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Elbow Room Bar & Grill - Steakhouse in Fresno, California

Elbow Room Bar & Grill

4.4 (1616 reviews)

731 W San Jose Ave, Fresno, CA 93704

American restaurant

About Elbow Room Bar & Grill - steak house in Fresno, California

Restaurant serving casual American fare with a covered patio for outdoor dining & a full bar.

Customer Review Summary

Mixed reviews for Elbow Room Bar & Grill. One diner experienced severe issues with undercooked barbecue prawns, leading to food safety concerns. However, others praised the food quality, highlighting dishes like salmon salad, ribeye, and lobster tail. Service received consistent accolades for being attentive and professional, especially during large gatherings. Ambiance is frequently commended, described as sophisticated yet friendly. Desserts like banana bread pudding were standout hits. The restaurant is considered a beloved institution in Fresno, with many patrons eager to return. Overall, the Elbow Room offers a solid dining experience with noted variability in food preparation.

Key Features

Service options

  • Outdoor seating
  • No-contact delivery
  • Delivery
  • Onsite services
  • Takeout
  • Dine-in

Highlights

  • Fast service
  • Fireplace
  • Great beer selection
  • Great cocktails
  • Great dessert
  • Great wine list
  • Sports

Popular for

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Solo dining

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Wheelchair accessible restroom
  • Wheelchair accessible seating

Offerings

  • Alcohol
  • Beer
  • Cocktails
  • Coffee
  • Comfort food
  • Food
  • Happy hour drinks
  • Hard liquor
  • Healthy options
  • Late-night food
  • Small plates
  • Wine

Dining options

  • Breakfast
  • Brunch
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Dessert
  • Seating

Amenities

  • Bar onsite
  • Restroom
  • Wi-Fi

Atmosphere

  • Casual
  • Cozy
  • Trendy
  • Upscale

Crowd

  • Family-friendly
  • Groups
  • Tourists

Planning

  • Dinner reservations recommended
  • Accepts reservations

Payments

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • NFC mobile payments

Children

  • Good for kids
  • High chairs
  • Kids' menu

Parking

  • Free parking lot
  • Free street parking

Pets

  • Dogs allowed outside

Customer Reviews

Rating Distribution

4.4 out of 5
5
1081
4
320
3
120
2
38
1
57
Based on 1616 reviews

Leah Cordello

3 months ago

Reads delicious on the menu, arrives basic at the table. Ordered the barbecue prawns. I ate one (ew disgusting 🤢) it was undercooked, close to raw. I sent them back to be fully cooked, the waitress said they would make a new plate and apologized. The second round was barely cooked more than the first time. Because it was a company Christmas dinner, I decided to take it to go and cook them when I got home. I didn't sleep well thinking I was going to be sick. When I woke up I thought I'd give them a second chance and turn them into an omelette, they looked the same, slimy and undercooked (it's hard to come back from that) I fed them to the Raven's, they loved it!.

José Virrueta

5 months ago

Today I had the opportunity to dine at The Elbow Room with a couple colleagues whom I met for lunch. I had not visited The Elbow Room in a while so it was refreshing to come back in for some good food. The dish I had---salmon salad, was very tasty and looked appetizing. The food came out on time and our server was very attentive. Kudos to The Elbow Room Team. I strongly recommend The Elbow Room for anyone looking for good good, great ambiance and great service. I'll be back again soon.

Chris Dellis

9 months ago

Unbeatable Ribeye! Good hunk of Lobster Tale! All the deserts were super yummy! Tried banana bread pudding w/vanilla bean ice cream on top. Tastiest dessert I’ve had in a long while, straight delectable. Party of five on a busy Saturday night with exceptional service by Joanne. Bravo! Well done!

Gerald Zellner

8 months ago

Aged ribeye for me and scallops for my wife. Heavy salt but a quality steak cooked to order. Wife was hungry but we might have been too far from the scallop harvest. She said they were a little stringy. Great waitress and quiet and relaxed Friday evening. We ate everything.

K Yang

The service for dinner was perfect for a party of 10. We had reservations, and we sat in the covered area. It was cold at the beginning but got really warm with the heaters and cocktails. The server lowered the heater, and it was perfect. Again, the service was amazing. I forgot my credit card after I paid and when I called the next day, they had it. I picked it up with no issues. Very professional place. Food and drinks were good too.

Christine Kehr

9 months ago

According to its website, the Elbow Room is an iconic Central California restaurant that first opened in 1955. I’ve been to the Elbow Room several times since the 1980s and love this Fresno institution. I love the sophisticated but friendly ambience of the restaurant. We were there to celebrate a birthday. My dining companion ordered the 8 oz center cut filet mignonette served with garlic mashed potatoes and haricots verts. Since we were celebrating, she started with a dirty martini on the rocks. I ordered the chicken club panini on toasted sourdough with smoked bacon, pesto aioli, Harvarti cheese, and tomatoes. Both were delicious. I highly recommend the Elbow Room for a very pleasant dining experience.

Rocky Singh

8 months ago

Great ambiance with a very professional and friendly service. The steak sandwich is their trademark menu item, and it is recommended. Impressive drinks menu.

Poppy Laine

When I lived in Fresno for 33 years, I never went to the Elbow Room to eat at all, but now that I come home to visit family and friends I really enjoy the appetizers and cocktails here. I love that the patio is comfortable and dog friendly. The staff is always so genuine and I enjoy stopping by after my hair appointment.

Location

Contact Information

Hours of Operation

Friday 11 AM–10 PM
Monday 11 AM–8:30 PM
Saturday 10 AM–10 PM
Sunday 10 AM–8:30 PM
Thursday 11 AM–9:30 PM
Tuesday 11 AM–8:30 PM
Wednesday 11 AM–9:30 PM

Price Range

$$$