This Beloved Nevada Cafe Serves Homemade Comfort Food And Classic Pies Worth Saving Room For

A tattooed performer from the early 1900s hangs on the wall of a small-town Nevada diner. She was the owner’s great-great aunt, and her story is printed right on the back of the menu.

That portrait shares the room with a bar counter more than 100 years old. It was shipped over from Italy, and its tile work still turns heads. Then there’s the dessert list. Apple pie, cherry pie, and a seasonal pie sit there waiting for anyone who saved room.

I think the seasonal slice might be the smartest choice on the menu.

The kitchen runs breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so pie works at almost any hour. A railroad-inspired name, a Prohibition-style mural, and a seven-page menu round things out. How much story can one small dining room hold?

Pie Is The Dessert Decision Worth Planning Your Whole Meal Around

Dessert at Side Track Restaurant keeps things classic. The menu offers apple or cherry pie, plus a seasonal pie that changes things up. That short list is a smart move. A small menu of pies lets each one feel like a real choice instead of a random guess.

Apple is the safe, cozy pick for anyone who loves cinnamon-style comfort. Cherry brings a brighter, tangier mood that feels a little more daring. The seasonal pie is the wild card. Because it rotates, you won’t know the flavor until you ask your server.

I like that kind of small surprise. It gives a road trip stop a reason to happen more than once.

Here’s a practical tip for the hungry traveler. Order a lighter main dish if you already know pie is your real goal. The menu is big, so it’s easy to fill up before dessert arrives. Planning ahead keeps that slice from becoming a sad, packed-up leftover.

Sharing works too. Two forks and one slice make a fine way to enjoy dessert without getting too full. Either way, pie here feels less like an afterthought and more like the grand finale of a Nevada drive.

A Railroad Town Inspired That Clever Name

Trains built Caliente, and the restaurant’s name tips its hat to that past. Owner and manager Mary Love drew on the town’s railroad history when she named Side Track Restaurant.

The connection runs deep. The town was founded in 1901 as Calientes, a Spanish word meaning hot, after the local hot springs. Later the name was shortened to Caliente. In 1905, the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad arrived and turned it into a major rail hub.

A side track, in railroad terms, is a spot where trains pull off the main line. That’s a pretty fitting image for a place where drivers pull off the highway for a meal.

The town’s grand depot still stands today. Built in 1923 in Spanish Mission style, it was designed by John and Donald Parkinson. It once held a restaurant and a 50-room hotel. Now it serves as the Lincoln County Library, a visitor center, and an event space.

Knowing that story makes lunch feel a little richer. You’re eating in a town that grew up around the rails, at a cafe that proudly says so.

You Will Want To Read The Back Of The Menu Before Ordering

Artoria Gibbons was a tattooed performing lady in the early 1900s. Her framed black and white portrait now hangs inside Side Track Restaurant. She isn’t just random decor. Artoria was the great-great aunt of owner Mary Love, which makes the photo a true family treasure.

Her story appears on the back of the menu. So while you’re deciding between a burger and an omelet, you can learn about a bold woman who made her living with ink.

That’s a fun twist for a roadside stop. Most diners give you a kids’ maze or a list of sides, not a slice of performance history.

The portrait also adds personality to the room. It reminds you that a real family with real roots stands behind this business.

I appreciate how the history isn’t hidden away in a dusty corner. It’s right there with your meal, easy to find and easy to enjoy. Give yourself a few extra minutes at the table. Reading Artoria’s tale while you wait for food beats scrolling your phone every single time.

That Century-Old Italian Bar Counter Deserves A Closer Look

More than 100 years old and shipped all the way from Italy. That’s the backstory of the original bar counter inside this Caliente cafe. Its intricate tile work is the star. Each detail shows off craftsmanship from a very different era than our fast, plastic-everything world.

The rest of the room keeps things simple, which helps that counter shine. The interior has a clean, modern feel with understated decor. Pink barstools add a cheerful pop of color. An elegant tiled breakfast bar gives morning diners a stylish place to perch.

The building itself has lived several lives. Over the years it served as a bar, a drug store, and a bakery. Before Side Track arrived, it was known as the Branding Iron. Owners Mary Love and Jamie Van Roekel transformed the space and opened in May 2018.

Grab a stool at the counter if one is open. Sitting there lets you see the tile up close while you sip coffee or a smoothie. Old craftsmanship and fresh style rarely mix this smoothly. Here, they sit side by side without any fuss.

Seven Pages Of Menu Means Nobody Leaves Without A Favorite

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner all live on a seven-page menu here. That’s a lot of options for a small town stop. Morning plates cover the classics. Homemade biscuits and gravy, eggs and bacon, hash browns, pancakes, and various omelets all show up.

