Cowtown Eats - Sacramento's Happy Hours

Dining News: 'Best Burger in Town' at Bacon & Butter

Bacon & Butter's really a frustrating experience. On weekends, the wait times are long, and the service can be slow. But on the other hand, the food is amazing, including what the Sac Bee's Blair Anthony Robertson calls the best burger in town.

Drop by for lunch and try the burger, which should probably come with some kind of PG-13 warning. I took a pal there recently for lunch and, as Sinatra once sang, his eyes practically bugged out his head.

"This is the best *&%$#@! hamburger I've ever tasted," he gasped, as I scanned the room to make sure no nuns were present. I might say the same about the smashed potatoes, which are poached, smashed and then fried – so crisp and light, yet so rustic and unfussy and delicious.

Zoellin's burger has evolved over the months since he opened this breakfast-and-lunch spot on 21st Street. Right now, I think my friend with the salty language is right – it's the best burger in town. It's big and beautiful, with a domed bun and flavor everywhere. The beef itself is at once explosive and balanced on the palate. Neither salty nor tame, the beef is a full-bore, well-rounded, no-holding-back tour de force of flavor.

How does the chef pull that off? Notice the name is not Tofu and Butter. Zoellin takes the freshest beef and then grinds just the right amount of bacon into it. He adds some Worcestershire sauce, forgoes the salt, sears it, flips it, seasons it and sends it out with thick bacon, gouda cheese, crisp and light shallot rings and smoked aioli. For all that plus fries or salad and a rather astounding photo you can post on Facebook or Instagram, it's just $12.50.

Robertson also notes the hit or miss service, but if you've got the time, the food seems worth the wait.

Read the entire review in the Sac Bee.

Click here for more posts about Bacon & Butter.

More News:

Midtown BierGarten approved with design tweaks - The city of Sacramento gave Der BierGarten its stamp of approval Thursday afternoon, paving the way for another German pub in Midtown. But the OK came with a few conditions to modify the design.  Design Director Greg Taylor wants the following changes made to the design: More significant landscaping between Der Bier Garten and The Golden Bear; The front patio to be heightened, similar to patio height at The Golden Bear. In Sac Press.

West Sacramento shopping center has new tenants on board - The Ikea-anchored shopping center in West Sacramento is lining up some more tenants. RiverPoint Marketplace has leased space to Wicked West Pizza & BBQ, video game retailer GameStop, and the GNC vitamin store chain, said Amy Lerseth, an executive with The Buzz Oates Group of Cos. Kelly Johnson in Sac Biz Journal.

Dining News: Mulvaney's Norovirus Outbreak Info, Corrected Below

CORECTION: I initially misread the blog post by the Sac Bee's Chris Macias. That blog post is in reference to a separate norovirus outbreak. Thanks to an eagle eyed reader for pointing this out. Corrected info below.

Sacramento was atwitter Wednesday over the possibility that the upscale Mulvaney's was the source of a norovirus outbreak earlier this month. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus, usually spread through contaminated water or food, that causes vomiting, digestive issues, etc.

Per the Sac Bee's Chris Macias:

According to Dr. Olivia Kasirye, county public health officer, two people connected to the restaurant have tested positive for norovirus. Mulvaney said one was an employee and the other a diner. The name and nature of the employee's work is confidential, and the final investigation results, including the possible number of infected people, are expected within two weeks.

Given that no further incidents have been reported at the restaurant at 1215 19th St. since late February, Mulvaney's B&L remains open. The restaurant passed its most recent county inspection on Feb. 13 and has continued to operate during the norovirus investigation.

"We don't usually shut (a restaurant) down unless we feel there's an ongoing risk to the public," Kasirye said. "We have not received any reports of illnesses since then."

Read the entire article in the Sac Bee, or watch Tuesday's KCRA report above.

However, after more investigation, Sacramento county health officials have cleared Mulvaney's and found the real culprit, identified the source of a separate outbreak in 2012, the Elks Lodge on Riverside Bivd. Again, from the Bee's Macias.

It turns out the outbreak didn't occur at a restaurant, but Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6 on Riverside Boulevard near Florin Road. The lodge hosted an event in September of 2012 in which dozens of people were sickened. The lodge did not use an outside caterer, but provided food service themselves, said Kasirye. A county investigation interviewed 93 individuals, and confirmed 57 illnesses due to norovirus.

Read the entire story in the Sac Bee.

I'm glad that one of Sacramento's finest restaurants wasn't involved in this. We can again eat there without worry.

Whatever the source, it appears that Mulvaney's is trying its best to take care of the affected customers. One of my coworkers dined there during that time period and got sick. Mulvaney's later comped that meal and gave him an additional free dinner.

Click here for more posts about Mulvaney's B&L.

