Lebanese Bistro Expands Downtown Fresno, Second Location Set
Signage for Zaatar Euro Bistro appeared in the Galleria near the Fresno Convention Center on November 24, announcing a second downtown location that will occupy the former George’s Shish Kebab storefront. The move repurposes a space vacant since August and adds new lunchtime options for downtown workers and convention visitors.
On November 24 signage for Zaatar Euro Bistro went up in the Galleria near the Fresno Convention Center, signaling a new Lebanese restaurant will open in downtown Fresno later this year. The site was formerly home to George’s Shish Kebab, a longtime staple that closed in August, and has sat vacant since then.
The downtown location will be the second for the Zaatar family of restaurants. Brothers Badih "Buddy" Roy and Rabih "Robby" Nassar are bringing influence from their home in Lebanon to a menu that will include Mediterranean omelets, baked goods, burgers, hummus and other items. The original Zaatar Bistro in north Fresno at the corner of Champlain and Shepherd avenues offers more than 80 unique items, which the owners say they will adapt for the new downtown site.
Buddy described a broader approach to Mediterranean food that aims to expand what diners in Fresno expect. “Whenever you say ‘Mediterranean,’ everywhere in America, your mind always goes to beef kebab, chicken kebab, shawarma, rice pilaf…that’s the traditional Mediterranean restaurant in Fresno,” he said. “But when you go to Lebanon…it’s just a small part of it.”
The restaurant is expected to operate during weekday lunch hours, opening from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The owners said they hope to have the downtown location open by the end of the year. The announcement noted the new space will focus on daytime service, targeting office workers, convention attendees and downtown visitors looking for diverse Mediterranean choices.
For Fresno County the arrival of Zaatar Euro Bistro downtown is a small but visible sign of commercial activity and adaptive reuse of retail space near the convention center. Filling a storefront that had been empty since August restores foot traffic along Shepherd Street and provides an additional dining option during prime lunchtime hours. The new location also extends the reach of a local business that already offers an expansive menu in north Fresno, and it may influence lunchtime competition and dining patterns around the convention center as the city heads into the holiday event season.
