Peppermill in Reno

MHO: I really liked the Peppermill in Reno! It was over-neon-ed a little and I don't really favor their rainbow logo, but I like the feel of the place, the staff was friendly, the drinks were strong, and the waitresses were ... pleasant to look at.

I booked and stayed at Atlantis, and it was okay. I actually liked the poker room better there. But it kind of smelled funny and I just liked Peppermill better.

Weirdly, I haven't been to any other P'mill porpoerties ... wonder if it carries over or gets lost?

Believe it or not the wife and I are sick of Vegas, Been there done that. This past April we stayed at the Peppermill in the new tuscany wing, florence suite. We had a great time and the resort was fabulous. Plenty of 3/2 bj. We also did Reno downtown, Lake Tahoe, Carson City, and Virginia City. We were so impressed that we are moving there in 2015. This is an alternative to Vegas however, not for people who need a wild nitelife.

I can understand Tahoe, but Reno or Carson City? Really? To each his own, I guess ...

And the Tahoe nightlife is not so bad, esp. on the north side!

I did play the penny slots at the Bucket of Blood in Carson City once when I was driving home from college for the summer way back when. Good times, very Old West feel ... wooden floors and sidewalks and everything! They told me the stories about how the Bucket of Blood and the casino/bar across the street were rivals. If you go drinkin' at the Bucket of Blood, you *DON'T* go drinkin' at the other place ... and vice versa. He said passers-through were generally given an exemption but that it wasn't a good idea to test that if you knew better.

Fun!

The Peppermill is a special kind of place. I've never seen so much neon in my life. When I was backed off from blackjack there years ago it was done rather rudely, for which I still harbor a grudge.

Quote: Wizard

The Peppermill is a special kind of place. I've never seen so much neon in my life. When I was backed off from blackjack there years ago it was done rather rudely, for which I still harbor a grudge.

I've been disrecommending the place for a similar reason. I played there one three-day weekend, five-play NSUD video poker. Had a horrible series of results--no royals, and finished down $1650 after being in the hole over $2700. The reason I had played at all was to establish a good playing history so I could get mailed offers, which I had heard were very good. Well, next month, I got an invite to stay in their "New Tuscany Suites", complimentary, for three nights, plus $100 food credit and $100 free play. Well, I decided to go, thinking that my play earlier, since it was over $63,000 coin-in, would have netted me substantial comps, so I could have a few really nice meals even after I used up the $100 food credit. So once I was there and checked in, I asked for a $20 coffee shop comp. The boothling said "your comp balance is negative". WTF??? After much wrangling from me and blank looks from them, I found out that the three "complimentary" nights had been charged to my comp account at FULL RACK RATE, which had not only obliterated the $665 in comps I had accumulated, it also blew away the food credit, and left me with a "negative" comp balance of $30!!! I was flabbergasted and asked to speak to a host--a guy who turned out to be rude, insulting, and dismissive: Quote: "You don't expect to get the whole world just for playing quarters, do you?" Well, yes, I said, since I was betting SEVENTY-FIVE quarters at a time, as a matter of fact, I do! He sneered and shoved my player's card across the deak, and said, "There's nothing I can do. Now please get out of my office. I got out of his office, I got out of my room, got out of the hotel, and I won't be back. Ever.

It seems that my experience was not unique, as many other players have reported similar treatment. The slot club won't even TELL you--unless you reach over the counter and wring their necks--how much is in your comp account. Instead, they'll ask you "Where do you want to eat?" and "How many people?", then they'll tell you whether you have "enough". I got so tired of this that one day I told the boothling "Fifty for the steakhouse." "You don't have enough-" "Forty-nine for the steakhouse, then." "You don't have enough." "Okay, how about forty-eight for the steakhouse?" Et cetera. It was only by similar tactics that I found out the actual amount that had been in my comp account before it had been looted.

I will never deal with these people again.

Sorry to hear that, mkl. That's far different than my experience, but then again, I wasn't going to ever play there enough to worry about comps, etc. I guess it's good for one experience and bad for another.

