SHELLEY SAVES THE DAY! When we arrived for Mother's Day, we were initially treated rather rudely by a young gentleman named Matt, who told us we did not have a reservation when we know we did. We had to regroup and were headed to another place when we got a call back from The Fruityard stating that they had our reservation down under a different name because it was written down wrong and could not be deciphered. Matt was very rude to us at the beginning when we checked in a very condescending tone. He should definitely not be THR person who greets guests when they check in as his demeanor is deplorable! What saved the day for us was our server, Shelley, whose constant attention and sense of humor were fantastic! Her menu suggestions were all spot on, our water glasses never got under half full and she brought smiles to all of our faces. We all enjoyed our menu choices, and the salad bar was fantastic as always! read more

I saw the good reviews and thought it would be worth trying this restaurant that has been around for so many years. I was wrong. My husband and I were seated all the way in the back by an exit door when other tables were available. The decor and look of this place is old and not in a charming diner sort of way. It does not feel clean. The little pond out front needs fresh water, little water covered in algae in there currently. The food was bad. We both order tri tip sandwiches and the meat was chewy and dry. The fries were ok. Even my iced tea was overly sweet. Next time I am in Modesto, I will try a different restaurant. read more

I love The Fruit Yard! It has been a while since we dined here. I ordered the beef lasagna to go. It came with a bowl of soup or salad, my choice. I don't like clam chowder, but since it was Friday, that is all they had. So, I got it for my son. I really wish restaurants would serve more than one type of soup on Friday, if they're going to have clam chowder, as it is my least favorite. The lasagna was delicious, however, I thought the price was very high, and they charged me a fee for a to go order: $1.50. For a total of $27.50!! Not a bargain. They were packed. The parking lot and inside the restaurant were full! It was a Friday night. They gave me my order pretty fast, and the hostess was friendly. The ambiance is beautiful outside. They have ducks, hens, and roosters running free. I love to feed the birds, it is my favorite part of going to The Fruit Yard. read more

The Fruit Yard - Rooster at The Fruit Yard. - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Modesto, California

The SO and I have been chasing the memory of Sweet Tomatoes (RIP) ever since it closed in CA, and have even considered flying out to Arizona where there is still one alive and kicking. Come to find out The Fruit Yard in Modesto offers an AYCE salad bar at a much more condensed setting. The inside is massive with an attached bar and plenty of seating. It reminds me of an old fashioned rustic restaurant with a waiting room, tall ceilings, and a lot of wood everywhere. We ended up ordering two entrees each and tacked on the endless salad bar for an additional few bucks. - Prime rib: This was tender and meaty. - Beef 'dino' ribs: This dish came with about 5 huge sauced up beef ribs. They weren't too bad, but I would have skipped these myself. The salad bar itself consists of basic salad toppings, multiple pasta salads, plus desserts like fresh fruit, jello, and tapioca pudding. It's well stocked and clean. On certain days of the week (ex. 3rd Tuesday of the month), they have a buffet with some sort of theme. I have yet to go to one of these special dinners, but am down to go! Service was standard, our lady was really nice and helped explain how the salad bar works. Overall, a really decent meal, and honestly their salad bar was the main pull for us. read more

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We just left here. Sat there for 50 minutes. Food never came out. Waitress said they were arguing in the kitchen and told us to go ahead and leave because she felt our food was never coming. So disappointed. read more

