If you haven't had a good family style Basque dinner and should find yourself in Basque country (Northern Nevada, Southern Idaho and Oregon), you need to add The Star onto your itinerary. A classic restaurant in the heart of Elko with roots going back longer than anyone can remember, they have perfected both family style dining, as well as the perfect steak. At a glance the price seems a little higher than you would expect from some place like Texas Roadhouse, until you realize that the entrees come with literally 7 courses. In the photo below, I had the "petite" ribeye which was huge, juicy and perfect cooked, and came with 5 sides. Not included in the multiple sides were the two previous servings of excellent cabbage soup and Basque salad. When dining at the Star, you'll never have to choose between quantity and quality - every entree comes packed with both. Great service, a nice location in the historic Elko downtown, and the infamous Picon Punch all make this a very worthwhile stop. read more

The Star Hotel - Petite ribeye with sauteed mushrooms Green beans Natural cut fries Posole Basque Red beans Spaghetti - American Near Me - Elko, Nevada

I grew up in San Joaquin Valley, which was a huge Basque immigrant area. We went out at least once a month to Basque dinner. The family style restaurant is pretty amazing. Though my father's favorite was Château basque, we would often go to Wool Growers. Definitely the most famous of all of the Basque family style restaurants. Star was very nostalgic and reminded me quite a bit of château basque. The place was packed. As you can see in the videos and pictures that was a line out the door. And definitely worth the wait. Pinchon Punch 2 x blue brain freeze Lamb chops medium rare Family style dinner for one (spaghetti, french fries, beans, cabbage soup, fresh baked bread, salad) Bread pudding Food and cocktails five star all the way. Lamb was cooked perfect. The cabbage soup and spaghetti were delicious. The salad dressing was unique and very enjoyable. French fries were fresh and perfect. We didn't really eat the beans, but homemade bread was fire. But our waitress Jenny was pretty nonexistent. We actually went to the bar and ordered some drinks because we didn't even know if we were going to have a waitress. Finally, when she came to the table, I told her that I pre-ordered some drinks from the bar. She walked away. About 10 minutes later, the bartender brought the cocktails. Jenny came back and asked us what we were ordering. I told her and then she walked away and we really didn't see her again until the Bill. The food and drinks were brought from a variety of people. When we needed some other stuff, I flagged down the waitress for the tables behind us and she happily got us what we needed (water, more fries, etc) I went to the bar and got another cocktail as we would've never gotten another one since we never saw Jenny. The bartender and the other server were quite friendly and helpful . We will happily come back here as the food was just perfect! And it was very nice to eat family style again since it's been quite a few years since I've been to Wool Growers. On a sidenote: Reno used to have a pretty decent Basque restaurant called Santa Fe. We went there quite often and they had the best oxtail stew and they also gave you a small bottle of wine with your dinner complementary... I really miss that place also) read more

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I've heard about The Star Hotel from friends, but we'd not traveled through Elko. Alas, we had our oppotunity. In sum, we really liked it and will be back. In reading reviews from others, one needs to know the style and intent of the place. People looking for sophisticated, fancy meal will be disappointed. People looking for a family style meal, with the warm and engaging people, with honest, real, good food, will be thrilled. We were there for a late lunch. Our server was extremely kind and explained the menu, process, and local favorites The Pico Punch had a touch of Vicks 44, but that's exactly what it should taste like. The quantities are huge. Cabbage soup broth was delicious. Italian bread would be better if warmed, but still good. The salad was robustly tossed and the dressing had a nice touch of garlic. The steak sandwich was tender and had an excellent marinade/flavor. Fries: very greasy and not their finest moment. We have family in Iowa and this all felt similar: Midwest friendliness, warmth, and good food. We were leaving at 445 and the line had grown to 20 for dinner! Appeared to be locals/regulars. As another noted, yes, there are brothels just down the street. Hey, it adds to the local charm! read more

Ribeye steak with extra garlic!! Everything else is included!! I didn't get the soup and bread since it was already going to be quite a bit. The staff is always very pleasant and check in often. Would highly recommend!! Only place I go for dinner when I'm in town! read more

The Star Hotel - The ribeye with extra garlic. Everything else is included! - American Near Me - Elko, Nevada

