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Viktoria's Has Georgian, Armenian And ItalianBy Joan Obra / The Fres

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  • Viktoria's Has Georgian, Armenian And ItalianBy Joan Obra / The Fres

    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.
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