UPDATE: Commenter #3, Jefferson Beavers, is our random winner.
Fans of the restaurant shouldn't be too disappointed, though. New Stars' customers still can get free food. Starting this week, every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday is "Bring a New Friend Day," according to New Stars' newsletter. (The promotion lasts through March.)
If you've eaten at New Stars before, bring in someone who's never been there. The restaurant will thank you with a free entree. Of course, there are rules: The promotion applies only in the dining room (not to take out). It's a buy-one-entree, get-one-free deal, so the entree that costs the least will be free. And if a family of four brings in five new customers, they'll get only four complimentary entrees.
Note: Please don't try to game the system. As Marisa says below, the servers recognize their customers. (I also have seen them greet various customers by name.)
Questions? Call New Stars at (559) 434-6363.
Also, I couldn't agree more with Blake's comment about actively supporting "the places we love." So, New Stars fans, know this: New Stars' other location in Merced closed last year, making the Fresno restaurant the only one left.
ORIGINAL POST: Vegans and vegetarians may like this one: I have a $15 gift certificate to New Stars.
In a bid to get more foot traffic, New Stars recently dropped prices. That means the popular fried BBQ "chicken" -- soy "chicken" marinated in garlic barbecue sauce, with mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus -- is now $11. So is the lemongrass chicken (soy "chicken" sauteed in minced spicy lemongrass with bell peppers and garlic).
Click here and here for a copy of the new menu. Dinner entrees now are in the $10-$13 range, while lunches are $7-$8.
The restaurant's January newsletter put it this way: "Please help us to stay in business. ... We are hoping that the changes to the menu and the specials we have may help you out financially as well, and possibly entice you to patronize us more often."
Sounds like a restaurant that's struggling, doesn't it?
Enter to win this gift certificate by leaving a comment on this post. Deadline is 11 a.m. Wednesday. I'll select a winner at random.
Reminder: No repeat comments. You're ineligible if you've won something in the past 30 days. Complete rules below.
Only readers who submit approved comments on the Beehive are eligible. Recipients will be notified by e-mail at the end of each giveaway period. Winners will be selected by random selection of all approved comments. Prizes must be picked up at The Bee's front lobby. No substitutions or transfer of winners/prizes. Prizes are not redeemable for cash. Some prizes may have dues dates for redemption/use. Employees and immediate family of The Fresno Bee, fresnobee.com and any/all of the participating giveaway sponsors, are not eligible to win. By accepting a giveaway, recipient consents to allow the use of his/her name and/or photograph for advertising or similar promotions without further compensation. Winner releases all sponsors of liability regarding use and enjoyment of the prizes. Tax liabilities and insurance, if any, are sole responsibility of the winner. No purchase necessary to win.
I'm six days away from hitting my sixth year of being vegan. I could TOTALLY use a celebration dinner!
Sounds YUM-O! I'd love to try them :)
New Stars is the greatest. PLEASE don't go out of business!
Holiday story: My wife and I ordered the Thanksgiving tofurkey from New Stars. There was a mixup on our order due to a miscommunication on our part. But the owner totally made it right anyway. And, she even gave us pumpkin spice cake for free. Not only is their food amazing, they have solid customer service and are just good people.
I love new star and I will do my part to help them stay in business esp since they are one of the few rest. like this in Fresno.
I love this place :)
oh man i hope they don't close. delicious place.
I'd like to try this place out! Hope I win!
I like new star just too exspensive!
...good chow 'carcass' free... yum.
It's a shame to see so many business' struggling, especially those geared towards a specialist/specific diet. I've not heard of this place, but Id check it out.
love to try this place out!
They sure need to stay open! Great service and yummy food! Delightful, calm ambiance. Only one of a kind vegetarian restaurant here in Fresno. Thanks for helping them Joan!!
Haven't tried this place but as a vegetarian I will now.
mmmmmm! That place is good.
This would definitely be a wonderful treat!
I don't live there but I found out about this on twitter-i support veganism and any vegan restaurant! I've been a vegan since NYE 2010 with my boyfriend and we're loving it! :D
I've been a veggi for almost a year! Pick me!
I really like how they're laying it on the line.
I'd rather them say "Hey, help us turn this around," rather than have them struggle privately and then just disappear one day.
At least this gives the folks who love this place or this type of place a chance to step up and show their support. Hopefully it all works out for them. If we don't actively support the places we love, they *will* disappear.
It's a shame that such lovely restaurants (New Star and Lucy's Lair) are close to shutting their doors. New star is a great restaurant for both meat eaters and non meat eaters. I used to help out on the weekends sometimes and you will always find an apprehensive meat eater but as soon as they try the food they love it. Let's not let our only vegetarian/vegan restaurants in town go out of business!
Where is this place located? I will go there for lunch tomorrow.
Here's a map.
yum. i want.
Great place, I've taken out of town business colleagues there.
It would be a damn shame for the place to close since there are so few worth-while vegetarian restaurants in Fresno.
I'd love to take my vegetarian friend here! Go go gift certificate. :)
Up for a new dining experience. Would like to try this restaurant.
Yum
Glad to hear they are lowering their prices! I've always wanted to try this place, but was deterred by the price of the meals.
Joan, I would love to try New Stars. I go by it when I volunteer in the Tower but I never seem to have time to stop. I didn't like the vegetarian restaurant at Champlain and Perrin and would love to try New Stars.
It's important to support such local places like New Star.
mmmmmm veggies
hey man, i love veggie food and have been wanting to visit this restaurant for ages. This might be the right time :)
I love this place. I've taken all my meat eating friends there and every single one has agreed to come back. I think I've tried at least 75% of the menu and haven't been disappointed yet!
Customer service is great. They remember you and it has a great feel to it.
I don't get why people think their food it too expensive though?? Is public perception that the only valuable thing on a restaurant plate is meat? (Just curious)
Anyways, as a vegetarian for 7 years now - PLEASE help support this great restaurant, I need it!
Joan, don't enter me in the gift certificate drawing though. I would love someone to get it who hasn't had the opportunity to try it yet. I already know how great they are and just wanted to say so online!
I just completed my second week as a brand-new vegetarian - Thanks for the heads up on New Star Restaurant! I've been dreading actually going out to eat and I'm really digging their menu!
Just had lunch at New Stars -- first time there. The cashew chicken was so, so good. I will definitely be back.
Fine, fine, I'll try it.
Any actual customers there want to accompany me as a first-timer?
Note: I'll pay for your entree (since mine is free). I'd just like someone to navigate the menu for this avowed carnivore.