Location: Sanger
Top Restaurants in Sanger
Where to Eat in Sanger: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Sanger is a city in Fresno County, California, United States. The population was 24,270 at the 2010 census, up from 18,731 at the 2000 census. Sanger is located 13 miles (21 km) east-southeast of Fresno, at an elevation of 371 feet (113 m).
Things to do in Sanger
1. Starbucks
Overall Ratings
4 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By Queen J - Fresno
While the staff and customers are very friendly, I believe the issues at this branch are the result of poor management that doesn't bother to order supplies based on consumer demand.
For one thing, they never have any food items. They always say they ran out. But that's not true. Even though the same food items are displayed on the menu, the Sanger Starbucks doesn't even CARRY half the food items that can be found in all of the other Starbucks stores, and only a few of each of the lunch items are ordered . . . for display, I suppose. I can order most of the food items at ANY other location as late as 5 or 6pm, but THIS Starbucks is always "out" of every sandwich and most pastries by noon. Really? Isn't that prime lunch time? By 3pm, there is nothing to eat. Last week, I was there at 10am and they were "sold out" of every sandwich and panini. They had only 3 pastry items. At 10am. On a Wednesday.
Second, they are often out of certain drinks (that aren't seasonal). Over the last 5 months, I've gone there 3 times; each time, they were out of something I wanted: green tea, peppermint syrup, and dark caramel for the Diabetes Special Double Caramel Crunch Thing they sell. If all the other Starbucks can handle the flow of customers, why can't Sanger's?
Finally, they were out of drink carriers. I had to rush back to work with 4 coffees sliding and tipping over in a box.
I have a few friends who are servers -excuse me, BARISTAS - at Starbucks in surrounding cities and apparently no one wants to transfer to the Sanger location because it's well known in the biz as the "inept store".
In sum, the Sanger Starbucks has no excuse for not ordering and stocking items adequately other than the fact that they are the only location in town. But the Starbucks in smaller towns (Reedley, Dinuba, even Parliers) don't have these issues. A monopoly doesn't guarantee customers will continue to go there. I order coffee less frequently than I probably would if I knew I didn't have to be a contestant on Wheel of Misfortune every time I try to order a food item.
Me: Do you have a Turkey sandwich?
Employee: Let me check... (buzzer) Nope. We ran out.
Me: Do you have....a tomato and mozzarella panini?
E: Let me check... (buzzer) Nope. We ran out of that, too.
Me: Ok...an artichoke panini?
E: Ummm.... (buzzer) No.
Me: ANY paninis??
Em: No. Sorry. No paninis. (Crowd sighs in disappointment) Would you like to buy a pastry?
Me: No.
I guess people overlook the poorly supplied Sanger Starbucks because they need their caffeine. Most people would order an IV bag of coffee if they could, so I don't expect Starbucks general managers to effect any change. My advice: If you're a creature of habit and are set on ordering a particular item, avoid the substitution game and go to another location.
2. Cristal Bakery
Overall Ratings
4 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By Queen J - Fresno
This is a small shop that has Mexican breads and desserts, Mexican food, drinks, and snacks, like chips and Mexican candy. It started out as a panadería (bakery), but they keep adding new things.
They make traditional Mexican pan (sweetbread). They make every kind of bread, cookies, and cake there, but it's best to buy it first thing in the morning. Like all panaderias, all of the bread is stale by noon. You can special order cakes there and they're good.
The main draw is the food. They have a small kitchen and offer burritos, taquitos, flautas, tacos, quesadillas, plates with rice, beans, and Chile Verde o colorado, barbacoa, etc. The menu has about 10 items. The bean, cheese, and rice burritos and the Chile Verde plate are my favorites, but everything is good. Prices are reasonable. It's about $3 for a burrito stuffed in a large flour tortilla. I love the homemade salsa. It's got a kick.
There's a soda machine and a wall of refrigerated drinks. There's also a dessert glass fridge in front of the cash register with chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate tortes, a few cake selections, including tres leches, and empanadas. The pumpkin empanadas are my favorite. You can request them if they're not in the case and the baker will make it while you wait. The panaderos leave around 12 or 1pm, so it'd have to be before then.
The seating area is small, maybe...6 tables or so. It gets very crowded at lunch time, so expect a line. There's also usually only one lady preparing the food, so if you're going to go during lunch hours and your lunch break time is limited, call ahead with your order. They used to be cash-only, but I think they now take debit cards.
They open at 7am and close at 8pm every day except Sunday when they close early around 2. The food is fresh and prepared each day, which is good, but it also means that they often start running out of food items by dinnertime after bigger lunch crowds. The ladies behind the counter are not particularly warm or friendly, but they're not rude, either. Just busy, I suspect.
