The drinks and food here are always delicious! Be sure to listen for the chef's specials, they never disappoint. We enjoyed the eggplant and taco appetizers, the fresh pappardelle pasta topped with tender, flavorful scallops. We skipped the bread pudding this time, but it's so delicious that it's always hard to resist. If you haven't tried it yet, I highly recommend it. The service is consistently excellent as well, making every visit a wonderful experience. We'll definitely be back! read more

First time here for dinner and it was great! Dark dim lighting, nice set up. Went for my bday dinner. We ordered drinks which were all good. Got some appetizers and fell in love with the mussels. The taste was delicious. We would get some of the bread and dip it into the sauce of the mussels. Cornbread crab cakes so good. We wanted another one. Dinner entrees were good. The steak was cooked to perfection. The scallop pasta was good too. The reason I came here was for the bread pudding! Definitely was very full so I wasn't able to enjoy like the first time I had it but still 10/10. Service was great, very attentive! Can't wait to be back. I want to come by during their breakfast hours! read more

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Saturday morning brunch was a bit chaotic. I think a lot of it is newness kinks that can be worked on so maybe give it time if you are going on the weekend for brunch. It wasn't clear walking in that you order at the bar and that it isn't full service. As in no sign or staff guiding people in. For big groups, please all get there together, with how ordering is if people keep joining the group while some are ordering it makes a 5 minute process 20+ (I'm talking groups of 8+) They ran out of French toast by 1130am. Breakfast was good but not quite the level I expected from Cracked Pepper based on dinner experiences. Maybe we didn't order the right things? The bagel sandwich looked a bit simple but did taste good. All American breakfast was a bit small for the price but the bacon was delicious. Would have loved a muffin or toast with it to get really honest. People that ordered after us got drinks and food after us. That was disappointing to see especially when black coffee took longer than bar drinks. I think a lot of this was maybe just kinks still being worked out so I hope maybe going in a few months things will be smoother? read more

Always a pleasure dining at cracked pepper. Reservations or not staff have always been accommodating. The atmosphere is dark and moody, think classic New York speakeasy. You'll find that even on a weekday the bar area is lively, filed with those coming off from work. This really adds a nice buzz but nothing overwhelming. Dress up or dress down, the real star is the food. As for what I ordered : Chicken piccata 100/10 - I'm a savory gal and this plate hits all the right places. So zesty, with the perfectly pan seared chicken breast that almost has a bit of crisp which adds nicely to the earthy flavors. The pasta itself is delicious and they don't over do it with the pasta so i like to think this is on the healthier side. Palm 67 1000000/10 - honestly my favorite drink in town, i have stopped by just to have one or two of these. If you like sour cucumber drinks you'll love this. read more

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My husband took me to Cracked Pepper Bistro for my birthday, and it was a wonderful experience overall. The ambiance was great, and despite being packed, the vibe was lively and fun. We started with the bone marrow, and honestly, if it's on the menu, we're definitely ordering it! It was delicious, but we did wish there was a bit more bread to go with it, just to help scoop up all that goodness. For the main course, we split a steak, and it was cooked beautifully, perfectly seasoned and tender. The food was fantastic, and the staff was on point. However, the restaurant was a bit loud, which made it hard to have a conversation at times. Still, the overall experience was positive. At the end of the night, the server surprised me with some bread pudding as a birthday treat, which was a sweet touch and much appreciated. Great staff, great food, a lovely place to celebrate a special occasion! read more

Cracked Pepper Bistro - Bread Pudding - New American Near Me - Fresno, California

