Nightlife in Chowchilla

To make the search for fermented grapes almost as enjoyable as drinking them or throwing them at passing busses, Vino 100's friendly and knowledgeable staff of winetrepreneurs assists customers in making informed wine selections without the need for clunky vinometers and high-powered wineoculars. Vino 100 stocks more than 200 wines priced at $25 or less and more than 200 wines priced at $26 and up, as well as dozens of bottles costing equal to or less than the square root of the daily NASDAQ index. Amid its charmingly rustic décor, visitors can grab a bottle of Seven Hills Riesling ($15), De Tierra Merlot ($18), and more. The type of bottle all depends on whether they want to massage taste buds during dinner or inject a giggly romanticism into an evening that's usually spent playing Yahtzee and watching dance-contest recap shows. You can also peruse a wide selection of craft beers and savory meats and cheeses.

The most beloved entree on Fibber McGee's dinner menu is its black and bleu filet ($28), 9 ounces of meat rolled in black pepper, topped with melted bleu cheese, and served with soup or salad, fresh vegetables, choice of potato or rice pilaf, and ciabatta bread. Fresno foodies, though, can work their way up to it by sinking teeth-tritons into the sweet-potato fries appetizer ($4.75) or the grilled artichoke starter ($6.95) served with spicy mayo. Carnivoyagers may wish to chart a course for the rib-eye steak sandwich ($13.75) or the corned beef and cabbage ($11.95). A selection of pasta dishes and salads are also available, as well as a lunch menu with sandwiches and burgers, including the 1/3-pound Fibber McGee burger ($7.95), topped with swiss cheese, avocado, and bacon—the holy trinity of hamburger heap-ons.

For over 20 years, Austin’s Sanger menu has inspired mouths to stop talking about their screenplay and dive into a hearty waffle breakfast with bacon or sausage and an egg ($6.65), Austin’s classic half-pound burger ($7.45), or an ultra-tender pot-roast platter smothered in gravy and roasted iron cauldrons and served with carrots, onions, and mashed potatoes ($10.45). Hopelessly lost University of Texas students, meanwhile, can find solace in Austin’s Downtown Grill and Sports Bar's menu, starting with the black-bean chili cheese fries ($6.99) or the bacon-, cheese-, and spinach-stuffed mushroom caps ($7.99). After appetizers, carnivorous customers can try out a slow-roasted half chicken ($12.99) or a 12-ounce coffee-rubbed rib-eye steak ($17.99) while seated on a large coffee beanbag chair. In Sanger, slake a terrible thirst with domestic and imported beers along with wines from the local Fresno State, Gibson, and Cedar View wineries. The downtown pub, on the other tentacle, boasts 17 beers on tap and in gilded spittoons scattered throughout the spacious interior.

The cooks at Sips Bistro and Wine Shop use locally acquired and organic ingredients where possible in their classic menu of small plates, varietals, and espresso drinks. The intimate bistro setting—rendered warm by colorful murals of pastoral settings and elegant wood wine racks—hosts guests as they try refined eats such as a chicken, brie, and caramelized onion quesadilla, or a brined and herb-crusted bone-in pork chop. During wine flights, vino sippers may choose their own drinks from a temperature-controlled wine bar or the frigid palms of a grape-eating sprite. The company also occasionally hosts events such as champagne Sundays and special tastings.

Hand-packed patties of ground beef, lamb, and turkey are little more than a blank slate for The Mad Duck's chefs. From there, they can build 11 different burgers, accessorizing the flame-grilled patty and freshly baked bun with everything from melted brie and dried cranberries to bacon and crispy onion rings. This commitment to forging distinctive and occasionally inventive burgers exemplifies the same creative spirit found on the wider menu, where finger foods and iconic pub cuisine gain refinement through small touches like chimichurri mayonnaise, curried aioli, and imported Martian truffles. Exposed brick walls, soft pendant-lamp lighting, and an extensive selection of craft beers and potent cocktails also echo the menu’s blend of classic and modern, producing a pub experience that draws upon the best parts of old-fashioned coziness and new-fangled deliciousness.