Branding Iron Cafe — Restaurant in Reno

horrible! this is my 3rd attempt to say it was not the worst place to eat at and they couldn't pull it off. It is. I have tried to contact them with details of the terrible dining experiences but the emails kept getting returned or i would get hung up on during call transfer,further adding to an all around bad experience. This time was it, this time I left and thought I was going to throw up as I have an aversion towards flies and I have not in recent or not so recent memory ever had to fight flies to eat while out at a restaurant but they have a serious fly problem and that is something i can not deal with I'm guessing it was" flies eat free Flyday". it was too disgusting after a few bites i left and upon leaving I was asked how was my meal I should've said I don't know ask the flies but instead I brought up the issue of the flies in a not sarcastic tone and the cashier replied that she had brought it up recently and that they had not dealt with it yet. with all that I definitely felt the urge to lose what little i had eaten because if i have staff saying it's been a problem it really is a problem also I'm certain that if the flies are brazen in the up front area you know they are just as much so in the food prep area. i know in the summer i have a difficult time with flies and while i am preping food i will cover it or put it in microwave in order to deter the flies but it would be impossible to shield all the food in a place like that. They cant save everyones food and i dont want to guess if it was mine that made it or...

Tried the Branding Iron Cafe for the first time tonight. Seems that they are a little short staffed as we had to wait for a table with the restaurant only about 25% occupied.

The interior is a western motif with a lot of Hot August Night memorabilia on the wall. The tables were clean and there was very little cigarette smell. It was present but not ready noticable. I would rate it as above average.

The staff was friendly and efficient. Orders were taken and promptly delivered. Beverages were constantly being attended to and clearing was quick. The staff rates above average.

The food was typical diner fare. I ordered a chicken fried steak and the wife, a ranchero asada. The chicken fried steak portions were huge. The dinner salad that came with the plate was also on the large side. However, that is the only plus. The negatives, stale croutons, soggy lettuce, crunchy veggies, bland gravy, tough meat and a general lack of flavor. The ranchero asada plate also had some big portions but again the lack of flavor was present. The food rates barely a two star.

I noticed that a lot of the other patrons were ordering the Wednesday spaghetti special. I don't know if it is the price or the spaghetti that is deciding factor. Maybe the mid-week specials bring in the customers. The wife and I might try again for breakfast or...

We tried this place out after getting a bogo coupon for their newly re-opened Sunday brunch buffet. Normal price was $34.95. I can comfortably say this is way over priced. I would place a Golden Corral well above on quality and well below on price. The selection is not very big at all. There is a small salad bar, with a few options for potato salad, tomato salad, etc. There was a cocktail shrimp section, which was one of the only high points. Breakfast items included scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, sausage, etc. There were eggs benedict that had the eggs essentially hard boiled. Either the cook doesn't understand what poached eggs are, or they cooked themselves to solid sitting on the line. Chicken wings were baked, not fried and were not very good. I also got a baked chicken thigh that was very dry. Carved roast beef was good, the only other highlight. There was an omelet bar that looked to have a good selection of toppings, but I skipped it. Desert options looked good, but the cake I got was only so-so. Just under $40 after tax for two of us. Had I paid the full price, I would have spoken to someone about the quality. There is a normal menu as well. If we ever find ourselves there again, I will be ordering...