I've have been going to Louis's since before I moved to Reno 37 years. I'm had never been to a Basque Restaurant before and I never had a Picon Punch now the Nevada state drink. Picon Punch has an acquired taste about it. The first one goes down super slow and the next one you order you will be a pro, but watch out, you drink too many and you could end up under the bar. I'm not kidding! Basque Restaurants are known for family dining. You sit and have dinner with people you've never met before. You start out with the house soup, house salad, first course at dinner possibly chicken, oxtail, or mussels not apart of the lunch courses. Also includes beans with chorizo and French fries that are pure heaven along with your chosen entree. I always get the Sirloin steak. Dinner includes desert ice cream or hard cheese. You receive a craft of red wine for your dinner party, if at lunch you will receive a glass and no desert and one less side. I can't forget the amazing bread loaf and butter to go along with your meal. The service is always good! I would recommend reservations, due to they are quite busy on the weekends.. Fun fact, they filmed Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives at Louis's in 2004. It was fun to be a part of the show and a great memory to share. If you're in town, make sure to stop in... have a picon and enjoy an amazing dinner with your new found friend!!! read more

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Bar looks like it is is open all day but restaurant is open for lunch and then closes until 5 for dinner. We arrived just after 5 and were seated at a long empty table. Wasn't empty for long as two other parties joined us. Service was prompt and we were off with a basket of bread. Then with the salad which wasn't a good beginning. It was soaked in dressing and completely limp Seemed like it may have been leftover from lunch. A very generous wine serving arrived as well as the red clam chowder. The chowder was a nice vegetable soup with a hint of clams but enjoyable. We ordered salmon and oxtail, both of which were delicious and cooked perfectly. Along with the entrees were French fries, pinto beans and chicken with rice. Dessert was also included. Now everything was cooked well but I just couldn't get over that these dishes were not Basque traditions. Maybe the salmon as Basque food is often seafood. read more

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Had a wonderful experience here! The entire staff was incredibly friendly and made the place feel warm and welcoming. The food was spot‑on -- perfectly cooked steak, a rich and comforting split pea soup, and a Basque cheesecake that was the perfect finish. Great service, great flavors, great vibe. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to. . read more

I can truly say I've never been to a restaurant quite like this. It's an old, musty dive with a "locals love it" vibe. Before my first trip to Reno, I asked AI for the city's most iconic restaurant, and it did not steer me wrong. We arrived 15 minutes before lunch, and there was already a healthy crowd. I sat at the bar, exhausted from a 4 a.m. flight out of Atlanta for a Tahoe ski trip. Typically, diners sit at red-checkered communal tables, right next to fellow guests. This is the Basque way of eating, and it's charming how proud they are of that tradition. I sat next to two regulars who seemed to view me as a fresh victim for their tired jokes and Reno knowledge. While I'm usually friendly, it was a lot to handle after a long travel day--consider this a warning if you choose the bar! The lunch menu features more typical bar food and food that reflects the unique culture of the Basque region on the France-Spain border. The bartender was lovely and helped us navigate the menu; I was skeptical of his suggestions at first, but he was spot on. The chorizo and lamb burgers were both top-notch. We also tried the Picon Punch--it was very bitter initially, but the "Chatty Cathys" next to us suggested stirring it, which completely transformed the drink! The chorizo burger with crispy cooked peppers and a glob of goat cheese was excellent, as was the lamb burger. Bottom line: A must-stop in Reno. Looks can be deceiving, but this old dive is a true gem. I'll be back every time I'm in town! read more

Louis' Basque Corner - Chorizo Burger - Basque Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Such a great experience. I shot away from the lesser known dishes, but wish I hadn't.

