DARE TO DINE
In this feature, the 10th Anniversary Luxury Award Best Dining winner and nominees are recognized. The restaurants listed in this section boast outstanding reputations and reliable dishes that draw in Central Valley natives and travelers alike. Max’s Bistro & Bar proved to be the most beloved establishment in this grouping that also named The Annex Kitchen, Cracked Pepper Bistro, FIVE, and Parma Ristorante amongst its ranks. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or plan to sit and savor awhile, all are the embodiment of what exceptional local dining looks like here thanks to their inviting ambiances and exquisite cuisine.
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ax’s Bistro & Bar
2023 Luxury Awards Winner
Max’s Bistro & Bar has been a favorite of locals and visitors ever since it opened its doors in 1997. Still on the corner of Bullard and West, this Fresno staple continues to serve the artisan fare and breads—for which it is known—with ever-evolving seasonal updates to the menu. From the artistic décor to its food and cocktail offerings, the establishment is undeniably creative yet comfortable. With lunch and dinner as well as event and catering options, it’s the kind of place that family, friends, and colleagues will savor no matter the occasion. For the second year in a row, after many nominations, Max’s took home the 10th Anniversary Luxury Award for Best Dining. Max’s is what the unity between cuisine and service should look like.
Everything placed on Max’s tables or within its building is constantly evolving. The fresco-plastered walls are adorned with the works of artist Tomas Panzarino, whose Master Collection of approximately 50 signature “zinc and polychrome” fine art pieces rotates around the restaurant. His artistic influence begins at the front door design and extends through the scroll motif found on the stained concrete floors, along the bar backdrop, in the flared interior columns, and even above the kitchen hand-off window. In the kitchen, Executive Chef Douglas Lund is behind Max’s upscale yet familiar fare. Classic dishes get reinvented, which explains why CVLUX’s Shake+Stir has been hosted at Max’s twice now.
Owner and Operator JJ Wettstead diligently upholds Max’s founding principles. After getting his start in the restaurant industry when he was 15 years old, JJ was searching for something he not only believed in but could also be a part of. In Max’s, JJ discovered his true passion. Now he inspires his incredibly friendly staff in their cumulative mission to bring people together through food. This kitchen showcases the freshest ingredients possible, and their dedication to local, organic, free-range, fresh-caught, artisan, and gourmet cuisine reflects their commitment to the community they serve and source from. Being hyper-local allows both JJ and Max’s to be part of something bigger—day after day, generation after generation.
The Annex Kitchen
For rustic Italian food in Fresno, look no further than The Annex Kitchen. Dim lighting and wood paneling encourage patrons to sit and stay any day but Sunday and Monday. Its Italian-inspired cuisine is influenced by the seasons, making nearly every dish reflect what’s currently being harvested in the Central Valley. Annex is known for succulent house-made pastas, grilled meats and fresh vegetables cooked in a
wood-burning hearth, and perfectly baked pizzas from their Acunto oven. The full bar draws on locally sourced produce for the inspiration it needs to put together modernized craft cocktails that pay homage to the classics. Gaze out at the beautiful trees that line Annex’s expansive windows during dinner service or choose to sit at the lengthy, cozy bar.
Cracked Pepper Bistro
Californian cuisine commands center stage in the heart of the Central Valley at Cracked Pepper Bistro. The menu focuses on regional dishes that highlight local ingredients as well as nightly specials, and even though there are seasonal updates, you can always rely on a handful of staples available since the beginning. The Mala-Insana Napoleon appetizer is maddeningly divine, and their bread pudding is nothing short of infamous. Cracked Pepper is known for supporting wineries, with the majority of its wine list being sourced from the nearby Paso Robles appellation. Posh yet cozy, patrons may take a seat inside on the covered patio or at the bar on Tuesday through Saturday. Cracked Pepper continues to be one of the area’s most beloved bistros—year after year.
FIVE
There are more than a handful of reasons to love FIVE. A unique fusion of Californian and Italian flair makes their food stand apart from the norm. This local hotspot is imbued with an energetic ambiance and engaging atmosphere, making it the perfect place for everything from a romantic dinner to a night out with friends. It’s all about the courses here: savory appetizers, stunning salads, a great selection of main meats, house-made pastas and pizzas, and a beautiful selection of desserts. Family and food are the priority at FIVE, and that’s demonstrated in the menu. There’s something for everyone, no matter the party size. For dinner nightly (except Mondays), the Family Style Dinner Menu is ideal for takeout, while FIVE’s catering menu is designed for larger gatherings.
Parma Ristorante
The moment you enter Parma Ristorante, it will transport you to the city after which it is named. From authentic Italian food to the butter yellow and pale blue décor, Parma embodies its owner’s hometown in Northern Italy. A wallpapered mural of the Piazza Garibaldi lets guests feel as though they are dining alfresco with the people in the plaza. Pasta made from scratch is just one of the many menu offerings that uphold traditional cuisine from this region of Italy. One cannot go wrong with any choice from the extensive menu, which includes a vast selection of both domestic and imported wines as well as numerous dessert options. Here, it’s all about slowing down and taking in what’s presented. From Tuesday to Saturday, Parma serves dinner only to a dine-in audience.
Editorial Director Lauren Barisic
Photographer Don Dizon
Don Dizon
Photographer
Don is a portrait and still-life photographer based on Fresno, California. He was a nursing major from Fresno City College, and while waiting to get in the nursing program, he continued to take photography classes. There he fell completely in love with photography. Capturing the right moment only takes one shot. But it is much more than that! You need to have the right lighting, angle, and expression to get the perfect photograph. Over the years, Don has mastered the art of capturing the moment.
