VIKTORIA’S HAS GEORGIAN, ARMENIAN AND ITALIANBY JOAN OBRA / THE FRESNO

Fresno Bee
10/03/08 00:00:00
CA

In the Valley’s multicultural landscape, ethnic restaurants are
everywhere. But one that serves Armenian, Italian and Georgian
dishes? That’s unusual.

That array of dishes is the norm at Viktoria’s Place, which started
an Armenian all-you-can-eat lunch a little more than two weeks
ago. For $9.95, the restaurant at Hern- don and Ingram avenues in
Pinedale serves up a variety of kebabs (lamb, chicken, beef, pork
and the ground meat known as lulu), pilafs (rice or bulgur), salads,
pan-fried vegetables and soup. Co-owner Zograb Tsolokian throws in
some Italian calzones for good measure.

Tsolokian started the buffet to let guests sample many dishes, serve
food quickly and give their wallets a break.

"They’ll come and fill up, and they’re happy," Tsolokian says.

The mix of food reflects Tsolokian’s background. As an Armenian
growing up in Georgia (the Eurasian country, not the U.S. state),
he learned Georgian dishes such as khinkali, a dumpling filled with
ground beef and seasonings, and khachapuri, a breakfast pastry filled
with cheese, egg and butter. Both are on Viktoria’s menu but are not
part of the lunch buffet.

And as for Viktoria’s pizza and calzones, these are inspired by Zoro’s
Pizza & Sandwiches, Tsolokian’s former restaurant. He even offers a
bit of fusion food: calzones stuffed with kebabs.

Viktoria’s is open 8:30 a.m.- 10 p.m. daily. Buffet lunch is served 11
a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Call (559) 261-1505 for more information.

Also, Huckleberry’s, a restaurant with Bayou-themed food, opened
just over two weeks ago at the southwest corner of Champlain Drive
and Perrin Avenue, (in the shopping center anchored by the Save Mart).

The shop is part of a chain owned by Dynaco Inc., the parent company
behind Perko’s Cafe, Cool Hand Luke’s Steakhouse & Saloon, and Yukon
Jack’s Log Cabin Dining.

Huckleberry’s serves breakfasts and lunches such as flapjacks
with huckleberry syrup, bananas foster waffles, Cajun hot links,
Louisiana-style spareribs, catfish and chicken gumbo. Meals cost $5-$9,
says Natasha Williams, a Huckleberry’s service manager at Champlain
and Perrin.

Huckleberry’s is open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. For more information, call
(559) 433-4825.

The columnist can be reached at jobra@fresnobee. com or (559) 441-6365.