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1404 De La Vina Street (Inside the Upham Hotel) (805) 963-7003

It is mid afternoon, a time when most restaurants are either closed or dead quiet, but at Fresco a steady stream of customers flows in, checking out the daily specials, ordering cakes for parties, (try the cupcakes!) settling down on the terrace with their favorite salad or sandwich. Come at mealtime, and the place is invariably abuzz. Fresco’s recipe for continued success – they recently celebrated their 15th anniversary and have more than tripled their initial size, is simple: serve good food at affordable prices in a relaxed, casual setting. Everything is homemade, and the kitchen remains open from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm. Breakfast offers a streamlined selection of egg sandwiches, fruits, potatoes, and pastries, while daily lunch and dinner specials complement the long list of gourmet salads, sandwiches, burgers, and wraps.

“Our menu is pretty eclectic,” says owner Jesse Brouillard, who bought the restaurant from his parents Mark and Jill when they moved to Reno in 2004. “There is Italian influence, but our food really reflects the multicultural reality of California. We are known for our Caesar Salad and Eggplant Parmesan, but people also come for our BBQ Ribs, our Tortilla Soup, our Fried Chicken, and for Fish & Chips Friday, a nod to our Catholic family. We also have a catering menu that offers great value. You can get more upscale dining, but I don’t think you can get better food for the price anywhere in town. We definitely don’t skimp on the quality of our ingredients. We would rather have a lower profit margin and take good care of our customers. It builds loyalty.” Fresco is located at 3987-B State St. in the 5-Points Shopping Center. 805-967-6037. – By Laurence Hauben. Photos by Lindsey Eltinge.

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