Pub N' Sub Brings Pizza and Backyard Hangouts to Reno

A pizza with a properly textured crust, plenty of sauce and cheese, and toppings that do not disappear into the slice is a good place to start at Pub N' Sub. This long-running Reno neighborhood stop, associated with the UNR community for more than 50 years, keeps the focus squarely on the useful pleasures of pizza, subs, burgers, fries and a beer or cider.

The room is comfortably old-school rather than polished: a college-pub and neighborhood-bar setting with a throwback 1970s-and-'80s sensibility. It has booths and stools, dining tables and bar seating, plus enough different corners to suit a quick lunch, a sports-viewing stop or a group settling in around food.

Its location near UNR gives the place a natural role before and after university events, but the appeal is broader than campus traffic. A table can order a shared pie and cheese fries, while another person goes for a salad, a French Dip or a sandwich. That flexibility keeps a mixed group from having to negotiate one narrow menu.

Pizza is at the center of the menu, and the style is hearty and straightforward. A small pepperoni-and-sausage pie has arrived with substantial toppings, ample sauce and cheese, and a crust with enough texture to hold the whole thing together.

The Tree Hugger is another option for the table, and it has been paired with cheese fries for a meal that does not pretend to be dainty. Pizza works especially well here as a shared starting point, with sandwiches, wings or appetizers filling out the order.

For larger groups and during major events, pizza preparation can take a little longer. That is less of an issue when the table is treating the visit as an unhurried pub meal, perhaps with onion rings or fries in the middle while the pie is on its way.

The name is not decorative. Subs and sandwiches give the menu a second strong lane beyond pizza, useful for the person who wants a meal of their own instead of another shared slice.

The French Dip has built a following as a repeat order. The cheesesteak is another substantial choice, with steak and melted cheese kept in good balance rather than turning into a one-note cheese overload.

There is also a blackened chicken sandwich and a Hot Smokey Melt that can be ordered with turkey. These are the sort of dependable, filling choices that make Pub N' Sub an easy lunch stop as well as a dinner destination.

Burger fans have a bacon cheeseburger to consider, described as hearty and juicy, with the bacon bringing a noticeable smoky note. The menu also includes wings, salads, appetizers and fries, so a meal can stay light, go fully indulgent, or land somewhere between the two.

Garlic cheese fries are not an afterthought here. The cheese is fully melted over the fries, which matters when a plate is meant for sharing rather than for picking around cold shreds of cheese.

Seasoned fries are another recurring order, and cheese fries pair naturally with pizza. Onion rings have also made their way into mixed-table meals alongside salad, sandwiches and a pie.

This is a menu built for the casual arithmetic of a pub gathering: one person wants a sandwich, another wants pizza, somebody orders fries for the table, and nobody has to settle for food they did not really want.

Pub N' Sub offers more than one version of a neighborhood-pub visit. Indoors, the seating runs from booths and dining tables to stools and the bar area, where pool tables add something to do between bites and during a game.

In winter, a large wood-burning fireplace gives the indoor space a particularly welcoming focal point. It suits the pub's unfussy character: settle in, order something hot and substantial, and stay awhile if the conversation is good.

Out front, the patio is dog-friendly. It is a useful option for a casual meal outdoors without committing to the larger gathering space behind the building.

The larger outdoor area is a fenced backyard with grass, plentiful seating and a separate fire pit. It gives Pub N' Sub a little more breathing room than a typical sidewalk-patio bar, especially for groups meeting around food and drinks.

On favorable-weather days, the backyard can turn a pizza-and-beer stop into a longer social visit. The fire pit and outdoor seating are weather-dependent, of course, but the setup is well suited to lingering when Reno conditions cooperate.

Sports watching, pool, outdoor tables and a menu full of shareable food give the place several ways to spend an afternoon or evening. The atmosphere can get livelier around bigger groups and UNR-related occasions, while a quieter lunch can remain simply a sandwich and fries.

Drinks are centered on beer and ciders, with recognizable brands and some variety rather than a broad cocktail program. That fits the food: a cold beer alongside a pizza, cheesesteak or basket of seasoned fries needs little explanation.

Reservations are not generally necessary, though a major event or a large pizza order can change the pace of a visit. Parking is available near the venue, including outdoor spaces, but the supply can be limited.

For a place with such a casual premise, Pub N' Sub has a notably flexible setup: a booth for a family meal, bar seating and pool for a longer stop, a dog-friendly front patio, or a grassy backyard gathering around a fire pit when the weather is right.