch - Ham & Cheese Omlette

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    Ham & Cheese Omlette

    Cafe Bellini - Philly Cheese Steak

    Cafe Bellini

    3.6(227 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    I had breakfast there. It was delicious. I had the Forrest of letters. Great value, the price was…read moreright. I sat by myself at the counter a ND the service was great. The ambiance was bright, cheerful, and clean. I can't wait to go back.

    "Meh" is the word that best describes Cafe Bellini. Nothing terrible but nothing amazing either,…read morejust meh. However when you consider their prices, I think there are better options for simple cafe food in town. We went with a small group of friends so I was able to see and get feedback on a few dishes. Walking through the restaurant, another guest was having Prime Rib and I thought, hmm that's an option. The Prime Rib is served with either a soup or salad starter. I opted for the Chicken Verde Soup. In all fairness the soup was pretty good. It was creamy with a slight verde chili flavor, nothing overwhelming but definitely there. My only gripe was the soup was warm but not as hot as I prefer my soups. I ordered my Prime Rib medium rare. While beautifully plated, my Prime Rib arrived more medium than rare. As a result, the main portion of the serving was more dry than I would have preferred. I don't know if was the potatoes or the gravy but something in this side dish had WAY too much salt. What didn't have enough salt, was the corn side dish. Completely lacking in flavor. My wife ordered the Southern Fried Chicken platter. Wanting to share the plate with a friend, they ordered the dish as "dark meat only". The waitress confirmed they were able to accomodate the request before we finalized our order. What was delivered was a normal serving with a leg and thigh(dark meat) but also came with a breast and wing (white meat). When we challenged the server that our order was wrong, she was assertive in her insistence that our plate did infact have dark meat only. Errr, no, it did not. I realize that educating our youth is a national challenge but if you are in the restaurant service industry, you should understand the difference between white and dark meat on a chicken. Just saying. Another friend had the Philly Cheese Steak sandwich. Although she came hungry to the table, over half was left, citing that the sandwich was just too dry to eat. And no, she did not bring it home. Unfortunate. If you are looking for a simple cafe / diner experience in Reno, there are better options.

    Photos
    Cafe Bellini - Restaurant interior

    Restaurant interior

    Cafe Bellini - Prime Rib

    Prime Rib

    Cafe Bellini - The appetizer, mozzarella Pattie's.

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    The appetizer, mozzarella Pattie's.

    BJ's Nevada Barbecue - Bomb Ass- over easy

    BJ's Nevada Barbecue

    3.9(1.1k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Great BBQ platter lunch special and generous portions. Fast…read moreservice and clean ambiance. Tender brisket, ribs, sausage, and tri tip. Cornbread with chili and Mac and cheese was also good too.

    Wow! Amazing all the way around!…read more We arrived at 5pm and waited approximately 20 minutes for a table. As we were seated we were offered waters. Our server was pleasant and patient. The ambiance of the restaurant goes hand in hand with bbq. It's bright, clean, welcoming and family orientated. We ordered an appetizer of yummy onion rings which were freshly fried and hot. Before we devoured the rings our meals were delivered lightening fast. I ordered a bowl of delish clam chowder. It was thick and full of clams with an occasional crunch from the sand. The only downfall was I wish it was a bit hotter for my liking but regardless it was perfect. The brisket one meat platter with mac n cheese and mashed potatoes was full of yumminess. The brisket sandwich was so tender and full of flavor. The fries were out of this world and reminded us of the old fashion pic-nik shoestring potato chips. The pickle spear was full of flavor but lacked the crunch. Come eat like a pig...highly recommend!

    Photos
    BJ's Nevada Barbecue - Inside

    Inside

    BJ's Nevada Barbecue - Wednesday Weekday Special: 3-BBQ Beef Rib platter w/ choice of 2 sides: dirty rice (R) and potato salad (not pictured) plus cornbread (L)

    Wednesday Weekday Special: 3-BBQ Beef Rib platter w/ choice of 2 sides: dirty rice (R) and potato salad (not pictured) plus cornbread (L)

    BJ's Nevada Barbecue - 3 Beef Rib Platter w/Cheddar Grits, Dirty Rice & Cornbread...Wednesday special

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    3 Beef Rib Platter w/Cheddar Grits, Dirty Rice & Cornbread...Wednesday special

    Squeeze In - Manly Morris-it takes 2 plates...

    Squeeze In

    4.1(665 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$

    Ordered takeout for a lazy weekend brekkies, ordering online was simple and easy to request…read morechanges/customizations. The order was ready when promised, and everything was correct. Hubby had the breakfast burrito the size of Popeye's forearm with a side of biscuit & gravy. I ordered a bacony benedict type thingy with onions & cheese, it was divoon. The gravy for the biscuit was a little thin but a generous portion of it. Overall, we were both very happy with out takeout and had no issues or delays picking the order up. It was almost noon on the 4th of July when I ordered but still had no issues, and the restaurant did not seem to be it's usual business at that time. Moral of the story: if you like Squeeze In on a weekend or holiday just to come here and complain about the wait or service, maybe just order ahead & get take-out?