Mark your calender, the third Tuesday of every month- all you can eat prime rib, shrimp and crab buffet. I mean it, market your calender now, go go go, you can thank me later, haha. It's crazy how many people have been living out here for so long and still dont know about The Fruit Yard and all it's benefits. Yes they have the fruit stand, pies, nuts, bbq etc. They also have a restaurant with different buffets through out the month. Step up your game and get in the know people, haha. The food is top notch, not your basic buffet food. It's all delicious and high quality. The crab was so good I cant believe how much I ate. Let's just say I got my money's worth haha. All the different styles of shrimp was scrumptious as well, my favorite being the butterfly shrimp and the coconut shrimp. I could literally eat them all day. I loved the prime rib and the fact that you get a choice of well done or rare. All the buffet food was good, I loved the large chicken taquitos and salad bar. This is a must event to attend atleast twice a year, I dont want it so packed I cant get in haha. My only let down was the dessert options were not the same quality as the rest of the food in my opinion. The dessert options have room for improvement, they were just ok, nothing special. Other then that it was amazing. Pro tip: make reservations and try to be there right when it opens at 5pm if you can. You want to be seated if you can in the main buffet room, otherwise you'll be sitting in the bar area and over flow seating outside the main buffet area. Also you may want to come prepared with a crab bib and tools to extract as much crab meat as you can. It will get messy eating all that crab. Now go enjoy and your welcome. read more

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Have been here numerous times over the years. Any of their buffets (especially their Sunday brunch buffet) are hard to top. Their salad bar is one of the best in the area and can be added to most meals for only $6 dollars. We always get great service. The only negative is their tap beer selection is rather limited. read more

The Fruit Yard - Chicken fried steak with loaded potato - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Modesto, California

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Went there for my nephew's graduation dinner. While our server was pleasant enough, he did have a lot going on. He missed quite a bit. For example; while our orders were sitting in the window a blonde server took the plate that belonged to someone in our party and gave it to a customer who came in long after we did. This caused our plates to be delayed being placed on our table by about 10 minutes after they were done. Also, he didn't know the look of the ribeye compared to the senior special, then had to send the ribeye back to make sure. We were also missing 1 full set of silverware. Other than that, the food was decent and cooked as we had asked. read more

My husband and I stopped in yesterday for dinner on the way home from Turlock. It was about 5:30 pm and the place was already quite busy. We gave them our name and waited maybe five minutes. We were seated near the salad bar which is always a favorite. The employees are constantly refilling and cleaning up the area, so important! We were soon greeted by our server, Robin, and ordered a margarita and a glass of wine. When our drinks were delivered, we ordered the calamari appetizer and we both decided on the Friday night prime rib special, 10 ounce. Hubby ordered the baked potato and added a cup of clam chowder and I chose the wild rice, both come with vegetables. We enjoyed our drinks and conversation while waiting for our appetizer. It arrived before long and we enjoyed it. Lightly breaded and tender tubes and tentacles. After a reasonable interval our entrees arrived. We both like medium rare more on the rare side and the prime rib was perfectly cooked! We thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Robin is a pro and has almost a sixth sense on when to check in with you! Very fun date night. We live in Oakdale but will be making the drive to the Fruit Yard more often based on our experience. read more

This is the 2nd concert we attended at the Fruit Yard. The venue is set up well, there are no places you sit where you wont see and hear the performer. This was a completely sold out show so it got packed in the venue. Check in screening is set up well. They have 3 areas one to check in if you need a 21+ wrist band if you plan to drink, one for security screening, which they seperate into lines with chairs and without. Will call also has its designated security line so that people didnt have to wait then wait again. Once your through security they had multiple lines to scan your tickets in before entering the area of the venue with food, merch and restrooms. I have to hand it to them even though all the restrooms are portable potties, they were the cleanest I've been in and didnt smell like a crapper. We had GA seats and brought our low back chairs and sat up on the 2 section of the grass. Part of the video screen was obstructed by the large speakers but we could see the entire stage and the performance. They have a beverage pavillion on the far side of the stage that only has drinks so if you get thirsty during the show you can hit that area instead of going to the food vendors. They also have a sponsorship lounge where its exclusive to get in with private restrooms and drinks for purchase. Weird Al was such an entertainer, committed to costume changes through the show. We were able to hit the merch booth on the way out with a minimal line. read more

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Food is always amazing! It's always pretty low key even when it's busy. Sometimes the wait can be a tiny bit long but it's what happens when you have good food read more

Always a good meal with good service. Used to be packed whenever we went, I suspect that like a lot of places, it took the edge off. Still, we had yet another great meal, starting with one of their excellent rum and Cokes, then their famous salad bar, then I went for the clam chowder for my main course. I am sure we will be back soon. I do have to mention that we often visit their mini market/deli next doo for great pulled pork and hot link sandwiches. These are 5 outta 5 too! read more

