The Sand Trap Bar &amp; Grill

Good pizza and breadsticks, family atmosphere, clean, and most importantly a very friendly staff…read more If you are passing through the area this is a rejuvinating place to pause.

We had such a great experience at Cozaros Family Pizza. The breadsticks, the ambience, and the…read moreservice were all amazing -- you can really tell they care. The owner came out and talked with us and shared the history of the building, which made the Sunday after church "brunch" feel even more special. That personal touch meant a lot. The cheese sticks were incredible. We added chicken and mushrooms, and they were perfectly crispy on the outside, soft in the middle, and full of flavor. So appreciative of such a great local spot. We'll definitely be back.

Dinning

Bread twists

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Special tour.

Pedro's Pizza

3.7(95 reviews)

1.8 mi

Came after an interview (wish me luck)! Reminds me of the pizza place we use to have in my home…read moretown :) good to know Chowchilla has a homey pizza anyone can come down and enjoy. Ambiance is nice, workers are educated and diligent to their craft. Would recommend their combo + Hawaiian pizza. Didn't try their other stuff but I Imagine it's tasty. Great job!

Great service great food. They have Mexican cuisine, pizza, hamburgers, and sandwiches. It's cozy…read moreand a tad warm from the ovens and grills going on, but worth the wait.

Current menu as of 08/10/2026

Hawaiian Pizza

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Menu

Mountain Mike's Pizza

3.5(24 reviews)

0.9 mi

I stopped here on my way from Yosemite back to LA and wanted to pick up dinner on the way home. I…read morecalled ahead, placed my order, and they told me my order would be ready in 20 minutes. I arrived in 10, and told me my order would be done in 5! The pizza tasted phenomenal. The crust was crispy with a perfect thickness of dough - not too thin or thick, and very light. We ordered 3 cups of ranch, but they only gave us 2 initially - so they made up for it by bringing out an extra one. So kind of the staff. We also got checked on 4 times by the cook and one of the servers, I was so impressed by the level of service for a pizza chain. In terms of ambiance, the place was super clean! They had 4 TVs with multiple forms of content so there was a little bit for everyone. There was a great kid area with arcade games, as well as an indoor merry go round. Our server had a ladybug painted on her face, and she let us know that every weekend they have someone come in to do face painting for kids! It also looked like they had leftover Halloween decor and I saw a sign saying "Cowboy Christmas" so it was great to see how involved this Mountain Mike's is in the community. My only feedback was there was no soap on the bathroom but that is easily fixable :) thank you for a great tasting pizza and a relaxing pitstop on the way home!

Order and paid for xtra cheese but pizza did not have xtra cheese and it was dry and tasted oldpaid…read more35$ will not return

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Little Caesars

1.9(36 reviews)

1.0 mi

Gabi was super helpful and has great customer service skills helped me over the phone with all my…read morequestions very pleased with my experience Gabi is the best

Went around noon and the young man working was very helpful and respectful. The food was as good as…read moreit gets for a 10$ pizza. He made sure it was fresh, 8/10 good service

Flat bread sticks!

Very disappointing! This is not quality.

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Worse deep deep dish ever!!!!!!

Little Oven Pizza

4.6(567 reviews)

18.5 mi

Tucked away in Merced, this little pizza shack delivers legit New York-style pizza by the slice…read morewithout trying too hard to be "authentic" every five seconds. The slices are large, around $4.50 each, and worth it. I tried the pepperoni and the Tucci special -- roasted tomatoes, pesto, and ricotta -- and that one absolutely stole the show. Simple combo, big flavor. The inside is definitely on the smaller side, so don't expect a big dine-in experience, but the staff was friendly and the food came out fast. Great spot when you want a solid slice without the usual mall-food-court disappointment pretending to be pizza.

This spot has very minimal seating. It's more of a takeout place…read more However, the cheese pizza here is actually really good. It reminds me of New York style pizza. There's a bunch of cheese and they don't overdo it on the sauce. I also tried the Papas Island pizza personally, it was not for me. However, if you're into like sweet and savory together, I think it would be a good pizza for you. I didn't get to take a picture of the pizzas, but the slices were really big. Also, the staff is super nice here which is a bonus and they are quick. They had a line out the door and they were able to quickly get everyone's pizzas. I would totally come here again!

