Reinero’s Trophy Room Cocktails

I’ve been here several times in my life and all the times were excellent. I don’t often make it into Merced but when I do I make a point to come here for their delicious soups and pastas! So darned delicious. It’s an old school down home restaurant that doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not. They know where they stand and their food stands up for itself… if you find yourself in Merced looking for something to eat, stop in for some delicious soup!

Whatever anyone says about the food and or service can be solved by physically eating dinner at Reineros. Simple food at great prices, still the same amazing clam chowder, and the staff was perfect.

This place truly sucks ass! Any positive reviews they get are obviously being made by the owner. I went here once and 40% of their menu was not available for order. Plus the place has some musty stank to it that smells of an unclean horse stable. I wouldn’t recommend my worst enemy to this place.

I think it’s just luck of the draw on your visit… and I’m happy to report that even though I was filled with trepidation, I was pleasantly surprised by the entire experience.
I’ve heard legendary stories from days past so it’s always a gamble trying to recreate what once was. The original décor is in place and could use some updating but I do dig the red booths.
I met my husband for lunch there and aside from a few patrons and one large group of retired ladies it wasn’t overly packed so the dreaded lack of service was hopefully going to be a non-​issue. We were greeted right away, drinks were ordered and delivered quickly as well as our sandwiches.
Now, I rarely go out for lunch and even more rarely do I feel inclined to order a sandwich since I’m pretty sure a sandwich at home is going to be just as good if not better than what you find around here locally. Once I was given a regular Rainbow bread sandwich with straight up Oscar Mayer cold cuts on it… really? So in reluctance I followed the hubs advice, and ordered my favorite. the roast beef sandwich.
BUT FIRST — I tried this much hyped clam chowder soup… I passed on the salad bar because really, how special is salad. Not much. Well, unless you’re a rabbit ’cause then it’s SUPER AWESOME! The soup was simmering in a large caldron, I was offered to try the other soup as well but I was more focused on the renowned clam chowder.
My thoughts — a tad runny and very salty. Lots of clams however and chopped up veggies. Definitely not your traditional chowder and not totally in love with it, yet intrigued. Take or leave –maybe next time I’ll look in pot # 2.
Now onto the SAMMICH… omg… the most ginormous sammich I’ve seen in a long time. The bread was nice and toasty and of good quality… was LOADED with nicely seasoned roast beef, mixed greens lettuce and lots and lots of melted gooey lovely cheese. Throw in some sauteed onions and bell peppers and it would have been an outstanding Philly Cheese Steak sammich. Every bite was truly freakin’ awesome. And served along side was a crisp pickle spear.
There was no way I could finish the entire meal, so half went home with me. I’ll definitely be back.
I also poked my head in next door to the famous bar, definitely want to go check THAT out… long and narrow old school bar, the kind of hidden divey place you’d find downtown LA, now if we can just fill it with young folks it would be rockin’.
Hopefully other reviewers will give it another chance that were dissatisfied. I’m happy to say we had excellent service and the quality was very good. Yeah!

Yuck! First time– and my last. Soup was good but «salad bar» was a joke. Bagged lettuce mix and literally only 5 toppings… Tomatoes, red onions, baby corn, peppers and artichokes. Ranch dressing had to be dished out with a dessert spoon. My manicotti was terrible– sauce was so burnt it was dark. Couldn’t finish it. It had burnt under the broiler also. I told waitress but was still charged full price.

I can’t even give this restaurant any stars since our party was NEVER seated after over an hour wait! The cook decided that he was done for the night at 7:40 p.m. Though the owner was very nice, the cook refused to cook any more that night. I urge you to go elsewhere. (Had to post a star)

It was better this time. Last time I had the tortellini and it was a disaster. This time I had the cannelloni and noticed a significant improvement.

What once was the best Italian restaurant in town, has reclaimed it’s throne. Best place in town. Give it a try. Décor is old and needs to be updated, but the food is the bomb.

Zero stars I had to put one only to post this ! Never go eat here!!! Not only did they take my order but then bring me food I didn’t order because the cook refused to make it. But then they made us pay for the dish they made that I didn’t touch. THe owner is a pig headed ass hole. Took over an hour for our food and we were only 1 of 2 tables in the entire place. And the food tasted like canned spaghettios. Don’t waste your time nor money on that piece of shit place. No wonder why they closed for 10 years. Also have heard from friends of my family the owner is racist and if you Asian or African he will kick you out of his restaurant. So needless to say don’t contribute your money to this asshole man!

It’s back.
The famous clam chowder is still delicious. Pastas, bread & sauces are fresh made & terrific.
Almost every dish on the lunch menu is $ 10. Steak sandwich is a couple bucks more. Perfect portions.
All meals come with a visit to the soup & salad bar. The salad bar is very basic. The minestrone & chowder pots are what everyone wants anyway.
The bar is well stocked with Merced staples (Goose, Ketel, Jack, Crown, etc.). There are a few open beer taps I’d love to see taken up by craft brews (Stone, Firestone, Sierra Nevada). Drinks are very reasonably priced.
Still a bunch of stuffed, dead things on the walls for ambiance.
Good to see this place reopened. Keeping my fingers crossed for the return of that incredible prime rib.