About Ask-Reno
People-curated recommendations, not algorithms
About the Editor
I'm a longtime restaurateur. For 35+ years I lived in Portland, Oregon, where I owned and operated multiple locally-owned restaurants — the kind of independent neighborhood spots that shape a city's food culture.
While in Portland I also ran a visitor-centric website and podcast about the city. Both pulled heavy visitor traffic — partly because I genuinely understood the landscape: where the locals went, which neighborhoods were about to pop, which restaurants would be there in five years vs. five months. That insider read on a city is the lens I'm bringing to Reno.
I moved to Reno for a reason that overrules everything else: family. My two granddaughters under three live here, so I live here. That's the real reason Ask-Reno exists — I'm not consulting from afar; I'm raising kids in this city.
I'm a newcomer to Reno — but an early adopter of the culture, the movers and shakers, and the meaningful subjects that make Reno what it is. I volunteer with Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada, both at the morning prep kitchen and at the CARES Campus dinner service. I show up to council meetings. I read the budget. I write up what I see.
The goal: bring the same insider knowledge that built a visitor-centric audience in Portland to anyone who visits, lives in, or is moving to Reno — and give locally-recommended businesses a way to thank our community.
Why Ask-Reno Exists
Search for “best restaurants in Reno” and you'll get Yelp rankings, Google algorithms, and critic reviews. But none of that tells you where locals actually go.
Ask a friend who lives here? They'll tell you to skip the casino buffets and hit up that AYCE sushi spot in South Reno, or the taqueria by the auto shop that doesn't even have a website.
Where locals go is always where visitors want to go. That simple insight is what Ask-Reno is built on.
Pain Points I'm Solving
No Central Events Hub
Locals are frustrated that there isn't one place to see what's happening in Reno. Events are scattered across venue sites, Facebook, and random newsletters. Ask-Reno's events calendar pulls it all together.
"It's Hard to Meet People Here"
This comes up constantly on r/Reno. It's a real pain point for newcomers. The Meeting People guide aggregates what actually works — hiking groups, trivia nights, rec sports, the local Facebook group — not just generic advice.
Tourists Get Stuck at Casinos
Visitors come to Reno and never leave the casino bubble. They miss Midtown, the brewery scene, the incredible day trips. Ask-Reno shows them the real city.
How It Works
Aggregate
We pull from Reddit threads, Yelp reviews, Google data, and local event calendars
Synthesize
AI helps identify patterns — what names come up repeatedly, what the consensus is
Curate
Human editorial judgment shapes the final guides — no pure algorithm output
Got a Suggestion?
This is a community resource. If you know a spot that should be on here, or see something that's outdated, let me know.
💡 Send a Suggestion