Chat Gpt said this was the best basque restaurant so we went for it. First time in Elko, been traveling from the east coast back to California and wanted a good meal. We decided to stop here due to the ratings and first time trying basque food. I grew up in the Central Valley of California and Wool Growers was always spoken about for basque food so I always wanted to try. We loved the place the esthetics were great, we ordered our protein I got the porterhouse steak my favorite and husband got the New York steak. All the sides started to come out which were great portions. Unfortunately the salad looked liked it had been sitting overnight, green beans were from a can, beans were ok and very bland as the green beans. The cabbage soup was probably the best tasting out of everything as well as the fries. Overall the food was very bland including the steaks. Spaghetti and meatballs were mediocre as well as the bread. Service was excellent atmosphere was excellent but I would honestly have to say the food was bland. read more

The Star Hotel - Our food. I never add steaksause to my meat but my steak needed more taste. - American Near Me - Elko, Nevada

I've previously enjoyed lunch and pre-dinner drinks at the Star, but last week was my first time sitting down for the family-style dinner. So much fun, and the food is great. I am absolutely obsessed with that salad dressing!!!!!! I could live off of just the side dishes alone, but we tried a bison steak and it was really nice. Service was prompt, food was plentiful, and we all left full and happy with leftovers in hand. A must try if you are in the area and enjoy or want to try Basque cuisine! read more

I'm located in Texas but had family in Elko for years. We love this place. The food is delicious and the history is very cool. I wish I could just drive down the road for some soup in salad anytime. We will be returning whenever we're in the area. read more

If you're going for the experience, go! If you're looking for top notch food, you may want to skip. It was still good, but the server let us know what was made in house and what came out of a "bag". The experience was 5 stars, but the food was 3 stars. So, check it out if you want to go to a historical eatery with a fun premise. Great for groups! read more

Pretty average experience at the Star Hotel... definitely not worth the hype. Old-feeling dining room, noisy bar tables even though the staff is friendly and try hard. Steak was cooked well but under seasoned. Chicken was overcooked. Sides were weird... chopped up spaghetti, salty soup, white bread, fries, canned-looking beans. Wine was average (and only one from Spain). Have these folks been to the Basque region?? read more

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We had a great experience at this Basque restaurant! I had never tried Basque food before, but everything tasted very traditional and authentic, and it was fun getting to experience something new. The family-style dining tradition made the meal feel especially unique and enjoyable. The restaurant was very busy when we visited, which definitely added to the lively atmosphere, although it did make conversation a little difficult at times. Overall, a fun experience with good food and a great atmosphere! read more

In Elko one night on the way to SLC and asked a local which Basque restaurant would be better. It was a close call, but for atmosphere and variety of entree choices, we headed to The Star Hotel. Wednesday night and the place was packed! It's traditional family-style seating at tables for eight, but we shared a table with just another couple so there was plenty of room. Even before we order our entrees, cabbage soup arrived at the table. The soup was excellent. Of the other sides, we liked the salad (crunchy lettuce with creamy ranch-like dressing), the Basque beans (super flavorful), and the french bread. Green beans and fries were fine. The spaghetti, meh. Filet mignon was under-cooked for the order (server comped us a beer when it was pointed out to her). The fried Mountain Trout was very good. House wine as average as expected. We had a great time and would definitely recommend. read more

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WOW FACTOR? Exciting place to be with so many people trying to get a 4:30 pm opening-for-dinner table. HAVE AGAIN: The filet mignon and salmon were excellent. Also excellent cabbage soup (can't believe I wrote that but it's true). Very good Italian bread. Salad, black beans, garbanzos, green beans were good. NOT HAVE AGAIN: The scallops were just ok, not worth the extra $20. Spaghetti and meatballs were not very good, almost seemed can. Way too much food for two people. But we took some home for another two meals. read more

The name listed here can be confusing. I've seen it listed as The Star Hotel Basque Dining to make it clearer it is a restaurant. Which it is. Not a hotel. My wife and I went for dinner and sat in a high-top table close to the bar. See... the way it works for dinner is that you pick your entree and then get cabbage soup, salad, and a few sides to share. The entree was excellent. Their house drink was great. Dessert was big and tasty. The sides were just ok. Friendly service. We got live music come in at 6:00! The place was packed when we were there. read more

The Star Hotel - Outside - American Near Me - Elko, Nevada

Looking for a hearty Basque feast? This place delivers. We had the garlic steak and pork chops - massive portions with green beans, Basque beans, spaghetti, fries, salad, and really good cabbage soup. The Picon Punch is not for the faint of heart, you will want to let the ice melt a bit unless you want some serious kick. This gem in the heart of Elko is a must-try. read more

