Gloria's Cafe — Restaurant in Reno

Do not go here if you value your time.

When they first opened, it was a great Sunday lunch spot. The service, however has deteriorated more and more over time with long waits, a phone that doesn’t work for their required reservations, and unapologetic management.

Today we waited 35 minutes to be seated after being told 15. We ordered in minutes, knowing what we wanted. After about 35 minutes of waiting for our food and no check-ins, the very sweet waitress came out to refill our coffee for the first time and let us know she was trying to move things along. We asked her if we could get some toast and she was happy to provide that free of charge. At the 52 minute mark, I had to go in and check on our meal as our Sunday was getting away from us. We have been at the restaurant for nearly an hour and half at this point. After asking the stern manager and namesake when we could expect our meal, she said “ten minutes.” “Really, ten?” I asked. “Twenty minute and you’ll have it” she said. I told her we had to leave as we had things to do and she simply replied by saying she would take our orders off the line. I collected my partner and then entered the restaurant again to ask if there was anything that could be done for our lost time, a free or discounted meal, anything as we had waited an hour and half. She responded everyone there had waited the same.

“Is there anything you can do for us or is this just how it is here now?” I asked. “Yes this is how it is on weekends now.” “We will not be back.”

Too bad. Great food but the service and management has removed it as an...

This place is AMAZING! Mexican - American fusion menu. And when I say "fusion", I mean it in the true sense. This is NOT your typical watered down Mexican cuisine thrown together with some American dishes. Hands down, one of the most authentic places I've been to in the US.

Great food with large servings and almost everything is homemade. The chilis and salsas have a bite to them, made me break a sweat. The chorizo is homemade. The pico de gallo is fresh. The portions are ENORMOUS.

While all the food was amazing, I'd call attention to Gloria's special: a traditional chorizo and egg dish fused with an American-style hash and black beans (de la olla) served with homemade guacamole and corn tortillas. Phenomenal!

Customer service was just as amazing! The servers checked on us several times but not overbearing. Our drinks were never empty. Smiling and friendly, you can tell this team loves what they do and loves their customers.

The place is easy to find and off the beaten path. It sits in what looks like an industrial park with plenty of parking. The building looks like an old garage that has been repurposed making it different in a nice quaint way.

My only critique: the portion sizes are huge! Too huge and customers are leaving with a whole other meal in a Styrofoam box. Cut back on the portion size and increase your profit margin. Your food is fantastic enough that everyone will appreciate this and you won't lose as much profit.

If you are close to Reno, THIS...

Great little mom and pop diner.

The place is simple and could use some decorations but that's not why I go to a diner, I go for the food!

Huevos Rancheros is my favorite thing on the menu so far and I'm not a fan of that dish typically. The banana waffles are great if you have a sweet tooth like me! I've been told that the chef has been a cook for 30 years and I believe it. We are taking the time to try everything on the menu once. The food here is fantastic!

Gloria herself is a wonderful host and her daughter is always sharing friendly conversation with us whenever we sit down to eat. You can feel the comfort of your grandma's house is present.

The service is a tad bit inefficient as they are still getting a handle on their menu and POS system, but you can't expect them to be on top of everything after being open less than two months. Please do not take this as a sign that they don't care! Working food service is hard and we all have our off days. I'm shocked that people get so worked up about having to wait a little bit longer than they expect. Enjoy the time you're sharing with your friends and family, the food is secondary.

The important things are where they need to be: the food is fantastic and Gloria has genuine interest in helping people feel at home. These are the things that are important for a diner and they nail it. Glorias cafe easily gets my recommendation...