Menu

Manco slice - Mushrooms, bacon, and mozzarella

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Premier Brick Oven Pizza

4.4(247 reviews)

14.5 mi

Came on a lazy Sunday for a quick lunch. Called and ordered pizza to be ready for dine in with…read moreSally. She spoke clearly, was friendly and repeated the order back to me, understanding we would be here in 30 minutes. We arrived just as the pizza was coming out of the oven! As ALWAYS, friendly service with a smile! Pizza order was ham, olives, fresh mushroom, and pineapple with red sauce. It was so delicious!!! We love brick oven pizza, especially at Premier in Madera!

I've had a hard time finding a good garlic chicken pizza in San Diego so whenever I travel I look…read moreup local pizza spots to check their menus. I was excited to see that this one offers a garlic chicken pizza and even more excited that it was delicious! I'm not a fan of thin crusts so I couldn't have been happier with the fluffy dough of this pizza. The pizza comes with mushrooms and onions but I skipped both and stuck to just chicken and tomato. Perfection!

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Unsanitary kitchen. Disgusting.

Farnesi's Steakhouse

3.4(203 reviews)

1.4 mi

First things First. The servers were very nice and pleasant. 2nd, the recommended medium rare prime…read morerib was tough and chewy. The prime rib was more like choice or select rib. Everything else that came with the meal was about as satisfying as the meat. My iced tea was never topped off. The building was in decent shape however the parking lot was rutted out dirt mostly. Location is good in terms of visibility from the frwy. Bottom line is someone else should own and run this place. I believe it was once a thriving restaurant but not anymore. PS. Based on the other steller reviews I must have caught them on an bad day.

Very old style; food is just okay not great or bad. Won't be in a top choice for me to eat thereread more

Dinning Room

Fish Tacos

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Bloody Mary Shrimp

Chowchilla Taco Shop

3.7(21 reviews)

2.3 mi

They don't have an inside dining area, however they do have a patio area, which is on a beautiful…read moreday such as today, nice to seat and eat your food while still hot. The service was good, was very knowledgeable, Oder didn't take long and the food was hot and it was good. I got the Asada Tacos

4 tacos.. they can each be different…read more SUPER DUPER FRIGGING GOOD!! GREAT service, super CLEAN. If we lived here, we would come every day.

Chili-verde plate.

Asada taco special lettuce on the side.

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Chowchilla Taco Shop

Two Guys Pizza Pies

4.3(529 reviews)

49.6 mi

They are a great place for pizza. The people are fantastic customer service. We love Jimmy. He…read morehelped us with our fundraiser (Love & Mercy Kid Horse Rescue).

We had a great experience at Two Guys Pizza Pies! We ordered a cheese pizza and a BBQ chicken pizza…read morethrough the Facebook menu. There was a small technology issue with the online ordering and when we arrived to pick up our pizzas, the staff hadn't prepared one pizza because they wanted to clarify a minor ingredient that could have been included or left off. They attempted to call me back several times but unfortunately my phone had no signal. Even though we had to wait about 15 extra minutes upon arriveal for pickup, I really appreciated that they took the time to confirm the order rather than making assumptions. That level of care is important especially for customers who may have food allergies or dietary restrictions. The customer service was excellent and the pizzas were absolutely delicious. Hard working and nice crew in the back, I like how you can see the team prepping and cooking and working hard. Our whole family and friends loved both the cheese and BBQ chicken pizzas. We'll definitely be back. Thank you for putting your customers first!

Salad bar

Turkey and mozzarella sub

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Family salad

Pizza Factory

We stooped here to grab a quick lunch. The mini cheese pizza was great. The pizza has the right…read moreamount of browning of the cheese and the crust was perfectly cooked . The mozzarella sticks great and the meat mariners was delish. The service was quick, the restrooms clean. We will be back when we are in the area !

Terrible service. I called in an order for a sandwich for pick up. When I arrived 30 minutes after…read moreI placed the order I still had to wait 10-20 for my sandwhich to be made so 1 hour total for a sandwhich and when I got my drink there was a bug in it. After I brought this to the manager they said they would refund me but did not refund me. My card was still charged. DO NOT GO HERE!!!!!!!

Things to do in Chowchilla

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Gabrielle R.

