Reno: Mellow Fellow Gastropub

Subject: FOOD & DRINK

Place: Mellow Fellow Gastropub

Locale: Reno (Aces Stadium area)

Mellow Fellow Gastropub  Website

Visits: Once

Food:    4 out of 5 on the Fork-O-Meter

Drinks: 4 out of 5 on the Burp-O-Meter

Venue:  4 out of 5 on the Vibe-O-Meter

NARRATIVE:

Okay, so I am sort of breaking one of my rules here since there exists more than one Mellow Fellow Gastropub. Since only one actually sits in Reno, I will instead say I am bending the "no chain" rule. And heck, I AM the boss of me anyhow! This place is worth it. The other iterations (both established prior to Reno's) are in King's Beach and Truckee.

Mellow Fellow Gastropub sits across the street from the Reno Aces stadium in a former pizza restaurant called "Slice of the Peak". The interior space is much larger than what it shows from the outside. Ample room not only to accommodate an L-shaped bar, but plenty of alternative seating including conventional dining tables/chairs, couches, and high-tops. A nice billiards table sits in the main room, but the noise created was negligible. A second room, visible from the main room sits off to one side, but still seemed to feel inclusive to the rest of the place and not exactly separated.

There is a fairly large opening on the kitchen wall allowing customers to catch views of the staff and likewise for the staff to see the customers - I prefer being able to see what is going on back there. Above the kitchen "window" rests a very large chalkboard on which many of the current choices, deals, and specials were listed.

Peek-A-Boo

MFG boasts 40 brews on tap, and the day I visited, they were quite varied in origin, potency, and type. Although the board here is not electronic like the one at BeerNV, I think there was more information provided on the chalk-based entries done the old-fashioned way. These descriptions made choices come easily, and the tastes matched what I read. They do have other beverage options besides beer...wine, ciders, hard drinks, etc.

Pork Pops!

Possibly the most interesting aspect here for me are the menu offerings. From creative appetizers to complete dishes, it sure seemed that there was something for everyone. On this first visit, I chose the "Pork Pops" entree (they offer single pops as an app also). The pops were excellent. Very tender pork shanks on the bone drizzled with a choice of three sauces. Barely took a breath between bites. 

This was only my first visit here, but I guarantee that I will be back - there are several menu items to which I need to introduce myself.

Revisit is a definite yes.

--BG