Finally to the chance to come over here after seeing it for almost 30 years. My grandparents have lived in Fresno my whole life and we went to the bakery everyday for coffee so I remember being a small kid and wondering what "Elbow Room" meant. I had made a reservation for my mom and I to come by while I was on a work trip. We got a hamburger with a salad and a prime rib with green beans and split it between the both of us and everything was literally so good! The prime rib was perfectly rare, had a nice seasoned bark, and tender, served with a healthy amount of creamy horseradish on the side. The green beans were obviously fresh and firm, plus were well seasoned. My mom was late to the dinner so the staff did continue to check on my while I was waiting for her. I ordered bread and butter while waiting (also amazing) and I appreciate their care. Very friendly, very nice. I wish I could come back more often. read more

My husband and I went to the Wlbow to celebrate my birthday. We ordered Steak Bites and Brussel Sprouts for appetizers. The steak bites were tossed in a soy sauce and laying on a bed of red cabbage and had green onions and sesame seeds on top. The Brussel sprouts were roasted and sitting on top of a whipped goat cheese with a bourbon glaze on top! I think the sprouts were out favorite! I had a Peruvian dish called the Lima Saltaldo and he had the Prime Rib with green beans and mash potatoes. For dessert we had the Crème Brûlée. One thing to note is if you order your steak make sure you ordered it a temp above how you like it. For example if you like Medium Rare order it medium. Apparently they cook their steak a step down. My husband eats his steak medium rare and they brought it out rare. He wasn't thrilled about that, but said the meal was still good. Ambiance is nice, you can go casual and or dressed up for your meal. The Elbow room does make you feel like you step back into a classics steak house. read more

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This is a local favorite located in the center of Fresno. I didn't know what to expect walking in being that it was my first time. It's not a steakhouse but above a chain restaurant. It's causal but cool. Whenever we don't have our children we like to sit at the bar. I ordered their seasonal cocktail (it was valentines week). It was good but very sweet. My husband ordered the tritip sandwich and I got the shrimp scampi. My scampi was a little dry for my liking. But overall good, when I come back I'll definitely try something else. read more

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Been a little bit since our last visit. Decided to come back here vs. other spots because of predictability (last time wasn't stellar). Decided to get the open face steak sandwich, split. With 1/2 fries and onion rings. Went with the calamari as an app. Let me just say, this will be my go to app! Great flavor not rubbery at all! This is a must try! Steak sandwich was very good! Just look at the pics! Drinks were equally good. Server was on it! I always ask for a booth, and we get it. The vibe is great! read more

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This place is always packed! We went this past weekend and it never fails. I've taken a liking to the clam chowder and have ordered it the last two times. It's very rich and full of flavor. I just get the cup but the bowl would be a nice meal itself. The Caesar salad is great too and such a good portion size. My husband and I split a prime rib French dip sandwich and it was definitely more than enough! The meat was stacked so high, you almost have to unhinge your jaw. It's so good! They get the bread from a bakery close by, La Boulangerie, they use it to make their croutons too! The au jus that comes with the sandwich is so good too. We decided on the half half fried and onion rings, extra crispy! Highly recommend! read more

I was craving a steak and this came up as a suggestion. We were seated outside at a high top table. Noise is a little loud for a Saturday night but that's expected. Service was good even though it was busy. We ordered the calamari as our appetizer and it came with a salad that helped cut the oil from the deep frying. Really good. I ordered the steak sandwich and my bf ordered the 14 oz dry age steak. I would come back just for the jalapeño cheese bread alone. It was more of the star of the dish than the steak. This was our first time trying dry age steak so I can say it's not for me but I can see how some people might like it. read more

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This place is huge ! Couldn't tell from the outside but there's a small market inside that sells wines, whiskies and cheeses along with some of their aged steaks. There's seating inside, a bar and then a huge patio seating, in fact there's even 2 outdoor patios. We dined in on New Year's Eve. Arrived about half an hour earlier than our reservation time and got seated right away and had the nicest waitress. I ordered the Fig Garden Antipasto and it was nice to chat while munching on this charcuterie board. It does not come with enough crackers but we asked for more and there wasn't an extra charge. For food i ordered the Lomo Saltado, a Peruvian steak dish with lots of veggies with a side of rice it was sooo tender! Surprise fries on the bottom of the steaks and it was my favorite part of the dish Not pictured is the shrimp ceviche, insanely fresh and limey, huge portion as well. read more

