I am woefully late in posting a review on Papa What You Cooking. I first heard about it this past January from two different people, one who recommended the desserts and another who suggested it as a way to support a local, Black-owned small business.
It’s located in downtown Reno in a building that once housed the post office, in The Basement, in, naming-logically enough, the basement floor, along with other small businesses. It's more "cafe style" than restaurant as you place your order at the counter (both times I think I was helped by none other than "Papa" himself, a very pleasant gentleman), grab a seat at one of several small round tables if you're dining in and your order is brought to you shortly.
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| Shrimp & Grits $13.60 |
The first time I went there, I got a couple of small pies to go (more on those below). But I hadn’t tried the actual food so I invited another friend to try it out with me for lunch. On that second visit, I got the shrimp and grits plus the cornbread which you can get as a separate order.
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| Cornbread |
Both were delicious. I liked the shrimp and grits; the serving size was perfect for lunch, albeit quite filling. The shrimp were large and the grits were nice and buttery.
But what I really love about Papa What You Cooking are the desserts. On my second visit, the cake on special was Key Lime Pound Cake. Now I’m not a big fan of key lime but, having had the coconut pineapple cake the first time around, I thought I’d give the key lime pound cake a shot. I’m glad I did as it was
delicious. The key lime flavor wasn’t overpowering but nicely balanced. It was the texture that won me over though as it had a perfect pound cake texture. Soft but not hard or dry. This is probably the closest I’ve had to a pound cake similar to
Icing on the Cake in Los Gatos, CA. And you know Icing on the Cake is my favorite bakery so that’s high praise.
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| Key Lime Pound Cake |
My first visit to Papa What You Cooking was a drive by to pick up a couple of desserts to try. I was seeing a show at the Pioneer Center across from The Basement and swung by Papa What You Cooking to see what it was like. Some of my Black friends swear by sweet potato pie so I got the sweet potato pecan pie version. Fortunately it’s sold in the individual size.
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| Sweet Potato Pecan Pie |
And it was every bit as good as I expected. I’m normally leery of custardy or mushy pies but this one was good. Not overly spiced and the pecans added a nice balance to the texture as well as the flavor.
But hands down, my absolute favorite was the coconut pineapple cake. I love coconut cake and while I like pineapple on its own, I don’t normally care for it in cakes. This cake changed my mind but only this cake. The texture was amazing, not too light or too dense but soft and chewy. I loved it. It’s pretty hearty and the serving size was generous so I couldn’t finish it in one sitting but that wasn’t for lack of trying.
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| Coconut Pineapple Cake |
“Papa” makes different flavors of cakes that he sells by the slice and so far I haven’t chanced on the coconut pineapple cake again. I’m also hoping to come upon the German Chocolate Cake someday. Good thing it’s no sacrifice to keep stopping by and checking out the dessert specials of the day. I’m nothing if not persistent. If you’re ever in downtown Reno, this is a great local small business to support, especially if you like a good slice of cake or pie.
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