Top Deck — Restaurant in Reno

I went with a group of 7 total to Reno for Hot august nights car show. There was a lot of people and I feel the strip wasn't prepared staffing wise for the large influx of people coming to watch this event. The reason I gave a 3/5 was because the first day we went was during breakfast. We waited 45 minutes to be seated. During the wait the 2 rows of benches available, were full of patrons waiting to be seated as well. While we waited, we were forced to hang nearby because the hostess was calling out names quietly and we didn't want to be skipped because of not hearing our name. This restaurant is located on the second floor of a smoking friendly casino. As a woman who does not smoke anything and finds the smell of cigarettes noxious I was surrounded by fumes. They have no inhouse filtration either. There was a casino on the second floor surrounding the restaurant as well on the first floor, and as we know it smoke rises. So I got a double whammy of cigarette smoke for +45 minutes while waiting for our table.

After waiting no more than 45 minutes we were seated in 2 4 tops which we offered to avoid waiting longer than necessary. There was a fair amount of staff, but not enough in my opinion for the influx of customers. However, our server was very friendly and experienced. No complaints about her abilities, considering the place was busy. We ordered our food and it took approximately 30 mins. I ordered their steak and eggs, steak medium rare. The other people in my group ordered the same as I, and some ordered steak, egg and lobster, beef dip, a breakfast plate and a few other dishes. Upon receiving the food, portions are good, considering how cheap it was. This is why the place is busy, prices are cheap and food portions are good. I got a 6oz Steak, 2 eggs, hash, 1pc of toast for $10.95. My steak was well done as were all the other steaks in my group which was ordered. We didn't complain because we assumed they didn't have the support to meet the demand and it was edible. Overall nothing special, perhaps if they didn't have the large event the experience would have been different. But I wouldn't waste my time going there again for a "cheap" meal. It's not worth it in my opinion. The food wasn't anything special and it's a mediocre diner. The smokey atmosphere killed it for me too.

However, my friend loves how affordable it is and attempted to make us go a second time. Since we let him take the lead, the next day we tried to do dinner and the wait was 1.5 hours to be seated. As a server myself with 15+ years experience. I could see they were having staffing issues again. The restaurant was half full and maybe there were 1 or 2 servers working. This was a red flag for me. As a couple of patrons left, they for-warned us we would have to wait another hour before we would even receive our food. So we gave up right away after that and went to in-and-out Burger instead which was a 10 min drive away from the strip.

Best decision we made, still busy but much better quality and still cheap. Sorry it was a busy at Top deck for me. Reno was a bust in general. Won't be going there again. It's a first and last and a...

Ok so... Cal-Neva is kinda old. If I'm being brutally honest about Top Deck, it's not much to look at, and seems like a dive. However! I've become somewhat, a regular there for breakfast on my paydays. They always give a lot of gravy for the Biscuits and gravy breakfast, or the country breakfast (chicken steak slathered in gravy) which is SUPER filling and yummy. If you're a food snb, this isn't a place for you. But if you're just getting off work, you're tired and hungry, Top Deck is perfect. They have Tables, booths, and my personal favorite spot, the Counter Bar. They ALWAYS get my orders out within 5-10 minutes. Usually 5 minutes and boom, I got my food. So yeah it a good place for working class, single people, things like that. Although I'm sure they'd say they're a "Family" restaurant, I'd say it's best to leave the kids at home or take em to Dennys. But if you want a good amount of food, for reasonable prices?! Than Top Deck is DEFINITELY your spot. Hope to see you there.. 😎

So its been a few months er ... maybe a year, since I wrote what's above 👆. I'm actually just heading back home from having breakfast at Top Deck. Today I had The Blackjack Breakfast. Your choice of Ham, bacon, or sausage. 1 egg, and a biscuit with country gravy. This meal is kinda small, so for me it was just right, I wasn't very hungry. If I order it again, I'm gonna ask for an extra biscuit though. If I'm being brutally honest, I still wasn't really full after the meal. So, I'd say the blackjack breakfast gets a 7 outta 10. But it was still a pleasant experience, I usually sit at the counter, my waiter was attentive but wasn't harassing me. Super friendly and super quick as usual. I still give it 9 outta 10 for Top Deck overall. I haven't always had positive experiences, or didn't get what I ordered, and nobody's perfect. But I'd still recommend Top Deck for a decent meal, and anyone looking to experience things from a locals perspective. "Do as the Roman's do". Cus this is definitely what I'd call a Locals restaurant.... or casino for that matter. Cal-Neva has been around longer than I've been alive. I'm 42. So it's definitely a Reno classic. One might say, "...and it looks it", and yeah the place does show it's age a little bit. Things are run down a bit. The style of the carpet seems aged. But again, the people are what make it worth going. So I still recommend visiting the Cal-Neva's Top Deck...

I really dislike the CalNeva it has a dirty musty 1976 trailor park single mom smoking a cigg holding a beer with her baby in the backseat vibe too it. This is where all the homeless and the criminals go to hang out and buy time from being outside, its outdated the elevator up to this restuarant surely has 9 lives and you better hope you do also if you ride it. The parking area is monitored by criminals not security, dont leave your vehicle unattended. Dont leave your purse unzipped, cards unattended. DO NOT USE THE ATMS with people near you and always check for a card reader. I WOULDNT USE THESE ATMS IF YOU PAID ME TRUST ME YOULL THANK ME LATER I literally know people that go there to steal from tourist and break the law. And the fetty and heroine addicts linger in this area as the weeklys are directly across the street. The restuarant is located on the upper level and you have to climb 3 sets of giant steps up if you dont use the elevator or there is an escalator on the far right side of the building near the casino cage not the side with the players club. Picture a guy with a mustache and a yellow tinted white dress shirt holding a hamburger with a ketchup stain with 33 strands of hair buttons popping off from his giant belly chewing while talking to you and a old lady with a deep voice from smoking ciggs in her trailor for 52 years that describes management and the CalNeva. I dont like the food, I dont like the atmosphere. I dont like the players club rewards or lack there of, I dont like the machines they been here since the...