My research indicates that as of last fiscal year there are only 6 casinos in Northern Nevada that earned over $72 million in gaming revenue

1 PEPPERMILL HOTEL & CASINO
2 ATLANTIS CASINO RESORT
3 ELDORADO HOTEL & CASINO
4 SILVER LEGACY RESORT CASINO
5 HARRAH'S CASINO HOTEL RENO
6 HARVEYS RESORT HOTEL (near Lake Tahoe)

A sampling of some of the other casinos (which did not earn more than $72 million)

GRAND SIERRA CASINO
JOHN ASCUAGA'S NUGGET
CIRCUS CIRCUS HOTEL/CASINO - RENO
CLUB CAL-NEVA
SANDS REGENCY, THE

CAL-NEVA RESORT AND CASINO
BOOMTOWN RENO
GRAND LODGE CASINO

MONTBLEU
LAKE TAHOE HORIZON CASINO RESORT

Quote: mkl654321

The boothling said "your comp balance is negative". WTF??? After much wrangling from me and blank looks from them, I found out that the three "complimentary" nights had been charged to my comp account at FULL RACK RATE, which had not only obliterated the $665 in comps I had accumulated, it also blew away the food credit, and left me with a "negative" comp balance of $30!!!

I had the EXACT same experience.
I had a mailer with 2 "comp" nights (weekdays) so I figured WTH and used them...the room was nice, and the first night I got literally OBLITERATED on the craps table. The next night, I LUCKILY made it all back (barely). I asked the pitboss for a comp to the buffet and he gave me one, and so I asked him "What about later?" and he said "Don't worry, with your action, you've got plenty to go."
Next day I check out of my room, and go ask the boothling what my exact comp balance was "You have $10 sir." WTF?!
So, apparently there was a younger guy boothling there who motioned me to come over, and he told me "Sorry to tell you, but that offer you got that said "Comp" meant it was COMP meaning it comes off of your COMP account." He felt bad for them being misleading, but there wasn't anything he could do.
I only go back there to play a doey-dont with a partner to get buffet comps (and not lose a fucking dime to those cheap asses)

Just reviving this one, as I'll be a frequent guest there for the next few months (client is in Reno). I'm going to give a very quick mini-review in case anyone's heading to Reno.

There are two sides to the hotel. The Peppermill side is the old hotel that has been remodelled. However, the rooms there still feature loud air conditioning, small bathrooms, and is pretty standard, nothing special. You hear noises from other rooms and the hallway. More importantly, you hear noises through the windows (of the pool, the beat of their nightclub, etcetera) which makes it difficult to sleep. Beds are comfortable I found, but with the noise and AC issues I would not call this luxury.

The Tuscany Suites on the other hand are amazing (especially for Reno). Large bathroom with soaker whirlpool tub and double head showers (pressure less than desired). His and her sinks and marble flooring. LCD TV in the bathroom. 42" LCD in main room with couch, sitting chairs, gorgeous king bed, just a very awesome room in Reno. No noise issues, and quiet A/C. Showers are nice. They separate out smoking floors from non-smoking floors. The tuscany rooms are located far from the casino which I think is kid friendly. You access the pool areas from the Tuscany side without having to deal with the casino as well. If you have the extra $$$, do the Tuscany side for sure.

The pools themselves are very nice... two large pools, lots of chairs, and another pool with waterfalls from above cascading in. There are also some hottubs (I didn't try those).

Check in can tend to be very slow and they need to better the experience of check in. They have automatic kiosks now to speed the experience and we used that to check in instead of dealing with a fairly long line.

Restaurants there are very good. Oceano is their seafood restaurant and I sampled a fish stew (fairly inventive but very salty), California Rolls (good), and some sushi (fresh, good). The 24 hour diner (Cafe Milano) featured very generous portions, so-so quality, poor service, but good value. And the Tuscany (Biscottis) restaurant featured sexy decor, better service, and very good quality food at decent prices. Biscotti's Bar is a very nice spot for drinks and happy hour specials. So the dining, for a Reno casino resort was very good, kind of similar to the Red Rock dining experience. There are four other restaurants there that I didn't get a chance to try.