The Star Hotel - Pork chops - there were two of these! - American Near Me - Elko, Nevada

Everyone was raving about how amazing the food is at the Star Hotel. I was rather disappointed. If you love restaurants that serve large quantities of food then you will love this place. Your meal comes with cabbage soup, salad, green beans, spaghetti, beans, and french fries as a side. It's served family style where you share. All of the tables are long so you could end up sitting next to someone else. I ordered the steak sandwich and thought it didn't have a lot of flavor. There is very few parking out front so we had to park a couple blocks away. It's right next to a few brothels which might make parking awkward if you're with kids. The Basque style dining served in a family setting was a fun experience, but not something I would do again. read more

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My son recommended this place to my wife and I. As we were traveling back from a great vacation we Are spending the night in Elko, NV so we decided to go and try it out. It not only did it meet our expectation, it exceeded our expectations! The service was amazing, fast and very smooth! The food was served fast, hot and very appealing! The staff was very friendly and best of all the price was very cheap for the amount of food that was provided! The Star Hotel Basque Dining may be the best kept secret in Nevada, best not in Elko, the line was very consistent but the staff were seating guests dry fast and smooth! The Star Hotel Basque dining also had a bar as you walked in and they had two TV''s on with the soccer games, and the guess were having a great time! Thank you for a wonderful experience, and a delicious dinner!! read more

Incredible Steak and sides.. Fresh bread.. I didn't try the fish. No Prime Rib on the night I visited.. read more

As always... delicious food and fantastic service...the guys and I enjoyed. One ordered the T-bobe, another ordered the steak sandwich and two of us had the Baked Lamb with a few Picon Punches. One day I'll figure out the secret behind this baked lamb...so fall off the bone delightful. Aloha and Mahalo much for another super visit. read more

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The Star Hotel brings family style to a whole new level. Basque food in the desert, who could ask for anything more. They start you off with a welcoming tureen of cabbage soup, dense bread, and tasty, cold salad. When entrees come, they bring you additional sides: chickpeas, baked beans, fries, spaghetti with meat sauce, and green beans, which they should banish from the menu. The petite lamb chops were anything but-- 16 oz cooked to medium perfection and spiced just right with a heaping helping of roasted garlic on top. You don't need desert, but can't go wrong with a piece of cheesecake. I saw enormous lobster tails pass my table and crab legs as well. Impossible to leave here hungry. Also have beer wine and cocktails. Eating here made my long drive through the desert a bit more palatable. Don't miss this place. It is special. read more

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Being from Texas, this was my first and only time there. I flew some people into Elko for the afternoon and the line service guys at the airport told me this is where I needed to go eat. I'm very glad they recommended it! If yo u love garlic, this is your kind of place. The steaks are fantastic and everything else I had was great. I'm looking forward to another trip through Elko so I can eat here again! read more

Bring a big appetite. I was traveling alone and stopped by for dinner one evening in April, 2026. They seated me at a table by myself and I had the mountain grilled trout. It really hit the spot, and I had to get a box to bring some fries back to my hotel room. I look forward to dining here again next time I am in Elko. read more

I really wish I had a better food experience here, but it was tough. I've had basque food before and I really appreciate eating family style. I ordered a ribeye steak medium and it came out medium rare which I felt was a little too bloody for me. It was also a little bland and needed more seasoning. I also ordered the calamari as an appetizer and I thought that was really good. The homemade cabbage soup was probably the best thing I had. It was really delicious. I didn't get a chance to try the green beans or regular beans. The fries and the salad was good. The pasta was also pretty bland and needed more seasoning. The bread was soft and fluffy and went well with the soup. Overall, it was a lot of food. My husband and I shared the steak so we paid for the price of the ribeye + $15 for the sides for me since I didn't order an entree which I thought was reasonable. read more

We arrived early before the crowds came in. Our server greeted us the water, bread/butter and soup. We orders Cocktails and viewed the menu. I ordered the filet, my dining companions ordered the shrimp and the other one ordered the prime rib. We enjoyed our salads next, then the sides came out. Our entrees followed soon after. The whole meal and the ambiance of the restaurant was enjoyable! read more

