Sharkey's is a friendly long-time small-town casino and restaurant in Gardnerville. Changed ownership shortly before Sharkey died several years ago, but the Holders have carried on in the same "local" fashion which keeps residents loyal and visitors welcome. Gaming machines as you enter from the street front or the side street (parking in rear and across the side street), with the bar on the side street side. The restaurant is no smoking with lots of tables and honestly friendly and rapid service. Ranchers, cowboys, Washo, Basques, seniors, families -- everybody knows Sharkey's. We've been eating there for about 20 years -- breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Prime rib is the dinner feature, served in the size and way you like it cooked. Servings are generous, and you won't leave hungry. An adjacent large dining room is also available. Sharkey's is on the main drag (Rt. 395) through town, at a light and easy to find. This small section of downtown includes two Basque restaurants, a wine shop, some excellent gift shops, and interesting old buildings. Gardnerville and Minden have been working to make their towns welcome to visitors, and there is a lot to see and shop. Pass up the fast food places you can find all over and try what the locals enjoy. You won't be disappointed.
Sharkeys is currently closed after a bankruptsy sale. Mike Pegram one of the owners of Bodine's and Carson Valley Inn purchased Sharkeys. It is currently being remodeled, so a review at this point is not valid.
In reading some of the previous reviews, I often wonder what people are looking for when they venture to an establishment like Sharkey's Nugget. Even from the outside, you can tell that the casino is very old and that image is immediately reinforced once you walk through the door. The smokiness is from many years of people puffing away while on the slot machines or sitting at the bar. It is bound to flow into the restaurant over time and therefore there is no getting away from the smell. However, until you can outlaw smoking in all public places, you're going to run into it. Even the large casinos of Tahoe, Reno, or Vegas, as well as the indian reservation casinos smell like an ashtray. Now as far as the casino itself, the staff was very friendly and accommodating, although the slot machines seemed a little tighter than those other locations. As for the food, our group had everything from pasta to chili-size to the prime rib and all was fantastic and very reasonably priced! The salad bar alone would have been plenty for all of us just by itself, and as a result, two of the four of us walked out with left-overs. The meals were fresh, tasty and plentiful and I would not hesitate to send others there. After dinner, we enjoyed a couple of drinks at the bar at very reasonable prices and had a great conversation with the bartender, Maria. Sharkey passed away and they auctioned off a lot of the memorabilia, but it still has the atmosphere of the old glory days of the early casinos.
Exactly that! Nothing has changed from 1970s. Great experience. Small, "vintage" family run casino, that has great food and service out the back.. If you can stand the smokey atmosphere it is an experience. ( even for half hour).
Closed. Is currently being renovated. Unknown when reopening will be. Hopefully they will install a vigorous ventilation system to draw out the smoke or make at least some sections non-smoking. I don't know how anyone could tolerate eating there before, it was so bad. There use to be interesting artifacts on the walls in certain areas and lots of coins imbedded under acrylic at tables and such. I imagine they will modernize and do away with such kitsch. They also had the only dime slot machine I know of to exist , for 30 years.
Sharkey's has been a regular hangout of ours for years. They have good food and a great senior menu with very attentive service. The soup of the day is always a winner plus their Monday lunch special of ham hocks and beans or as they call it pork hocks and beans with great hot cornbread.
Good breakfast specials and friendly staff. Fun place to gamble with some older machines that are only 20 cents to play.
Sharkey's has been around for a long time in Gardnerville, Nevada. It is a neighborhood place where old friends can meet, have great food and fun. They are known for there great breakfasts. We go there for lunch about 3 - 4 times a week, where we meet old and new friends alike. The food is good and the prices are great. Very reasonable. They have a bar plus the Casino and entertainment on weekends.
The food in the restaurant has a smell of smoke, you are not escaping from the odors,even your perfume can't disguise the smell. I refuse to step in that casino, ate their once, never went back!!
Sharkey's is currently closed for renovation after clearing bankruptcy. In the past Sharkey's was a spot for breakfast and has been known for it's food for years.