0

8

0

2 years ago

Love this place. Always a good place to stop by for lunch and a drink. The staff is super friendly, as well! I like going on Wednesdays, because they have wine and whiskey specials. read more

The Sand Trap Bar & Grill - bars - Updated August 2026

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4.4

(174 reviews)

Great food and service! Some of our favorites are their brussel sprouts, fish tacos, clam chowder,…read moresteak bites, and mixed drinks!

Locally owned neighborhood bar and grill. The food is simple and tasty. The waitress was friendly…read moreand chatty. The only setback was the long wait for some hot water after everyone else had their drinks.

Trankis Restaurant

4.0

(24 reviews)

Had the breakfast burrito it was amazing the burger is bomb too 100% recommend this placeread more

Terrible service. Waited an hour and a half at the table only to find out our waitress never put in…read moreour order and went on break. I'd give zero stars of if I could. Don't waste your time.

Bella Luna

4.0

(649 reviews)

Bread is freshly baked and yum but not complimentary. Meatballs appetizer is tasty, comes with 4…read morebig meatballs. Combo: half salad and half sandwich are limited to a few options only. Asked the waiter if I can pay extra to select a different salad on the menu and they said No. Pasta is great, salad is average, the beet salad plate was cold, seems like it came straight from the fridge. Pizza took very long to make, it came towards the end of our meal. The waiter gave us some free fries and soups to make up the long wait time. Overall it's not a bad experience, I would go back for pasta dishes only.

We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food and service at Bella Luna. My wife and I…read moreare light eaters and enjoy sharing. We started off with the steamed mussels which were excellent - large meaty mussels in a roasted tomato garlic broth. The broth was so good we both spooned it down long after the mussels were gone. This was followed by the beet salad which was the classic pairing of bitter arugula with the sweet beets. The crab and lobster ravioli as our main course didn't disappoint - lots of sweet crab and lobster meat stuffed into each ravioli, all draped with a creamy rich sauce. We topped off our meal with another classic - crunchy cannoli fingers. Mmm, good! Our friendly server gave us excellent wine service and food suggestions. The back dining room was cheerfully noisy and gave off the vibe of eating at your Italian Grandmother's house. We had a great time, highly recommended.

The Tap House

3.8

(156 reviews)

Service was great. Waitress was very attentive and asked multiple times if we needed anything else…read more Food was great. We tried a new hot honey pizza. Spicy and sweet at the same time. Mozzarella sticks are always a must. We got the mango habanero wings and those were also spicy and sweet. Everything was a 10/10 The lady marmalade is a must try if you like a sweet savory seltzer.

Let me start with customer service.. The server is too sweet makes amazing recommendations.. her…read morename was Danielle!! She didn't get any of the orders wrong, was quick to wait on people and. Lean up after them. She gave great explanations of specials and really was quite welcoming and a believer in the beverages and food items sold. 5/5 rating for customer service!! The food was typical bar fare for me. But she made it taste better! I will say whoever was frying the food not only had the perfect temp on the fried food choices but also perfect timing. Everything was super crunchy and perfectly salty! This is hard to do, definitely wasn't expected at all place like this!!! Perfectly frying and salting food 5/5 She recommended the pomegranate beer and it was delicious!! It was crisp, floral, lightly sweet, bubbly and everything she promised it would be!! We ordered several items to share. All items ordered were based off her recommendation.. Wings: Fried to perfect texture.. flavor was ok.. the texture made them taste better!!!!! Fries: perfectly crispy on the outside stood up to both time and being dipped while remaining crunchy!! Perfectly salted also! Nothing sucks more than getting a fry that isn't salted! Italian nachos: we were all hesitant about this order. The pesto was a perfect addition it it was actually delicious! I've made this at home since!! Would I return? Her customer service knocked it out of the park for me! The place was incredibly busy and she multitasks like no other! She didn't forget a single thing, was hustling and kept the place very clean all by herself! The perfect fry for average flavor food made it better!!! HELL YES!!

Rainbird

4.3

(214 reviews)

•$$$$

Food is fresh and locally sourced. Ate all of my meals here while in town. The service is good and…read morebeautiful dining room. The only thing I would add (and it doesn't remove anything from my review) is if you are going to be recognized for the wine list from Wine Spectator, then you should have a better by the glass selection. small detail but completes the experience.

