Hey Day Inn

Love this place.  Nancy and Teresa are great.  Lunch is more home style than basque.  Food is great and they make everyone feel special.  Worth the drive.  Fish and chips are super

Hey Day Inn, or is it Heyday Inn, is a gem practically in the middle of nowhere (no offense to Smith Valley locals!).  I ran across this place after a long day driving backcountry roads with my truck in the mountains.  This place blows away the meals you normally can find when wandering the remote regions of the west.  A Basque style family restaurant, I had the lamb in brown garlic sauce.  If you've never eaten Basque style, the short of it is that they do traditional meals with a lot of food -- reminds me of Southern food but more European style.  I got the "light" version which included a bread, a huge salad, lamb with rice and a giant plate of green beans.  All of it was tasty -- and I don't even like green beans -- and they cooked the lamb perfectly to my request of medium rare.

Take note they are only open Friday, Saturday & Sunday which shouldn't be surprising when the census says that all of Smith Valley only has 1,600 people.  It can be a little intimidating opening that front door which is completely covered in paper and has a bit of that "keep out" feel but inside it's cozy & clearly local.  Enjoy!

As a local, I can heartily recommend the Hey Day Inn. The hours vary during different days of the week, so call ahead.

From breakfast to lunch and full Basque-style dinners, Bill, the owner/chef doesn't disappoint. There is also a full bar.