Elbow Room - LOMO SALTADO - New American Near Me - Fresno, California

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ELBOW ROOM LEFT NO CRUMBS, literally!!!! I'm from the Bay Area, so I had my reservations about the Fresno food scene, but boy did Elbow Room come correct. I WISH I lived closer because this would become a staple place to go for casual date nights, birthdays, get together, etc. The service was AMAZING!! We came for a date night while in town visiting friends and had our 3 month old and stroller with us. The staff was so kind, helped us keep our stroller out the way and offered a sling to keep out car seat at the table with us. Everything was so smooth and even better than I imagined for bringing a baby to eat dinner with us at a restaurant. I asked for hot water and the waiter instantly knew it was for a bottle for the baby and he was so kind and brought some out right away. I wish I got his name, seriously great customer service the entire night! The vibe is homey but not casual. It has more class, taste and elegance. You can choose to be as laid back as the brews on the menu or treat yourself to some dry aged steaks and prime rib. There really is something for everyone. Everything we tried was fantastic, delicious, perfectly seasoned and came out hot. The sourdough appetizer with garlic and butter was demolished. The prime rib was juicy, tender and hit the spot. All the sides were delicious and we were so surprised how delicious the pork chop was!! Honestly, 10/10!! Elbow Room, you're a true gem. Love yaaaa, xoxo. read more

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It was probably the best food I've ever had. The service was amazing, and the whole overall experience was top level. The ambiance was 10/10 will definitely be back again. The portobello mushrooms were fantastic read more

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really cant wrong with this place, been around for years. love the decor here, love the inside dining and outside dining options as well. ordered a few times here with getting the salmon with grilled asparagus and mac and cheese. also got the meatloaf plate, pork chop plate, and jalapeno cheese bread read more

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The food always tastes good the service was fast and very experienced and well the ambience was very cozy as they had their patio heaters on it's very warm and comfortable. We love eating here read more

Elbow Room - Chicken Milanese sandwich - New American Near Me - Fresno, California

The creme brulee is amazing here! The staff are genuinely kind, service is always great. Love there patio, nice ambiance. Oh and they are super dog friendly, I frequently walk my dog to this spot. They usually give a dog bowl of water and sometimes bacon treats. This is probably my dogs favorite spot too lol read more

Elbow Room - Creme brulee - New American Near Me - Fresno, California

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The service was great. It was Mother's Day evening and our server was so energetic and positive even after a busy day. The food was delicious and plentiful. Too bad that we don't live here anymore. I'd be there all the time. read more

So Zack our Uber driver recommended this place to eat before the Y n T concert. While we were in line to check in we met a couple they seemed like regulars. I asked is this a good place to eat. They said it's great and the service was always good. As they were checking in they said to the hostess to take care of us because it was our first time. We were seated in a nice booth our server was Cole. Let me say he was real busy. He was on his game. Cole is a top shelf server. Very attentive to us. Let's talk about the food. We ordered the ribeye and the salmon our sides were portobello mushrooms SO DANG GOOD,whipped potatoes, green beans and little roasted potatoes. Man was the food so good. Off the hook. There was a blond lady that was running the place she is very efficient coordinating everything. I made Cole this rose. So the couple that we met earlier were sitting in a booth stopped me and asked me how was it and I told them great, that every thing was great. I smoke a cigarette out side and Heather was supposed to be coming out. She never showed up I went back in and the couple stopped her. They had me sit down their names were Jim and Maria I made her a little white rose. They are coming to Vegas soon. We will meet up with them when they do. Let's just say this place on a scale of 1 to 10 I'm giving this place a 10. The bathroom was very clean. It's a must experience to enjoy in Fresno. Cole enjoy the rose I appreciate you. That rose is to show you how much I appreciate you. See you next time we're in Fresno. THANK YOU read more