I went to this restaurant today because my wife loves bread pudding. My wife never asks me for anything so if I know that she likes something I'll pretty much do anything I can to make it happen for her. I heard a story about the cracked pepper bistro and one of the parts of the new story was them talking about the delicious red pudding that has quite a big following. I decided when I was doing all of my errands today that I would go by and pick up a piece for my wife. I called the cracked pepper bistro first and the young woman who answered the phone. She could not have been a nicer person. She was super friendly. When I showed up at the restaurant, it was a very nice restaurant. It's in a complex up on Palm and Herndon so it's very pretty but you realize they're probably paying a lot of rent. I told the woman I would like one piece of bread pudding. I could not believe it. I literally was shocked when the woman told me that one piece of bread pudding was $17. I have been all over the world backpacking. I've been all over the United States in a motorhome. I've eaten all over the place from the hole in the walls to the super expensive places, and I swear to God that was the most expensive piece of bread pudding in my entire life. The bread pudding was big enough for two people to eat however it is simple bread pudding. It's not like you're making someone something out of rare ingredients or even expensive ingredients. When I got the bread pudding back to my house I actually tried it and my wife tried it. My wife is from Japan and she has a very discriminating pallet and she can really taste different types of food because she comes from a country with terrific food. If it was not for the whipped cream and the caramel sauce that they gave you the bread pudding would've been tasteless. $17 of tastelessness. I often go to La boulingerie. I get the bread pudding from them and honestly that is better bread pudding than the cracked pepper bistro.. I want to make sure that I point out again that it was a beautiful restaurant that woman that helped me was a very nice person, but the food was extremely expensive and not worth it. At least the dessert piece that I tried. read more

Food is delicious. Cute cozy restaurant, you can dress up or casual. Service was great staff is super friendly and sufficient when it comes to refills/needing service. Definitely will be going back again. read more

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I really wanted to like this place but honestly it was alright. I'm not sure if the standards of fine dining are just different in NorCal, but I expected a little bit more from a place that has $$$ on the top of their Yelp page. Came in with my bf on a Saturday with a reservation, which they told us was not in their system. My bf got a confirmation text and email too and they still said it was not in their system. Thankfully, they had a table for two in the corner booth. This table was way too short. I mean it was difficult to put our legs under it and it was painful for our backs when we ate because it was so low. I was really excited to eat here because my bf didn't tell me that where we were going to eat that whole week. He just said to put on something nice and expect that we'll have wine. Fast forward to Saturday and we're sitting in an uncomfortable booth and service was definitely slow. Now, I understand if you are understaffed, but I wish that was communicated to us. We waited over 45 min to order our food. They asked us for our drink order first and they still didn't come again until later. I didn't eat much that day because I really wanted to enjoy the food, but the long wait kind of ruined the experience. For food, we ordered the ahi tuna starter. It was a good shareable plate for 2 people. I ended up ordering the papardelle and scallops while my bf went for the lamb chop. I would say both were quite rich in flavor. I like seafood, but I think the scallop/seafood flavor was a bit too strong for this dish. Maybe one less scallop on the dish would've been good. For the lamb chops, my bf ordered it medium rare so it was quite gamey. I paired my pasta with a Chardonnay and the lamb chop was paired with a Pinot noir. We also noted on our reservation that we were celebrating something tonight. I know that clearly didn't save in their system, but then the waitress also asked if we were celebrating anything and we let her know that we were. I just wish they tried to make the dinner a little special because of this. I saw on another review that they also didn't get any dessert for their celebration. Again, it's not required of a restaurant, but for a place that is $$$, I thought they would try to make the effort to make us feel special. Considering not having our reservation (despite receiving two confirmations from them), the wait time to order food (without communication or an apology), and the uncomfortableness of the table, I had to give it 3/5. The food was alright and that's why the score was brought back up. I would say we probably wouldn't come back, especially since they didn't make us feel very special on our special occasion. read more

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I've dined with cracked pepper since their opening and have enjoyed their food overall. Came in on a Tuesday night and it was very busy. We were sat right away with a reservation. Service was mediocre as our server was in the process of being trained. Our food and drinks also took a longer time to get to us. But have nothing bad to say. Everyone was pretty satisfied with their meals. Chicken piccata, bread pudding and mojito were the highlights. Would recommend the salad to have more croutons. Good place for a nice dinner with a dim but louder ambiance. read more

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Lauren, our server was very attentive & efficient. Our appetizers came quickly. The pace was smooth, our meals arrived shortly. Once finished, we ordered two desserts; Tiramisu & Bread Pudding along w/ two coffees. I must say the adults all liked the bread pudding better, my niece the Tiramisu. read more

