The Carson Valley has a number of wonderful restaurants, many of which have been operating for decades! Check out this (non-exhaustive) list of local favorites.
Breakfast
Cowboy’s Cafe
- 1679 U.S. highway 395 N., Minden, Nevada
- Open Wednesday – Sunday 6 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Visit their Facebook page to learn more.
Situated right on the highway, Cowboy’s Cafe is a classic cozy hole-in-the-wall that has time and time again been voted as the best breakfast in the Carson Valley and a must-stop for both travelers and locals alike. Cowboy’s offers up consistent American breakfast fare in large servings that won’t break the bank, including flapjacks, omelets, scrambles, biscuits and gravy, and any combination of an egg breakfast you can think of!
Taildragger Cafe
- 1150 Airport Road, Minden, Nevada
- Open Monday – Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. with bar open to 8 p.m.
- Visit their Facebook page to learn more.
Taildragger Cafe is a great spot for those who want something off the beaten path. Located at the Minden-Tahoe Airport, the Taildragger offers a number of flight-themed breakfast fares, including the B52 Special, the Cessna, Airport Omelets, Atomic Bomb Breakfast Burritos, and more.
Woodett’s Diner
- 1492 U.S. Highway 395 N., Gardnerville, Nevada
- Open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Visit their website woodettsdinerbistro.com to learn more.
Woodett’s Diner is a classic diner with a bistro flair in the heart of Gardnerville, serving up all the breakfast classics, including waffles, French toast, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, skillets, hashes, and their specialty – crepes.
Lunch
Cafe Girasole
- 1483 U.S. 395 N., Gardnerville, Nevada
- Open Monday – Friday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Visit cafegirasole.com to learn more.
Cafe Girasole is a cozy cafe tucked back on the Highway which serves up handcrafted sandwiches, wraps, soups and salads using the freshest ingredients. Girasole prides itself on using locally grown organic produce and offers gluten-free options. The menu includes surprising combinations, such as the Iron Mike, a vegetarian sandwich that combines peanut butter, avocado, and cucumber among other veggies and seeds, as well as classic combinations like their Turkey Cran or Famous Curry Chicken Salad sandwiches.
JJ’s Mexican Food
- 1532 U.S. Highway 395 N., Gardnerville, Nevada
- Open Monday and Wednesday – Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Visit jjsmexfood.com to learn more.
JJ’s Mexican Food is top notch in customer service as well as Mexican fare. At JJ’s, you’ll never be left wondering where your server is or when your food will arrive. They offer a large menu of standard Mexican staples like tacos, burritos, chilaquiles, sopes, tostadas, enchiladas, and more, as well as a large kids menu, and American classics like burgers and salads, and a huge selection of unique entrees. You’ll even find specialty meats on the menu such as lengua, tripa and cabeza, as well as a number of seafood offerings.
Minden Meat and Deli
- 1595 U.S. Highway 395 N., Minden, Nevada
- Open Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday – Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- To learn more, visit mindenmeat.com.
Minden Meat and Deli is the perfect place to grab a beer and a burger for both travelers and locals alike. They specialize in craft beers with over 30 on tap plus a huge selection of craft cans and bottles, including specialty sodas for youngsters or those young-at-heart. Their most popular lunch items include tri-tip sandwiches and burgers made from in-house ground Black Angus Beef, and made from fresh produce and bread delivered daily from Truckee Sourdough. Be sure to check out their local ice cream selections, as well as their grab-and-go charcuterie boxes.
Dinner
JT Basque Bar and Dining Room
- 1426 U.S. Highway 395 N., Gardnerville, Nevada
- Open Monday – Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- To learn more, visit jtbasquenv.com.
When stopping for dinner, look no further than the famous JT Basque Bar and Dining Room, a family-style Basque restaurant and cocktail bar that has been a staple in Gardnerville for over half a century. Located in a historic downtown saloon built in 1896, JT’s is a time capsule of Carson Valley history. Dinner is served family style with courses brought in large platters of soup, salad, stew, beans, French fries, and an entree of your choice. Entrees range from their famous top sirloin and lamb shoulder steaks (be sure to order with the garlic!) as well as Basque delicacies such as pig feet with tripe, sweetbreads, Basque chicken, and roasted rabbit offered Fridays and Saturdays. While waiting for a table, grab yourself a Picon Punch and sign a dollar to tack to the ceiling, if you can get it to stick using a silver dollar throw!
The Overland Restaurant & Pub
- 1451 U.S. Highway 395 N., Gardnerville, Nevada
- Open Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- To learn more, visit overland-restaurant.com.
The Overland Restaurant & Pub is another Carson Valley staple, located in a historic 1902 building that has served as a meat market, a hotel, a restaurant, the old firehouse, and more. As part of the Local Food Group, the Overland’s menu is crafted using local meats, produce and ingredients sourced from the Carson Valley and Northern Nevada. They offer a variety of entrees including pastas, butcher platters, artisanal burgers, steak dinners, and more. They also offer a number of craft cocktails, and visitors have the choice between sitting in the dining room or the more casual high-tops of the pub.
Grab and Go
Schat’s Bakery & Restaurant
- 1595 Esmeralda Ave., Minden, Nevada
- Open every day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Visit their Facebook page to learn more.
Schat’s Bakery & Restaurant is the perfect one stop shop for those who don’t have a lot of time to spare for both breakfast and lunch. They offer a number of house-made pastries, desserts, coffees as well as a number of sandwiches created using their own site-baked bread. Breakfast burritos are ready made in the mornings to quickly snag while grabbing a morning coffee, and their assortments of breads, pies and treats are a great gift for family, especially during the holiday season!
88 Cups Coffee & Tea
- 1663 Lucerne St., Minden, Nevada
- Open Monday – Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Visit their Facebook page to learn more.
88 Cups Coffee & Tea has been a Minden staple for over a decade and offers a unique, nostalgic coffee shop experience complete with cozy mismatched furniture, stacks of books, local artwork for sale, and a menu that always includes a new daily soup. The perfect place to grab a coffee or, if you have some time, to sit and have a breakfast sandwich and take in the cozy ambiance.