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It's very good! I've eaten at every basque place from Bakersfield CA to Elko and you can't fault the Star. It definitely has the atmosphere that many in Elko love. My favorite lunch or dinner is the baked beef. It's a very good pot roast at a fair price. I have been less than impressed by the lunch steaks. I raise beef for a living and in northern Nevada there is just no excuse for grisly steak. I will also say that the sides are subpar. In fact, just bad and there really is no excuse. The salad, bread and fries are tasty but the rest should just be pitched. Especially given the prices. Eating at The Star is an experience everyone should have, you'll only walk away hungry by choice, the communal seating is classic, noisy and usually very fun. You almost always end up seeing someone you know. It's historic and the bar is always a kick. They had Guinness last time I was in, which is a plus. Is it my go to spot in Elko? Nope. I much prefer the far less expensive and flashy spot down on Idaho Street. Especially if you aren't looking for a big steak and lobster spectacle. Still, if money is not an issue and you want to see plenty of local color, it's fun and tasty. Service is always polite and efficient. Those ladies have dining hall service down to an art form. read more

The Star Hotel has all you want to see in a Basque restaurant: 'hotel' in it's name a bar just inside the door; a crowd enjoying picon punch waiting for the dining room to open; a dinning room with shared tables and Basque memorabilia. Soup comes quickly to the table here. A light vegetable soup eases the appetite to all the other sides. The sides of salad, bread, beans, green beans, sphagetti and fries were fine. I had the pirk loin, which resembled more like a thick pork shoulder steak. Roasted garlic is offered with no additional charge. The pork was very tender, juicy, and flavorfu. We shoulde have shared this dish. Service was very good in a busy place. read more

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Absolutely delicious! Fresh food in abundance! Highly recommend! If you try the steak sandwich with garlic - expect more garlic then bread lol it's loaded! read more

Bring your appetite! Good time! Staff is excellent, food was great. Proud to be basque! read more

The Star Hotel - American Near Me - Elko, Nevada

We were in town for a wedding and The Star was a big part of the weekend! I'm told that this is an iconic spot. We started out here on a Friday night for a welcome party. The place was still open for business, our group mostly stayed in the front by the bar. The inside walls are decorated with countless quirky items, you could come here multiple times and still be finding new things to look at. Despite how busy they were at the bar, we didn't have to wait long for drinks. The drinks were very cheap, we're talking like $5 for a cocktail. The wine I ordered was almost up to the brim of the glass. No wonder people love coming here for drinks! Some friends ate dinner here too and said it was incredible, especially the steak. There was some downtime in between the wedding and the reception the next day, so we came back here for some more drinks and hanging out. The reception had The Star do their catering, so all got to enjoy some of their food as well! The food included salad, pasta salad, chicken tenders, fries, and NY steak sandwiches. The steak sandwiches were served with their signature garlic and even had a roasted jalapeno pepper which was quite spicy! I was a little nervous to have a steak sandwich, thinking it would be a tough meat to eat as a sandwich. However, it was sooo tender and was actually really easy to eat as a sandwich! All the food we had was delicious, even their signature salad dressing. We had a great experience with The Star throughout the weekend, I can see why it is a staple in Elko. I'll plan to come back for a dine-in dinner next time we are here to get the full experience! read more

The Star Hotel - American Near Me - Elko, Nevada

Love this place. Such a classic spot! Good food and reasonable prices, and friendly staff. Well worth the trip.

If I could give 6 stars on a random roadtrip pitstop, this is it. There should be a warning on the door that says "you will not leave hungry." At first site with the old school family style seating and conference room chairs, you might be concerned. Don't you worry. Ribeye was juicy and crusted perfectly, holy cow! Service outstanding. Food endless. I could write more, but I might ruin the movie. read more

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This place is a MUST when driving through Elko. My husband loves the steak sandwich, I love all the sides. The Cabbage soup is so yummy! read more

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We typically go through elko a couple of times a year so we decided to check out The Star. It's a fun novelty idea of a restaurant based on basque culture. Food: the cabbage soup was delicious. I've never had anything like it and was very flavorful. The main meal was a ribeye with the standard sides. Spaghetti with fries, a salad, beans, bread, and your protein was a little weird to me. However, it was the best side out of any of them. The ribeye was not good. It was cooked okay around the outside but in the middle is was so tough. I have no idea how they did it but it was not a fun time. Outside of the soup, everything lacked flavor. It could be the culture, it could be the older population. Whatever it was, I was sad. Lately was bread pudding Do Not Get it!! I was horrible. Tastes like butter and rubbing alcohol, which was a nasty way to end the meal. Staff: the girls are so sweet. They were definitely busy with large parties but very helpful as they made their round. read more