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I've been wanting to try this place for Valentine's but they usually get booked fast for that day, so we got a reservation for an anniversary dinner on a weeknight instead. Place was fairly empty during dinner, but the server still took a while to get our drinks. Also, it was a bit chilly in there, so bring a light sweater if you're like me and get cold fast lol. Can't remember the names of the drinks, but they were good and light/refreshing. For starters, we got the Crispy Brussel Sprouts and the Bone Marrow--both were also good but nothing special. For our entrees, we got the House Aged Ribeye and the Pappardelle and Sea Scallops. The ribeye was cooked right (medium rare) and the side of mashed potatoes were great. I think pappardelle with the scallops were the stars of the show, even though the sauce was a little too thick (almost like it was separating). I loved the flavor of the sauce and the lump crab mixed in there. Scallops were also cooked perfectly. Now, for dessert--this is pretty extra but we had a reservation where I noted it was our anniversary, and they didn't have any comped dessert or any added celebratory writing or anything like that, which obviously isn't a requirement, but all other "fine dining" restaurants I've been to go at least an extra mile to make the dinner special. Again, not a requirement but would've been a nice touch. We got the bread pudding but were too full to eat it there, so I took it to go and it was still tasty after reheating. Overall, this place was just okay. For the high prices, I would've expected a better quality/experience. Glad I got to try, but I probably wouldn't come back. read more

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Food, service and ambience were all fabulous! The waitress was very attentive and knowledgeable. We had one person gluten-free they made sure everything was perfect for them. The food was fantastic and the recommendation for appetizers was right on point. Hey we will be back again soon!....loved the Special Old Fashioned! read more

Cracked Pepper Bistro - Sea Bass Special of the Night! - New American Near Me - Fresno, California

I arrived at the restaurant feeling quite hungry, and I left thoroughly satisfied. The food was incredible. Overall, it was a delightful experience that I would happily repeat. read more

Cracked Pepper Bistro - New American Near Me - Fresno, California

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Always a great tasty time!! Great fun service! Dim lighting , dessert first and wine last everything is so good!! read more

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We had a wonderful experience at cracked pepper last night. Food was delicious! I'm usually not an eggplant kinda gal but the appetizer told me otherwise Huge wine/drink selection as well. Cannot say enough about the service last night! Our server was Destiny. She was/is amazing!!! It Makes a tremendous difference on the experience so big thank you to Destiny and the awesome job she did last night while handling other tables! Can't wait to come back! read more

Exceptional dinner. Staff was attentive and made sure we were taken care of. Service was probably the best in the area. Shoutout to server Kayla. She was a joy. Inside of the restaurant is more dinner/jazz bar vibes, id say you can dress nice but casual is ok. Ribeye is a smaller size but flavor is amazing. Salmon is 10/10. Bread pudding is special, worth to try if it's your first time. read more

Decided to go here for date night with my lady first. Impression restaurant looks nice little dark light cozy tables are a bit close together. We decided to start off by ordering the Quesabirria tacos and the Caesar salad. The queso birria tacos were pretty decent. They had a sauce that was a little more spicy. The tacos came with a salad, that was OK. The Caesar salad was not the best it had a lemon taste to it. The shrimp tempura were good except for I did not like the Dijon mustard sauce. We ordered the short braised rib with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. The vegetables and mashed potatoes were decent but was not a fan of the sauce that the braised rib was covered with it. the meat itself was tendered and soft. Overall total price was $109. Customer service wise was really good was checked on multiple times by the waiter and water was refilled often. Unfortunately after an hour of leaving the restaurant I did get an upset stomach. read more

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Service was good Food was okay $40 corkage fee on each of the two bottles my friend and I brought was outrageous We won't be back read more

Had a wonderful dinner with my wife for our anniversary good service, great food and top-notch ambience.

Great dinner experience with good food, friendly staff, prompt seating and service, and upscale interior/ambiance. Definitely on the pricier side for the portion size but everything was delicious. Cocktails are good price at $15. We ordered the bread with red pepper paste, slow braised short ribs with side of pilaf rice, and pan seared salmon with the mashed potatoes. Everyone says to get the bread pudding and it was really good, especially with Ampersand ice cream. Good for a fancy dinner occasion. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in town but the quality of the food has gone down tremendously. I think I'll be taking a good break from my cracked pepper. read more

Cracked pepper is now serving breakfast-brunch. Hours are 8:00-1:30 with a wide variety of delicious dishes to choose from. The avocado toast is a must try. Breakfast here is a great addition to an already stand out restaurant. read more

Total disappointment in ALL regards; food was mediocre; service was poor to nonexistent. Cracked Pepper was far below expectations. Will definitely recommend that our friends and family seek other brunch alternattives. read more

