4 Best Restaurants in The Central Valley, California

A classic San Francisco–style steak house and bar, the Elbow Room has been a Fresno social hub since opening in 1955. The steak sandwich, served open face on jalapeño cheese bread, has been a menu staple since the beginning; other classics include deviled eggs and an iceberg wedge with blue cheese. Among the more contemporary dishes are grilled Alaskan salmon and a salad with quinoa, mixed greens, asparagus, and artichoke hearts. The restaurant has indoor seating areas and a covered patio with year-round temperature controls, a boon in summer.

A Wine Country–style establishment that sources ingredients from the on-site gardens and surrounding farms and orchards, this popular restaurant occupies a redbrick 1921 schoolhouse in the town of Sanger. Chef Ryan Jackson, who grew up on local fruit farms, creates seasonal menus from the bounty of familiar backyards, mostly filled with classic American dishes with a contemporary twist.

An intimate setting with white tablecloths and contemporary art draws diners to this establishment—part wineshop, part restaurant—with a seasonally changing menu. The Cajun-style crab cakes, served for lunch year-round, are outstanding. For a small fee, your waiter will uncork any wine you select from the shop.

Thick lamb chops, roast lamb, oxtail stew, and shrimp scampi have made this Basque eatery a local institution. All meals are served family style, so you might share your table with diners you don't know. Meals include vegetables and a potato, pasta, or rice dish, and many gluten-free options—but this is no place for vegetarians.