Reviews by the cured ham

Restaurant Reviews

Rating 2.0

Huckleberry's

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on Sep 29, 2011
I’ve thought of a few great reasons to come to Huckleberry’s in Fresno: 1.If you need to gain weight quickly for a chance to play the roll of The King Pin in the next Spiderman movie or Penguin in the next Batman movie 2. If you only have $7 to eat that day and don't want to eat again for 24 hoursRead more…
Rating 3.0

Max's Bistro

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on Jul 13, 2011
I’m just going to jump into this one, Max’s Bistro was a night of extremes. Horrible: Pathetically pale olive oil for the table that resembled vegetable oil with dry herbs. Whatever poor excuse for an olive oil is being used to dip a high quality bread in, please either remove it or pay the extraRead more…
Rating 2.8

Manchester Steak House

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on Jun 24, 2011
First of all, I’ve never heard of Manchester Steak House. Secondly, I would have never guessed it would be attached to the Manchester Mall. Thirdly, this place is a dive bar that happens to serve Armenian food. Two brothers work the restaurant and bar. The one brother who works the front, Armen, isRead more…
Rating 4.0

Limon

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on Jun 21, 2011
First impressions make a difference. My first impression of Limon was a proper welcome and a surprise; they opened the front door for me. While we were warmly greeted at the host station, I didn’t get any sense of intimacy or warmth in the restaurant as we sat down in the cold, industrial typeRead more…
Rating 3.0

Don Pepe Taqueria

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on Jun 17, 2011
On the recommendation of several people I know, I’ve been told that if I want great tacos, I should head to Don Pepe on Blackstone. I arrived around 1pm to a completely full restaurant, complete with a queue at the counter. As always, my standard al pastor and carnitas tacos were ordered for myRead more…
Rating 3.8

The Ripe Tomato

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on Jun 11, 2011
When The Cured Ham eats French cuisine in the U.S., I think of my experiences at La Grenouille, La Cote Basque, Le Bec Fin and The French Room, all hard-core French traditionalist restaurants and some of the best the U.S. has to offer. These restaurants and others like Daniel, Campagne, BrasserieRead more…
Rating 3.0

Regina's Native Cafe

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on Jun 07, 2011
First a shoutout to @GoDogs21 and FresnoBites for pointing out this little gem in a strip-mall at Cedar and Nees. The interview with the proprietor regarding her whole roasted rib-eye is what inspired me to visit. Who roasts whole rib-eye’s and breaks them down into sandwiches these days? Not manyRead more…
Rating 3.8

Mike's Grill

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on Mar 23, 2011
I’ve heard more buzz about this place for the last year than I have about most restaurants in Fresno. “You’ve got to get the tri-tip sandwich!” Ok, I’ve been eating tri-tip since before it was cool, like back in the 80’s when my dad barbequed it at home. Mike’s tri-tip sandwich is good, real good.Read more…
Rating 1.3

The Mad Duck

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on Feb 19, 2011
Mad. When one looks at the dictionary definitions of "Mad", the words Harebrained, Uncontrollably Foolish, Mentally Disturbed are all possibilities. I must have been a little mad that day to have suggested dining at The Mad Duck. So let's start the review off with some basics about The Mad Duck:Read more…
Rating 2.5

Pismo's

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on Feb 17, 2011
I’ve been to Pismo’s a few times in the last 12 months and at this point. The menu, while no longer a hand-written mess, has become a combination of full color and copied collage of menu items on several pages instead of one page and just as confusing as before. Luckily, it’s easy to find what fishRead more…
Rating 3.0

Yalla Yalla

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on Jan 22, 2011
I understand Vatche's new restaurant has been open about two weeks. Some may say, if your doors are open you should be ready to rock, others say work-in-process. Consider this a work-in-process review, hence 3 Stars across the board, with a lean toward more stars for Service at this point. Well,Read more…
Rating 3.3

Eureka!Burger

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on Oct 13, 2010
Eureka! I've Found Another Hamburger Chain in Fresno! But as our state motto suggests, have we struck gold? If Fresno has nothing else, it certainly has choices in the fast food dining category. Burgers abound; some local and some from outside. I've covered a few spots, Angelo's Drive-InRead more…
Rating 4.0

Cracked Pepper Bistro

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on May 17, 2010
Cracked Pepper’s culinary reputation is well established. I have heard from many a friend and relative that if I wanted a truly great meal, I should go to Cracked Pepper when I pass through town. Even some trusted Bay Area friends suggested this place. I checked the usual on-line sources ofRead more…
Rating 2.0

The Habit

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on Apr 19, 2010
Another chain restaurant comes to Fresno! No news there. Chain Burger restaurant with patio comes to Fig Garden Village, Home of The Elbow Room (required mention of The Bow according to Fresno Code). No news there. So why am I writing about The Habit, the latest chain burger joint to hit the FresnoRead more…
Rating 3.0

Dog House Grille

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on Mar 14, 2010
Do not adjust your browser, The Cured Ham recently dined at one of the most popular establishments in Fresno, Dog House Grill. True, a departure from my normal dining habits. Ordering food at the counter and waiting for "Number 264, number 264 to the counter please!!"Read more…
Rating 3.0

The Million Elephant

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on Jan 29, 2010
A staple for late-night feeders in Fresno, California, The Million Elephant in the Tower District is dishing up quality Thai food. I've eaten here twice in as many weeks with consistent notes and ordered exactly the same dishes. Each visit, I was accompanied by two guests, each with aRead more…
Rating 3.3

The Tower Market

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on Jan 20, 2010
Since my first review on TasteFresno was two of the most expensive national chains in town, my second is neither; Local and Inexpensive. The Tower Market in Fresno has been serving up tasty Mexican faire from the deli / taqueria / grocery for months now. Open all day, a 5 minute stop canRead more…
Rating 3.0

Fleming's and Ruth Chris

Reviewed by The Cured Ham on Jan 12, 2010
Fleming's and Ruth Chris are national steakhouses with good reputations. I've eaten nationally at Fleming's many a time and Ruth Chris only a couple times. Each of these steakhouses are standards in the corporate world for the "conference dinner". Morton's, The Palm,Read more…

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