Your first question might be:  Where the heck is Sparks, NV?  It’s a town just a few miles west of Reno, NV and has the BEST restaurant I’ve eaten at in a long time.  The Steakhouse Grill is located in the Nugget Hotel & Casino and is worth the time to visit if you get the chance.

The ambiance is quiet with softly played music in the background.  The food is outstanding, and the staff is excellent!!  Many times, especially in Las Vegas or Reno casinos, restaurant staff can treat patrons like they are a nuisance.  When you are someone with STRICT dietary restrictions, restaurant staff can make you feel like a leper, and the chef barely accommodates you.  This is FAR from the case at The Steakhouse Grill in Sparks.

My first night at the Nugget, I decided to check it out and was so overwhelmed by their customer service!  That’s pretty difficult to do in my book.  Reservations are always recommended, so I called and was greeted on the phone by a smile.  YES, people on the phone can tell if you’re smiling.  It’s one of the points I stressed in my Public Speaking classes.   When I arrived, I was shown to my seat with another smile and genuine care.  My waiter, Zach, took very good care of me, as did Jose, who was always there to refill my water glass when it got low.

By far the most outstanding staff member was Chef Marklee.  He is the finest example of how a chef should react to a person with dietary restrictions and even went beyond any expectations I had!  First of all, Chef Marklee came out to talk to me in person to discuss what restrictions I had and what HE could do to provide me with a first rate dinner.  From my salad:

to my first entree, he took extra special care to make sure I could not only eat everything he made, but that it looked great!  Here is my dinner that night:

All I thought I’d get that evening was a steak on a plate, which is what I’m usually served in most restaurants because they are unwilling to take the chance to change the menu for a restricted dieter. Marklee made me a 12oz. sirloin with grilled squashes and shrimp scampi.  Everything was so delicious, and when I saw his presentation, I had tears in my eyes.  I’ve only had one other restaurant chef actually CARE about me and my experience at their establishment.

Of COURSE I went back the next night and told Marklee to just make me a plate.  This is what he served me:

NOTE to other chefs out there:  You don’t just have to serve steamed broccoli when you can’t think of vegetables to serve me.  Here, Chef Marklee had zucchini, yellow squash, grilled cauliflower (YUM!), spaghetti squash and carrots.  Now, I didn’t take a picture my 3rd night, but it was much different than the previous nights.  Yes, I stuck with the NY steak each night because their steaks are SUPER delicious.  Here’s my 4th night’s meal:

This time with a vegetable succotash and golden beets, which I’d never seen before.  Again, another amazing meal!  What really set Marklee apart was his kind offer to talk to any chef in any of the restaurants at the Nugget on my behalf, to make sure my meal was prepared correctly.  He followed up on that promise when I ate at Rosie’s Cafe.

I’m telling you sincerely, check this place out!  Even the manager, Art, is hands on and genuinely cares for his patrons.  Tell them Marti sent you!  Enjoy!