So--the star is FAMOUS! I have heard about it for years. Living in Nevada for the past 20+ years I've been to a lot of other (pretty well known) basque places dotted along the state. I was expecting the star to be the best. I am so sad to report that I'd put it at probably #3: behind the Martin in Winnemucca and Louis in Reno. I think I came in expecting the family style basque dining, and it really wasn't. I didn't share a carafe of table wine with my unknown neighbors, I ordered by the glass. My beans were a little sad and the only people I talked to were the folks I came in with. Perhaps my expectations were too high. My steak was delicious! They did that very right. read more

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My family and I were driving across country on a road trip, and this place has always been on my bucket list. I am basque so it was a chance to stop for some authentic basque food. One of the best meals that I have had. All of the vibes are pictures of the old country including a picture of my dad's town! The Chicken Fried Steak may be the best one I have ever had. The service and staff were so wonderful!! We had a great conversation about where they are from and my family is from. GO HERE! ROADTRIP HERE!!! It's worth it!! read more

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Came here for the first time for dinner. I was solo but expected the amount of food. Had the petite lamb chops with garlic and they were fantastic. Here is my only complaint. I was a table for 1. When I came in I was sat at an empty table for 8. They sat me behind a full table for 8 so my chair was back to back with someone behind me. Absolutely across from me was an empty 2 top that was filled with a solo diner well after I sat down. To cram me in to a table for 8 instead of sitting me at the 2 top was as just not appropriate. The star is a staple in Elko and the bartender when I came in during the afternoon to ask questions was excellent. At night, I think the hostess needs a little more training to not make customers feel claustrophobic read more

Very crowded due to National Cowboy Poetry Gathering but seated immediately. It is family style seating so long tables with multiple people, cool if you like meeting people. We both had prime rib special, and the steaks were huge though had quite a bit of fat. Still lots of meat. Meal came with so many sides: soup, salad, beans (3 kinds) , French fries. Table top filled up quickly with dishes. Great attentive service, decent prices. Street parking so may need to walk a bit. read more

Happened to be in the Elko area this fall with intentions to tour Lamoille Canyon and take in the spectacular fall colors. Of course we had to eat as well so the group of friends we were with all got to chose a restaurant, three to be exact. When one of my friends announced the Star was his choice I was a bit disappointed. I had been to the famous Star Restaurant before and was oddly put off by the old dankness of the place and the confusing mush mash of sides that arrive with every menu selection. I Managed a cocktail in the bar and then declined dinner and left. So here I was again for a do-over. The place was PACKED but we were promptly seated. This place is a well oiled machine and seated next to the kitchen door we had front row seats to the great service show. I never thought I was in love with the whole "Basque" menu vibe but I had such a wonderful experience this time. I ordered a giant Australian lobster tail and absolutely loved the simple tossed green salad that was part of the accoutrement of sides that arrived. The garlicky aioli dressing that the iceberg was tossed in was just sublime. My lobster was so good. I've been craving it ever since. When we left there was a party of 28 queued up and drooling. I couldn't resist mentioning to the group that I was pretty sure I got the last lobster. The moans were palpable and I laughed and said just kidding. I'll be back Star! read more

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The shrimp was so good. All of the sides, and bread made for a big meal, and the staff were very nice.

We are from Florida, traveling the country in our motorhome and somehow ended up at the Star! (Thanks to the guys at 7018 Brewery!) We had no idea what Basque food was or how amazing picon punch could be, but we especially had no idea how friendly everyone we met would be! It was a Saturday night and the cowboys and girls were all there after spending the day at the county fair so we had to wait quite awhile for our table but we never have had so much fun! All of the staff was friendly and helpful but here's a special shout-out to a young lady named SIDNEY who single handedly waited on a huge table next to us at 10:00 at night with energy and charm and took the time to stop and speak with us! If America could clone her, it would fix a lot of things for sure! Thanks again to all for making this one of the most memorable evenings of our trip! read more

The Star Hotel - Food is so awesome, especially the history of basque food! - American Near Me - Elko, Nevada

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I came to the star 4 years ago and didn't care for it. I went again last night and it was great. So I removed my less satisfactory review to leave this one. We came with another couple and I got the petite ribeye and my significant other ordered the king crab. The sides were great. The salad was my favorite. Beans and spaghetti were meh, but that's not what I came for. Drinks were strong. Atmosphere is lighthearted and fun. read more

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