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First time,dining and it was a fantastic experience. Connor was our waiter. He was excellent. Food was fantastic the atmosphere was amazing. We sat out by the patio area and it was so nice and fresh out. There would definitely go back. Drinks were spot on. read more

Elbow Room - Creole Shrimp Etouffee - New American Near Me - Fresno, California

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I've visited twice now to try different menu items, and most of what we ordered was good. The Mexican shrimp wasn't very fresh, but being in Fresno, fresh seafood can be hard to come by. However, the steak open sandwich and the hamburger were delicious. The steak portion on the sandwich was quite generous. The service was warm and attentive, and the ambience was casual classy. Overall, it's a lovely spot for a gathering with friends. read more

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I'll start off by saying OMG!! The amount of fruit fly's was overwhelming. Me and my husband and another couple that was sitting next to us were constantly swatting fruit flys away, let's say it got annoying after an hour. I really wanted to have a fun Cinco De Mayo but my Espresso martini's were only a 3/4 filled glass. I typically get a nice starter buzz after 1 but today I drank 3 Espresso's and I felt nothing lol $45 later. Our bartender was the older Hispanic man and his personality was dryer than the Sahara Desert. Needless to say it'll be a while before we come back. Hopefully they take care of the fruit fly problem. read more

The deviled eggs are absolutely delicious, if you're a fan of deviled eggs they are a must order! The French dip was good but would have loved a little creamy horseradish. The aged open faced sandwich was not our cup of tea but extremely tender. Our server was bubbly and kind! read more

Elbow Room - New American Near Me - Fresno, California

We tried this legendary place based on good reviews from friends at home. Our server was excellent - friendly and competent. We were a little disappointed that the steaks and French dip didn't have more flavor. I asked for the creamy horseradish and it still didn't have enough kick to boost the French dip. We had an opportunity to go back the next night with other friends traveling with us but chose to skip it. read more

Came here with no reservations at 8pm on a Wed pm, but did call first and was told they could squeeze us in! The bar/restaurant has these cozy, old school vibes! For an app, we got their mango avocado crab cocktail, which was good. And for dinner, I got their coconut mango Alaskan halibut, this is a MUST try! Sooo good, it comes with a yummy coconut sweet curry sauce, veges and a mango relish. My colleague got their steak-I forgot to ask if he liked it, but the plate was empty, so pretty sure he did! We didn't get dessert, but I know what I will get the next time I come here....their bourbon banana bread pudding! read more

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Came by for lunch with my family. It's a cool restaurant once inside. A little dark but sets a mood. The outdoor patio is more the vibe for lunch which is where we sat. I appreciate the misters and fans because everyone knows the Central Valley summers are brutal. Service was good no complaints. Food came rather quickly for them being busy. I tried the prime rib dip sandwich and fries. The fries are perfect, crispy and soft. Also their ranch was great. The meat of the sandwich was very tender and the bread was great. It did lack seasoning and definitely needed some salt. The au jus was bland as well. I also tried the side Cesar salad and it was a little overdressed. Overall it was good and I'd give it another try. read more

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Food was excellent. Cole as a waiter was amazing. Will be back again when in Fresno. Thank you team. Try the aged steak. Brussels sprouts were a hit and drink menu was on point. read more

Elbow Room is one of those Fresno institutions that somehow feels both timeless and fresh every time you walk in. I stopped in for a midweek lunch and walked out already planning my next visit. I ordered the salmon Caesar salad, and let me tell you, it exceeded expectations. The salmon was beautifully grilled with a light char on the outside and a perfectly moist, flaky center. The Caesar dressing had that tangy, garlicky bite I crave, and the croutons were crunchy perfection, not the sad, stale cubes you get at other spots. Bonus points for the generous parmesan shavings. The service was exactly what you hope for during a lunch break: warm, efficient, and just attentive enough. Atmosphere-wise, Elbow Room has that classic Central Valley charm, upscale without trying too hard. The patio was buzzing, the dining room had a relaxed energy, and the bar was doing steady midday business. Whether you're having a casual bite or entertaining out-of-towners, it hits the mark. Elbow Room stands tall in Fresno's dining scene. read more

