Stopped here for dinner on a recent trip. Was well worth the stop. Staff was friendly and attentive. Other guest were polite and friendly. Atmosphere was relaxed and easy going. Food was great and served in large quantities. Couldn't finish everything that was served. Will make it a point to stop and have dinner here every time I'm in the area. read more

I loved it here. We stopped while driving cross country and got a cab from a local hotel. The place was very busy but we only had to wait maybe 20 minutes after they told us an hour wait. We tried their classic drink, Picon, at the bar while waiting. VERY STRONG. Show up to this place hungry, because you get a ton of food. The atmosphere was fun. Almost everyone was at least slightly drunk, but having fun. It would have been perfect if it weren't for a very racist local screaming obscenities about politicians with no one stopping him. It's community style seating, but we got a tiny 2-seat table as there were only 2 of us. I recommend going here. Their food, especially the garlic salad dressing, is great. YUM! read more

The Star Hotel - We both had the New York steak. I added mushrooms to mine. It comes covered in garlic! Plus all the included sides. - American Near Me - Elko, Nevada

Places like this are what you look for! Local. Friendly. Festive. Great food. Awesome staff. Patrons having fun! Reasonably priced. LOVED IT!!! read more

The Star Hotel - American Near Me - Elko, Nevada

The meal started with a delicious cabbage soup. Lettuce salad, sour dough bread. The menu is one page. Only about 10 meals to choose from. Nothing under $20. I ordered the cod. The fish was a little rubbery but still had some good Basque flavors. The meals come with prenty of sides. I'm not sure how the sides complimented the fish. Spaghetti. Green beans, baked beans, garbonzo beans and French fries. I can see how this might work for a family but as a single diner it was odd. The food was 3 star but the service and atmosphere was 5 star. read more

I love this place. Service is very good and friendly. The Star is known for large amounts of food and no one leaves hungry. The soup, spaghetti and beans ALL need more flavor. I had the lamb chops at dinner which were delicious, fresh cut fries always good. I personally would like the soup to have more flavor and more seasoning. The salad dressing could have been more garlicky for me. I went back for lunch and had lamb. This time it was not so good. The chops were skinny and over cooked. read more

It has tradition, history, family service, friendly staff, Picon Punch, and amazing steaks and lamb chops. This place really has it all. I swear these were the best cooked lamb chops I ever had! There is nothing fancy or special about the endless sides and my suggestion would be to save room for the main entree and bread pudding at the end. I loved the sauce in the bread pudding...my guess is butter, rum, and vanilla...so yummy! If you've never had Basque or a Pecan Punch you definitely need to visit! read more

The Star Hotel - Pecon Punch, 'petite' lamb chops with garlic, and all the sides. - American Near Me - Elko, Nevada

Bar didn't know what a Smith and Kearns was. Came at 4:30, restaurant opens at 5:00, yet we weren't allowed to sign onto the waiting list. Only after five other parties had signed in were we allowed to put our names on the list. Food is generous, sides are nice. We ordered trout which was slightly dry but still flavorful. Previous steak orders were good. It's a very popular place, so come early or come a little later to get good service. Staff is gracious and efficient. read more

THE place to treat yourself to a great meal in Elko. This Basque restaurant should not be missed when you're in the area. Don't be surprised if there is a wait because it is well worth it. Dinner starts with a cabbage soup that is a delicious beginning. It is followed by a crisp iceberg lettuce salad with the house dressing. You will want to eat it all. With a wide array of entrees it is easy to find something to your taste. Then the feast really begins. I regret not being able to continue through dessert it is all so delivious! read more

