Reno: Bagels, Pizza, and More!

There's nothing better than a good old fashioned wood-fired pizza. But what about a wood-fired bagel? Well luckily for me, there is a spot in Logan Square that is serving up delicious bagels for breakfast, and pizza for lunch and dinner that get made fresh daily and then fired up in an old wood-fired oven!

The Vibe

Reno is located at the intersection of Milwaukee and Kedzie and right across the street from the Logan Square Blue Line stop. Inside, there are long wooden booths, communal tables, and free standing tables for guests to sit at. The decorations do give the place a bit of a southern feel – cans spell out the name on the exposed brick wall, southern music plays over head, and swinging saloon-style doors mark the entrance to the restrooms. It is a great place to spend all day working and, I would argue, is nicer than many coffee shops. The staff at Reno is always friendly and the service is fast. If you are spending time working, they never rush you out, even if it gets a bit busy. In the front they have a counter where you can order coffee and items to go. If you would like, you can even sit in the window to enjoy your beverage and people-watch while perched atop a stool. In the summer months, Reno has outdoor seating on the wide sidewalk providing an excellent place to soak up the sun while enjoying a tasty meal.

The Food

The restaurant that occupied the space prior to Reno had a large wood-fired oven that they used to cook pizza. Reno kept the oven and uses it to make their bagels and pizza. In the morning, they offer bagels with different ‘schmears' such as artichoke, berry, whipped feta, cheddar, sweet potato spread, or hummus. If you are looking for something a little more hearty, Reno also utilizes their bagels in amazing breakfast sandwiches featuring eggs, sausage, bacon, and various veggies.

In the afternoon and evening, Reno offers up some of the best variations of wood-fired pizza I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. Though they usually average around $15, on Tuesdays, they offer a deal of any two pizzas for only $20! I have spent more than one evening there just to take advantage of the deal. Reno offers traditional pizzas (the Reno: mozzarella, basil, red sauce) but also some that are a bit more adventurous (the Pearadise City: roasted pear, brussel sprouts, bacon, balsamic, and tallegio). The first time I dined in for the deal, I ordered the T.O – smoked chicken, arbor peanut salsa, green onion, and smoked onion. OMG yum!

One of my all time favorites is the Fancy Nancy where they take the traditional Reno and add a huge mound of the creamiest burrata in the center. I usually take the burrata and spread it around and then dig in for an amazing bite. Another one of my go-tos is the Paulina which features paulina pepperoni, jalapeño pesto, mozzarella and red sauce. It is actually unbelievable. My insider suggestion: drizzle some of their homemade hot sauce on your pizza for an even better bite! In addition to the pizza deal, they also offer $2 PBR or whiskey shots on Tuesdays to help wash everything down.

For those of you with a sweet tooth, Reno has a dessert menu of pastries such as key lime pie, chocolate ganache cake, and pecan pie tart.

Reno is cash only, but they do have an ATM on site if you forget to bring money with you.