Peppermill Resort Spa Casino

05/20/09

Three misses and your out!

by QueryAll

I have eaten at the White Orchid thee time and that is only because two times I was coerced by clients. Now I flatly refuse step foot into that place because of ... lets say tummy troubles so not to be seditious.

I have eaten in total dives and some of the best restaurants including Le Cirqu, Jean Gorges, L'Ami Louis, Felix, L'Astance, Delmonicos. I know what to let slide when paying $5 for a meal and have a good understanding of what to expect when I plunk down $250 per person. I have both front and back of the house understanding and expertise. I know my way around a kitchen and could hold my own with some three star chefs. I am a fat SOB because I love food. In short I know what I am talking about when I say the White Orchid is at best a three diamond establishment. No way could I go there three times over a two year period and have service so slipshod each and every time.

When I rate a restaurant I take note of everything around me including how my wait staff provides for my needs. At the four diamond level I expect to have what I want as I want it. I should not wait too long for anything. A truly great wait staff is one that knows what you want before you ever think about it, well thats not the case so... If I have a displeased face, I expect the waiter to notice and quickly ask me what is wrong. I should not have to wait 10 minutes after being served to be asked if my steak was cooked to my liking especially if I predicated my order with extra well done. I don't care if the chef has problems with cooking steak that way, it is the way I like it and I was quite clear on my request.

Even if you excuse the past problems tummy upset to the rich food... yeah... a cup of goose live pate wouldn't faze me, the service has been anything but. Downstairs, the much less celebrated steak house has more attentive servers. Come to think of it the first time I ate at the White Orchid about five years ago, I had to wait 15 minuets for my reservation that was scheduled for early diner. It was an insult to wait that long for a table I had reserved three weeks prior. To make things worse there was only one other couple there at the time, and I was not given a proper apology for my wait. I would have walked out but I was on a date and had to make nice.

Now I must say the Peppermill's wine list is rather good and their handling is exceptional, but that is to be expected if your paying upwards to $150 for a decent bottle.

I do like that the setting, the chairs were quite comfortable and the china was a pleasant pattern. But I go out to eat not be entertained or relax or drink for that matter. I want to have good food, which it was to a degree, but at this price point it should have been better.

• Pros: Atmosphere is exceptional
• Cons: Four diamond - Who's fooling who?

05/17/09

Our Favorite Casino

by DavidJohnston

This is the place to go. Whatever kind of food you want, they got it somewhere. The rooms are fantastic, the pools are great. New parking ramp makes it easy to get to and park.

When they added new towers they remodeled the entire place so it looks like one uniform structure. You do not have "old" parts that got neglected when they built the "new" parts.

To find a casino hotel as nice as this you will have to go to Vegas!!

• Pros: Terrific decor, recently upgraded.
• Cons: There are none.

04/24/09

Too good to be true

by vickigrimes

The only negatives I found were many snobby Narcissitic people from California walking around the casino in their miserable state of mind. These tree huggers, self important rude people can make your time their unpleasant. Stay as far away from them as humanly possible. The room rates are cheap! 5 star quality. I stayed at the Wynn Resort and found our room was nicer and 1/4 the price. Reno people are freindly, The cocktail waitresses are not as rude as the ones in Vegas, and came around every 10 minutes and offered drinks while I was gambling. The food was great at the Oceana, with great service. The Buffet is a great value, so is the coffee shop. We were comped most of our meals, and we didn't spend thousands of dollars either, I never got that in Vegas!

• Pros: Great Prices
• Cons: Unfriendly Bay Area people

01/13/08

Top Place to stay in Reno - especially after the remodel

by agciocca

I rarely write reviews for hotels, casinos, restaurants, etc. but after seeing some of the negative reviews for the Peppermill I felt the need to defend. I lived in Reno for 4 years and still travel their from the Bay Area for work and pleasure and must say that the Peppermill has consistantly been a great resort with very good payouts - I understand why some people may be bitter at losing (but that's why they call it gambling people) - but to imply you understand how the payout systems work is basically speaking without knowledge (I was contracted with the gaming control board in Nevada for years and can tell you it is an extremely complex process). I was there last weekend and have only had my expectations raised and can say that the Peppermill is the closest thing to Vegas in Reno and will even go far as to say in certain areas it exceeds Vegas. A recent remodel (which has included a great expansion in the casino floor, fabulous new rooms, a great new restaurant and beautiful new bars) has been accompanied by a noticeable increase and emphasis on service - everybody was absolutely helpful and pleasant and clearly went out of their way to meet customer needs. Having worked in the resort industry and gaming for years I can say this resort is fantastic (remember, you are in Reno so if you are expecting the St. Regis NY you will be let down) and that is after losing money just a few days ago - it is to be expected - but when you get the kind of comfort, quality, service and overall good experience the Peppermill provided me, it makes loosing a lot easier - I am sure I will be back in the next month or so.

• Pros: Service, food, rooms, and bars are all great
• Cons: a little far from downtown (if you consider that a con)

11/28/07

Horrible slots

by len55

They use pretzel (twisted) logic and basically lie about their 99% payback on slots. Their slots have to double the average play (dollars in) of indian casinos before they pay anything (knowledge through experience of 10-15 years). A typical example is that $1,000.00 in a machine "may" get $200.00 of hits for more play. If you win anything, cash out fast. Their 99% payback is from Sunday drawings, which is like being struck by lightening of winning.

You can't even get a free cup of coffee or water after dropping $1,000.00 or more. You have to have $20.00 in a machine for a $2.00 cup of coffee. Their waitresses are rude and don't provide decent service, cold coffee by the time they back to you.

The great rooms don't make up for the bad service and how cheap this place really is in the casino.

• Pros: rooms and food
• Cons: slots and service

06/05/07

Hot leather outfits, and ladies nites....

by onesadbride

Highly recommended, hot leather hotfits, pink floral trees in black light surrounding the room, a huge fire pit with exotic tvs, all the way around it, yummy appetizers, delicious drinks, My favorite: Chocolate Raspberry Martini, Lots of people, hip crowd, The best drinks in town.

06/05/07

Sushi , Sushi, Sushi, yummy, yummy, yummy

by onesadbride

Oh my I can't wait to go back again. They had the most excellent service, delicious susi, and crab, great appetizers, and the atmosphere, I felt like i was under the sea myself. It was great, for romance or family time. Highly recommended Friendly service, and very clean.

03/20/07

Horrible!

by nlshillings

This place gives dive casinos a good name! First of all, the blue neon lights that run rampant through the casino are enough to make you nauseous! The restaurants are terrible. The casino is sub par at best. My advice - skip it! The best thing about the peppermill was the free valet parking!

• Pros: Free Valet Parking was lovely
• Cons: Everything else.

02/01/07

Casual and elegant.

by jauers

Great Food. Great Presentation. Over the top decor. Soothing ambiance, unbelieveable that it is in a casino. Great.

01/28/07

Very nice place - a bit expensive though

by nvlady

If you can wade your way through the cigarette smoke in the Peppermill, this is a very nice place to go. They have excellent meals and good service! It is busy on weekends so reservations would be recommened.

• Pros: Good food & service
• Cons: Long wait times on weekends, casino smoke