The Star Hotel - American Near Me - Elko, Nevada

This is the third local restaurant that I have tried in my week long business trip. The reason I went here is because my friend told me that this was the best place in Elko to have steak. I have not had good luck eating steak in this town. I was sat "family style" which meant that I had to sit with someone on an adjoining table. I didn't mind it. I still had my space. I ordered the ribeye cooked medium with garlic topping, sautéed in butter. This is Basque Style food. Which I don't know why this is considered Spanish/French food. They brought me vegetable soup. Oh boy, this was a tomato based soup with chunks of tomatoes, celery and cabbage. For some reason, Basque style also means you will get a boatload of inedible sides. You are then served a salad on iceberg lettuce covered in a mayonnaise dressing. There are bread crumbs on the table. Then they will bring you boiled green beans with a piece of garlic, hominy(garbanzo beans) and red beans, greasy limp fries, and a horrible plate of spaghetti ( I would rather eat a can of spaghetti-oh's). After this barrage of food that was thrown my way, I was afraid to see what this "best steak in Elko" tastes like. Holy Cow! This steak was cooked to perfection! Seasoned correctly and nicely seared. I didn't even use steak sauce. This steak definitely lived up to it's name! I don't suggest the garlic toppings because they are not cooked all the way and is not sautéed. Thank you for not disappointing me! Now this steak cost me $35. I have no problem paying $35 for a good steak, but do us all a favor and drop the Basque Style food and serve GOOD quality sides. By the way, I watched what people were leaving on the table. It was all the sides! I guess I wasn't the only one that didn't them! Four stars for the steak it would've been five but the garlic toppings were horrible which brought my all around rating for this restaurant a three. read more

This place doesn't give a toss about safety during COVID and I have to chalk it up to its aggressively pro-Trump vibe. People are seated close to each-other, masks are not required for staff or patrons and no food is good enough to make that worthwhile. The food however was good for the most part, but the sides are unnecessary and underseasoned or overcooked and seem to be mostly left uneaten by most patrons. The staff seemed kind and helpful but the disregard for safety takes my rating all the way down. Don't go here if you care about your safety. read more

The Star Hotel restaurant is a local landmark; it's ok to at least go there once for the experience, but if you are expecting great food, well, there are good things for meat eaters. My friend had the baked lamb and said it was great! As he said, "they really know what they were doing!" My other friend had the steak sandwich and said it was "fine." This is supposed to be a Basque restaurant, as it was started in 1910 to serve the Basque sheepherders who basically had nowhere to go in the winter. So they would stay here for $1/night, room and board, and 8-10 drinks at the bar/$1. As far as I can tell, there's nothing particularly "Basque" on the menu, but see other reviews from people who know better. The main course comes with an array of sides that come before or with the meal. The starter is a cabbage soup, which comes in a big plastic bowl for the table. From the yelp reviews, I expected some really good soup, but it was nothing to write home about; in fact, it was pretty bland. The bread is ok, again, nothing that you couldn't get somewhere else - your basic white bread - not informed at all by what's happened since 1972 in the bread world. With that, you get the iceberg lettuce smothered in garlic dressing. I mean, smothered. It was excellent, because I love garlic, but really, just lettuce?? In a "salad"? As Wikipedia says, "a salad is a dish consisting of a mixture of small pieces of food, usually vegetables." This is not salad. It's good though! I notice someone else mentioned the "house made croutons" in the salad. There weren't any in ours. Then come the french fries (really good!), the Basque beans, the garbanzo beans, the green beans, and the spaghetti. We didn't try the spaghetti. The green beans (with garlic, of course!), were ok, but actually, I have to say, despite the slices of garlic in them, were again, bland. One of my companions liked the green beans, the garbanzo beans, and the basque beans. He said they were "very good," but then, he's swiss! What do the swiss know about cooking? ;-) I didn't try the basque beans, the garbanzo beans, or the spaghetti, because apparently, they all have meat in them, and I'm vegetarian. Speaking of vegetarian, there are no vegetarian main dishes on the menu, but if you ask, they have a black bean burger, vegetarian lasagna, and one other dish I can't remember - I think a ravioli. I was steered towards the lasagna, which was huge. I think it was pretty good - I ate about a third of it because we were just down from backpacking, and my stomach couldn't handle all the food. The lasagna is *huge*, so if you are there with another veggie, split one. Finally, or rather, first, you should get the Picon Punch. I'm not sure exactly what's in it - at least, some grenadine, I think. It's small, but mighty! And only $5. The desserts are supposed to be good (I head tiramisu mentioned), but we were too full. In any case, I would strongly suggest Odeh's Mediterranean Restaurant as an alternative. Cheaper, better, low rent, but really, really tasty! And they have a Lebanese drink called Arak (basically Ouzo, or Sambuca, or Anisette, but they claim it is the best!). read more

The classic Basque family style restaurant in Elko. Piles of food - some good, most mediocre.

