A visit to downtown Reno, NV was never complete without stopping at the Nugget Diner, in the Little Nugget casino, for their iconic menu item, the (amazing) Awful Awful burger. I can’t remember a time when we were in Reno that we didn’t stop by, but unless I manage to get there in the next week, it will just be a distant memory.
The Little Nugget casino just announced they are closing down, which means the Nugget Diner inside will also be closing. Which means the Awful Awful burger will be no more. And that’s awful…
Casino owner Rick Heaney blames the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, and restrictions in place to combat this resulting in a significant drop in visitors, making it clear that the Little Nugget would not survive the winter. Little Nugget will close its doors for the last time at 5 am, July 30th.
The half-pound Awful Awful, named because it’s “awful big and awful good,” has been served in many versions in Northern Nevada for the best part of 70 years. The burger served at the Nugget Diner sets the standard though, the Awful Awful others have to live up to. For $3.50, you get a half-pound burger served on a generous bed of fries.
You have until July 30th to experience this culinary delight. After then, the only place to order a version of the Awful Awful burger will be in the Carson Nugget casino in Carson City, NV.