Looking for a new place to have Sunday brunch and this came as a recommendation. The place is cozy and gives you a feel of coming home to mom's cooking. The wait staff were very warm and pleasant. The food is generous. The fruit platter was very flavorful. And the chicken fried steak just hits the spot. This is what you call comfort food! read more

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Fruit yard is always delicious. Every time I've been there the service has also been consistently good. I appreciate knowing there is a restaurant I can always count on. read more

I had their special one Friday it was absolutely delicious! It was filet tips with mashed potatoes. So so good!

Will never again do the buffet on Mother's day! All the food was cold! The omelette line was blocking the regular buffet line. Could have been organized much better to alleviate the waits had the lines been separate. For the price of this buffet it should have been hot food and organized much better. 80$ per person even kids under 12. Food should have been much better. They won't miss us. read more

My friend heard of the Fruityard. (After reading all the BAD reviews, never been there,)she still wanted to go. Dark , dank & I'm pretty sure our server was hammered. Bartender was awesome!! i Ended up sitting at the bar. Greg needs a raise. Friendly, attentive & didn't let others ( who were clearly drunk) get to him. He kept apologizing, for what I'm guessing are regulars. Ugh!!! My one & only star goes to Greg. read more

I went here with a group of 7 for brunch on the weekend. There's a good selection of food. My favorites were the stuffed shrimp, prime rib and brisket. Service was good. It feels like a small mom and pop owned buffet that cares about quality. I'd eat here again. Mimosas were $2/ glass. Not bad. read more

My husband and I went there on Thursday for a paint and sip night. There were a lot of people there, it seems like a very popular place. The decor was friendly and the atmosphere was fun. The staff were great and everyone there seemed to be enjoying themselves. The food and drinks were excellent. We had a really good time. We will definitely be back. read more

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My wife & I had Mothers Day Brunch at the Fruityard and were as always, very impressed. You are treated like you come there everyday, food was great and service was superb. read more

Awesome little spot for a music venue, in the outskirts of Modesto. They have a lot of rather big names coming out this summer including Brett Young, Midland, Walker Hayes, Ernest, Chris Janson, and Jake Owen who we saw recently on a Sunday evening! There are three cement seating areas (101-103) and then behind is the larger lawn section. The only unfortunate thing is the actual seats are just fold up chairs and are VERY close together, so beware. Check in is rather chaotic so be prepared to wait in a very long line to go through security and have your ticket(s) scanned. They do have food and beer for sale during the event with is nice and a merch tent as well. Parking can also get a bit hectic so I'd recommend parking near the entrance (by the gas station) if you can do so, so you don't have to wait in a huge line once the concert is over. Overall, nice little venue that actually brings pretty big names to a small(er) town in CA! read more

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I'm pretty sure I experienced some racism or some type of energy there the other day. After a long hard day and my husband just finished working on cars We stopped by as a first time on a random Waitress just kept passing us deliberately and never took the order. Energy was off! read more

I don't often leave 5 stars. Because nothing is perfect. Right? However, yesterday my friends and I stopped by after a 3 mile walk and experienced the buffet salad bar. Ok.. first of all.. I'm kind of a germ freak and do not like to eat off of buffets for obvious reasons. But, this was so clean. So fresh. I could not resist. It was amazing. Pasta, coleslaw & potato salad is made right there everyday!! Whaaat? And they make their croutons and salad dressings!! wowzers. $12.99 all you can eat. and fresh fruit was amazing too. No sogginess or mealy watermelon. strawberries and cantaloupe yum! it was epic in my book and probably the BEST deal for freshest healthy food in the entire valley!! See pics:) and make the trip. you will not be disappointed. read more

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i came with my family the weekend before christmas. the food was okay, i had to send my salmon i ordered back. it was overcooked and tasted terrible. their salad bar could be more fresh. loved the amount of animal life around the restaurant. read more

The Fruit Yard - cute rooster - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Modesto, California