I've been here three times in the 4 months that I've been in Elko. While none of the food is outstanding, you always know what you are getting is going to be delicious and well cooked. I have gotten the chicken (mild and hot) both times at dinner. Everything is served family style, so the whole table shares the cabbage soup and bread to start (DELICIOUS) and the salad (lettuce with a garlic ranch dressing--I would prefer a few more vegetables in my salad but not bad). Then, there is spaghetti, garbanzo beans, baked beans, vegetables, and french fries. The nice part is that anything served family style you can get more of if you'd like (I recommend more bread, green beans, and homemade fries!). The chicken is deliciously grilled and comes with peppers on top. The amount of spice depends on how much cayenne is used. You will definitely be taking home leftovers, so make sure you have room in the fridge! I have also been there for lunch once. I ordered the chicken sandwich. It came with the option of fries or salad. However, I was there with my father-in-law and husband, so, for $2.00, we were able to have both salad and fries! The chicken sandwich was delicious, but the portion was more reasonable and I was able to eat it all in one sitting! Good food, good price, good service. You can't go wrong by going to the Star for lunch or dinner! read more

Excellent customer service and an asset to the city of Elko. If you are traveling through and are looking for great food and a friendly atmosphere this is the spot! The food is amazing! Thanks!! read more

It seems that most of the reviews for the Star are fueled by passion. Elkoans (is that what you call them?) by and large love the place, while out-of-towners and foodies don't get the hype. My review is not based on what a Basque meal should be, but on two unbiased factors: the food and the service. We are from Portland, and were visiting family in Elko. For years they have been raving about the Star, so we were eager to check it out. I had never had Basque food before (other than their chorizo, which is worthy of applause). I started with a picon punch after learning that is a traditional Basque cocktail (and has been nominated for the state drink of Nevada). It was obscenely strong and cloying...I am not a fan, but this is in no means a knock on the bartender. I'm sure it was prepared as it should be. I just find it disgusting, but to each their own. There were 8 in our party, and we were seated at a long table in the back room. Actually, all they have are long tables, since meals are served family style. It was very cramped, which is great if you're okay bumping elbows with your neighbors. I am not, but again, to each their own. Our server was efficient but very businesslike and didn't exactly exude warmth. Questions were answered with curt one-word replies, though she was friendly enough at the end when we were leaving. As soon as you're seated, you'll find a big bowl of steaming hot cabbage soup accompanied by bread and butter. The soup was surprisingly tasty. I could have filled up on that alone, but knew there was much more to come. Next up was the salad, overdressed in a garlicky mayonnaise dressing. There was nothing in the salad but lettuce and, as stated, LOTS of dressing, though there are garlicky croutons if you so desire. (Note: "garlicky" is a theme here). It was okay. The meal took a turn for the bizarre next with the accompanying side dishes, a mish-mash consisting of spaghetti, green beans, baked beans, and french fries. These were by and large disappointing; everything tasted like it came from a can (including the spaghetti) and lacked flavor with the exception of the fries, which were decent. The entrees, on the other hand, were delicious - and generously portioned. I ordered the pork chops, and plural is correct - I was served two good-sized chops that were juicy and flavorful (and topped with garlic). I could only finish one. My companions ordered the sauteed prawns (excellent and - shocking - garlicky), ribeye steak (the size of a frisbee) and lobster tail. These were the highlight of the meal, along with that amazing but simple soup. So, overall, a mixed bag. Some of the food was great, and some was mediocre at best. Personally I prefer Flying Fish down the street or Dos Amigos or even Mattie's when in Elko, but the Star is worth trying once. read more