Lighter eaters have choices too. Parfaits are on the menu, along with breakfast burritos for anyone who likes a meal they can hold. Later in the day, the menu shifts toward hearty plates. Salmon and chicken dinners, spaghetti, rice bowls, and fresh salads all make an appearance.

Build-your-own sandwiches let picky eaters call the shots. That’s handy when one person wants everything and another wants just turkey. Smoothies round things out for a cool, sweet option. On a hot desert day, that could be exactly right.

My advice is simple. Skim the whole menu before deciding, because the best pick might be hiding on page five. The variety makes Side Track Restaurant easy for groups. Families with different tastes can all find something without a long debate in the parking lot.

Burgers And Pizza Bring Some Serious Road Trip Energy

Ham steak on a burger? The Hog makes it happen with a half-pound patty, bacon, and a slab of ham steak stacked together. Burgers here use 100 percent Angus beef. You can pair them with fries, onion rings, or sweet potato fries.

Plant-based eaters get their own ride. The V-Twin offers vegan options, and the motorcycle-style names add a playful touch.

Pizza is another big draw. The hand-rolled homemade pies come in a 14-inch size, and they’re a popular pick with local residents. That size makes pizza a great choice for sharing. Split one with friends, and you might still have room for a slice of cherry pie.

Here’s a helpful heads-up. Ask which sides come with your meal and which are available as extras. I like that setup for flexible eaters. Skip the fries if you’re saving space for dessert, or add onion rings if you’re not.

Either way, these plates are built for hungry travelers. After a long Nevada highway stretch, a big burger or a fresh pizza hits the spot.

Vegan And Gluten-Free Guests Get More Than A Sad Side Salad

Small towns don’t always make room for special diets. Side Track Restaurant does, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices across its menu. Breakfast includes vegan scrambles. That’s a welcome sight for anyone tired of ordering dry toast and black coffee on road trips.

The V-Twin burger gives vegan diners a real main course. It sits right alongside the beefier options instead of feeling like a last-minute add-on.

Fresh salads and rice bowls also open doors for lighter or plant-forward meals. Mixing and matching sides helps you build a plate that fits your needs.

This matters more than it might seem. Traveling with dietary limits can turn every meal stop into a stressful guessing game. A menu with clear choices takes that worry away. It lets everyone at the table relax and actually enjoy the visit.

Still, it’s smart to tell your server about any allergies. Kitchens share space, and a quick chat keeps your meal safe. Families with mixed eaters will love this flexibility. One person orders biscuits and gravy while another digs into a vegan scramble, and nobody feels left out.

Thursday Through Saturday Nights Get Livelier Next Door

A second room opened in May 2019, and it changed the evening vibe. The Side Car Dining Hall connects right to the main restaurant. It opens Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, starting at 5 p.m. The space hosts large parties, trivia nights, game nights, concerts, and karaoke.

That lineup gives small-town nights a real spark. Trivia lovers, singers, and music fans all have a reason to stick around after dinner. The walls carry a sepia-colored mural by Heidi Leavitt. It shows a Prohibition-era Main Street, matching the restaurant’s old-time theme.

The main dining room has its own 40-foot Prohibition-themed mural too. Together, the artwork makes the whole place feel like a trip back a century.

Planning a group gathering? This hall works well for big parties that need more room than a regular booth. There have been discussions about expanding the outdoor patio to host more events. For now, check ahead for the evening schedule.

Winter hours may vary, so calling before you go is wise. Nothing stings like showing up ready for karaoke on a quiet night.

Cathedral Gorge Hikers Have A Delicious Reason To Detour

Lincoln County scenery pairs nicely with a good meal. Side Track Restaurant sits at 190 Clover Street, Caliente, NV 89008, near the town’s historic depot. Cathedral Gorge State Park lies north of town. Its spires and slot canyons make a great morning outing before a hearty lunch.

Caliente itself is worth a slow stroll. Its historic streets and railroad heritage add another reason to spend some time in town.

The restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, though daily service hours can vary. Check the current schedule before you roll in. Road trippers between Las Vegas and Utah can plan a stop here. It breaks up the drive with real food instead of another gas station snack.

Bring the whole crew. This roadside stop makes it easy to recharge before continuing your Nevada adventure.

Here’s my final pitch. Hike the gorge, read about Artoria on the menu, admire the Italian tile, then finish with pie. That’s a pretty perfect Nevada day. And honestly, the seasonal slice might be the part you talk about all the way home.