Peter DiNuzzo, right, will be given a lifetime achievement award by the Fresno chapter of the California Restaurant Association. His son Andrew is on the left. Photos by Edward Smith

The California Restaurant Association will host its 28th annual Best of the Valley award ceremony Monday by honoring a Fresno-based pizzeria for its 57 years of achievements.

The Fresno chapter of the statewide organization will reveal its picks of the best among 34 categories such as best breakfast, best fine dining, best hotel/casino dining and restaurateur of the year, according to a press release from the organization.

There will also be two new categories — best food truck and best coffee.

The dinner and event will be held at the New Exhibit Hall Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center in Downtown Fresno at 5:30 p.m.

 

Earning the association’s lifetime achievement award is Peter DiNuzzo, owner and operator of Mike’s Pizzeria Lounge located at West and Shields avenues in Fresno. The son of Italian immigrants, DiNuzzo inherited his family’s restaurant, which opened in 1962.

“I have been so fortunate to have been part of this family business for the past 57 years,” DiNuzzo said. “It is an honor receiving this award, knowing that the community has supported and enjoyed Mike’s Pizzeria Lounge for all these generations.”

Below are the categories and their nominees:

BEST BREAKFAST
Batter Up Pancakes
BJ’s Kountry Kitchen
The Patio Cafe
Red Apple Café

BEST FAST FOOD/DRIVE-THRU
Colorado Grill
In-N-Out Burger
Robertito’s Taco Shop
Wendy’s

BEST FAST CASUAL RESTAURANT
Butterfish
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Robertito’s Taco Shop
Teriyaki Don

BEST ASIAN RESTAURANT
Edo-Ya Tokyo Cuisine
Hino Oishi
Hunan Chinese Restaurant
Wassabi

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT
Casa Corona
Papi’s Mex Grill
Tabachines Cocina
Toledo’s Mexican Restaurant

BEST FAMILY DINING
Colton’s Social House
Japanese Kitchen
Westwoods BBQ & Spice Co
Yosemite Falls Cafe

BEST FINE DINING
Cracked Pepper Bistro
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Manhattan Steakhouse & Bar
Ruth’s Chris Steak House

BEST PIZZA
DiCicco’s Italian Restaurant
Mama Mia Pizzeria
Me-n-Ed’s Pizzeria
Ovidio Ristorante Italiano

BEST SEAFOOD/SUSHI
Hino Oishi
Pismo’s Coastal Grill
Sakura Chaya Tokyo Cuisine
Wassabi

BEST WINERY
Engelmann Cellars
Fresno State Winery
Solitary Cellars Wine Company
Toca Madera Winery

BEST SPORTS BAR
Dog House Grill
Elbow Room Bar & Grill
Kocky’s Bar & Grill
PressBox Sports Grill

BEST HOTEL/CASINO DINING
The 500 Club
Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino
Club One Casino
Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT
The Annex Kitchen
DiCicco’s Italian Restaurant
Ovidio Ristorante Italiano
Piazza del Pane

BEST NEWCOMER
13 Prime Steak
Blast & Brew
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar
Tabachines Cocina

BEST KEPT SECRET
Andiamo Ristorante Italiano
School House Restaurant & Tavern
Senor Aji Peruvian Bistro
Trelio Restaurant

FRIENDLIEST SERVICE
Sam’s Italian Deli & Market
Sal’s Mexican Restaurant
Senor Aji Peruvian Bistro
Vino Grill & Spirits

BEST WATERING HOLE
The Lime Lite Restaurant
The Mad Duck Neighborhood Grill & Taphouse
The Point Patio Bar & Bistro
Yard House

MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT
The Annex Kitchen
Cracked Pepper Bistro
Manhattan Steakhouse & Bar
Trelio Restaurant

BEST STEAK
13 Prime Steak
The Lime Lite Restaurant & Bar
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Yosemite Ranch Steak, Seafood, & Roast House

BEST BANQUET
Classic Catering at 625
Love & Garlic
TorNino’s Banquets
Wedgewood Weddings Fresno

BEST CATERING
Gastro Grill & Catering
The Painted Table
Pardini’s Catering & Banquets
Wedgewood Weddings Fresno

BEST HAMBURGER
Colorado Grill
The Habit Burger Grill
House of JuJu
Triangle Drive In Burgers

BEST SANDWICH
Geno’s Italian Deli & Market
Jersey Mike’s Subs
Sam’s Italian Deli & Market
Sequoia Sandwich Company

BEST CRAFT BREWERY
Full Circle Brewing Co.
Riley’s Brewing Co.
Sequoia Brewing Company
Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Company

BEST COUNTRY CLUB DINING
Belmont Country Club
Copper River Country Club
San Joaquin Country Club
Sunnyside Country Club

BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT
Curry House
Elephant Lounge
Indian Kebab Palace
Tandoori Night

BEST SWEET TREAT
Ampersand Ice Cream
Donut Fantasy
La Boulangerie
Nothing Bundt Cakes

BEST MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT
AJ’s Armenian Cuisine
ARK Mediterranean Grill
Mediterranean Grill & Café
Phoenician Garden Mediterranean Bar & Grill

BEST BARBEQUE RESTAURANT
Dog House Grill
Famous Dave’s
Maw n’ Paw BBQ
Mike’s Grill

BEST FOOD TRUCK (NEW CATEGORY)
The Gastro Grill
Meltdown Bistro
Takobbq Truck
Wafflicious

BEST COFFEE (NEW CATEGORY)
Dutch Bros Coffee
Kuppa Joy Coffee House
Lanna Coffee House
Starbucks Coffee Company

BEVERAGE PURVEYOR/SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
The Coca-Cola Company
Donaghy Sales
PepsiCo Foodservice
Young’s Market Company

PURVEYOR/SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
Cresco
JD Food
Sysco Central California
US Foods

RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR
Pat LaRocca – FIVE
Elena Mastro – Parma Ristorante
Manuel Perales – Yosemite Falls Café
Brandon Smittcamp – The Lime Lite