Muley's Neighborhood Bar & Grill Adds Rustic Flavor to Spring Creek, Nevada

Muley's Neighborhood Bar and Grill in scenic Spring Creek, Nevada, is certainly a good jaunt from nearby Interstate 80, but certainly worth the drive with the majestic Ruby Mountains as its backdrop and Lamoille Canyon National Scenic Byway and South Fork State Recreation area in near proximity.

The new restaurant features a 24-hour operation with full menu consisting of breakfast, lighter lunch items and heavier dinner items. You can get everything from a garden salad to a market price porterhouse steak.

While the food is not the only great thing about Muley's it's a good starting point. The owners have chosen to name menu items after area attractions, such as Thomas Canyon Barbecue Chicken Quesadilla, Angel Lake Chef Salad, Green Mountain BLTA and the Robinson Lake Mushroom, Garlic and Swiss burger. These are just a few highlights of items on the menu, but they go so far as to include French toast dipped in Bailey's Irish Cream, barbecued ribs and a rib-eye steak.

They make a mean breakfast burrito, and their approach to homemade fries is different from anywhere else in the area. Instead of shoestring taters, hey cut the potatoes like very thick potato chips or cottage fries. This is an interesting approach that makes for a surprisingly easy and fulfilling way to eat fries. The only downside is that their ability to cook them crisp on the outside but fluffy on the inside is a little inconsistent. However, a homemade pasta salad is offered as an alternative. This healthful salad has black olives, crisp carrots and multi-colored corkscrew pasta marinated in an Italian dressing. It's pretty standard, but no less good than the restaurant's other menu items.

The first item the reviewer ever ate there was a standard Angel Lake Chef Salad - or so I thought it would be standard. For $8, I was brought a platter with Romaine spears (and a small amount of iceberg) topped with whole black olives, cherry tomatoes, carrot slivers, cheddar cheese, green onion and as much dressing as I requested from the waitress. The platter was piled just shy of five inches high with fresh salad goodness. All items are around $10, aside from the rib-eye and, of course, the porterhouse. So you won't go broke bringing the family.

On top of that, there are several flat screen televisions strategically placed. Unlike other places that show two big games, here you'll find the national games, college games, college wrestling, bass fishing on Versus and even soap operas. For big events they've got a drop-down projector screen for showing games like the Super Bowl.

The family dining area is in close proximity to the bar, but the environment is relaxed, and the décor matches the Muley's theme. In the West, a "muley" is a nickname for a mule deer. A mule deer buck is the restaurant's mascot. In fact, there's a large bronze mule deer buck statue in the front right when you walk through the large, wooden, lodge-like front doors. Area deer hunters have loaned out some of their more prized trophy mounts for display on the walls, and some of the point spreads and formations are mind-boggling. Local photographer Jack Peters also has some of his captivating nature photos on display. He's known for getting tightly focused, up-close photos of the area's many bighorn sheep.

There's a two-person shotgun big game video game and two pool tables for those who are looking for more lively action than what's found on the TV or in their conversations.

One drawback to the décor, however, is the use of large metal bowl-shaped lighting sconces with hoof and tree patterns cut into them. They are used to diffuse light through them and to create a glowing effect on the designs, but it makes for a dark eating experience. However, if you're at the bar, you'll hardly notice since chances are you're focused on the game, your buddy next to you or the video poker laid into the countertop in front of you.

Another element that's worth noting, and this is not a typical item in restaurant reviews, but the bathrooms are actually very attractive and visually pleasing. Instead of a standard porcelain or stainless steel sink, the owners have opted for two faucets perched over a nice brushed copper trough or basin. And the walls are adorned with cut rock, giving a feeling of warmth and security to an often sterile and lifeless environment. Don't get me wrong, the bathrooms are very clean, but the decorative approach to have a rustic wilderness experience throughout is a great touch.

Getting there: Exit at any of Elko's three interstate exits, and head toward Idaho Street. If exiting on the east end, East Jennings Way intersects Idaho Street. Turn right onto Idaho, and head west until you come to 12^th Street. At 12^th Street, turn left, and go over the bridge to Lamoille Highway. Take Lamoille Highway over the hill and down into the valley where the town of Spring Creek is located. From the first stoplight intersection go about 2.5 miles to the next major intersection, which is Spring Creek Parkway. There are no stoplights here, just turning lanes and stop signs, so be cautious. Turn left and drive down the parkway a mile or so. It'll seem like a suburban setting, but that's fine since it's a "neighborhood bar and grill." On the right-hand side will be a brown brick building with Muley's, an auto parts store and a Shell gas station. Congratulations, you've made it!

From the middle exit at Mountain City Highway (near the major department stores), head south on Mountain City Highway toward downtown until you intersect Idaho Street. Turn left, and go east through downtown until you reach 12^th Street. The same remaining directions apply.

If you get off on the first exit on the east, head toward town on the main road. This turns into 12^th Street, so you've already made that move. Follow the rest of the directions to 12^th Street and beyond to Spring Creek.