Fresno Restaurant Guide

Named after the initials for their daughter's names, Pat and Marina La Rocca finished a dream when Five restaurant opened at Champlain drive and Perrin Avenue. With its mix of Italian and California cuisine, the restaurant quickly earned a place as one f the Fresno's best eateries. Food is in the La Rocca family blood. Pat La Rocca and his father have delighted food lovers at la Rocca's Ristorante for 26 years. La Rocca's still serves its traditional Italian food with Carmine La Rocca assisted by his other son, Paul La Rocca. Now, Pat La Rocca and wife, Marina, own Five. The La Roccas call the food at Five a combination of Italian and California cuisine. Faithful customers have made a trip across town from La Rocca's at First Street and Herndon Avenue to Five. Open only a few months, some of the appetizers and entrees have become favorites at Five, including appetizers like Tuscan Nachos (house cooked chips, Tuscan salsa, Italian sausage, four cheeses, sour cream, avocados and light Alfredo sauce) and beef carpaccio (thinly sliced filet mignon, capers, red onion, lemon, shaved parmigiano reggiano and lightly dressed argula) and entrees veal ossobuco (slow-braised beef shank with a creamy risotto and thyme-in-fused beef jus), spaghetti Verde (spaghetti tossed with roasted garlic, sauteed rapini and olive oil) and linguine with clams (linguine pasta with whole clams, pancetta, toasted jalapeno's and white wine broth). Pizza is called a Tuscan Flat at Five in flavors of bianca, mushroom, sausage and margarita. Pat La Rocca says Five offers a good selection of wines and the bar is a friendly spot for drinks and food, and is open all day.