Don't get me wrong... this place will always be one of my favorites, but it seems like they need a little polishing to stay at the top. There are a lot of options for nice places in Fresno these days. We had a reservation and were seated right away. We waited quite long time for our server to greet us. So long, in fact, that I wondered if they forgot about us. Long enough for me to look around and notice that the walls needed wiping down Once our server arrived she was very charming and had extensive knowledge about the many specials. The food was delicious and well prepared. We ordered the spicy shrimp appetizer, the lamb, and the short ribs. For dessert we got what we always get - THE BREAD PUDDING. Still delicious as ever. Hopefully next time we'll have that 5 star feeling again. read more

Cracked Pepper Bistro - Short rib in the front, lamb in the back - New American Near Me - Fresno, California

For the price it wasn't that great. We ordered lamb ribs for an appetizer and they were really salty, I like salt too! The entrees were okay but like I said, for the price I expected better. read more

We recently dined at The Cracked Pepper Bistro after making a reservation for Valentine's Day and were initially excited for the experience. While we waited to be seated, we reviewed the menu posted outside the restaurant to prepare our order. However, once seated, we were given a different menu with marked-up prices and several items missing that we had planned to order. Unfortunately, neither the hostess nor our waitress informed us that the menu and prices had changed for the day. It was disappointing and felt like a lack of transparency, especially since the outdated menu with regular pricing was still being displayed right outside the entrance. Service-wise, the hostess, server, and water pourers were all very nice and welcoming. The steaks were well seasoned, and the vegetables were flavorful. That said, my son ordered his steak medium, but it arrived rare. For steaks priced at this level, that was very disappointing. I did send the steak back, and while they attempted to correct it, it came back medium rare instead of medium. At that point, our meal had already been disrupted, as my husband and I had finished eating. What was supposed to be a nice dinner together didn't feel that way anymore, so we chose not to send it back a second time. We also noticed that the table next to us was served bread, but none was brought to our table. As first-time guests, we weren't aware bread was offered since it wasn't listed on the menu, and no one asked us if we would like any. Overall, while the staff was friendly and parts of the meal were enjoyable, the unexpected menu changes, pricing differences, steak issue, and bread issue made the experience frustrating--especially for the cost. This isn't a place we'll be returning to. read more

Service was very good. Very attentive. Ambiance was decent. Food was ok. The salmon was a bit dry. The cornbread crab cakes were amazing. The Prices were too high for what we had. I had the Chilean sea bass special. Very small portions for priced paid. The bar looked pretty good. If I go back, it will be for the bar. read more

Tonight's food was spectacular! I ordered the fillet and it was cooked to perfection. Every appetizer, the drinks and even the salad were delicious. I can't forget to mention the bread pudding. If you are looking for a meal that is truly special, & a cut above just about any other place in Fresno or Clovis, come to this restaurant. You won't be let down! read more

I've been coming here since it was in its old location by Fashion Fair mall. It's a wonderful choice for a nice dinner. Another reviewer mentioned that they aren't quite what they used to be and I would agree with that, it was well put. I'm sure they have suffered since COVID, the prices have gone up and the portions have seemingly gotten smaller and drinks are expensive. It often feels cramped in this restaurant on a busy night, and any large party must be outside. They have wonderful specials and their seafood pasta is delicious. Everyone loves the bread pudding and many times I have ordered it to bake at home! They have unique flavors and I appreciate the servers knowledge of both the menu and the specials. While I don't come here as much as I used to, it's still on my top ten recommendations for a nice dining experience. read more

I have always enjoyed the dinners at Cracked Pepper and now it is wonderful to be able to enjoy their breakfast. The avocado toast was amazing and look forward to trying the other items on the menu. The staff was fantastic, very friendly and attentive. I highly recommend it! read more

Really solid.. a bit pricey, but I've never been disappointed with my food. The cocktails on the other hand are rough unless you love paying for a giant ice cube. read more

Came for our anniversary dinner and left with the memory of an amazing bread pudding. Unfortunately, the ambience was something else. My seat was facing the ceiling to floor windows that were wide open. I almost put my sunglasses back on for the duration of the dinner. We seated right next to the kitchen after making a reservation well in advance. So I could hardly hear my husband during any of our conversations... we were both so distracted by our inability to hear each other and being blind at the entire time that I don't even remember the food. I had pretty high expectations after hearing so much good stuff about this place. Might or might not try it again. read more

