Which Fresno Restaurants Are Best? The Pros Picked These Places.

Appetite for Fresno

By David Taub, Senior Reporter

Published 1 month ago on

April 15, 2024

Saizon won the California Restaurant Association Fresno chapter People's Choice award. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)

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Saizon is the people’s choice, considered the best local restaurant among Fresno area industry professionals.

The north Fresno restaurant, which describes its self as “Napa Valley meeting Mexico City,” took home the People’s Choice award at the local chapter of the California Restaurant Association. The industry group held its 2024 Best of the Valley award ceremony last week at Table Mountain Casino.

Brandon Smittcamp and his partners Kevin and Rema Koligian, operate several local restaurants, including Saizon.

Jimmy Pardini, operator of The Annex Kitchen and also Annesso Pizzeria, won Restauranteur of the Year. In addition, Annex picked up the Best Fine Dining award.

Annesso Pizzeria and The Annex Kitchen owner Jimmy Pardini prepares the Americano pizza when GV Wire visited him in 2021. (GV Wire/Jahz Tello)

It was also a good night for the Everk family. Father Lewis won for New on the Scene (best newcomer) award for The Woodward American Grill. His son Devin Everk won the Rising Star award.

Devin Everk (left) and Lewis Everk each won a Best of the Valley restaurant award. (GV Wire/David Taub)

Other selected winners:

Best Pizza: 99 Craft Pizza (585 W. Nees Ave. #123, Fresno)

Best Burger: In-N-Out Burger (several locations in the Central Valley)

Best BBQ: Dog House Grill (2789 E. Shaw Ave., Fresno)

Best Steakhouse: Yosemite Ranch (1520 E. Champlain Dr., Fresno)

Best Local Brewery: Mad Duck Craft Brewing Co. (four locations in Fresno/Clovis)

Best Food Truck: Senor Aji Peruvian Kitchen

The full list can be found here.

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David Taub,

Senior Reporter

Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email