Wool Growers - French Basque

Wool Growers Restaurant in Los Banos

Sign with Basque Flag

Wool Growers Restaurant is an old school French Basque restaurant located in downtown Los Banos, about 75 miles northwest of Fresno and 10 miles east of I-5. The decor is right out of the 1940s, and that homey atmosphere look as if it has not been updated since. Meals are served family style with a choice of entree.

Front Entrance

There is a full bar on the right when you enter, but the big dining room is through the door straight ahead.

Family Style Table Setting

Each person chooses an entree. The choices are lamb chops, pork chops, beef tritip, or chicken.

There are no vegetarian options. This is a meat-centric experience. Bring a hearty appetite because there is a lot of food. 

You start with a chunky vegetable soup and beans served on the side. Most people add the beans to the soup to create more flavors. Red wine, bread, salad, and lamb stew are also served prior to the entree.  On Sunday chicken and rice is served instead of the lamb stew. 

Fries are served with each entree. Wool Growers has shepherd-style service--most courses are served on the table and you use the same plate or bowl to enjoy them. 

Wine and Bresd

Soup and Beans

Salad with savory oil-based dressing 

Lamb Stew

Crispy Salted Fries

Beef Tritip

Lamb Chops

Pork Chops

They will provide plastic bags so you can take the leftover entree home. Our bags proved leak proof.

Be sure to look at the Basque memorabilia on the walls of the dining room.

Jai Alai Cesta above the clock. Jai Alai is a Basque sport.

Jai Alai Painting

Chef Painting

After that huge and savory meal, you need something sweet so they serve a cup of vanilla ice cream. You can add chocolate syrup if you wish.

Vanilla Ice Cream

Syrup Ice Cream

Prices

Wool Growers now accepts credit cards, so you no longer have to pay in cash. 

Hours

"Safe Haven" History

On your way out look at the flags in the hall commemorating the Basque heritage. 

Basque Flag

The rail yards used to be across the street. Get a mini history lesson by crossing the street and looking at the stature of Henry Miller, California's Cattle King and a founder of Los Banos.

Henry Miller - Cattle King

Wool Growers is the perfect place to travel to another era. A little more than an hour from Fresno, or if traveling on I-5, Wool Growers is worth the short detour. Wool Growers is located at 609 H Street in Los Banos, California.