{"id":283937,"date":"2026-04-24T15:56:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T15:56:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/283937\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T15:56:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T15:56:16","slug":"tour-strada-italian-sandwiches-by-chef-jimmy-pardini-in-fresno","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/283937\/","title":{"rendered":"Tour Strada Italian Sandwiches by chef Jimmy Pardini in Fresno"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Inside Look is a Fresno Bee series<\/a> where we take readers behind the scenes at restaurants, new businesses, local landmarks and news stories.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not an exaggeration to say chef Jimmy Pardini\u2019s new sandwich shop is unlike any other sandwich place in Fresno.<\/p>\n

Inspired by his time in Italy, the sandwiches have ingredients like a creamy fresh mozzarella spread and Tuscan salami, served on focaccia bread baked in house daily, sprinkled with olive oil and dusted with sea salt.<\/p>\n

Strada Italian Sandwiches<\/a> opens Tuesday, April 28. It\u2019s next door to Annesso in a new building in the Park Crossing shopping center near Trader Joe\u2019s at Friant Road and Fresno Street.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really about fresh bread, fresh ingredients,\u201d Pardini said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to have sandwiches that … a few of them are quite new to the area; so some sandwiches that you would find more traditionally in Italy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strada is Italian for \u201cstreet.\u201d<\/p>\n

It will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, but closed on Mondays.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the fourth restaurant by the \u201cFresno famous\u201d chef, part of the Pardini family of restaurateurs. Pardini is also behind The Annex Kitchen<\/a>, Annesso Pizzeria<\/a> and the recently opened Willow Osteria<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The menu<\/p>\n

Clearly, Pardini \u2013 who created the popular Fresno State corn agnolatti pasta dish at Annex Kitchen<\/a> that was featured on a show called \u201cThe Best Thing I Ever Ate\u201d \u2013 is going to have a different menu than Port of Subs or even Fresno\u2019s beloved Sam\u2019s Italian Deli<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Strada\u2019s menu is inspired by Pardini\u2019s time living and studying in Italy, eating at little sandwich shops.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a mortadella sandwich made with the Italian pork sausage by an employee trained to tent the meat into little mountains.<\/p>\n

The bread is warmed right before the sandwich is made and spread with a heaping spoonful of straciatella. That\u2019s essentially a rich fresh mozzarella cheese \u2014 the inside of the burrata if you\u2019ve ever cut into a ball of it at Annex Kitchen.<\/p>\n

A finely chopped pistachio spread is layered on the other piece of bread. And before you say, \u201cWhoa, nuts in a sandwich?!\u201d know that it\u2019s nothing like eating crunchy pistachios, but more of a spread of finely chopped pistachios that adds more flavor than texture.<\/p>\n

Arugula snuggles into the middle and that\u2019s it. Some sandwiches have even fewer ingredients.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe focus on simple and quality (ingredients), which is the backbone of Italian cooking,\u201d Pardini said.<\/p>\n

The sandwiches are made with Italian cheeses, and meats that are either imported or from artisan producers in California.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also find a Tuscan salami sandwich with truffle spread on the menu, and a roasted turkey with brie and maple-bacon-onion confit. There are several meatless options, including one made with crispy zucchini, basil pesto, pecorino cream and an artichoke spread.<\/p>\n

All the sandwiches are $12 or $13.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also a Nutella sandwich on the kids menu and chocolate chip cookies made in house.<\/p>\n

And they\u2019ll soon have wine and beer. Though the liquor license likely won\u2019t be ready upon opening, Pardini expects it to be soon after.<\/p>\n

Pardini recalls his time in Italy and the way sandwich shops the size of \u201cshoeboxes\u201d were everywhere.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe wine and sandwiches, they pair well together,\u201d he said. \u201cYou would hang out on the street, eat your sandwich, go back in and return your glass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strada has a patio with red-and-white striped umbrellas where you can drink that wine. There will eventually be a pick-up window for online orders.<\/p>\n

Restaurant No. 4 for Jimmy Pardini<\/p>\n

Pardini worked his way up in the industry, including at Osteria Mozza, an award-winning Los Angeles restaurant owned by Nancy Silverton and Mario Batali.<\/p>\n

When Pardini returned home, he opened The Annex Kitchen, the restaurant that started it all in the former Pardini\u2019s Cafe on West Shaw Avenue in 2015.<\/p>\n

Then came Annesso in north Fresno specializing in pizza<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And last fall, Willow Osteria opened<\/a> with its extensive pasta menu at Willow and Shepherd avenues.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I\u2019ve had a sandwich place in my head ever since I got into the industry 19, 20 years ago,\u201d Pardini said.<\/p>\n

He says he\u2019s able to handle them all by delegating, including to people who have been with him since he started Annex.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy team has done an incredible job,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019re the ones that help me be able to run multiple operations.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jimmy Jimmy Pardini sits with a mortadella sandwich at his new restaurant, Strada, an Italian sandwich shop opening next to one of his other restaurants, Annesso Pizzeria, in the Park Crossing shopping center at Friant Road and Audubon Drive. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com \"Strada, Strada, an Italian sandwich shop, is opening next to another of Jimmy Pardini’s restaurants, Annesso Pizzeria, in the Park Crossing shopping center at Friant Road and Audubon Drive. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com \"A A mortadella sandwich featuring freshly baked focaccia bread, freshly sliced mortadella, stracciatella (a mozzarella cheese spread), pistachio spread and chopped pistachios is a highlight on the menu at Strada, an Italian sandwich shop opening in the Park Crossing shopping center at Friant Road and Audubon Drive. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
\n Related Stories from Fresno Bee<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Bethany Clough<\/a><\/p>\n

The Fresno Bee<\/p>\n

Bethany Clough covers restaurants and retail for The Fresno Bee. A reporter for more than 20 years, she now works to answer readers\u2019 questions about business openings, closings and other business news. She has a degree in journalism from Syracuse University and her last name is pronounced Cluff.\n <\/p>\n