Mammoth burger on a roll with fries at the bar. A dead animal head with antlers and a signature cocktail. What could be bad? read more

Louis' Basque Corner - Basque Near Me - Reno, Nevada

After moving here almost two years ago I finally made it to the local Basque restaurant. The food & drinks, ambiance & service were phenomenal! Easy to see why Louis' is considered an old-school Reno staple. We will definitely be back! read more

amazing good service and great atmosphere will eat here next time i visit Reno from Vancouver read more

Occasionally hubby & I will do a road trip to Reno. Once in Reno we'll play a couple games of golf, and take in the entertainment. We'll pass on gaming as we both don't gamble. On any trip it's about the local food. I've had this bookmarked in my Reno collection. I found it was a 13 minute walk from our resort. We walked over striving to get to the restaurant somewhat after 5pm when they opened since we didn't have a reservation. We were led into one of the dining rooms. It's communal seating. We sat at a table for eight but everyone was a twosome. We staggered in at various times so we were eating our dinners at different stages. Of the six other diners three were locals and the rest of us out of towners. Depending on your dinner entree selection your dinner cost is charged accordingly. Dinner includes- * red clam soup * house salad tossed in vinaigrette * French bread * French fries * chicken with rice pilaf * free red wine in a small decanter * ice cream dessert Our entrees - * hubby and I both ordered the oxtails * I ordered a side entree of beef tongue. Everything was delicious. We left stuffed. Service was friendly and very efficient. They kept asking if we needed more soup, salad, wine, etc. By the end of our meal we got to know some of our fellow diners. read more

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Came here after walking around downtown. It was 12 of us and we just walked in and they took us in quickly. It's family style seating with long tables. I love that about this place. Everything we got was good. I got the oxtail for my entree, it did not disappoint. They brought out a split pea soup that was to die for. The fries were hot and crisp. Can't wait to come back and try other entrees. read more

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Tried this restaurant for the first time and loved the concept of family style and sitting next to people you don't know. The normal lunch menu without the entrees are filling! I enjoyed the food and especially the soup! I'd definitely come back here. The guest service experience was great. The only thing was the water tasted very soapy, might've been the cup. Other than this it was a great experience and I'll be coming back again! read more

This place have great food and customer service. Debbie and Craig are both wonderful. Would recommend this place to our family & friends!! read more

Louis' Basque Corner - This is the meal!! It comes with bread, soup, salad, wine, fries and whatever entree you order. - Basque Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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Once again blown away by Louis Basque Corner. Has been a staple of Reno restaurants for my lifetime. They easily handled our holiday party group of 12 with great food and service. The steak and chicken were standouts but the cheesecake was my favorite. So much fun eating family style! read more

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This place is a unique downtown staple in my book! The flavors are tasty, and eating here feels like a giant warm hug. The family style eating allows you to try a lot of dishes, so come in a group if you're able, or you can sit with others dining in to enjoy the experience. If you're not after the longer dining experience, or in a smaller group, the bar menu is a great option. I got to experience a private party upstairs with a buffet style of food! I was surprised at how many we were able to fit, apparently up to 150. These people liked to drink so getting a drink at the bar upstairs was more trouble than it was worth. We were able to be served faster going downstairs. Also, this bar room was getting TOASTY! It was a chill night but with all the body heat, the few windows that were open didn't stand a chance in that area. We enjoyed the other upstairs rooms with more seating and the pool table. More importantly, the food was much better than my last experience here. Not that it was bad, but this time knocked my socks off! The chicken and rice was tender, moist, and had tons of flavor. The prime rib was cooked medium rare and tasted fresh. Even the fries were perfectly crispy and salted. The salad was pretty good and I enjoyed that the dressing was mixed altogether. The bread rolls were more on the dry side. The beans were tasty and had bits of sausage in it. My other time dining in I enjoyed the lamb burger and signature picon punch from their bar menu and it was delicious. The cook of the lamb and the garlic fries were my favorite. I'm talking garlic fries so oily and delicious you have to wipe your face after eating them! Definitely consider this place for your next group get together or party read more

Seriously - why don't we come here more often!! E We had friends in from out of town and thought this was the right spot to satisfy different tastes. They have a new reservation system - welcome to the 2000's, LBC! Worked great. Got there, had a quick drink at the bar. NBA on one screen NHL on the other. Little old men arguing in each corner. You don't find that kind of entertainment everywhere! Service was GREAT. Food was GREAT! Go here! Have fun! Bring friends! read more

