Openings
Three brothers—Jasmeet (“Jazz”), Navraj and Sukhraj Baduwalia, sons of Binder Baduwalia, owner of what they say was Reno’s first Indian restaurant, SS Super—opened Desi Flavors, a fast-casual Indian eatery, on April 23. It’s located in the light industrial complex at 9475 Double R Blvd.
The brothers serve customized bowls and wraps—choose your base (basmati rice or a naan wrap), a meat or vegetarian filling, a couple of sauces and three toppings (like masala corn or pickled red onions). Desi Flavors serves lunch and dinner seven days a week. Visit desiflavorsreno.com.
The regional coffeehouse and roaster chain Drink Coffee Do Stuff—with locations in South Lake Tahoe, Incline Village, Truckee and South Reno—opened a Midtown Reno store on May 16. It’s at 960 S. Virginia St., near the roundabout, in the building where Junkee Clothing Exchange and Antique Store used to be.
The new digs feature a front patio with Adirondack chairs and a firepit. The menu includes breakfast sandwiches, pastries, espresso drinks and seasonal specials like spring’s pink velvet latte, with espresso, raspberry-coconut syrup and coconut flakes. Learn more at drinkcoffeedostuff.com.
In the same development as Drink Coffee Do Stuff, at 960 S. Virginia St., Reno’s newest LGBTQ bar, The Selden, also opened in May. The owner is Tyler Colton, who owns The Emerson. In 2025, Colton told RN&R cocktail scribe Michael Moberly, “It will be a cabaret dance, all-inclusive, just a sexy upscale bar. Whether you’re gay or straight, everyone’s in there.”
The Selden’s grand opening party is set for Saturday June 6, with music, drag, drinks and dancing outdoors from 4 to 10 p.m., and inside from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information, go to @theseldenreno on Instagram.
Summer happenings
Lex Niemann started working in restaurants at 16, and she’s now logged 20 years in the local food and bar industry. “I’ve served a wide range of groups of people in the community, and I think that what’s important is to provide a space for people to feel comfortable and want to gather and create memories,” she said.
On May 23, she opened a seasonal bar, The Matchbox, in a cozy, shaded yard decorated with lavender and grapevines, behind Bibo Coffee and Gelato at 717 S. Center St. The menu features a short list of colorful summer cocktails (with ingredients like Aperol-infused gin) and almost as many mocktails (with flavors like oolong tea and ginger).
“I know that there are people who want to be social and go out and feel like they’re participating in maybe a bar scene, but might not feel comfortable being in a bar,” Niemann said. “People can come and hang out, get a really nice cocktail that’s N/A while maybe their friends get something that has alcohol in it, and then they all kind of feel like they’re still participating in the same space.”
The Matchbox is open on weekends—four-day weekends, that is, including Mondays to accommodate the industry crowd. Hours are 3 to 8 p.m., Friday; noon to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday; and 3 to 8 p.m. Monday. Niemann plans to keep The Matchbox open all summer. She said that, as of late, one never knows how late into the year patio weather will last—October? November?—so she won’t announce a closing date for now. Follow @thematchboxreno on Instagram.
Two of Reno’s weekly food truck events open this week. Feed the Camel kicks off on June 3 and runs every Wednesday though Aug. 26 outside of McKinley Arts and Culture Center, at 925 Riverside Drive. Coordinator Melissa Williams advised, “We have parking available at the McKinley Center and the adjacent streets. Please bring chairs and blankets for your comfort. We ask that furry friends are leashed and well behaved.” This year’s 20-odd vendors include Lety’s Tacos, Tuk Tuk Thai, A Touch of Soul and Mr. Margarita. Follow @feedthecamel on Instagram.
On Friday, June 5, Food Truck Friday, Reno’s original and largest street food event, celebrates its first installment of the season from 4 to 9 p.m., with live music by New Wave Crave starting at 5 p.m. More than 50 food and drink vendors will rotate all summer at Idlewild Park, at 2055 Idlewild Drive, in Reno. Learn more at @foodtruckfridayreno on Instagram.
Accolades
On May 8, the U.S. Small Business Administration honored 10 Nevada food businesses at a ceremony in Las Vegas—including two from our region. Carson City’s Jerky Junction was deemed Northern Nevada’s Family Owned Small Business of the Year. The SBA lauded the company—which employs 47 and manufactures jerkies including exotics, like python and yak—for “its private‑label and co‑packing services that support other small brands in the region” and for its “commitment to quality, innovation, and community.”
Reno’s Kimmie Candy won the Exporter of the Year award. The agency praised the business and its founder, Joseph Dutra, for having expanded from small manufacturer to internationally recognized candy brand and exporter over a quarter-century, “supporting the addition of new U.S.-based jobs each year.”
Have local food, drink or restaurant news? Email foodnews@renonr.com.