Elbow Room - Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad, SALMON SALAD, Clam Chowder Bowl, and Small Caesar Salad - New American Near Me - Fresno, California

Wow! What a fantastic lunch we had at Elbow Room. We were seated right away without a reservation though it's clear this is a very popular restaurant and bar. There are several different areas to eat and drink, and even a shop inside to pick up some wine to take home. No regrets on our choices of. The Mango, Avocado, Crab salad (with micro cilantro, edamame, cucumber, radish, spicy ponzu and wontons) was fantastic. Unique and refreshing. I want this again on a hot summer say with an icy drink. My husband's Steak Sandwich was open faced, with an 8oz filet cooked a perfect med-rare on top of jalapeno cheese bread. The bite I had was wonderful, and he loved it. He did a split onion rings/fries side. Onion rings were very good, fries were just okay. I will definitely be back to try more items on the menu, and next time some cocktails, which looked very classic. read more

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I hesitated to write this because I've always had positive experiences here in the past. The food has consistently been great, the staff has been warm and attentive, and I've never run into any problems before this visit. A few weeks ago, my husband and I were having an early lunch when I heard loud yelling. I saw a young woman, who appeared to be a server, leaving in tears while someone who seemed to be a manager shouted across the restaurant telling her to "get the f*** out," along with other obscenities. It was extremely uncomfortable to witness and created an awkward atmosphere for everyone dining. I asked our server what had happened because it was so startling, and they mentioned the employee had likely been fired. I understand that terminations can be difficult, but handling it publicly and in that manner felt inappropriate and unprofessional. I truly hope this was an isolated incident. I've enjoyed coming here for drinks and dinners with friends, but the situation was upsetting enough that it has made me reconsider returning. read more

We reserved a table for 12 the celebrate a friend's retirement in the smaller enclosed patio to the left when you enter. It was air conditioned and nicely decorated. We had the room to ourselves for about an hour. After that, a couple of noisy families had been seated. We were loud ourselves so it worked out just fine. We ordered a variety of dishes and were able to get individual tickets for easy payment. Everyone loved their food, no complaints. My clam chowder had a generous amount of clams, pretty delicious. I also ordered the meat and cheese plate. Don't be fooled by the basic description; this plate is a gem if you want something low carb. But the star of this visit was our server. I regret not remembering her name. But really, services has always been five star whenever I visit. You really can't go wrong at the Elbow Room. Thanks for another great meal!! read more

I was initially there for after work drinks which was fine (we were on the patio at that time and the service wasn't good). Afterwards I went to the patio for dinner and sat at the bar. The service was great at the bar, she provided excellent service. The food was absolutely horrible. I got the steak and shrimp with the grilled asparagus and fingerling potatoes. The only thing that was good were the potatoes. The asparagus was overcooked, the steak was overcooked and very salty, and the shrimp ok. The food tasted like a low budget steakhouse but the price was anything but low!! I wished I took a picture but I didn't. I used to eat here from time to time but I think if I come back it would only be for drinks on the patio. I was extremely disappointed!! Again the food tasted like something I would have gotten at like a happy steak in the 80's. read more

Today's Shepherds Pie a disappointment! Mashed potatoes on side of ground lamb & vegies...a lazy cook's shepherds pie. Eye appeal not good. Mashed potatoes tasted like instant powder mashed potatoes. Meat not bad, but not exceptional. Sad. I was expecting something better. read more

Elbow Room - New American Near Me - Fresno, California

Debbie & Daniel are incredible; they went above and beyond with their service! Debbie is such an incredible waitress, knowledgeable and with great character! The food was delicious along with the atmosphere. Will be returning! Thank you for amazing service! read more

OMG! the ceviche at the elbow room it is to die for!!! the taste was fingers liking good! read more