We LOVED this place! Traveling across Nevada is never a really fun experience, but stopping at the Star Hotel will certainly improve anyone's road trip. It's a great old building. When you enter it looks like you are going straight into a bar, but you are in the right place. Don't go too far down the street or you'll end up in some of the raunchier businesses! The waitresses could have been friendlier, but hey, at least the food was great. Our family ordered two of the lamb chop with garlic dinners and one cheeseburger. We started off with the cabbage soup, and I can't say enough good things about it. If you love brothy soup, you will love this. The salad was just like we used to have back 40 years ago, except we knew how to give it a little more salt, pepper, and garlic. It was a little too wilted, but I would've enjoyed it if it was fresh. The lamb chops were superb. The garlic was incredibly mild. Skip the green mint jelly. Everything is family style so bring your appetite! read more

Lots of yummy hearty food that hit the spot after a long day of hiking. My son and I ordered the filet mignon (very large portion of meat) and my other son and husband ordered the lamb chops. No complaints. The side dishes that come with the meal were all very tasty except for the green beans, they tasted like they came from a can and were kind of mushy. Here's an awesome article about the history of basque cuisine in the United States that mentions the Star Hotel if your interested: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/indulging-in-american-basque-cuisine-160720458/?no-ist= read more

Went for dinner, and was fairly pleased. As others have noted, the portions here are absolutely HUGE. Every meal comes with half a dozen plates of "side dishes" which are in of themselves practically meals. The soup of the day (cabbage) was fantastic. That said, they seem to go more with quantity than quality. Perhaps my ignorance of Basque cooking is showing, but I'd never call iceberg lettuce swimming in miracle whip a "salad". Also, I ordered the rib eye, and it was served swimming in a pool of grease & blood, clearly showing that they didn't let the meat rest prior to serving. Beyond that, I can't complain. The service was friendly & prompt, and no one left hungry. read more

First let me say this review is not a reflection of the staff, they were awesome. The food was just not very good. Bland. I salted everything I ate, except the bread pudding. My lamb chops were tough and almost half of them were fat, same with my husbands ribeye. They do have a decent wine list which was nice. But if your driving on I 80 just keep driving and stop in Winnemucca and eat at the Martin Hotel for dinner. read more

Can't come to Elko without stopping at the Star Hotel. Basque style restaurant that will not leave you starving. Recommend saving you appetite for a few days. The food portions are plentiful. Must go in Elko read more

I saw a newspaper article in the lobby of this place- the headline was "Timeless Classic". I agree! When you step into the Star, you get the distinct sense you've stepped back in time. It is family style, Basque dining at its best! Your entrees come with soup, salad, beans, veggies, pasta and fries so come hungry. Of these, the Basque beans and salad with garlic dressing are the winners. We also loved the cabbage soup-yummy on a cold night. The only reason I can't do 5 stars is the wait. This place is clearly quite popular. We arrived at 5 and still waited 45 minutes for a table. If you are passing through Elko, the Star is not to be missed! read more

I was in Elko, NV for business and stumbled upon this place on Yelp. Let me tell you, I am so glad I did because I had a great experience at the Star Hotel. I had the Rib Eye steak there and it was huge, so big that it was hanging off the plate it was served on! I also added onions, mushrooms and garlic which took it to the next level. The Basque family style setting was awesome, completely relaxed with great service and food. I really wish I had something similar back home in the San Francisco Bay area, because it was an experience like none other! I loved the variety of sides that were included with every meal at the Star Hotel. We were served a vegetable style soup which was awesome along with salad that had a homemade creamy garlic dressing. The additional sides were pasta, garbanzo beans and another kind, green beans, bread and great thinly cut french fries. You get the whole side boat with every meal, plenty of food. My Co-Worker and I both took togo boxes back to the hotel room, and we have been known to NOT leave food on our plates when dining. read more