The staff was great. Very prompt and respectful. Food was done promptly and the food itself was flavorful and great. Even watching the staff utilize their teamwork to cleanup was refreshing to witness. The ambiance was great as well. I highly recommend this bistro. Thank you for your service. read more

Tl;dr: Bland, boring, way too expensive. I came here for my boyfriend's birthday. They charge a premium price for a not so premium experience. First red flag: they barely give you any time to sit and get comfortable. As soon as we sat down, our server immediately bombarded us with the specials of the day and asked us what we wanted to order. We hadn't even checked the menu yet. Second red flag: we asked for bread and they said first round is complimentary and every round is 7 dollars after. I honestly don't really care too much about this point, but I feel for a place that charges 40-100 dollars per meal, I feel that service such as that should be included? Again, not a big deal, but a small detail that amalgamates with the whole experience. Third red flag: I got the vibe we were being constantly watched. The restaurant was pretty empty, so maybe that's why. But I kid you not, every time we had one sip of water, our cups were being filled. It made it uncomfortable to have personal conversations. Fourth red flag: probably the most important aspect of the experience: food. If the food were good, it could make up for the service... but it was just not that great. My boyfriend had to ask for additional seasoning for his food, and my plate was just salt and sugar. Again for being over 40 dollars, I expect the food to be good to justify a premium price. This was 10 dollars worth of food at best. Also the starter bread was basic af. Like sorry, but I wouldn't pay 7 dollars for more bread... Fifth red flag: NO BIRTHDAY DESSERT?! Honestly, much like the second red flag, I wouldn't care too much about this if the food were good... but never in my entire life did a sit down restaurant like this not give a little treat for birthday. Like it's just not premium service, sorry. This was the cherry on top for shitty quality. She literally said "if you buy a dessert I'll put a candle on top for your birthday" like thanks??? But no??? Wtf? Bonus round: no apologies from the waitress when asked for ADDITIONAL SEASONING FOR FOOD, rushing our time while eating, small portions sizes.... Please don't waste your time. Go to Yosemite ranch, saizon, lime lite, elbow room, etc. there are much better choices in terms of service, quality, and price honestly. read more

Cracked Pepper Bistro - Salmon with mashed potatoes - New American Near Me - Fresno, California

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One of the better steakhouses in Fresno with great food. Meats are always cooked on point. Bone marrow is a nice appetizer. Server was super nice and attentive, great personality & knowledge of the menu. The dessert bread pudding was delicious but I didn't get a picture. The inside is dated and semi-dim for taking pictures. Could use a remodel. read more

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Phenomenal! Came here with my best friend and his wife the other night and tried the lamb chops which were some of the best I've ever had! Every thing we ate was amazing! The bread pudding was fabulous too. It has been about 20 years since I've been in this building. I used to work here 30 years ago when it was DJ Hill's and later when it was Sac's. They've done a great job with the place read more

Cracked Pepper Bistro - Rack of lamb - New American Near Me - Fresno, California

Best Ribeye Steak we had in a long time. We had 27 people with most of us ordering the Ribeye. Everyone was very happy with their steak. Wonderful service ! read more

The food is phenomenal, service is exceptional and location is great! Beautiful restaurant for couples, especially celebrating something special. I would recommend Cracked Pepper Bistro. read more

Delicious with unique twists on classic flavors! On the exterior it may seem like a traditional steakhouse, but there is truly something for everyone! If you come on a weekend - anticipate the service to be a bit slow. We came on a Saturday and while our serve was excellent overall - the speed was not as fast as I'm used to. I truly think it's because they were just busy. Everything on the menu is tasty! HIGHLY recommend the mala insana napolean to start! It was super flavorful and has great texture! For our means the lamb chops was the standout! The spices and tenderness of the lamb was excellent! To finish everything off, you must get the bread pudding! Aside from the pace of service, I was a bit disappointed in the Pappardelle and Sea Scallops because it was lacking salt. The vanilla provided a unique depth, but it would have been perfect if it were properly salted. read more

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My husband and I have been going to Cracked Pepper for years and love every visit! Lauren, Kayla, Michelle, and the rest of the staff are always so attentive and friendly. The mussels and bread pudding are absolute must-tries, but honestly you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Every dish we've had has been fantastic! Highly recommend! read more