5 Star Service: First off shout out to our server William who completely turned this review around. He was attentive and very friendly. 1 Star for Front house (hostesses) were very rude. Multiple ladies were up front and walking by and no one acknowledged the groups of people waiting. When we were finally acknowledged the main hostesses made faces when I asked to be sat inside instead of outside (101 outside just for context). So I just said nevermind just seat us outside & I'm glad I did. 5 Star: Food was delicious. We ordered the prime rib with mashed potatoes & green beans as well as the dry aged ribeye with potatoes & Brussels sprouts. The kitchen nailed it! read more

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Came here for a valentine's dinner and it did not disappoint! We had a reservation and got seated right away, though I wish we specified that we wanted to sit in the dining room when making the reservation since we got seated outdoors. They had the heaters on, so it wasn't too chilly. We ordered some drinks and the mango avocado crab cocktail to start. Unfortunately, there was a mishap with the appetizer, and it arrived after our main course lol, but our server took it off our bill. It was delicious! We took it home since we were full off the main course. For the main course, we got the scallops & butternut squash risotto as well as the ribeye with garlic mash and brussel sprouts. Both dishes were great--scallops and ribeye were cooked to perfection. I also loved how simple and well-seasoned the brussel sprouts and risotto were. We also got the bourbon banana bread pudding for dessert, which sat in a whole lot of caramel sauce. It was good, but make sure not to get too much sauce with your bite or it'll be too sweet. I'd definitely recommend trying this place for a nice dinner. It's very casual and the price point isn't too bad for the meal. read more

Elbow Room - New American Near Me - Fresno, California

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This was my second time coming to Elbow Room. The first time I tried their dinner and it was good, but this time I came for brunch and it didn't disappoint! I ordered the ultimate prime rib French dip and wow, it was a big portion and really tasty. It came with au jus for dipping and it hit the spot. They've got a lot of good food options here, plus plenty of drinks. I tried the watermelon cooler this time and it was super refreshing. They also make a solid Bloody Mary if that's your thing. Overall, this is a great spot to check out if you haven't been before. Good food, good drinks, and definitely worth a visit! read more

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A lot of places just get lazy and decline over the years not the elbow room. Their menu has gotten better, service has always been amazing ambiance is the best in Fresno. And best of all it's locally owned. read more

First time here for brunch this past weekend and had the best time. Our waiter was SO good. Unfortunately did not catch his name but he was so personable, friendly and patient with us (we were a large party). Food was good! Highly recommend the French toast. Easily can be shared between two. Their blood orange mimosa was so good too, highly recommend that as well. We were sat on the patio which was perfect. It was a bit chilly outside but they had plenty of heaters to keep us warm! Overall, great experience here, I would definitely come back for brunch! read more

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Came for my birthday dinner and service was great. I didn't realize it closed at 8:30pm which was my fault. I ordered the steak sandwich medium rare but it was bordering medium well when I got it. Since I ordered shortly before 8:30 I didn't feel right requesting a new one. Drinks were great and I'd definitely go back. read more

Elbow Room - Elbow Room Famous Steak Sandwich-1855 Beef-8oz. - New American Near Me - Fresno, California

Great food and service! We (3 adults) had a late lunch/early dinner today Saturday about 2 pm. Seated & served right away even tho they looked really full and busy. Highlights were the appetizer Shrimp Cerviche with good size fresh shrimp in an amazing mix of cubed sweet potatoes, cucumbers, purple onion and poppy seed(?). Guessing ingredients to try to make at home. Good size portion could serve 4. Also ordered their Seafood specials-Ponzu Salmon, Coconut Halibut and Petrole Sole. All so delicious. Cant wait to go back and try other specialties. read more

I've been to Elbow Room 10+ times and it never blows me away. It's great for large groups and the outside patio is nice. The service is slow which is OK if you are there to visit, but not great if you are on a schedule. They are known for their steak sandwich, but I feel like it is not what it used to be. Although I will probably be back, it's not at the top of my list! read more

Elbow Room - Ahi Poke Salad - New American Near Me - Fresno, California

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This is a great place to have lunch and dinner. Are you in breakfast? Great atmosphere great service. I write this in a four star most definitely would go back. read more

This place is alway great... I got the prime rib dip and it was outstanding. If you're looking for a place that's casual with great food then this is the place. I would definitely recommend reservations because they get busy. read more