Zaatar Bistro | Our Story
A family legacy of bold flavors
Zaatar Bistro was born from three brothers, a shared Lebanese upbringing, and the belief that food should make people feel at home. Buddy, Roy, and Robby Nassar brought that warmth to Fresno, and it's shaped every dish since day one.
Rooted in Lebanon
Growing up in Lebanon, we learned hospitality before we learned recipes — it was in the culture, the kitchens, the way meals brought everyone to the table. Buddy had already run a restaurant back home, and that experience shaped everything we'd build in Fresno.
Finding a home in Fresno
We opened our doors in Fresno blending the Lebanese traditions we grew up with and the European and American flavors that had become part of us. The bistro became the neighborhood kitchen we'd always wanted to run — warm, unhurried, and genuinely ours.
Everything made from scratch
Golden pita baked fresh daily, velvety hummus piled with roasted meat and toasted almonds, zesty la-ma-jeen flatbread topped with arugula and cherry tomatoes — every dish leaves the kitchen the way we'd want it served to family.
Fresno noticed
We were voted Best New Restaurant through the People's Choice Award, and KFSN / ABC30 featured us on their Dine and Dish segment. It meant the world to us, because it meant Fresno felt what we were going for.
A second table downtown
The love from Champlain led us to open a second location downtown, bringing the same handmade kitchen and family spirit to a new corner of Fresno. Two locations, one family — and the same welcome at both doors.