Louis' Basque Corner - Rules are rules. Picon! - Basque Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Went with friends for the first time. We called ahead for reservations just in case. Food was plentiful as they serve sides family style. Several of took our leftovers as regular portions are large. They have a full bar and decent wine list. We will certainly go back. read more

Louis' Basque Corner - Sautéed sweetbreads - Basque Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Cool place, stopped by during an Aces Game. Felt bad when my friend had a little too much to drink by the end of the night. Thanks Ryan for being an awesome bartender and conversationist. Sorry about the little chaos at the end of the night. read more

First time ever coming here and I have to thank my girl bestie for this! She boasted about this place and so I had to give it a try! It's a family style seating where you will meet amazing people, like we did! It was such a great price point for all the food that they offered! The food was so amazing, the whole environment was lovely, and the people who we sat with, AMAZING! I cannot wait to come back to this place when I come back to Reno very soon! read more

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This is an old school Basque restaurant. Family style tables. Basque pictures around the room 2 choices of meals 1 w/o an entree. ($28) 2 w/an entree (45-$65)I have done both. Leg if lamb, oxtails and steak are all terrific. If you choose no entree you get soup, salad, bread, basque beans, a chicken dish( such as chicken and rice), French fries, a carafe of house red wine and ice cream. It's a bargain. The staff are very nice. read more

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A bit of context first, then our experience. Set in a historic 1906 building that once housed a Basque boarding hotel, Louis' has been serving family-style meals since 1967. Think soup, salad, beans, fries, and bread alongside mains like lamb chops, sirloin, oxtails, tripas/callos, tongue Basquaise, sweetbreads, and daily fish. It's also one of Reno's longtime homes of the iconic Picon Punch. It's clear many people enjoy this restaurant as a local meeting place and social hub, and I can't knock that. Now to the food we were actually served: this bears no resemblance to the Basque cooking we know and love. What arrived felt like middling, dated plates. Overdone, charred meats, dry fish, generic hot sauces masking flavor; sides that tasted as if they'd been cooked well in advance and reheated. Instead of the clean, ingredient-first simplicity we associate with Basque cuisine, we got heavy, muddled plates that could have come from almost anywhere in America, not from a kitchen ostensibly channeling the Basque Country. Disappointing from start to finish. In short: the setting carries a storied name and a classic format, but our meal was a miss. Tired execution, blunt flavors, tough textures, and the sense of food cooked earlier and brought back to life at service. A letdown. read more

The food was amazing; very old school but wonderfully executed. This is obviously a beloved local family favorite. I was here for work and the hotel restaurant where I was staying was closed on Mondays. This restaurant, being right across the street, seemed like an obvious choice. As a solo diner, I called 10 minutes before they opened and the squeezed me in. They seated me at a table for 10 between a party of 6 and a party of 3. It was awkward to say the least. But I was welcomed nevertheless less and had wonderful conversation with the 3 table mates celebrating a double graduation! The food was as good as all the reviews have attested, albeit on the salty side. I opted for the oxtails, with meltingly tender meat. The sleeper hit was the French fries--among the best I've ever had. Be sure and spring the little extra for the Basque cheesecake that is every where these days, except, these are the people who invented it, so you can't go wrong. You should go here! read more

Absolutely love Louis Basque Corner. This food is phenomenal. Recently had the family style lunch that included fresh bread, salad, beans, French fries, a drink and the main course... Oxtail. The meat just fell off the bone people. The Au Jus was literally so good. You'll want to dip your fresh bread in it. The service was amazing. Greeted at the door. Bartender Tommy came over and asked us if we wanted a drink. The server was fast and attentive. 5 star service. Also, the cook came out and greeted us. Frank has been working there for many years and the flavors he brings are off the charts. Not only do they have a family style lunch or dinner, but they also have a bar menu packed with delicious options such as chorizo burger, tri tip sandwich, and a fried chicken sandwich. Everything is fire The ambiance is fun. Very Basque. Old time feel with family style tables. All in all 5 stars... people. read more