Celebrating my birthday. We decided to give Rainbird a try. From the valet parking, the hostess and…read morewait staff were all friendly and seemed happy to help. For starters we had the pork belly app with bread and honey ricotta spread. Both were amazing! Best pork belly we have ever had. Then I had the scallops and my child had duck confit! We were trading bites and with our plates half cleared, we realized we never got a photo. I had lemon tiramasu and they had Strawberry shortcake. Great flavor! There was also a double bourbon and a latte in there somewhere. I wanted to try everything on the menu and should have had some wine. There will have to be a next time, and another next time. The dining room was modern and clean. The experience was great and glad that Merced finally has fine dining.

Scotts Diner

4.6

(357 reviews)

Scott's Diner in Merced is always a win, and today was no exception. We were on our way to a hike…read morein Mariposa and wanted a Mexican breakfast that would actually power us through the trail--Scott's delivered in every way. We asked if they could do a special order: a burrito deconstructed, with over-easy eggs and the tortillas on the side. They were totally accommodating, and it was exactly what I was craving--fresh, filling, and seriously delicious. I went for the blueberry pancakes, and wow: they were enormous, fluffy, packed with real blueberries, and basically the perfect pre-hike fuel. And the coffee? Amazing, as always. I meant to take a picture of my food, but honestly I accidentally didn't--because everything looked so good that I dug in immediately. And even without the photo evidence, the presentation and plating were incredible, just like they always are. This place has my heart. I'd give it a hundred stars if I could--highly, highly recommend.

Hole in the wall local place near the more southern area of hotels in Merced, and a welcome break…read morefrom mediocre hotel breakfast. Staff here are friendly, there's a solid bit of history and kitsch in the very back on the way to the restrooms, giving character to what is otherwise a decidedly local, low-frills experience. The steak salad (was it a steak taco salad?) looked quite tasty but also ordinary so I skipped it and stuck with breakfast; the sausage and eggs were very much unremarkable, but at least the hashbrowns were nicely pan fried and the eggs were a large portion. Biscuit and gravy reinforced the former impression, but again, hard to complain-- did the job. This place is super affordable and the overall verdict is a solid local place that's easy to appreciate but hard for me to say I would actually get excited about.

Pedro's Pizza

3.7

(95 reviews)

Came after an interview (wish me luck)! Reminds me of the pizza place we use to have in my home…read moretown :) good to know Chowchilla has a homey pizza anyone can come down and enjoy. Ambiance is nice, workers are educated and diligent to their craft. Would recommend their combo + Hawaiian pizza. Didn't try their other stuff but I Imagine it's tasty. Great job!

Great service great food. They have Mexican cuisine, pizza, hamburgers, and sandwiches. It's cozy…read moreand a tad warm from the ovens and grills going on, but worth the wait.

Tacos & Beers

3.5

(26 reviews)

First time here.. I moved to Madera 4 months ago.. The server was good.. the sushi was amazing!!…read moreThe Music was a little loud.. when we walked in.. BUT got use to it.. Thank you for the great experienceI'll be back for sure!

Food is delicious service is good very friendly, beer is delicious playing pool watching the…read moregames on television

The Vineyard Restaurant & Bar

4.0

(403 reviews)

Found another Central Valley gem! If you're ever in Madera,…read moredo yourself a favor and check out The Vineyard! They serve up dishes made fresh with quality, mostly locally grown ingredients -- and it shows! Tried their lamb shank and OH BOY... fall-off-the-bone tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. You can literally taste the freshness. #CentralValleyEats #FoodieFind #MaderaEats #SupportLocal #FarmToFork #HiddenGem #FreshAndTasty #TheVineyardMadera #FoodieAdventure Meat lovers, don't sleep on this one! Tender, juicy, unforgettable. Bonus: Cozy vibes and friendly service -- what more could you ask for? 10/10 would go back! Forks up!

Service is generally quite good. The ambiance is okay. The restaurant is dark, old, and lacks a…read morecertain decorum. The bar is light, well stomached, and feels cozier. Lunchtime is my favorite time at this restaurant. The food selections are great. Dinner is not as good as I had hoped. The desserts are lacking in visual presentation.

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