I've been to this place before for an event but this was my first time sitting down in the restaurant. Our server was very attentive and had a great demeanor. The salad bar is amazing here. I ordered a steak and it was one of the best I've had in the area. 10/10 read more

Recommend getting there early as the road getting into the venue backs up, parking fills up and the line to get in gets long, especially if your handicapped or have VIP passes. The concert venue itself is gorgeous. It's outside with a very large green grass area overlooking orchards. We had lawn seats, which were reasonable but be prepared to walk up a hill. We brought a blanket and our lawn chairs, which have to be beach chairs, low to the ground and they check. There's plenty of room to spread out and the view is good. It gets a little chilly at night so we were glad to have the blanket. Make sure you bring everything you need in because once you're in there's no in and out privileges. We had good seats but were disappointed because the people in front of us kept standing up and the group next to us was so drunk they were spilling their drinks, throwing their trash all over and talking over the performers. We also didn't like the restroom siruation...they are all on the lower left side, so it's a trek if you don't sit close to them. Recommend parking in the lower left lot and sitting on the left so you're close to these ammenities. They also have food trucks near the restrooms, which I wasn't super impressed with, and plenty of alcohol. read more

The Fruit Yard - The view from the second tier of lawn seats - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Modesto, California

Whenever we feel like not making dinner or go to spot, we get tri-tip sandwich and brisket sandwich very very good employees are always kind

I love eggs Benedict and that creamy hollandaise sauce with just the right amount of tang to it. I do not like an orange or too thick of a sauce and I do not know which chef makes the sauce but I'd love to have them cook this for me every day. Only available on Sundays makes this dish special. The ham has that perfect amount of sweetness to it without being overly sweet and coupled with the savory sauce I'm in Heaven. The service is always amazing. On Sundays I sit at the counter..especially since Sundays are busy. The ambiance is casual without being too casual. Hot coffee, good food and friendly service is what they are about. I will be back. Also TIp your waitress they work hard. read more

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First off Julie was wonderful at her bar service. She greeted me and was very attentive. The meal I had Philly steak sandwich was delicious. Great drinks and comfortable atmosphere here. This spot is a repeat in demand. read more

The Fruit Yard - Philly steak sandwich - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Modesto, California

Catered 65 people for work. Delivery personnel was super nice. They delivered exactly what I asked for, and arrived 10 minutes early. Everyone loved the food. Would definitely cater from here again. read more

Food was good, fast service, will have to come for dinner. Returned from a small craft pop-up... Was starving tried to think of where to go on that side of town coming from Hughson.. not many choices so we decided on The Fruit Yard... I had 1/2 BLT, fries, fried pickles... my children's grandmother had breakfast... made me want to have breakfast... it's always hard to decide... the BLTA was good, on sourdough... I wanted French onion but they don't have that... oher wise I would have opted for chicken noodle.. they didnt have that either... oh well read more

I am leaving three stars because the food was delicious, and honestly, everyone but our server seemed to be trying really hard. I worked food industry, upscale, foh for twenty years, and let me tell you, the way we were left with zero drinks and uncleared plates is unacceptable. On a buffet day, your one job is to clear plates and keep drinks full. We were never offered our glasses of champagne. Our water glasses were never refilled, we waited probably ten minutes for crab crackers, we even waited twenty minutes with dirty plates and empty glasses for a bill that never came. We finally got up and asked for it at the front desk. I get that holidays are long shifts and a lot of setup. I also get that you're giving up time with your families to be there for us. That being said though, we are spending a lot of money to spend time with ours. We shouldn't be leaving thirsty or disappointed. Why didn't I say this in person you ask? Well, who was I supposed to say it to? The gentleman at the front desk was extremely busy managing the floor and tracking down checks, and our server was nowhere to be found. read more