Louis' Basque Corner - Horrible example of menu. - Basque Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Great place to meet strangers. As someone who is immune compromised, it makes me nervous, but we had a very fun time, it is a good people watching experience, and the food, service, and company were excellent. House wine was surprisingly good! A table mate introduced us to a kalimotxo/calimocho, which is red wine mixed with coca cola. A unique flavor and unexpectedly good! Liked it better than the picon, but the picon was good to try too (ever so slightly bitter). Clam chowder (white) was solid, just the right amount of salt and cream. You can ask for free refills of any of the dishes except for the entrees! The beans with sausage are meant to be eaten on top of the salad. This was another unexpectedly good flavor combination! The salad is your classic iceberg lettuce with onions, cherry tomatoes (I might be missing a few other ingredients), and vinaigrette (also good on its own). The chicken and rice was also nicely done. I call this white people rice and it's one of my favorite rice dishes lol buttery and salty, soft the chicken was flavorful (maybe just slightly salty, which is good!), on the edge of overcooked but still tender. Beef tongue was very good, thinner slices, very tender. Our table mates had oxtail and sweet bread (a meat dish, not a literal sweet bread), which they shared with us, which was very nice. I would say the sweet breads were our favorite (similar texture to pork belly that is crispy-ish on the outside, chewy on inside), oxtail next, then beef tongue last. All very flavorful and balanced, not too salty, not too chewy, perfection. We upgraded to the basque cheesecake dessert and it was very good. A nice fruit compote on top, not too sweet. I do like a smokier and slightly sweeter version, but no regrets about this version! read more

Good food and even better service. Will be going back. The evierment was very friendly. The server helped make my birthday special. read more

I thought this was a fun experience. Luckily there wasn't many people on a Sunday evening when we walked in. The waitstaff was super friendly (I'd rate it 3 stars for the food in itself). I am not a big red meat fan. Others love it though and if you have a big group it's worth your while, especially if you get the steaks. They were out of the sweetbread BTW. The first course of chicken (it's like a stew), was delicious, that was my favorite, as well as the vegetable soup. The bread wasn't that good, but they will refill it for you. I ordered the salmon and it was okay, not the best, but it was good. The Basque cheesecake isn't included, but it was still super delicious at $10. The dessert that is included it's not great, they give you a scoop of grocery store vanilla ice cream (probably Bryers with Hershey syrup lol). The house wine was a red wine that was cold and was pretty bad. The wine list surprisingly, lacked any French wines and most were sub par quality. read more

Just a classic basque joint. I usually end up going in with my daughter once or twice a year. My personal favorite- the rabbit. Just done right and one of the few places around that still serve it. The chorizo sandwich is a thick knob of deliciousness. Juicy and garlicky goodness!!! My nephew loves the lamb dip because it's cooked with mint and he says the way it infuses every bite with that flavor just hooks him. When the dining room is full, it's fun to sit at the bar. Louis' is definitely one of the old school Basque places you should try if you like the classic style of basque style dinner houses. read more

Old authentic Reno in the gritty urban zones where the world used to drive carburetor cars through. Group tables and big fat steaks. We shared with a visiting Pennsylvania wrestling coach, and also a Bruce Lee veteran film hand. Plonk red wine in carafes. Addicting platters of french fries. Peasant soup. Brilliant service from all shades and ages. Place is packed. Get situated on the plastic table cloths and pass the french bread. Beans. Sausage. Salad. Tabasco. A 1970s style little chocolate sundae chaser. read more

We loved our experience at Louis' Basque Corner! Being Basque ourselves, the food was prepared exactly like how our grand-mère would do!! The ambiance was just like our experience at a family restaurant in Mauleon where we are from! Thank you for your excellent service- you were all warm and welcoming to our family!! read more

