October 2, 2023

Explore Carson City’s vibrant past while eating (and drinking) your heart out! 

A wooden table full of food, served at Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint. Burgers, nachos, Asian food bowls, tacos, sandwiches, and various sauces.
Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint

BY ENGRID BARNETT

When John C. Frémont and crew stumbled into western Nevada in 1844, they found an expansive valley abutting the resplendent Sierra Nevada mountains. More importantly, they located a thirst-quenching river. Frémont declared the serpentine feature the Carson, honoring his buckskin-clad guide, Christopher “Kit” Carson. 

By 1851, the much-needed stopover boasted a trading post frequented by California-bound pioneers. And 20 years after Frémont’s foray, Carson City became the Silver State’s booming capital. Dizzyingly rich silver deposits in the mountains east of the city, known collectively as The Comstock Lode, clinched the political deal. 

Today, Carson City embodies geographical contrasts—sagebrush desert, tree-shrouded riverscapes, pastoral valleys, and rugged mountains. As the state capital, it also contains a unique combination of historical sites and foodie hotspots. Multitasking is a must to make the most of any visit.

Combine a tour of the city’s historic buildings with some of its hippest restaurants and watering holes. These establishments often boast up to a century (or more) of civic pride, but their menus keep it fresh, innovative,
and mouthwatering!

Exterior photo of The Fox Brewery & Pub. Red brick historic building, with puffy clouds in the blue sky, trees all around, and people sitting out under umbrellas, eating.

An interior photo of the Fox Brewery & Pub. Wooden bar top with stools and green bar with various bottles of alcohol.THE FOX BREWERY & PUB (1862) 

An October 1862 ad in the “Silver Age” newspaper proclaimed the three-story St. Charles Hotel “the pleasantest resort in Carson…where everything kept by the bar is the best quality.” The Fox Brewery & Pub continues this tradition today, offering 17 craft beers, refreshing cocktails, and an exuberant menu. 

Apple cobbler on a white plate, with melting vanilla ice cream on top, and two spoons.
Fruit cobbler with ice cream at The Fox Brewery & Pub

Belly up to the bar (or booth) for beer-braised brisket, the world-famous pub dip, or the humbly titled mac & cheese—pasta loaded with three types of cheese and bacon crumbles in a crispy parmesan crust. Finish the meal off with a baked-to-order fruit cobbler crowned with walnut crumbles, maple, and decadent vanilla ice cream. 

 

Historic exterior of Eve's Eatery. Tan stone walls with pink and black sign above the door.

Interior of Eve's Eatery. Display case with several types of homemade pasta, with a sign that reads "Pasta Market" above it. Plants and plates also visible.EVE’S EATERY (1925)  

Eve’s Eatery is a modern American restaurant set inside a two-story building circa 1925. The site has seen several incarnations over the decades including the Kit Carson Club and the Horseshoe Club, a veritable city fixture from the 1970s through the early 2000s. Today’s restaurant serves breakfast and dinner, and they’re anything but old-fashioned. 

A stack of pancakes on a black plate and wooden table. Pancakes have strawberries, kiwi, whipped cream, caramel sauce, and powdered sugar on them.
Tres Leches Pancakes at Eve’s Eatery

For breakfast, devour tres leches pancakes piled high with whipped cream, strawberries, kiwis, dulce de leche, and powdered sugar. Chase it with a Mexican hot chocolate—s’mores in a cup with a dash of cinnamon, or go for a mimosa with a tropical twist: the Pineapple Strawberry Express. And don’t forget about Eve’s delectable handmade pasta. Whether you tuck into cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper), agnolotti (braised short rib ravioli), or The Knockout (chicken fettuccine served in a homemade bread bowl), you’ll roll out happy.  

 

Exterior photo of Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint. Wooden building with green roof. Bar and restaurant signs on green awnings. Cars and a dune buggy type vehicle are parked in the spaces in front of the restaurant. Blue skies.

Interior photo of Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint shows a wooden bar with black chairs, tables and a wine-colored booth in the dining area, swag lamp with stairway, lots of psychedelic-styled artwork, and a sign that reads "Be nice or leave."Sidebar image, with a QR code linking to a video of Carson City's 'Triathlon' of businesses, all sharing a parking lot. First photo is a mom and two kids swimming in Carson Hot Springs. Second image is a bunch of people eating, drinking, and ordering food at Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint. Third image is a group of four people enjoying beer and laughing at Shoe Tree Brewery.SASSAFRAS ECLECTIC FOOD JOINT (1928)   

The Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint should rank near the top of any Carson City culinary tour. Menu highlights include the Superfraggacheesalicious Loaf, a baked-to-order sourdough round stuffed with garlic and a tangy cheese medley. Evilled Eggs (stuffed with shrimp, roasted peppers, and smoked paprika) elevate the humble hardboiled egg. Or opt for spicy, gooey bliss with an order of baked cheese curds and chorizo. 

Superfragacheesalicious Loaf at Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint shows a round loaf of bread, stuffed with melted cheese and browned baked edges of the bread. It is on a white plate, with a knife sticking up out of the bread and a dipping sauce next to it.
Superfragacheesalicious Loaf at Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint

You’ll also find a wide selection of sandwiches, pizzas, and beverages that are anything but ordinary. The palate-pleasing fun, packed into a single-family residence built in 1928, radiates the energy you’d expect from the Roaring ‘20s with plenty of contemporary touches.

 

Exterior of Great Basin Brewing Company shows a brick building with a tree next to it, and many people seated outside, dining. Cars are parked nearby, across the street.
Great Basin Brewing Company
Sticky Fries at Great Basin Brewing Company. Fresh-cut sweet potatoes fried to perfection and smothered in BBQ sauce, white cheddar, bacon crumbles, and scallions, in a white bowl sitting on a distressed wooden table.
Sticky Fries at Great Basin Brewing Company

Sidebar about The Bank Saloon, shows the inside of the establishment. Rich wood bar area, historic artwork on the wall, many tables for seating, and people enjoying drinks and conversation.GREAT BASIN BREWING COMPANY (1936)    

The Great Basin Brewing Company building (circa 1936) exudes the post-Prohibition charm you’d expect from a brewery in the quaint historic downtown. Like its counterparts in Reno and Sparks, Great Basin’s capital location features a crave-worthy mixture of classic eats and local brews. It also contains a 15-barrel brewing system. 

A glass of dark beer on a distressed bartop, at Great Basin Brewing Company.Nobody does beer and comfort food quite like Great Basin. Personal faves? Black Gold dry Irish stout with an order of finger-licking-good sticky fries (think fresh-cut sweet potatoes fried to perfection and smothered in BBQ sauce, white cheddar, bacon crumbles, and scallions). Of course, there’s a whole lotta menu to explore, so come ready to eat, drink, and be merry. 

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