Claire Hashimoto, M.D.: There’s no place like home, Merced

I’d like to call attention to a gem of a local restaurant. I grew up in Merced, graduated from Stanford University and Dartmouth Medical School and I have lived in the Los Angeles area for 20 years. I have traveled to many other countries, but nowhere I’ve been matches the service I got at Pinnochio’s here in my hometown.

The food is always fresh and tasty, and our order is always correct. Owner A.J. Pinnochio and the staff who have served us always make us and our dog Rocket feel welcome when we dine on the patio. They make sure we are well taken care of. They are genuinely warm people, quick to share helpful information they’ve gained in their experiences with their dogs. We alway enjoy dining there, and we know that a sure to way to get Rocket’s tail wagging is to say, “Let’s go to Pinnochio’s!”

This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 11:51 AM with the headline "Claire Hashimoto, M.D.: There’s no place like home, Merced."