Landmark, Fresno's best kept secret
DESCRIPTION: The Landmark is one of the last fine dining eateries left in the ecletic Tower District of Fresno. Steak, seafood and a smattering of Basque cuisine is available. We have eaten at the restaurant twice recently, both times to savor the wonderful Scaloni, a compilation of scallops and abalone, served with baked potato, fetucinni alfredo or pilaf and glazed carrots. The Scaloni is served lightly sauteed in butter, with an egg batter. Wonderful, sweet and tender, it is one of my favorite seafood dishes. Although this pattie of two seafood delicacies is a "mystery meat" compilation, the quality and flavor is very consistent. The glazed carrots are tender and sweet. Angle cut and fresh. Always wonderful. If they could just keep them warm... The Fettucini Alfredo has been my least favorite part of the meal. Although the Alfredo sauce is tasty and dusted with fresh grated parmesean cheese, both times it has been served cold. I tasted my wife's pilaff. It was great, and HOT. The meal starts with a fantastic relish tray. Chilled, fresh generous portions of carrots, celery, olives, pepper and pickled string beans. The salad was exceptional. Fresh, chilled greens with beets and raisins. I enjoyed the balsamic vinigarette with crumbled, dry blue cheese. Overall, an excellent meal with a few details that need improvement. I suspect that the sides are plated in anticipation of the main course. A good heat lamp or two might help greatly. I also wonder if the small wait staff can handle a rush. We dined on a Wed and Thurs night and the service was a little slow. The ambiance is eclectic and fun, in keeping with the oveall theme of the Tower District. A full bar with live entertainment is featured Thursday-Saturday. If you prefer a quite meal, ask for a table in the back section of the restaurant. I suggest that give the Landmark a try, you won't be dissapointed.
DATE: 2006-02-05
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Scaloni!

Good Food in Intimate Atmosphere
DESCRIPTION: My wife and I eat at Guernica frequently, despite that fact that it is quite out of the way for us. Be prepared for a slightly off-kilter eating experience. We always feel as though we are guests in someone's home, and the homeowner is taking our order and making the meals. It is almost as though we are intruding. But, the atmosphere is intimate and the food is quite good. Trust your waiter to recommend the dishes... the menu is only a guideline... the actual meals are decided upon that day and made with fresh ingredients.
DATE: 2002-03-06
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : french onion soup

DAMN GOOD!
DESCRIPTION: Gary has good food at a good price. (which is hard to find in touristy Sausalito) worth a visit!!!!
DATE: 2005-01-28
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : lamb shank

From Highway 99 To Pais Vasco In One Exit
DESCRIPTION: If you're driving through the San Joaquin Valley and find yourself really, really hungry, get off at the Stockdale Highway exit of Highway 99, and go east one light, go north on Oak, and plant yourself at a table inside Chalet Basque. What's Basque, you ask? Well, it's a food atypical of a region emcompassing Northern Spain, Andorra and Southwestern France. Basque food includes chicken, lamb, beef and seafood, and traditional Basque dinners involve three courses and tons to eat. At Chalet Basque, one gets a good introductory lesson to Basque. Bakersfield natives say the place is mediocre at best and that there's no place like Wool Growers. If you can find it and don't mind traveling in an unsavory area of town, go for it. If you don't have much time to spare and only have an hour to chow down, head straight to Chalet Basque. The interior is nothing fancy -- straight out of the 1960s with a noisy bar adjacent to the dining room. But who cares, as you came for the food. One starts with a soup course, and you're served a huge portion of cabbage-vegetable soup -- good for three bowls full! The bread is French and damn good, too. Then comes the salad, and you'll get a big portion of shredded iceberg lettuce, a plate of marinated tomatoes and a most interesting dish: pickled tongue. It's cow tongue, but prepared much different than a Jewish deli would. It's dark and it's tasty but pickled. After noshing on all of that food, you'll still have a main course awaiting. I ordered the Chicken a la Basque, a French concoction that involves a boneless chicken breast covered in a layer of melted cheese and marinara sauce. Mmmm good. The green beans didn't look too appetizing and I avoided them until late. Big mistake. They were marinated in the same broth as my soup, and they were very tasty. The french fries (yes -- patate frites!) served with my chicken were great, too. If you're dining solo, as I did, come prepared. Don't eat lunch and drink plenty to wash down all the food. It's a gut bomb, but a real good one that won't make you ill and running to the toilet in an hour. Chalet Basque caters to couples and large groups, and that seems to be more fun when eating this kind of food. Also, Chalet Basque is a "traditional" restaurant as opposed to the family-style, sit with a stranger stories I've heard from other places. The total price for my three-course extravaganza, plus ice tea, tax and 20% tip: $20.50.
DATE: 2004-06-01
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Chicken A La Basque, any lamb dish, pickled tongue

Great Basque Food.
DESCRIPTION: There are good Basque restaurants in Bakersfield. We are so lucky to have them. They are all honestly good but I would have to say Benji's is the best.
DATE: 2004-03-24
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Rack of Lamb, Filet, Salmon