More News:

Hank Shaw nominated for 3rd James Beard Award; Frank Fat's nominated as an American classic - Sacramento-area food blogger Hank Shaw has been nominated a third time for a prestigious James Beard Award and, in something of a surprise, venerable Sacramento restaurant Frank Fat's has received a nomination in a special category, "America's Classics." Shaw, 42, a longtime newspaper journalist who parlayed a well-received blog into a new and successful writing career, says he is happy to be recognized once again by the James Beard Foundation - and he's not yet ready to think of himself as the Susan Lucci of the food-writing set. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

First Impressions: Sloughhouse Inn returns - The hamlet of Sloughhouse is known for its sweet summer corn, but now its main attraction is once again the Sloughhouse Inn restaurant. The venerable building, situated just off the Jackson Highway, went up as an inn and stagecoach stop in 1850, catering to travelers for more than a century. The place burned down and was rebuilt more than once, but looks fit as a country fiddle today. It has traditionally been the focal point of the small community. A plaque out front commemorates it as a registered historic landmark. The restaurant closed in 2006, and new owners George and Leah Lee reopened the space in February. Once again, it's a magnet for locals and a welcome stop for day-trippers on the way to the foothills wine country or the nearby Davis Ranch Farmers Market. It's a respite that's "more family style than fine dining," said George Lee. Allen Pierleoni in the Sac Bee.

Dining News: Bacon & Butter Prohibited From Selling Alcohol

When I first visited Bacon & Butter in their opening weeks, I had a refreshing mimosa to go with my breakfast. But it turns out, what they were doing may not have been technically legal, admits Bacon & Butter on their Facebook Page.

Due to recent restrictions implemented by ABC B&B will no longer be serving alcohol. However, in addtiton to the ginger beer we now serve, we will expand our drink menu to include in-house espresso, delicious milk shakes and craft sodas created by chef/owner Bill Zoellin.

They later clarified the post.

Without getting into too many details, we share a location with barfly and they hold the liquor license. we are not aloud to sell alcohol without our own license.

I did a little original reporting on this. On the Alcohol and Beverage Control Web site, you can search for licenses. It confirms that at Bacon & Butter's address, there's only one liqour license (Type 47, which is the kind that restaurants need to serve wine, beer and hard alcohol) and that's for Midtown Barfly, the nighttime occupants of the space.

I contacted ABC Spokesperson John Carr, and in an e-mail, he explained that the number of liqour licenses available are determined by the population of a county. Currently, Sacramento county is maxed out, and it won't have additional liquor licenses to sell until 2,000 new residents relocate into our county. In addition, even if one were available from the county, it would cost $13,800. However, without "new" licenses available, Bacon & Butter would have to buy one from an existing license holder.

A quick search shows some on sale for about $25,000.

I don't have any insight into Bacon & Butter's finances, but I can't imagine that that kind of money the owner can find in his couch cushions.

More News:

Leading cocktail magazine lists Sacramento in Top 10 'places to visit' - One of my favorite facets of Sacramento's food and beverage scene is its thriving cocktail culture. Drop into one of our town's fine watering holes - be it Shady Lady, Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co., Red Rabbit and many more - and you'll find plenty of creativity, devotion to craft and some seriously tasty dranks. The editors of Imbibe magazine, a leading publication for the spirits industry (or "liquid culture," as they say), feel the same way. In its recent feature of "The Imbibe 75 - People, Places and Flavors that will shape the way you drink in 2013," Sacramento was named in its Top 10 of "places to visit in 2013." So sayeth the Imbibe editors. Chris Macias in the Sac Bee.

Dine Downtown 2013: Mayahuel - We left very satisfied. BFF had been delighted with a good meal at a place she hadn't even heard about. I left with a sense of satisfaction that my meal was as good as I had foreseen it to be. Considering that Mayahuel still isn't a well known restaurant, it is one that is worth becoming familiar with. Catherine EnField on Munchie Musings.

Dining Deals: Bacon & Butter, Krispy Kreme

There's nothing more relaxing than grabbing brunch on a lazy weekend. Among my favorite spots to grab brunch in Sacramento is Bacon & Butter, helmed by chef Billy Zoellin, formerly of The Golden Bear. Read my instant reaction to the restaurant just after it opened. If you love it like I do, or just want to give it a try, you can now do it half off.

• $10 for $20 at Bacon & Butter. Offer expires on Thursday.

More Deals:

• $8 for $16 (New Groupon users | existing users) at Krispy Kremes in Stockton. Offer expires on Monday.
• $10 for $20 (New Groupon users | existing users) at Perko's Cafe's downtown, Rancho Cordova or Antelope locations. Offer expires on Monday.

Looking for more deals like this? Check out the Cowtown Eats guide to saving 50 percent at good restaurants.

Daily Dining News: Bacon & Butter Featured on Good Day Sac

Sometimes, it's easiest not to overthink things. If you love bacon or butter, or both, you'll love the recently-opened Bacon & Butter on 21st St.

I ate there in their first couple weeks, and found that they were still ironing out some of hiccups with their service -- something all new restaurants go through. From the looks of the video, it might be time to give them a second look.

More News:

Inside the kitchen: Biba Restaurant - It’s a tradition at Biba Restaurant, one of Sacramento’s better known eateries: every single thing matters. That’s why the pasta is made every day, the sauces are made to order and the presentation must be perfect. Mark Anderson in Sac Biz Journal.

