Restaurants in Fontana

Nestled at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains, Le Rendez-Vous Restaurant's scenic locale certainly lends the restaurant the romantic edge. But Le Rendez-Vous still strives to match its idyllic surroundings with an equally picturesque dining room—glittering chandeliers glint off dark wooden flourishes, and crisp white tablecloths furnish coy games of peek-a-boo. Once dining companions have honed in on an award-winning entree from the French-inspired menu, servers can happily recommend wine pairings such as chenin blanc, gewürztraminer, and Bordeaux.

Guests enter the luxurious dining room and revel in the aroma of grilled steaks and lamb chops. After sidling into a comfy chair at a table decked in a white tablecloth, they peruse the menus dotted with juicy cuts of black Angus beef and king crab legs. Diners welcome steaming plates of food to share table real estate with glasses of wine, consulting the hospitable staff for pairing recommendations and advice on which wines are the best conversationalists. If not partaking in a full meal, guests can recline in the lounge and sip cold beer while watching sports on the plasma TVs. Larger parties commune in the expansive banquet hall, munching on customized menus built to accommodate parties of 20–140.

Everyone loved visiting the Macias household. Antonio and Sara’s hospitality was matched only by their elaborate Mexican dinners. After years of wildly successful dinners and parties, the duo decided to spread the good word and start their own restaurant. In 1974, they opened the first Mi Ranchito in Ontario, California, packing the tiny space with six tables and stocking the kitchen with fresh produce, meat, and seafood.

Decades later, and Antonio and Sara’s small eatery has replicated itself into three locations across California. Their children and grandchildren join them in the kitchens, where they fold fresh ingredients and handcrafted sauces into traditional enchiladas, chili rellenos, and tacos. Meanwhile, bartenders blend top tequilas into a variety of innovative margaritas and specialty drinks. In the dining rooms, hand-painted murals of tropical birds, colorful Mexican artwork, and the party-hat wearing condors who serve the food create a festive atmosphere. The restaurant's uncompromisingly fresh and delicious cooking, innovative drinks, and welcoming environment have been lauded by a slew of press publications and won the restaurant the award for Best Mexican Food from Inland Empire Magazine.

Behind a glass partition, The Sand Witch’s cooks drape colorful ingredients across sourdough, wheat, and white bread. Paninis slip with a sharp hiss onto a grill, melting pepper jack across fistfuls of jalapeños, or causing chipotle pesto to ooze warmly around red peppers. Staff add and remove ingredients such as pepperoncini peppers and sun-dried tomatoes as desired, leaving patrons to make leisurely decisions without anyone yelling about which wire to cut.

The sushi chefs at Tokyo Japanese Restaurant carefully craft 25 specialty rolls alongside artfully composed noodle, teriyaki, and tempura dishes. Well-versed in sushi-rolling variations, the chefs pass on their culinary knowledge during beginners' sushi-making classes where participants give their creations delicious-sounding names such as Phoenix or My First Rice Sandwich.