Oh my god! Louis Basque Corner is to die for. Such a unique menu that does stop. You will never leave here hungry. The food is delicious and abundant. The family style eating can be off putting if you are not expecting it, but I think it adds to the charm of the experience. The service is amazing. All the staff are top notch! If you stop in for a meal, don't forget to try their signature picon punch! You won't regret it. read more

This was my first time eating at Louis and I LOVED it. We had a group of 25 go for dinner and I will now only go here for groups that big. They let us buy alcohol separate at the bar and gave a discount for paying in cash. It was the simplest check process I have ever had with a group. The food was DELICIOUS! And everyone left happy and full. This spot is a Reno staple, and I am happy I finally got to experience it. read more

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Come hungry! In a quaint corner building with family style seating, you'll enjoy course after course of deliciousness! Reed wine and French bread was already on the table. Then the meal began, starting with the soup of the day (ours was a chorizo/veggie soup with a bite), followed by beans and salad, and rice with chicken, then fries and our main course!!! As if we weren't already full, a choice of hard Jack and grapes or vanilla ices cream with chocolate sauce topped off the meal--along with a glass of Picon Punch. Friendly and attentive service with a smile! Come to Reno for the fun, the play and a FABULOUS meal at Louis'!! read more

Louis' Basque Corner - The menu - Basque Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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I think I might have just found my new favorite restaurant in Reno. Dining at Louis Basque Corner was an amazing experience. The food was delicious! Fall off the bone meats, savory side dishes and sensational cocktails (highly recommend the peacon punch). For food, you can't go wrong here but the ox tail and the beans on salad were two of my favorites. In addition to the high quality atmosphere and tasty food, it's the service that truly separates Louis Basque Corner. Our hostess, Aspen, is a total rockstar. She made us feel extremely welcome and had superb recommendations for us as it was our first time visiting. Mike C, aka Mike the bartender, took great care of us after that and was also top notch. I'm already thinking about my next Reno trip and Louis Basque Corner will be a must stop (and I'll make a reservation this time). read more

What a phenomenal visit to this unique and priceless place. We were traveling through the area and saw previous reviews so we decided to visit. Absolutely amazing. From the beginning to the very end, Their food is absolutely amazing, but even more importantly, the new owners (who aren't really new.. you will find out .. ) and the seating style , where you can meet and chat with fellow diners, bravo ... Felt welcomed.. like long lost family ... Will miss not be able to go there every weekend A+ read more

Great food service and company. Sat and chatted with a local Reno guy and was fed amazing family style food

I'm traveling solo for work and wanted Basque food while I'm here in the Basque 2nd homeland. I read about Louis' and walked in. I didn't realize it was true family style and I was seated with Brian and his dad, Gary.i had a wonderful time sharing wonderful conversation and even better food! read more

Best place in town! Can't go wrong. Food and service are always great and the atmosphere is awesome

Louis used to be really good years ago but the last 3 times we've gone the salmon was undercooked, the prime rib was like shoe leather and the last time which is the last time I'm going they forgot our food and it sat for 20 minutes arriving cold. read more

Food and atmosphere was terrific and loved the family dining style! The carafe of red wine was a big plus! Terrific value! read more

Fest like champs, just little tight spaces when the house gets full. Back to back seating. Other then that great food great service. And yeah back to the food great great we shared our dishes so got try lamb chops and steak. Both great choices. The party I had with me was more then expected and they worked with me to seat everyone. Only down side of big group more then 6 is convenience fee. Added 125 to check. But all around good spot. read more

Louis' Basque Corner - Basque Near Me - Reno, Nevada

For the huge amount of food provided in this family style restaurant this was actually a great value for our party of 12. Oxtail, prime rib, salmon, lamb, tongue, chicken, as the main dishes. Plenty of salad, beans, soup, bread and your choice of drink. We had table wine. Service was friendly and food service fast. My ribeye was great! Family style means you are sitting close to your friends and new friends around you. Great food with friends is a win-win! read more

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