Cowboy Cuisine: Roxy brings the ranch to Arden Arcade - In the five years since Roxy Restaurant and Bar opened its doors, it hasn’t changed much, which is good, since what Roxy does, it does well. And what exactly does Roxy do? Well, it straddles the fine line between ranch food and urban cuisine. It’s an uneasy balance sometimes, but one that Roxy stakes its reputation on. Roxy fills a very interesting niche in the local culinary scene. At Roxy, the average diner is as likely to eat chili as he is to have fillet of salmon over saffron risotto. With nods to Mexican-influenced Western American cooking along with French-influenced Eastern American cooking, the menu is a whole lot to get your hungry head around. Greg Sabin in Inside Publications.

Daily Dining News: 100 Pounds of Bacon a Week?

Billy Zoellin, the 28-year-old chef and owner at Bacon & Butter, sat down with Sac Mag recently for an interview. Among the news nuggets:

• Bacon & Butter goes through 100 pounds of bacon a week.
• Zoellin really learned to take ownership of a kitchen when working at Mulvaney's.
• He's also worked at Biba, Selland's Market Cafe & The Golden Bear
• Billy's cullinary inspiration is his grandmather, who was a Grass Valley caterer.

There are tons of other news tidbits in the piece. Read it in Sac Mag.

More News:

Food truck pod on Saturday could be preview to future mobile food hub - It’s been a dream for Sacramento food truck lovers for years: a permanent location for food trucks. A place where a variety of mobile food fare can be available. Somewhere that allows live music, art and other family-friendly events. On Saturday, Sacramentans will get a glimpse of that as a food truck pod sets up at 1425 C St. Brandon Darnell in Sac Press.

Try It: Sweetie's in East Sac - With several great bakeries within reach of my neighborhood, I often forget about Sweetie’s, which is located directly next door (and is actually adjoined to) East Sacramento’s popular Opa! Opa! restaurant. We wandered in the other day and were dazzled by the lovely display of desserts, from the elaborate triple-chocolate individual mousse to the rustic streusel-topped apple cobbler. Kira O'Donnell in Sac Mag.

Daily Dining News: Trio, Tako & Bacon & Butter Reviewed

Sac Bee restaurant critic Blair Anthony Robertson occasionally features brand new restaurants in his column, giving his First Impression of these places. This week, he writes about Trio, Tako Korean BBQ and Bacon & Butter.

On Trio:

It's the work of Gönül Blum, the former registered nurse turned restaurateur. You may know her for Gönül's J Street Cafe, which moved and shrunk into Vanilla Bean Bistro.

Trio features the same kind of Mediterranean cuisine that has won Blum a following among discerning foodies. But we can't recall ever having a meal so good at her other places.

For a new restaurant that was entirely empty and still a week away from landing its beer and wine license, it was a revelation.

On Tako Korean BBQ:

Tako is a great idea with good food, but it wasn't ready to be swarmed en masse. We got the food in about an hour, and it ranged from bland (the tofu tacos need work) to deliciously spicy (spicy pork burrito) to superbly original (the kimchi quesadilla). That last one is not only fun to say, it's crunchy, tasty and full of exotic Korean flavors.

The kimchi is actually made by co-owner Yunece Cho's mother, based on an old family recipe.

Cho's concept is simple – the menu is very small, but the food is lively, fresh and largely delicious. Everything is $6 or less. We thought the rice bowl could use tweaking – overwhelmed as it is with shredded cheese on top, making for a goopy dish that's out of sync with the rice and meat (or tofu).

On Bacon & Butter:

And on Sunday morning, the wait was so long that we bailed after an hour. The good news: People really flock to good food like this. The bad? People will wait for honest cooking done right, but they lose patience with inefficiency and chaos in the front of the house.

Zoellin tells me the staff is working to handle the weekend onslaught. Give B&B a shot on weekdays (except Monday) and you'll have little to no wait.

You can read the entire article in the Sac Bee.

I've previously given my Instant Reaction to Tako Korean BBQ and Bacon & Butter, and had very similar reactions. 

More News:

Jack’s Urban Eats coming to The Marketplace in North Davis- Jack’s Urban Eats is coming to The Marketplace in North Davis, hopefully by early spring, part owner Bobby Coyote confirms. The California-themed eatery has locations in Midtown, Folsom, Natomas, Roseville and Sacramento International Airport. The concept is similar to Pluto’s but with a more varied menu that features sandwiches, salads, carved meats, chicken strips and fries. Wendy Weitzel in the Davis Enterprise.

Pho King 2: Crazy-delicious town - Although Little Saigon is arguably Sacramento’s premiere culinary asset, many of the Vietnamese restaurants on that particular precious strip of Stockton Boulevard exhibit a samey-samey quality. You’ve got your bun, you’ve got your pho and you often have a menu that’s half Chinese (of which it’s usually wise to steer clear). Occasionally, there’s a place that specializes in chicken pho or banh mi, but real variety is often hard to find. Unless you visit Pho King 2, which has those aforementioned dishes. Becky Gruenwald in Sac News & Review.