For family reasons too complicated to explain, David (my Son), Gayle, and I enjoyed a nice road trip from Genoa for a Thanksgiving Dinner at the Heyday Inn. Wellington is basically a small rural village, of which we found the historic Heyday to be a popular bar and place to enjoy the Holiday together. We look forward to coming back during non-Holiday hours to same the regular menu. CONS Gayle's glass of Chardonnay was almost tasteless and watery. +/- - The Stuffing was just OK. - The tasty rich food caught up with us a bit after bed time. PROS 1. Cool Building (inside and out), with pretty scenery just out the front door. Happy and interesting local crowd. Comfortable dining room and places to eat at the bar if one wishes. We were happy to linger a bit. 2. Friendly and enjoyable Bar, Table, and Buffet service. 3. The Thanksgiving Buffet was a bargain at $30 each. The sliced Turkey and Ham, Yams, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes (with Gravy) and Roll were all very good, albeit rich overall. The Pumpkin and Pecan pies were both extra delicious, which went well with good coffee. 4. David's Kentucky Mule was strong and good going down. Gayle's Cosmopolitan and my house red were also excellent. read more

What a pleasant surprise! I'm getting used to the idea that camping with our trailer is less about being in nature and more about having a portable basecamp for adventures, and I'm here for it because it has led to delicious discoveries, like Heyday! In the summer of 2025 I had the pleasure of dining here twice, and I enjoyed both of them! The first time was over Father's Day weekend when we were camping nearby with a group of friends, and this was the plan for dinner. I was not sure what to expect, but left stuffed, happy and very, very, very delightfully surprised. I enjoyed the lamb chop dinner with extra garlic sauce and crispy fries. The lamb was cooked wonderfully and the Rich garlic sauce really set this dish apart. We also had appetizers of the fried zucchini covered in fried garlic, chicken wings, fresh garden salad, and more. It was quite the spread, and every bit was delicious. I really enjoyed the friendly service here too. The kitchen can get backed up, but that's to be expected when the restaurant is full of happy groups, chatting and eating. Expect wait times to be a bit longer than you may think and just be patient. The dish that surprise me the most had to be the kids chicken tender, which was massive clearly hand, breaded, and fried to golden brown perfect perfection. These were giant pieces of chicken and way too much for the kids to eat on their own, and I was all too happy to help. Four stars because the service can lag, fried food can be greasy and somewhat soggy, and the chicken wings had great flavor but weren't cooked to a nice crisp or coated in sauce. The second time we visited this summer, we just did some appetizers and of course cocktails. You really can't go wrong here. read more

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Stopped in today for a bloody Mary and a jalapeño bacon burger which was delicious! Thank you Crystal/Krystal and Wendy, you ROCK!! Love the Smith Valley. read more

Heyday Inn - Basque Near Me - Wellington, Nevada

Thank you, Wendy, for catering a fantastic lunch for the VCMM in your beautiful outdoor area. Hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and fixings Inside dining room and bar very nice. All the food coming out of the kitchen looks yummy. Several regulars at the bar told me the food was very good Full bar, including a fast bartender, making Pincon Punch. The unofficial drink of Nevada. I enjoyed a refreshing iced tea. I will be back to try menu items. read more

Heyday Inn - Basque Near Me - Wellington, Nevada

The heyday is a solid spot for Nevada but a stellar spot for Wellington. Definitely pricey for what you get but the portions are gigantic. Very casual atmosphere. Definitely a must try in the area b read more

Just came back again for the fresh made from scratch chicken tenders and onion rings. Everything here is made fresh. We love this place and the people are so kind. Make the time to stop by!! read more

Love this place out in the middle of nowhere! Fried shrimps are delicious! Lots of good choices and a full bar.