    There is a reason we keep coming back to Squeeze In, and it starts the moment you walk through the…read moredoor. Tony, Manuel, and the entire team are absolutely amazing! They provide the kind of genuine, high energy service that makes you feel like a regular from day one. Now, let's talk about the food. The omelets here are legendary and beyond amazing. I usually opt to have mine served as a scramble, and it never misses the mark. My absolute go-to is the Racy Tracy; the flavors are perfectly balanced and consistently delicious. Honestly, though, you can't go wrong here, anything they make is top-tier. Also, a huge shoutout to the team for bringing the house potatoes back! They were missed, and having them back on the plate completes the meal perfectly. If you're looking for the best breakfast spot with a crew that actually cares, this is it!

    Photos
    Squeeze In - Inside

    Inside

    Squeeze In - Queen French toast meal with bacon and scrambled eggs.

    Queen French toast meal with bacon and scrambled eggs.

    Squeeze In - Bloody Mary

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    Bloody Mary

    Beefy's - Chili Cheese Fries

    Beefy's

    4.2(1k reviews)
    2.3 miMidtown
    $$

    I'm still going down a long list of burger places to compare. Beefy's is my 5th place to try…read more Local spot with character and plenty of seating inside and out with the combo of bar+bus+picnic tables. Lots of fans including mist fan outside to fight the heat. Bus feels spacious but seating is a bit cramped with tiny metal bench seats. Lots of other options other than burgers (hot dogs, chicken, etc) but come on, what's the name of the place? Service was fast, about 15 minutes to get our burgers but the place was near empty on a weekday mid afternoon after the typical lunch period. Insider tip I got: If the place is even 1/3rd full, be prepared for a long wait (minimum half hour?) I noticed quite a few reviews mentioned the prices were high. And when I got the bill for $60 for two people with tax and tip I might have agreed, at first, especially if my main repeat burger joints were In-n-out/Wendy's/Jack-n-Box. But comparing to those places is not apples-to-apples. It's 1/3 lbs patties here (70% more than the just below 1/4 lbs of meat you get on a Double Double) and quite a step up in meat quality from those chains. About $16+ for single patty burger and $20+ for double, but that also includes fries and a drink. I get the feeling people complaining about the prices have to be burger addicts with the review perspective of a frequent In-n-Out patron which allows getting your "fix" more frequently on the average budget. I would prefer if I could opt-out of the full meal deal for a lesser price and just get a burger. If you get a beer, the included soft drink is redundant or unnecessary. And some may prefer to focus on the protein without additional carbs/calories from the fries. But granted this isn't a place to be counting calories. Burger is high quality all around and they cooked them actually medium rare as ordered. Many places don't give a cook temp option or still overcook. Fries were great, better than the freezer burnt airy texture of In-n-Out. My only criticism is both the fries and the patty had too much salt but not to an inedible point. A common occurrence though given the cook's and/or typical frequent fast food eater's salt-desensitized palate. So Beefy's ties at #2 with The Parlor sitting between my #1 Royce and #3 Archie's, then #4 Juicy's. Armando & Sons and Barrio Burger are next.

    For starters, the food is decent…read more With that said, if you advertise Happy Hour prices, they should be honored. I went specifically for the Happy Hour wings, and when I received the check, the price didn't reflect the amount stated on the menu. I asked to speak with the owner, and instead of correcting it, she told me she gave me a quarter off and, with a smug smile, said, "Thank you very much." Sorry, lady, but your food isn't that great for you to be so confidently rude. In addition, this was my second visit this week. I only returned because my sister loves chicken wings, and because of the advertised "Happy Hour" price, I decided to give them another try. We also ordered a plain burger to go with just cheese, and when I got home, it was loaded with all the fixings, including sauce. I called several times to have the issue addressed, but no one answered. When I told the servers about the situation during this visit, instead of trying to make it right, they gave me a half-hearted apology. So yes, the food might be diner decent, but the owner's attitude and the poor service make the entire experience worse. I've worked in customer service for over 30 years, and not once have I treated a paying customer the way I was just treated. And if they want to respond to this review to justify their shitty service, great. Go for it. I was polite the entire time. All I asked was to be heard, for their advertised pricing to be honored, and for some basic appreciation for my business by simply making things right. Instead, the owner insultingly put two quarters on the table, as if 50 cents somehow made up for the $8-$9 difference we were being overcharged. It didn't. If anything, it made an already frustrating situation feel even more dismissive. And it really was an easy fix. If they couldn't adjust the Happy Hour pricing for whatever reason, she could have easily taken the $18 pastrami sandwich off the bill to make up for both the pricing discrepancy and the incorrect order we received during our previous visit just two days earlier. I wasn't asking for anything unreasonable. I was asking for an owner to recognize that her restaurant had made mistakes on two separate visits and make a genuine effort to correct them. In a city full of burger options, she had an opportunity to turn a negative experience into a positive one and potentially make lasting customers out of my family and me. Instead, she chose to be dismissive, smug, and rude over something that could have been resolved in a matter of minutes. That tells me everything I need to know about how she values her customers.

    Photos
    Beefy's - Inside bar

    Inside bar

    Beefy's - Bacon & Swiss Burger

    Bacon & Swiss Burger

    Beefy's - Choc peanut butter and choc malted

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    Choc peanut butter and choc malted

    Empire Diner - diners - Updated August 2026

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