General Store serves up Americana
by Diane Rose Weeks, Outpost staff
Tucked below the flashing neon, behind rows of ringing slot machines, just left of the Keno desk inside John Ascuaga's Nugget, the General Store is an oasis of comfort and mouthwatering American cuisine. The quaint ambiance of antiques and early 20th century culture is reminiscent of days gone by, when candy cost a penny and the local general store was the heart of the community.
Gazing upon the tempting and thorough menu, you almost forget you had to walk through a casino to get here. Bring your appetite; with five full pages to choose from, any palate is sure to find satisfaction here.
Breakfast choices on the menu range from a mouthwatering selection of omelets for about $7, to French toast, dreamy blintzes, fruit-topped waffles or good ol' ham, eggs and hash browns, all priced between $4.95 and $7.95. Lighter fare like five different choices of fruit or any type of cereal cost about $3. Their fresh-squeezed orange juice is the best in town ... but at $2.25 a glass, it's a luxury I can't always afford.
For lunch, a French-Dip on one of the Nugget's fresh-baked crunch rolls is a popular favorite, and it comes with French fries or mashes potatoes for $5.95. MMM ... cholesterol city ...
But we came for dinner, and I've been trying to choose alternatives to beef and pork. That meant two of the $4.95 daily specials - flank steak served with flour tortillas and pork loin adobo - were out. The third special, thai-garlic chicken sounded too spicy, so I scanned the dinner menu for the perfect dish. My mom knew what she wanted right away. They serve scallops so scrumptious she decided to indulge in the deep-fried delights. I decided on the vegetable raviolis (for $5.95) with a dinner salad (which cost an extra $2).
Seasoned croutons and gourmet dressing on the salad were the type of special touches that make the Nugget popular. The scallop I sampled turned in to about five. I just couldn't help myself, even though the raviolis I'd ordered smelled garlicky delicious. Biting into the tender pasta, my taste buds sang with the angels as the cheese-and-vegetable filling meshed with marinara sauce in my mouth.
Throughout our meal, the efficient staff made dining at the Nugget a pleasure. Too full for dessert, my mother and I left the General Store ... fully satisfied. Although, for about $3.50 sweet choices including fruit smoothies, homemade cheesecake, pecan, cherry or apple pie sure sounded tempting.
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(775) 356-3300 1100 Nugget Ave. Sparks, Nev. |
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HOURS:
Open 24 hours a day |
Posted
Sept. 29, 1999
Copyright 1999, Nevada Outpost