Fresno restaurant recs!

andreay82

As mentioned in my SF thread, let's hear what you know about the Fresno food scene! Location, food type, price range....go!

Dragonfly_Bride

Edited to now say: I will only say this, the local paper has someone who is, well, maybe not a reviewer, but definitely knows what's hot & not (I assume, I don't live there, but I have it on good authority that she knows her stuff).

Passanie

Silly goose. Don't out me. Lol.

I'm not a reviewer, but I do know something about restaurants in this town. What are you in the mood for?

Romantic: Oggi on Van Ness in the Tower District. Intimate, fireplace, great Italian food, super cool owner.

Mexican: Toledo's, the one on north Blackstone near Herndon. Eat on their patio (even in winter, it's heated). Great margaritas.

Breakfast food: Irene's in the Tower District. Fun to watch the singletons the morning after, if you know what I mean.

Burger Place: Eureka Burger at Palm and Nees.

 

Dragonfly_Bride

I was trying to be subtle! Lol, I'll take out the link

hannikan

I did write this up all once and my computer shut down to do updates with no effing warning! So I'm going to try to reconstruct what I said.

I'm not a foodie really so you can keep that in mind with my recs. None of them are fancy places. Passanie may have more ideas for that.

Okay, there are a few good Middle Eastern places. One is Mediterranean Grill and Cafe near downtown. It's Lebanese and the shwarma is good. Another is By the Sea on Palm and Herndon. Izi's Sandwich Shop and Deli on Butler in Sunnyside. It's Armenian and I always have lahmahjoon there. George's is an institution in Fresno and is Armenian, too. There are a few locations. They have good dolma.

For Mexican places, there are tons. Sal's is the biggest, oldest institution in the area. I haven't been to their new location in River Park but if it's like their original place in Selma (total hole in the wall dive) it's great. You'll want to share a burrito, they're so big. Bobby Salazar's are Sal's son's restaurants. I'm not a big fan of them. I like Los Amigos on Shaw and West, Toledo's on Blackstone near River Park (both have great margaritas and chips and good enchiladas). For carne asada, Tacos Tijuana Y Mariscos on Belmont by Roosevelt (my high school) is great.

For Asian, we always went to Dai Bi Dang for Chinese and Edo-Ya for Japanese. I haven't been to either in awhile so if there's been any mgt changes, I don't know. But they've both been around a long time. Thai House on Shaw by Fashion Fair is good. I like their ginger beef. I know there are more Vietnamese places since I've moved away and the place we always went, Kim's, closed. Maybe P can give more recs for that.

For Italian, we always went to DiCicco's. It's homestyle Italian, not fancy. They're an institution in the area, too. They have several locations run by different wings of the family and they vary slightly by taste. I like the Blackstone one best but they're all good. I like their calzones drenched in marinara and their salads. Their pizza is good, too. Oh and Mama Mia Pizzeria on Bullard and Palm! Another hole in the wall but really good!! Their sauce is excellent.

Patio Cafe in Fig Garden is good for breakfast (I like their harvest pancakes) and coffee. They have healthy and veg. options, too. Uncle Harry's is good for bagels and coffee. 

Livingstone's and the Landmark are both bar restaurants in Tower District and are good for diner fare and drinks.

So, I hope this helps 

andreay82

Thank you ladies! I am Lebanese myself so I'm very picky about my Mediterranean food, however, By The Sea was very good. I'm pretty sure their hummus is the best I've had (other than my grandma's of course). We have been to both Toledo's and Sal's (the original in Selma) they were decent by all accounts but honestly didn't blow me away. The recs in the Tower district we have not been to, we need to venture that direction for our next dinner out. Oh, and Eureka Burger is pretty good, their veggie burger was awesome!

heatherbeanz

Max's Bistro and Bar- Great food. Love the sweet potato fries

Imperial Garden-Yummy chinese chicken salad, usually go for lunch

I have heard great things about Cracked Pepper Bistro.

I agree with Hannah, the Mediterranean grill is really tasty. As is Irene's in the tower.

 

Passanie

If you live on the north side of town, the Vino & Friends wine bar at Champlain and Shepherd is pretty good. So is the Yosemite Ranch restaurant in the same shopping center.