Food very good Service very good Beautiful old building Easy to find Plenty of good parking read more

We had a nice dinner at the Heyday Inn with friends. The restaurant is in a historic building in Wellington Nevada of the same name. Walking up the steps and through the door into the bar is like stepping into another time. All O.K. us had either the NY Steak or Ribeye Steak for dinner. I added the peppercorn sauce to mine and had their tasty fries as a side. The food here has always been good. We were taken aback however when the check arrived the Ribeyes that were $38 on the menu were $49 on the bill. We asked the waitress about it because we felt that this was a mistake. She informed us that there was a note on the door that there were some items that were market price. Nowhere on the menu did it say that the Ribeye was market price, nor did the waitress inform us when we ordered that it was market price. This should have been communicated by staff and on the menu, not by an obscure sign on the door that most people would pass by. I understand that restaurant costs are higher and sometimes unpredictable. But if you are going to charge prices different than the ones on the menu this needs to be communicated at the table by staff. read more

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I was at the Heyday Inn a few weeks ago. We were a large party but they knew we were coming and they gave us a reservation. The restaurant was nearly empty. We sat at tables for four and gave our order. I ordered the special for lunch as did someone else at my table. The delivery of the food was sporadic. It was not in any order that I could see and when most of our party was done, I received mine at which time I just had her box it up because I wasn't gonna sit there alone eating. I had ordered a salad and got fries. I was very disappointed read more

Best service and owners around! They take care of their locals and also treat the out of towners great!

This is the Best Restaurant in Smith Valley, Good Food, Great people, Aways Fun, and Always Great Music playing. Thursday-Sunday. read more

Heyday Inn - Basque Near Me - Wellington, Nevada

Amazing spot!! With great food and ambience will most definitely be returning someday

Wasn't great, wasn't bad. It's one of those "in the middle of nowhere" type places so when you're super hungry and still have a ways to go, it's pretty much your only option. On the upside, the service was actually pretty good. The owner welcomed us and our waitress was on it. Unfortunately, that's about the only compliment I can give it as the food (to me) was bland and uninspiring. Honestly, we probably won't be back. read more

Great burgers and iced tea. Super friendly waitress and family friendly environment. Really a great place to visit.

Unexpected treat! We stopped for lunch, but was between lunch and dinner so only appetizer menu was available. No worries-the wings, zucchini strips, fries, and side salads were all perfect. The service was so friendly and we were happy we stopped! read more

The food was pretty good but make sure you don't come on a day with a birthday party and the local Rotary Club meeting at the same time. It was a wait to get a seat (probably not helped because of socially distanced tables which reduces capacity) and the wait to get food was a little long, so pack your patience. Would love to come back when it's more normal to experience it without the excess pressure. The bar seems like a great place to which you can saddle up and enjoy food, quick drinks and good conversation. Definitely better to be a local, which we weren't! read more

Heyday Inn - Basque Near Me - Wellington, Nevada

We love Hey Day. Always great service and even when crowded they do they best to rush around getting your yummy food to you. We feel lucky to live in the area. read more

Absolutely delicious! We had the peppercorn steak and pork chops - both were excellent, service was awsm too!

Located in a historic building in the lively town of Wellington is this absolute gem. Speaking only to Breakfast and Lunch cannot ask for more. Big portions, cooked fresh and delivered with friendly service has us feeling disappointed that we didn't discover this earlier. Passed by many times, always noticing many a car parked out front. We always stop by for breakfast and lunch. Many specials to choose from. Our favorites are any of the Benedict's and the Shrimp & Fries. Sandwiches are excellent. Again, what compliments the food is the outstanding service. The folks here recognize you and make you feel welcomed. In today's world, that goes a long way with us. The seating area is accommodating to most sizes groups and a step back in time. Do yourself a favor, pay attention to the positive reviews and come in and try for yourself. Very worth it. read more

Heyday Inn - Lunch - Basque Near Me - Wellington, Nevada

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Hostess was very nice to accommodate us without a reservation and made us feel welcome. From there downhill all the way. Server rude and short with us. Food was terrible. Won't ever be back. read more

Have been wanting to try this place since we bought our place in Smith. Let me tell you, for starters, the cocktails were well generous. The clam chowder was the best I've ever had, mind you I'm from the west coast, very close to Pismo, where they are known for their clams. The Mediterranean style garlic shrimp over pasta was incredible. Needless to say, we'll be back. read more

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Good food, nice people. We drive an hour to get there and will do it again and again. Try it, you won't be disappointed.

