Nevada
Reno restaurant with deep roots in Nevada’s history named among best in US
Louis’ Basque Corner is one of USA TODAY’s best restaurants of 2024
Take a look inside Louie’ Basque Corner in Reno, NV, named one of USA TODAY’s best restaurants for 2024
A restaurant that celebrates Nevada culture and the spirit of the gold rush of the Old West has made national news: Along with 46 other restaurants, Louis’ Basque Corner was included in the 2024 USA TODAY Restaurants of the Year list.
General Manager Craig Benson said he and the Louis’ team were honored to be included.
“It’s fantastic and very flattering,” Benson said. “And it makes us feel like all the hard work we do is being recognized. To be a part of this list on this level is incredibly special.”
How many have you been to? Check out USA TODAY’s 2024 Restaurants of the Year
Our criteria for USA TODAY’s Restaurants of the Year for 2024
What makes Louis’ Basque Corner stand out
Basques first arrived in the West during the Gold Rush, finding terrain similar to their native lands in present-day France and Spain. In Nevada, Basques prospered as sheep and cattle herders. They have been an integral part of the Silver State’s social fabric for over a century.
Louis and Lorraine Erreguible opened Louis’ Basque Corner two days before Christmas in 1967, in a turn-of-the-last-century Reno hotel that catered to sheepherders in town for the winter. The restaurant has remained in the same spot ever since.
Over the decades, the restaurant helped popularize Basque cooking and celebrate Basque culture in Northern Nevada.
Today, owners Chris Shanks and Brian Elcano continue Louis’ vision. Diners are seated at communal wooden tables. Sides are served family style: Basque beans, soup, salad, bread and fries to sop up the juices from a rotating menu of entrees, including steaks, chops, oxtail stew, sweetbreads and lamb, all seasoned to perfection.
The restaurant’s interior is rustic with brick and wood-paneled walls showcasing a deer trophy and portrait of Louis Erreguible in traditional Basque garb. A flight of creaky narrow stairs delivers guests to the second floor, with a full bar, pool table and banquet space.
To Benson, whose own grandparents were immigrants from Norway, Louis’ is a cornerstone of Reno culture.
“We realize that we’re an iconic place not only in Reno but the state of Nevada, the country and world,” Benson said. “We get people flying in from Spain, France, and this is their first stop.”
What to order at Louis’ Basque Corner
Roast leg of lamb. Louis’ serves regal portions of slow-roasted leg of lamb served in a brown sauce. Louis’ lamb chops are another option.
Steaks. Cooked-to-order sirloins, New Yorks and a filet mignon that doesn’t skimp on the sauteed garlic that comes as an extra. The oxtail stew is another classic dish.
Sweetbreads. Louis’ sweetbreads come sautéed with garlic, peppers, mushrooms and onions or prepared in a red wine and mushroom sauce.
Picon Punch: A rite of passage for Northern Nevadans, this cocktail packs a Pyrenees-sized punch. A staple of Basque cuisine, the Picon Punch consists of Amer Picon, grenadine, brandy and sparkling water.
See the full menu.
Did you know?
The key ingredient of the famed Picon Punch was invented by Frenchman Gaëtan Picon in 1837. The drink found its way from a French aperitif into the hands of the Italians and Basques. From there, the beverage traveled through the American West, finding a home in burgeoning Basque-American communities.
Local legislators even tried, and failed, to make Picon Punch the official drink of Nevada.
Details: Louis’ Basque Corner, 301 E. Fourth St., Reno, Nev.; 775-323-7203, louisbasquecorner.com
Nevada
Nevada gets back in win column, downs Wyoming, 92-83
Corey Camper Jr. put on a shooting clinic and helped Nevada get back in the win column.
Nevada beat Wyoming 92-83, on Saturday in front of an announced crowd of 8,906 fans at Lawlor Events Center.
Camper Jr., playing for the third time after missing a month with a back injury, scored a career-high 31 points as Nevada improved to 4-1 in the Mountain West Conference, 12-4 overall. He was 10-of-13 from the field including 5-of-7 from 3-point range, and 6-of-8 from the free throw line, playing 32 minutes. He had seven rebounds.
Elijah Price had a double-double with a career-high 20 points and 16 rebounds, in 34 minutes, while Tayshawn Comer, Amire Robinson and Peyton White each added 10 points. Comer had 10 assists as Nevada had 21 as a team. Vaughn Weems returned to the court after missing the San Diego State game on Tuesday with the flu. He played 12 minutes and scored nine points.
The Wolf Pack shot 61 percent from the field (31-51) and made 10-of-16 from the arc.
Nasir Meyer led Wyoming with 27 points as the Cowboys dropped to 2-2 in conference, 11-5 overall.
Nevada coach Steve Alford said the Wolf Pack’s defense was better against the Cowboys than it was in the loss to San Diego State.
But still not to the level he would like it.
He cited communication and players’ stances while both guarding the ball and off the ball as a few of the many fundamentals the Pack needs to improve.