Me and the wife went here for the Easter Brunch Buffet. The food was absolutely terrible. Salmon wasn't cooked, breaded shrimp was soggy, most of the food was gone, drinks were bad, eggs Benedict had no sauce, prime rib was ok but there was no salt, pepper, or anything on the tables. Waitress was good so they got a 2 star. For $70 a person I would be absolutely embarrassed to serve that quality of food. We gave the waitress and $20 tip for her efforts and had a chat with her about the quality of the food and she confirmed that many people had already complained. Even the crab was bad, they marinated it in some kind of flavor that was incredibly salty. We will never be back again. Kinda sad. Sounded so good on paper. read more

Always great food and wonderful service!! The manager Matt is amazing and always takes care of his customers. The Fruit Yard is our go to for a great meal!! read more

Had dinner with a group of around twenty last night (New Years Eve) and felt ripped off! I ordered the Captains Plate which took longer than I'd expect but it was a busy night, so I didn't mind. The thing I was very disappointed in was the platter itself. Everything on that plate was deep fried... "Are you kidding me?" It looked like everything was deep fried at one time and wasn't all that warm when it came out. I also had the Stuffed Mushrooms as an appetizer, that was a joke also! it tasted pretty good yet here's what I got.... eight mushrooms, one was the size of a silver dollar, one the size of a half dollar and the remaining six the size of quarters, C'mon for the prices they/you charge I was extremely disappointed! I seriously don't recommend this place at all!!! read more

Came by today 4/22/25 for lunch with my son and to just check it out! It's a truck stop essentially with a bakery, deli and a huge BBQ area... every single employee was extremely rude and seemed annoyed we were there. The young woman working the cashier, however was extremely kind and sweet. Apologetic for her co workers and said that she's heard the same comment today... the woman who took our order was rude and was vague at explaining the menu and again, had a horrible attitude. the food we got was not that good. Sandwich was dry and I asked for the "secret sauce" and barley got mayo.. My son got the tri-tip tacos and I got a turkey sandwich. Prob won't be back. read more

The Fruit Yard - Taco Truck Tacos, tri tip - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Modesto, California

Ordered the Sunday bbq combo platter. Comes with chicken, tri tip, ribs, French fries and corn salad. Plate comes, no chicken. They're out of chicken so gave me extra ribs and tri tip. Mind you 3 tiny pieces of tri tip that was like beef jerky! No corn salad. Didn't give me the option to decide if I wanted that with no chicken. Got a baked potato instead of fries. Forgot the potato. Finally got it and they charged me $2.95 extra. Dinner was $120 for 2 ppl and it was sub par. First and last time. read more

We go there a few times every 3 mo. Or so, we were there for thanksgiving this year , it was great, we ate the the buffet , all was delicious drinks were on point , service was great we had an amazing waitress, it was $ 69.99 for the whole meat plus drinks . It beats cooking thanksgiving meal & not to have to deal w the clean up afterwards. We will always come back here , been coming here for 15+ yrs. read more

Always GREAT FOOD. No matter what you pick, you cannot go wrong. They have a large variety for the entire family to find something delicious and tasty. They have vegetarian options as well, along with one of the best salad bars! This restaurant has been a locals favorite since the beginning. When you walk in you feel like family. There is plenty of free and safe regular and ADA parking, unless you park too close to a duck or chickens nest, you may get squawked at by Momma....lol. The staff is always friendly and welcoming. They have a really good bar as well. There are different nights specials. They have a prime rib night, crab and seafood day; Sunday brunches, etc., they always have something good going on so bring your family and enjoy a wonderful meal, among welcoming staff and customers. read more

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Visiting from out of town and had brunch here with family. The outside area has plenty of parking and has a cute garden/pond area around with chickens roaming around. It's next to a huge beautiful park as well. We were greeted and sat down promptly. Our waitress was really kind and attentive-- giving us options and recommendations for the best meals. The portions are big. I got the country fried steak with eggs, toast, fruit. Other items ordered were an omelette with extra crispy hash browns (nice and crispy), an order from the salad bar (lots of options to build your own salad and fruit), and a melt sandwich (not sure name). It was all good and everyone was satisfied with their meal. Would recommend you trying out if considering. Also on the way to the bathroom there's this side room "hidden" bar where they had sports going on, a bar to sit at and tables around. There was a good amount of people. read more