All kinds of local restaurants were honored this week when the California Restaurant Association held its 29th annual Best of the Valley Restaurant Awards.

More than 30 restaurants won awards, and one longtime restaurateur won a Lifetime Achievement Award.

David Borunda, who took home the Lifetime Achievement Award, ran two Plaza Ventana restaurants known for upscale Mexican food and margaritas. Both have closed in recent years as he retired, describing himself to the association as a “recovering business owner.”

He’s run several versions of the restaurant since 1977, including locations at First Street and Shields Avenue, at Manchester Center food court, Fashion Fair’s food court and Caliente Wood Fired Grill.

Borunda is a founding member of the Fresno chapter of the restaurant association and the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He’s won several awards and is a supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California.

The restaurants

The restaurants honored Monday were chosen by fellow restaurateurs who are members of the Fresno chapter of the California Restaurant Association.

Best fast food: Chick-fil-A

Best desserts: Nothing Bundt Cakes

Best fast casual: Heirloom

Best winery: Toca Madera Winery

Best family dining: Pismo’s Coastal Grill

Best Coffee: Dutch Bros.

Best fine dining: The Annex Kitchen

Best bar drinks: Elbow Room Bar & Grill

Best sports bar: The Mad Duck Neighborhood Grill & Taphouse

Best Asian: Sakura Chaya Tokyo Cuisine

Best food truck: Quesadilla Gorilla

Best Italian: Parma Ristorante

Best banquet dining: Pardini’s Catering & Banquets

Best Mediterranean: The Phoenician Garden

Best catering services: The Painted Table

Best Mexican: Sal’s Mexican Restaurant

Best hotel dining: Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant

Best pizza: Mike’s Pizzeria Lounge

Best seafood/sushi: Wassabi

Best kept secret: Mochuelo at Hotel Piccadilly

Best breakfast: Benaddiction

Best steak: Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant

Best sandwich: Piemonte’s Italian Delicatessen

Best burger: Eureka!

Best barbecue: Westwoods BBQ & Spice Co.

Date night: The Lime Lite Restaurant

Friendly faces: The Annex Kitchen

New to the Scene: Heirloom

Beverage supplier of the year: Young’s Market Company

Supplier of the year: Sysco

Chef of the year: Jimmy Pardini, The Annex Kitchen

Restaurateur of the year: Brandon Smittcamp and Kevin Koligian

People’s choice award: Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant

This story was originally published March 5, 2020 at 3:00 PM.

Bethany Clough

The Fresno Bee

(559) 441-6431

Bethany Clough covers restaurants and retail for The Fresno Bee. A reporter for more than 20 years, she now works to answer readers’ questions about business openings, closings and other business news. She has a degree in journalism from Syracuse University and her last name is pronounced Cluff.