The casino itself is fairly dark but not dingy. It's spread out over a large floor with all of table games pretty much squished together. There is great blackjack there (3/2 single deck), as well as $5 Pai Gow tables, and some very generous video poker games (including some nice 5/7/10 double bonus machines). In addition there are the 3 Card, 4 card, let it ride games, ultimate texas hold em as well as Bacarrat, Craps ($5 3/4/5), and Roulette (00). Drink service at the tables was usually quick. It is not very smoky at all.

I found the comp program to not be very good either but there are now automatic kiosks to get your comp balance and opportunities to get comp bonuses as well (none of which I've used yet).

Overall, the Peppermill I believe is better than anything downtown Reno offers.

Yes, their new Tuscany Tower has the nicest rooms in Northern Nevada. And while the old rooms in the original tower aren't nearly as nice, the old rooms are still bigger than the rooms at Harrah's Reno or El Dorado or Silver Legacy or Circus Circus.

Peppermill's pool area is easily the swankiest pool area in Northern Nevada. Also, it's one of the most environmentally sustainable hotel pools in the world: it's naturally heated with geothermal energy. Since the heating is free, they keep it open all year round, and I'll never forget the time I actually convinced the girlfriend to go swimming after skiing on a freezing afternoon in December 2008-- the air temp was 16 degrees Fahrenheit! Needless to say, we had the pool to ourselves.

Quote: boymimbo

It is not very smoky at all.

I disagree. The air quality of the Silver Legacy is much cleaner.

Quote: boymimbo

Overall, the Peppermill I believe is better than anything downtown Reno offers.

Agreed. But the neighborhood around the Peppermill is ugly. On the other hand, so is downtown Reno...

Quote: pacomartin

My research indicates that as of last fiscal year there are only 6 casinos in Northern Nevada that earned over $72 million in gaming revenue

That 2009 calculation is now obsolete, there are only 4 casinos in Northern Nevada that earned over $72 million in gaming revenue in FY2010

1 PEPPERMILL HOTEL & CASINO
2 ATLANTIS CASINO RESORT
3 ELDORADO HOTEL & CASINO
4 SILVER LEGACY RESORT CASINO
5 HARRAH'S CASINO HOTEL RENO
6 HARVEYS RESORT HOTEL (near Lake Tahoe)


I remember an article when they were renovating the Peppermill. The owner said that very few casinos in Northern Nevada were going to make it with the continued competition with Sacramento area Indian casinos. He was determined that Peppermill be one of the last ones standing.

Peppermill also dominates the Wendover region as well, and may soon be the only viable gaming company in the north. Ceasars incorporated has only a small percentage of their assets in Reno and Lake Tahoe anymore.

Quote: TIMSPEED

I had a mailer with 2 "comp" nights (weekdays) ... ... I check out ... "You have $10 sir."
"Sorry to tell you, but that offer you got that said "Comp" meant it was COMP meaning it comes off of your COMP account." He felt bad for them being misleading, but there wasn't anything he could do.

So your "free" room means they will raid your accumulated Comps to pay for the room. Strange. Still, it is a free room. They just let you think you've earned comps when they've in effect put a "hold" on your comp account without letting you know. Best thing: use up as many comps as you can on meals and then check out.

I didn't have the same comp experience here at the Peppermill recently.

I had about $500 in comps left over from last year's play, and when I took up one of their online/mailed offers for free suites + cash / table play chip / free play / slot tournament / etc offers, not a single penny was taken from my comp account, and this was for multiple trips.

The ElDorado / Silver Legacy, OTOH, will take it from your comp account if you try to take advantage of the "complimentary rooms" deal for certain card levels (mine is a Premier @ ElDorado, Elite @ Silver Legacy) when you book a room on a whim. If your player's account doesn't have enough balance to cover, it will simply be placed in the negative and you will need to climb out of that hole through play to get back in the black. Exception is if you receive an (e)mailed offer specifically marked "no charge to player's account". I would think that Peppermill would do the same if it wasn't for mailed offers.

With Peppermill's recent renovations, they're moving away from the dark-neon theme which I like. And you can't top the cocktail waitresses here... highest % of attractive IMO, not to mention sexier uniforms.

I haven't been to Peppermill in over 15 years but will be there in December. Just wondering if they still have super hot BJ dealers?