“We had slippage in the (San Diego) State game and we didn’t have a whole of improvement in this game, from a defensive standpoint,” Alford said Saturday night.
Nevada’s offense was much better, though, than in the loss to the Aztecs. The Pack took better shots and eliminated bad shots.
Alford said Price played more of a complete game than he has most of the season.
Price said the Pack’s defense was not good, but played better in the second half and that as why the Pack won.
“We’re a lot better defensively than what we’ve been showing the past two games,” Price said. “We know if were going to beat Utah State on the road, we’re going to have to get some stops, so that’s what we’re focused on.”
More Key Stats
Nevada outrebounded Wyoming, 38-32. Both teams had nine offensive boards.
Nevada had eight turnovers and Wyoming had six.
The Pack outscored the Cowboys, 38-32, in the paint.
Wyoming’s bench outscored the Pack’s, 31-29.
Out
Nevada’s Joel Armotrading and Tyler Rolison did not play. Armotrading was injured against Washington on Nov. 27 and has not played since. Rolison has a back injury.
Half
Wyoming led, 39-38, at the half. Camper Jr. had 19 points in the first half.
Nevada shot 14-of-27 from the field and 5-of-10 from the ac.
The Cowboys outscored the Wolf Pack in the paint, 22-14.
Up Next
Nevada travels to play at State at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The Aggies dominated Boise State on Saturday, taking a 93-68 win to improve to 14-1 overall, 5-0 in conference.
Nevada will travel to Logan, Utah on Tuesday, and stay on the road for the following game, at Air Force on Saturday.
“(Utah State) has one of the best crowds in the Mountain West , so we know it’s going to be a very difficult game for us,” Alford said. “We needed to get this one, to get that momentum before we go on the road.”
Alford said if Indiana wins that game, and finished 16-0, it means Indiana will have the only two undefeated season in college major sports as the Hoosiers 1976 basketball team was undefeated.
Alford’s Alma Mater
Alford played college basketball at Indoana.
The Hoosiers are playing Miami for the national football championship on Jan 19.
Steve Alford discusses Nevada’s 92-83 win over Wyoming on Saturday
Nevada men’s basketball coach Steve Alford discusses the Wolf Pack’s 92-83 win over Wyoming on Saturday
Nevada’s Remaining Schedule
- Wednesday, Jan. 14, 7 p.m. at Utah State (TV: CBS Sports Network/Radio: 95.5 FM)
- Saturday, Jan. 17, 1 p.m. at Air Force (TV: MW Network, Ch. 21/Radio: 95.5 FM)
- Tuesday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m. vs. San Jose State (TV: KNSN, MW Network, Ch. 21/Radio: 95.5 FM)
- Saturday, Jan. 24, 5 p.m. at New Mexico (TV: CBS Sports Network/Radio: 95.5 FM)
- Tuesday, Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m. vs. Grand Canyon (TV: FS1/Radio: 95.5 FM)
- Friday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m. vs. UNLV (TV: CBS Sports Network/Radio: 95.5 FM)
- Tuesday, Feb. 3, 5 p.m. at Boise State (TV: MW Network, Ch. 21/Radio: 95.5 FM)
- Saturday, Feb. 7, 7 p.m. vs. Fresno State (TV: KNSN, MW Network, Ch. 21/Radio: 95.5 FM)
- Saturday, Feb. 14, 7 p.m. at San Diego State (TV: CBS Sports Network/Radio: 95.5 FM)
- Tuesday, Feb. 17, 7 p.m. at San Jose State (TV: MW Network, Ch. 21/Radio: 95.5 FM)
- Saturday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m. vs. Utah State (TV: FS1/Radio: 95.5 FM)
- Tuesday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m. vs. New Mexico (TV: CBS Sports Network/Radio: 95.5 FM)
- Saturday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m. at UNLV (TV: CBS Sports Network/Radio: 95.5 FM)
- Tuesday, March 3, TBD at Wyoming (TV: MW Network, Ch. 21/Radio: 95.5 FM)
- Saturday, March 7, 7 p.m. vs. Air Force (TV: KNSN, MW Network, Ch. 21/Radio: 95.5 FM)
Nevada
State police union official on Nevada Wild
RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Nevada Police Union’s Vice President James Mortimore is on Nevada Wild.
“This is awesome!” the union’s Saturday, Jan. 10, Facebook post said.
All ten episodes of Nevada Wild season one are streaming on HBO Max.
Copyright 2026 KOLO. All rights reserved.
Nevada
Motorcyclist dies on I-15 near Tropicana, police say
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Nevada State Police said a motorcyclist is dead after a crash on I-15 near the Las Vegas Strip Friday.
Police said the crash happened just before 7 p.m. at I-15 northbound at Tropicana Avenue. The crash involves the motorcyclist, a sports utility vehicle, and a commercial motor vehicle.
The motorcyclist died at the scene, police say.
A social media post from Nevada State Police just before 8 p.m. says the closure could last for four to six hours. Drivers in the area are being diverted to exit at Tropicana Avenue.
This is a developing story. Check back later for details.
Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
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