Four restaurant openings you may have missed in Fresno, from pizza to Mexican food
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Do you ever drive past a restaurant and think, “Geez, when did that open?”
Yeah, us too.
While some restaurants open with a big splash, others open quietly.
We thought we’d take a moment to focus on some restaurants that kept their openings relatively low key, places that many Fresnans might not know are open yet.
Often the mellow openings are deliberate, with owners choosing to work out all the kinks of opening a new business before putting their name out there.
Here’s a look at some recent openings.
CHICK N’ BROS
The Bay Area food truck that opened a spicy chicken sandwich spot in Clovis has added a Fresno restaurant.
It opened last week at the northwest corner of Cedar and Barstow avenues near Fresno State, in the spot that Famous Ray’s Northside Deli left behind after it closed.
It’s got the same menu as the other location at Shaw and Peach avenues. Fried chicken sandwiches cost $10.99 and up. They come with five levels of spice made from mild cayenne pepper to the extra mouth-numbing Carolina reaper pepper.
Chicken wings, chicken strips and loaded fries are also on the menu.
CHICK N’ BROS owners also run the Boba Pub next door. They are planning another business, Halal Bros, in the same center, a combination smash burger restaurant and Mediterranean market expected to open in a month or two.
Details: CHICK N’ BROS is at 1764 E. Barstow Ave. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays.
Mariscos El Malecon
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This Mexican seafood place opened recently at the southwest corner of Bullard Avenue and First Street. Look for the little palm trees at the door, near the Politi branch library.
Mariscos El Malecon is a restaurant and bar with an extensive menu. All kinds of shrimp, octopus, whole red snapper and other fish dishes are on the menu, including tacos, burritos, tostadas, ceviche, salads and more.
Oysters and shrimp cocktail are available, along with menudo and birria on the weekends.
For drinks, it offers beer, wine, micheladas, sangria and more. Some grand opening specials are still running, including a bucket of six bottles of Corona for $24.99.
Details: Mariscos El Malecon is at 5763 N. First St. Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Closed Tuesdays.
Railway Pizza & Cocktails
The newest restaurant in a Bitwise Industries building has quietly opened for lunch in downtown Fresno.
It’s inside the R Street Marketplace, which is in the State Center Warehouse building. The spot is also home to a second location of Las Mañanitas (selling its signature chilaquiles and more) that we told you about in January.
Railway is a pizza place that just started opening for lunch Mondays through Fridays.
Its hours will expand eventually to include dinner and weekends. And once it gets its liquor license — probably in a month or two — it will serve down-to-earth cocktails, beer and wine.
For now though, it’s all about the pizza, with a 10- to 12-inch personal-size pizzas with dough and sauce made in house.
The classic Margherita pizza with tomatoes and basil is a highlight, said Ashley Marchetti, who oversees the restaurants in the marketplace.
There’s also a cheese pizza, with regular or vegan cheese (vegan ranch is available too).
And then there’s the Give Me All the Meat pizza, with salami, pepperoni, bacon and Italian sausage.
You can keep tabs on Railway’s Instagram page to find out when it will be fully open.
Despite being inside an office building, you don’t have to work there to dine in the food court-style marketplace.
Added Marchetti: “1000%, this is open to the community.”
Details: Railway is at 747 R St., inside the Bitwise State Center Warehouse. For now, it’s open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, though hours will expand.
Mosaic Cafe
Mosaic is the little cafe that’s also in Bitwise’s R Street Marketplace. It has hot food on weekdays, such as a breakfast bagel sandwich, avocado toast and various galettes — pastries filled with berries or tomato and hummus.
It’s also got a full coffee bar with lots of espresso-based drinks. The matcha latte made with vanilla flavor is a popular favorite.
Juices are also squeezed on site.
The pastries, such as the cinnamon roll, are usually vegan.
Mosaic recently hired Jackie Hanson — who often sells breads and baked goods under the name Tasty Morsels at farmers markets — to oversee its food.
And there’s always grab-and-go items like chips and granola bars.
Details: Mosaic is at 747 R St., inside the Bitwise State Center Warehouse. Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekends.
This story was originally published May 11, 2023 at 11:00 AM.