I have been coming here for over 18 years. It is always good. They give you more than enough food. The quality of the meat is great. This time however it seamed a little off. They have new owners since the last time I came. It has the same decor and not much has changed which is a good thing. Sometimes when new owners change things it is not good. So both my wife's and my steak were undercooked. We had to send it back to cook a little longer. The sides were ok not great. They have new beans. The old ranch style beans I believe we're better. They give you chick peas now which I don't remember that before. All in all I would go back. I just hope I caught them on a off day. read more

The Star Hotel - Dinner sides - American Near Me - Elko, Nevada

See all

We stopped here based on a very strong recommendation from our Nephew, Dakota Johnson, who continually raves about how great it is. We were not disappointed. The family style dining was unique and tasteful. The main entrees were over the top. Everyone seemed to be waiting on us. Our main server, Jackie, was great. Very friendly and she seemed to be in multiple places at once. Service was really terrific. I had the prime rib and Margaret had the prawns. Both were excellent. All of the sides were great from the soup to the brown beans. Bread was fresh baked. If we pass this way again we will eat here. read more

The Star Hotel - Prime Rib. - American Near Me - Elko, Nevada

Reading the yelp reviews helped a great deal making dinner at this restaurant much much better. Splitting the fillet was a great idea. We didn't feel to stuffed and we were able to enjoy the food. The filet was an extreme melt in your mouth experience, the sides were homemade and greatly appreciated for what they were, which is comfort food. The pacing was good enough, that we were able to have an excellent flan for dessert. I highly recommend this Basque restaurant for anyone who is very hungry. Otherwise this is kind of a waste. By the way the house Burgundy was very serviceable, nothing special, but worked with the food. Again, highly recommended. read more

I'll chime in on the Star along with everyone else. This is not a fancy place, but it is VERY popular. We arrived at about 6:30 on a Thursday evening. The place was filled to capacity and we had about and hour wait to get in. I'm not complaining - the servers/hostess were running around serving people as fast as they could - it was just that busy! Once we were seated, our drink order was promptly taken, and soon after our food order. The menu isn't as extensive as other places, but that's fine because what IS on the menu is prepared extremely well. Our party had baked lamb and lamb chops as the main courses. Along with that (as others have pointed out) comes soup, salad and sides, all served communally. Try not to fill up on the preliminary courses however, because you're going to need your hunger for the main meal. I haven't had lamb before. The meat that appeared before me was obviously slow cooked/braised. Nicely browned, fork tender and succulent. The lamb was served with small side of mint jelly. By itself, the meat reminded me a very well cooked roast, but with a slightly different taste - not gamey at all. If you like roast beef, you'll LOVE this - especially with just a dab of mint jelly. While I didn't have a chance to try the lamb chops (not enough room after I finished my meal) they looked delicious, and the order consisted of 3 chops, each about an inch thick. Most people were leaving with doggy bags and I can understand why. If you're in the mood to try something a little different, I recommend this establishment. It was worth the wait. read more

FOOD: excellent Basque-style family dining with big portions and many side dishes! The steak and lobster is excellent, as is the bread pudding. SERVICE: is very friendly and attentive. The servers are good at describing the dishes and making recommendations. AMBIANCE: is active and often crowded. Be ready for close quarters and a somewhat western theme. VALUE: the place is not cheap, but worth it for the experience and food. read more

I heard all the buzz about this place so I visited. Ordered baked lamb and grilled salmon. The course started coming out and we ate the salad. It was doused in mayonaise type of dressing and soup that came out was quite bland. The baked lamb was not worth $30 as it was pretty tough to eat. The salmon was also drenched in oil. The fries were the best part of the meal. Most of the food that came out was just really too greasy. I heard the drinks are decent here so maybe next time I go I'll just get drinks read more