Very fun family run restaurant in Wellington. Our drinks were cold, our food was homemade and really good. Great spot on a lovely road trip. Fish and chips with fresh dipped batter and crispy skinny fries. Everyday. read more

I give Heyday five stars for these reasons : They greet you at the door right away with a smile. The bustle around attending to your needs and make you a wonderful cocktail that is moderately priced. The servers are friendly and the food is amazing. I had the ribeye and I ate it for three days! It is a Basque restaurant that serves family style. If you don't know much about basque food this is a great restaurant to start out with enjoying this cultural feast. My father-in-law had the paella he eats a lot and he couldn't finish his and brought half home. My husband and mother-in-law had the cioppino and they loved it. The wine is not as good as other basque restaurants, but it is still drinkable especially after a picon punch or 2 my husband liked the wine. We plan on coming back real soon! Heyday is the jewel of the Smith Valley! read more

Heyday Inn - Bar at Heyday - Basque Near Me - Wellington, Nevada

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Amazing Bartenders and service! I love it here! Best place in town! Yummy food and homey feel.

Food is unbelievable. Get the full meal with all the trimmings, its well worth it. Perfect for a nice leisurely night with friends, or a date with the Mrs. Not the fastest place in the world, but that's part of the charm, it makes you slow down and enjoy your meal and your company. Friendly waitresses, and the owner is very nice. Good honest food, and good honest people. Pro tip. Get the Ribeye and Scampi with rice. You will thank me later. read more

The French dip sandwich and fries were so delicious! I can't wait to go back. The service was very good. I loved the ambience of the restaurant read more

We went there on a porsche club ride. They took great care of 45 members. The food was family style and was outstanding! The bartender didn't use a shot glass! And the wine pours were outstanding! read more

This place is a great little find. Way off the normal beaten path. Quaint "house" restaurant, looks like maybe an old way station for travelers coming across the desert. The dirt parking lot was full and the restaurant buzzing when we got there. We sat in the bar for a little while, just relaxing. We had separate items for dinner (chicken marsala & cioppino) and both were excellent. Service is perfect, really nice, cordial, local type staff. You can't go wrong here. read more

The food and service was excellent. A shame the waitress and bartender were not wearing masks.

Worst steak I've ever had. $31 for what was in my opinion a pile of fat. Have a look at the attached photo. I'll never go back to this restaurant again. read more

Heyday Inn - Half the "steak " was fat - Basque Near Me - Wellington, Nevada

This is the most disappointed I believe I have ever been regarding a dining experience. We went for dinner...they will not let you order lunch items at dinner. The minimum item for dinner, I believe, was calamari for $19. My husband ordered that and it was just whatever...not good or bad. I ordered the garlic scallops for $25. I love scallops...these were gross. I mean really bad. Since they were called garlic scallops I was expecting something with a garlic flavor, maybe in a butter type sauce, or maybe even broiled or grilled with garlic seasoning. These were in a brown sauce that tasted horrible...I don't know how to describe the taste, but it was not garlic. I had to remove the scallops from the sauce and use tartar sauce to cut the taste. They don't have a children's menu. I suppose they want you to order a $25 dinner for a little kid who will take 3 bites. They only do chicken strips and spaghetti for kids, so we ordered spaghetti. It wasn't even spaghetti. It was watery fettuccine noodles (looked like they weren't even drained) with a big dollop of tomato sauce thrown on top. It was yucky. The salads are small and made of iceberg lettuce and they were out of baked potatoes and rolls. The waitress was inattentive. We had to constantly stop her and ask for refills. And to top it off the bill was $70 and we only ordered 1 drink (ice tea)! We left hungry and feeling like we had been ripped off. We will never be back. The only good things about this place are that it's in Smith Valley and the building is historic. read more