I like it here when I want fast, fresh Mexican food; basic and simple, but tasty.
Hope that helps! Enjoy.
3. School House Restaurant and Tavern
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 170 reviews
Occupying a historical country school house built in 1921, 20 minutes east of of Fresno in Sanger Country, School House Restaurant & Tavern offers vast array of experiences unlike any other. Watch the game in our country roadside tavern, dinner in our historical dining room a view of the kitchen, or the outdoor fire lounge patio looking out to our gardens at the base of the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The food represents a modern approach to classic dishes we all crave, with a focus on farm fresh, local ingredients. Our service staff is knowledgeable and attentive, yet relaxed and friendly. School House offers an extraordinary dining experience that's not just about food and drink, it's about creating lasting memories.
Reviewed By RNA1958 - Bend, Oregon
Was in Sanger for business and was taken out to the School house restaurant - what an incredible old school house building - the interior was really done well. Sat in the bar and ordered a Salmon BLT, very good salmon and the service was great.
4. Dicicco's Italian Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By travel7continents - Norfolk, Virginia
I was part of a group that filled the banquet room at the Sanger Dicicco's recently.The room must have been close to capacity, but the servers handled orders and gave our roomful all necessary attention. I was surprised by how quickly we got our food.The restaurant seemed well managed with a efficient kitchen. I had the Scarface, chicken and mushrooms in white sauce over rigatoni, and loved every bite of it. I remember going with relatives to Dicicco's in the late 50's to "try the Italian Restaurant in Fresno". I may have had my first pizza that night.I realize this will seem strange to kids who have grown up with Italian food available everywhere. It is rare to have any restaurant lasting 60 years and successfully expanding as Dicicco's has. If I lived in the Central Valley, I'd be eating at Dicicco's often.
5. Blossom Trail Cafe
Overall Ratings
4 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By Donna C - Fresno, California, United States
Went for a quick lunch with my daughter and saw crepes... savory and sweet but I chose the savory ham. Came with potatoes. Both were exceptional. Best crepes I've had in years. Potatoes were REAL and real good. Service was spot on. This is a great place to go to for breakfast or lunch. Just GO!!!!
6. Me-n-ed's Pizzeria
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By CliffJacobs99atgmail - Novato, California
I was running a workshop in Sanger on Saturday May 14th and was bringing in Lunch. We decided on Pizza from Me and Ed's. we ordered 10 assorted Pizza's and were given a great Price by the manager Frank, who assured us that the order would be there hot and on time, as we only had a small window of time to grab a few slices and proceed with a working lunch.
As promised , the Pizza's were delivered right on time, and they were hot. Good job Frank ! ! !
7. Sofia's
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By 344rayh - Sanger, California
Sofia's is a wonderful family ran restaurant. Mom runs the front and her son James is the chief. He is a excellent cook. The menu is varied. American, mexican and there specialty is Mediterranean. Very clean,friendly and quiet. Lots of repeat customers like me.
8. Chuck Wagon
Overall Ratings
4 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By sarahg16 - Fresno, California
Been going to Chuck Wagon since I was a tiny kid. Definitely a family tradition. The best thing to do on a spring/early summer Saturday or sunday afternoon is to do to Chuck Wagon, get a chili dog each, and extra, extra fries and head up to Pine Flat and eat at one of the picnic tables. The chili dogs are so much better than Sonic or Wienersnichle (sp?) or others that I have tried. I try the chili fries pretty much at whatever restaurant/diner I go to if they have them and none of them have beat Chuck Wagon. To me, the chili is unique, not canned. I'm not sure why someone thought that. Try it for yourself! Support Sanger!:)
9. Mountain Mike's
Overall Ratings
4 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By Queen J - Fresno
The pizza here is average. I'd normally rate it 3 stars, but the weekday lunch buffet is a good deal. For about $7 (plus drink), you can have all-you-can eat pizza, choosing from a variety of pizzas behind the counter. Self-serve. Salad bar also available for additional cost. Pizza is usually fresh as the demand for popular combinations ensures a continual supply of new pizzas. Plenty of seating, though you might want to eat earlier or later than 12:30-1:00 if you wish to avoid the teens from the high school down the street.
10. Big Mama
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By WmDCook - Sacramento, California
Served from a window in an old house is not what I expected. From the other reviews I thought there should have been something more. Flavor, was missing. I guess if you don't order oversize Texas burger you only get a small burger on bun that disintegrated. Was more disappointed with seating under a too hot tin roof. Fries were not memorable.
