Even though it was serving smoked meats and classic comfort foods from a small store attached to a truck stop, SNS Diner maintained a loyal following over six years and even drummed up some impressive publicity through TV appearances such as Food Network’s American Diner Revival. Now that the team has settled into a spacious former North Las Vegas McDonald’s just off Interstate 15 after relocating last year, more locals and travelers are discovering SNS’ friendly charms and great food.
Get an early start with a stacked breakfast menu running the gamut from omelets and eggs Benedict to pancakes, French toast and stellar biscuits covered in sausage gravy ($11). The SNS breakfast burrito ($10), loaded with eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, black beans, salsa and sour cream might beat out your favorite neighborhood taco shop’s version. And the kitchen incorporates its barbecue into several breakfast dishes, including chicken fried brisket ($14), doused in more of that peppery gravy and dished up with two eggs, potatoes and toast.
As cozy as it is for hearty diner breakfast, SNS feels even better set up for lunch and dinner, partly due to the new bar in the middle of the dining room, where you can catch the game on a big screen while digging into starters like smoked meatballs ($9) or brisket, pork or chicken nachos ($14-$15).
The bigger location has allowed SNS to expand its menu as well, but barbecue remains the focus. Sampler plates (two meats for $16 or three for $18) let you customize your meal, choosing from ribs, brisket, pulled pork, smoked chicken, rib tips, hot links or wings, plus tasty cornbread and a choice of sides like fries, mac and cheese, coleslaw, house-made potato chips and potato salad. The meaty ribs, juicy chicken and thinly sliced, flavorful beef brisket are the standouts and if you have a favorite, you’d be better served focusing on it. There’s a half-pound brisket meal ($16), a quarter ($11) or half chicken ($14), and St. Louis or baby back ribs available by half or full rack ($18-$28).
SNS is one of the best places in town for a barbecue sandwich, from pulled pork and coleslaw on a kaiser roll ($11) to hot links with peppers and onions on a steak roll ($12). Smoked pastrami ($15) is a flavor bomb with sauerkraut and Swiss cheese on rye, and the Brisket Philly ($15) is one of the best cheesesteak interpretations around (and you can get it with chicken, too). Other sandwich options include the smoked bacon burger ($12), a corn beef Reuben ($15), smoked and chopped beef short ribs with creamy horseradish slaw ($17) and caramelized, crispy rib tips on a roll with slaw and house-made Carolina mustard sauce ($12).
This is exactly the kind of food you’re craving during a long road trip, but you don’t need to get out of town for this experience.
SNS DINER 3229 Losee Road, 702-269-9696. Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
