John Muir Tavern - Fresno

Charming little airport tavern; offers a selection of grab-and-go items as well as a full-service bar. Prices align with typical airport rates.

I was unable to get a drink or food during my visit. I understand it was busy, but I noticed several people on their laptops in the dining area without any food or drinks. I think they should either encourage those individuals to leave or implement a time limit for their stay.

**Pros:** One advantage is that it's likely the only sit-down restaurant option in the entire FAT airport, which gives them a unique position. They also have a bar area offering beer, wine, and mixed drinks, though I can’t speak to their quality since I didn’t try any myself. A highlight of my visit was the young woman named Vellshay, who was manning the register during the busy lunch rush. She was an absolute delight and quite a refreshing change from the often indifferent service found elsewhere these days. I even thanked her personally for her politeness and mentioned how rare it is to see such kindness, to which she responded that she strives to treat others the way she wants to be treated. Well done, Vellshay! Keep being yourself; it really shines through! And to the management, if you’re reading this, you have a valuable employee in her. **Cons:** On the downside, the menu is quite limited, which is somewhat understandable during Covid, especially for an airport restaurant. However, the prices are extremely high considering what you're actually getting, even factoring in the usual airport markup. I ordered the Boneless Buffalo Bites, but what I received looked eerily similar to the frozen chicken nuggets my mom used to bake for my sister and me after school. They were better back then, to be honest. On a positive note, when I asked for extra buffalo sauce on the side (because yes, this Southern girl likes her food spicy), they were very generous and didn’t charge me extra for it, so I’ll give them some credit for that. Overall, I’d rate the food quality as subpar and the prices as high, landing them a score of 2 out of 5 in my opinion. However, thanks to the unexpected kindness and courtesy from their staff—specifically Vellshay—I’ll bump it up to a solid 3-star experience.

Sure, prices are steep, but it's the only restaurant/bar past TSA. What else are you going to do when your flight gets delayed? A waitress noticed us idling by for a seat at the bar and offered us a spot at a table instead. Table was dirty, but she cleared it for us. Their attention is hard to catch as they're generally so busy tending to all patrons, but she did come around in as timely as a manner as she could, and she was nice.

Since FAT is such a small airport, this spot is the only eatery within the entire airport. Which means the cost of the food is highly inflated. $50 for 2 margaritas and a side of tater tots. I'm almost embarrassed at the money I spent here. The food is mediocre, but the staff are good. My server was Juan and his customer service was excellent. My suggestion is to eat before coming to this airport. So you can save yourself some money. But if it's your last resort, be prepared to spend an obscene amount of money.