4 big-name restaurants open or reopening in Fresno’s River Park, Tower and other areas
Some big-name restaurants in Fresno are opening – and reopening.
They’re in some prime spots. A new concept is open in River Park and a restaurant in a prominent Tower District location is reopen after more than year-long closure. A favorite Fresno Mexican restaurant also has something new to offer.
One word of caution, however, before you head out for a meal.
Restaurants are feeling the labor shortage. When one person calls in sick or doesn’t show up and the staff is already stretched thin, it could take longer to get your food.
Now add in all the pressures faced by employees who are new on the job at a newly-opened restaurant, and your experience may be a little different than in years past when visiting a new restaurant.
All this is a long-winded way of saying be patient. They want to feed you and want you to come back.
But back to the food. Here’s who’s opening and where.
Brooks Burgers
This restaurant opened last month and replaced what used to be The Hangar in River Park, near the movie theaters.
It’s had a mini makeover, but Brooks Burgers doesn’t look all that different from its predecessor, there’s just no more airplane decor.
The burgers are the star of the show here.
“We believe burgers are great for the soul,” said owner/operator Juan Villicana.
There are several one-third pound burger patties on the menu, from a burger with bacon and avocado to a Big Kahuna burger with grilled pineapple. They range from $6.33 to $10.88.
One highlight according to Villicana: The Golden State Burger, topped with bacon, an onion ring, colby jack cheese and a sunny-side up egg.
“When we put that top bun on, the yolk breaks into the burger patty, which almost creates a sauce … very, very tasty,” Villicana said.
There are also sandwiches, salads and milkshakes on the menu, including a tri-tip sandwich.
The tri-tip is cooked using sous vide (pronounced sue-veed), a process in which the meat is vacuum sealed in a bag and cooked in a water bath where the exact temperature is controlled.
Beer is coming soon, with 12 beers on tap once the restaurant gets its liquor license. The location has patio seating with misters, in addition to indoor seating.
The story behind Brooks Burgers: This is a second location for Brooks Burgers, with the first in Pismo Beach.
The Brooks name may seem familiar, as the Brooks family has ties to Fresno and has opened restaurants like Brooks Ranch, Happy Steak, Huckleberry’s, Cool Hand Luke’s and Perko’s.
Expect to see more Brooks Burgers locations opening in the Fresno-Clovis area.
Details: Find Brooks Burgers on Facebook or Instagram. 190 El Camino in River Park. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 559-493-5434.
Toledo’s
A new Toledo’s is open, but it might not be the one you’re expecting.
A Toledo’s Mexican Restaurant at Cedar and Nees avenues opened Tuesday, but it’s a small, temporary location. It’s in a former Chinese restaurant in the shopping center, next door to Raw Earth Juicery.
This isn’t the big new Toledo’s location the family has been planning that will replace the one with the big patio that was torn down on north Blackstone.
That future location – three times the size of the new little one – is still in the works. It’s in a bigger building closer to the road in the same shopping center.
The work of remodeling it from an office space into a restaurant is taking longer than expected, so the family struck a deal with the landlord to open temporarily in the smaller space.
“This is just a stepping stone to the big location and getting the neighborhood familiar with us,” said Jesse Toledo, part of the family who owns the restaurants. “That way when we open the big one, we will be able to really wow them.”
In the meantime, they’ve dubbed the smaller location “Little T” and you can see images hung on the walls of what its big sister restaurant will look like. It has the same menu as the other restaurants, and is doing indoor seating and takeout.
Details: 8048 N. Cedar Ave. Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays. 559-438-5944.
India’s Oven
This restaurant in a prominent spot in the Tower District at Olive Avenue and Fulton Street is back open. It’s been closed since March 2020, with the exception of a brief reopening last summer.
India’s Oven’s regular menu is back, including its popular butter chicken.
The only thing that’s changed is the addition of two new cocktails. There’s the tamarind sour drink made with bourbon and the mango masti, which is a sweet and tangy mango drink made with gin.
Details: India’s Oven is at 1153 N. Fulton St. Hours: From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and from noon to 10 p.m. Sundays, closing between 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily. 559-840-2667.
Daphne’s
Daphne’s is a chain restaurant with roots in Greece and plenty of Mediterranean favorites on the menu. The restaurant opened recently in the Marketplace at El Paseo, the shopping center with Target near Herndon Avenue.
It’s a quick-service type of place located between Panda Express and Subway. The restaurant offers dine in, take out and online ordering. It boasts many dishes under 700 calories.
One highlight: The mix & match plate for $12.49. Pick two proteins from a list of eight (including chicken, beef and falafel), and add in two sides ranging from a Greek salad to french fries and one sauce, such as hummus.
Salads, sandwiches and bowls are also on the menu.
Halal meats and vegetarian and vegan options are available, along with family-size meals.
Details: Daphne’s is at 6733 N Riverside Dr., suite 109. Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. 559-515-6702.
This story was originally published September 2, 2021 at 9:42 AM.