I have eaten here about once every couple of years for a long time and I've only had one iffy experience. Everything they serve is good, but I wouldn't say excellent, although the filet approaches excellent. You won't go away hungry or unsatisfied. The filet is huge, and in my experience tends to be cooked slightly more than you ordered it. You walk through a boisterous cowboy bar to get to the dining room and some of that carries into the dining room. Definitely an adult venue IMHO. I recommend it based on the food, service and the fine patrons. read more

I had an 8 oz filet and my husband had the baked lamb.. The dinner comes with cabbage soup (outstanding), salad, bread, croutons, pasta, beans, French fries and green beans. Both our main courses were excellent. Ordered a tiramisu to go and very good. I did not rate 5 stars because about 1/2 the patrons did not find it necessary to wear a mask. The servers that we interfaced with were friendly and helpful. We will go back. read more

The Best Authentic Basque food! I lost the count of the courses served. Salad, soup, potato dish, beef, lamb, beef & potatoes, dessert and many other dishes to name! The food is well worth it's price. read more

As we are hiking the Ruby Mountain wilderness, the Star Hotel was talked about by hiker we encountered. It built up our appetites for a great cheese steak sandwich. As we hiked, my imagination grew with the miles. I was beginning to wonder if there was a steak sandwich on earth could live up to the imagination I had created in my mind's eye. When we came out of the mountains, this is the first place we hit after the showers. And it turns out yes indeed, there is a steak sandwich that could live up to my imagination. This may have been the best sandwich I ate my entire life, and my friend commented that the tongue sandwich that she had was amazing too. It was amazing. I was grateful to have come, and looking forward to my next time. read more

This is truly a all around great experience. The family style brings a home feel and without booths and walls it's a nice all together feel. The ceiling and the water jug were my favorite when getting a feel for the atmosphere of the restaurant. The food was most excellent starting with the bread and soup. The spaghetti, potatoes, beans, and chick peas were tastes. The kicker was the history lesson from the waitress who had been there for 18 years telling us about the basque people. It was truly a worth while experience. read more

The Star Hotel - Family style! - American Near Me - Elko, Nevada

I was so disappointed. We had family in from Michigan, Tennessee and Iowa. The star's prices are outrageous for the food and service we received. First off we made reservations. After a 45 min wait we were seated. Then 2 waitresses we unable to get our orders straight. Not to mention we were never asked what we wanted to drink. I guess they hoped we had our beverage during our 45 min wait. The dinner wasn't any better then any other restaurant we've been to yet it cost 3 times as much. The kicker was the 56.00 gratuity automatically added to the bill. Grrrrr We will never eat there again. read more

Family seating, BEST steak sandwich EVER, pecan punch will put you on your butt, and the bread pudding is to die for. The butter sauce is like uhhmmmm amazing? Salad is fresh, etc etc. my point is this place is a rare gem among all the chain restaurants around. read more

We enjoyed lunch on Wednesday heading to Wyoming first time for lunch! Husband has enjoyed dinners at Star for 40 years. We are on a fast track to get across Salt Flats to make dinner tonight! read more

Sadly no flavor unless of course you love the taste of butter. I used to love the food here. Maybe lay off the butter and season a bit. Grill the fish and brush lightly with Olive oil and serve drier. read more

My opinion, the Star is one of the best restaurants in the Western United States (only because I haven't traveled the East coast). They age all the beef so you get a wonderful tender steak, the bread is baked fresh, and all the sides are delicious. If you've never tried Basque food, this is the place to go. read more

The only thing I found really good was the soup. The veggies were cooked until they were dead. No blue cheese served with dinner. The French fries were soggy, the salad dress was tasteless, and the beans were dry. Even the dinner bread wasn't something to rave over. There are better basque restaurants in Bakersfield and Chino. read more

I love this place! Yes, it's a little pricey, but you get a lot of food! The cabbage soup and the salad is really simple, but SOOOO good! The other courses are ok. The only entree I've ever ordered here was the filet mignon. It's a fantastically thick, juicy, tender cut. I easily eat it for two or three meals (I'm kinda little, so that's not saying much hehehe). I highly recommend this place if you want a good filet. read more