The Hey Day Inn is a Wellington landmark. I have eaten here a number of times and the food is substantial, plentiful, and good. Service is always friendly whether you are a local or not. The last few times I have eaten here have been for lunch. It is only open Thursday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. They have a variety of options from salads and sandwiches to more substantial meals. We opted for the pastrami special on our last visit with fries. The sandwiches were huge. Thick sliced pastrami was grilled on light rye with a thin layer of melted Swiss cheese. A large plate of fries were placed between us to share. The sandwich was good and the pastrami was tender, but not overly flavorful. The fries were fantastic. Crisp and golden with creamy, hot centers. The fries are some of the best I have had anywhere, the sandwich was pretty standard, but the fries were great. It is not cheap, but not outrageous. Our total bill for a great deal of food was just over $20. Good stopping spot if you are coming through Smith Valley. read more

The Heyday Inn has amazing food and truly worth the drive if you don't live in Smith Valley. World class chef, food served family style. Everything on the menu has incredible flavor, to "die for" french fries, tender steaks cooked to perfection, the pasta dishes are my fav! Lamb cooked perfectly and cioppino that my friends call the best in Nevada! I love working in Smith Valley because it is a great excuse to go the Heyday Restaurant and bar. read more

Heyday Inn - The Heyday Inn - Basque Near Me - Wellington, Nevada

My family and have been going to the Heyday for years and we love it. My wife and I just got back from lunch, and it was delicious! I had the steak sandwich (open face) with fresh cut shoestring fries. My wife had the Ortega burger and said it was fantastic. We went a few weeks ago for Sunday dinner, and it was excellent as well. The Heyday is a great local place with a lot of charm and great food, top notch service. There is a cool bar area with video poker, it's fun to hang there for a beer before or after eating. I highly recommend it! read more

Until Friday this was my favorite restaurant in the state. Always impressed by their food and always look forward to driving out and eating there. But this time it wasn't so good. Service was slow, dinner was bland and had little taste except it was a little burnt. I'll try again in a few months and redo my review if it's better. read more

Well it used to be good food and service. When we walk in, no one acknowledged us. They lost our reservation and instead of trying to make up for it, they ignored us, took 30 minutes to bring us water, another 15 for soup and bread. The bartender is great, but to get a drink you have to go get it yourself from the bar. No consistency in the food quality. You and a friend can both order a steaks medium rare: one guy will get a 6oz well done and the other will get a 12oz rare. The waitresses always have a scowl on their face and never check-in to see if you need anything. For the price you pay, they are less than professional and limit their menu items. To top it all off, a few of us had food poisoning the next day. read more

Watch the price gouging! This was a great meal with great service. My wife order a ribeye and it was the best she had ever had, wonderful flavor, cooked to perfection. Menu price was stated at $24, when we got the bill it was $32. When we asked about this the waitress, who was running her butt off referred us to the manager, she was not very hospitable, and said due to the price of meat they have had to raise there prices. Now I can understand this but she then said " I'll change it this time", like they do this on a regular basis. All that was needed was to pull the paper menu out of the cover and change or mark through the old price! All I can say is buyer beware!!! read more

Heyday Inn - Rib-eye steak - Basque Near Me - Wellington, Nevada

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I've been here two times. First visit I just had a couple cocktails but saw the food coming out and it looked amazing. 2nd time I came with my girlfriend and we sat at the bar again. Bartender was very nice. I got the steak sandwich and fried zucchini and she got a burger. Both sandwiches were great but the zucchini was amazing! If fried zucchini is on a menu I get it, and this may be the best I've had. Will be back! read more