Here are the 15 most popular Sacramento happy hours of September 2015 (based on page views) on Cowtown Eats:

1. BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse (Last month's rank: 1)
2. Bento Box (Last month's rank: 3)
3. Zocalo (Last month's rank: 2)
4. Bottle & Barlow (Last Month: Unranked)
5. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse (Last month's rank: 4)
6. Chicago Fire (Last month's rank: 5)
7. Fat's Asia Bistro (Last month's rank: 6)
8. Firestone Public House (Last month's rank: 7)
9. Burgers & Brew (Last month's rank: 14)
10. Cheesecake Factory (Last month's rank: 8)
11. Hook & Ladder (Last Month: Unranked)
12. Shady Lady Saloon (Last month's rank: 11)
13. Broderick Restaurant & Bar (Last Month: Unranked)
14. Oak Park Brewing Company (Last Month: Unranked)
15. Buffalo Wild Wings (Last Month: Unranked)

Thanks for visiting Cowtown Eats! We had nearly 46,000 page views and more than 17,250 unique visitors.

I also want to give a special shout out to Cask & Barrel for generously sponsoring Cowtown Eats and keeping the lights on here. 

Here are the 15 most popular Sacramento happy hours of August 2015 (based on page views) on Cowtown Eats:

1. BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse (Last month's rank: 1)
2. Zocalo (Last month's rank: 2)
3. Bento Box (Last month's rank: 3)
4. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse (Last month's rank: 5)
5. Chicago Fire (Last month's rank: 4)
6. Fat's Asia Bistro (Last month's rank: 6)
7. Firestone Public House (Last month's rank: 12)
8. Cheesecake Factory (Last month's rank: 8)
9. Lucca Restaurant (Last month's rank: 10)
10. 33rd St. Bistro (Last month's rank: 11)
11. Shady Lady Saloon (Last month's rank: 12)
12. Paesanos (Last month's rank: 10)
13. Brasserie Capitale (Last Month: Unranked)
14. Burgers & Brew (Last month's rank: 9)
15. Orchid Thai (Last Month: Unranked)

Thanks for visiting Cowtown Eats! We had nearly 59,000 page views and more than 23,750 unique visitors.

I also want to give a special shout out to Cask & Barrel for generously sponsoring Cowtown Eats and keeping the lights on here. 

After fire closed Crepe Escape in Land Park in 2013, Meet & Eat, by the owners of Cafe Dantorels in Curtis Park, will fill the space, reports Bob Shallit in the Sac Bee.

Turns out it’s going to be called Meet and Eat and will have a mix of locally sourced menu options. The opening date? That’s still not certain. And a beer and wine license application for the place is still pending...

One employee, who asked not to be identified, said the new place will have a “European” feel with a smaller menu than Dantorels and will provide full service at dinner as opposed to the counter service offered at the Curtis Park location.

Read the entire story in the Sac Bee.

If you've never been to Cafe Dantorels, here's what then-Sac Bee dining critic Blair Anthony Robertson said in May 2014:

My search for answers about why this restaurant is so crowded so often came up with the only one that makes sense: The people in the Curtis Park neighborhood really want it there and want to see it succeed. It’s certainly not a destination eatery, and I can’t say it’s worth driving across town to check it out. I do recommend it as a place for a quick bite and some good beer or wine. It’s also a good bet for breakfast with quality coffee.

But if Cafe Dantorels is going to maintain its momentum and embrace the obvious goodwill from the neighborhood, it must take a careful look at what’s missing in the kitchen and take meaningful steps to improve the food.

Read the entire story in the Sac Bee.

If there's one thing going for it, Meet and Eat doesn't face strong competition in that part of town. I hope they find success.

More News:

Drinking with your dog: Canine-friendly breweries, wineries abound - Sacramento is fast becoming a dog-friendly city, with a dozen off-leash parks and a long list of restaurants allowing pooches on patios. For wineries and breweries, which typically don’t have the health complications of having food preparation on the premises, courting canines seems like a no-brainier. Many drinking establishments with outdoor areas easily accommodate pet lovers without degrading the experience for those with allergies or fear of dogs. Others have created special playpens to accommodate animals. All stress that owners are ultimately responsible for their dogs’ behavior. Featuring Track 7, Bike Dog Brewing, Oak Park Brewing and many others. Sammy Caiola in the Sac Bee.

Ballad of chicken hearts - All around, the flavors were simple but spot-on; the execution flawless...With the bustling open kitchen, large and striking full bar and ridiculous beer bottle list of something like 40 rare brews, Empress promises to be one of the hottest destinations in town. My only question: Can you eat too many chicken hearts? Janelle Bitker in Sac News & Review.

Sacramento Farm-to-Fork Festival sets a record — and it hasn't even started - This year, the festival features five live cooking demonstration stages, up from three last year. The festival is a chance to meet the region’s chefs, growers, farmers, grocers and other foodie-type groups in the community. The vendors include everything from food trucks to ranches and supermarket displays to restaurants and museums. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

New Galleria restaurant opened this week - A major new addition to the dining lineup at the Westfield Galleria in Roseville is almost ready to serve customers. Locally owned restaurant Land Ocean opened at 11 a.m. Friday, pending final approvals, according to a post on the eatery's Facebook page. It's the second location for Land Ocean, which is co-owned by Mark Platt and Karoline Platt. The restaurant serves entrees such as steaks, chicken and seafood. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

New wine bar to open downtown in October - Oenophiles, get ready to be wined (and dined). San Francisco restaurateur John Marco is adding to downtown Sacramento’s transformation with the opening of a new wine bar at 4th and L, next to Foundation Restaurant & Bar and one block from the Golden 1 Center. Whired Wine (which gets its name from the combination of “white” and “red”) is set to open its doors in mid-October, and will feature a rotating menu of local wines, along with six taps of regional beers and even sake. It will also serve small plates, cheese and charcuterie. Amanda Lash in Sactown Mag.

A small kitchen on Monday night forced Rio City Café in Old Sacramento to close for the week, general manager Scott Meier told Cowtown Eats on Wednesday morning.

Nobody was injured in the fire and the damage was minor. Meier is now awaiting inspection so he can reopen the restaurant, hopefully on Friday.

Another notable restaurant closed by a kitchen fire was Ella back in January 2014 when a grease fire closed the restaurant for a weekend.

When Rio City Café reopens, they'll continue to serve what they're calling their Gold Rush Menu, a BBQ-themed menu running through Old Sac's Gold Rush Days celebration on Labor Day Weekend.

Rio City Café is located at 1110 Front Street in Old Sacramento, and can be found online at http://www.riocitycafe.com/.

Thanks to the team at About a Bite bakery for the tip. Make sure you check out their new location on K Street behind the Hyatt.

More News:

Plunge into poke – it’s really cool - In terms of culinary trends, 2015 will be remembered in Sacramento as the Year of Poke. Variations of this Hawaiian seafood salad have long been a staple of local menus, be it as a starter course at Bandera or nestled in the fish counter at Oto’s Marketplace. But now, the raw seafood dish known as poke (pronounced “po-kay”) is primed to become the new shawarma, shabu shabu or other dish du jour. The poke craze in Sacramento was kicked off by Fish Face, the poke bar run by Billy Ngo of Kru at R Street’s WAL Public Market. Since opening in early July, Fish Face has processed up to 120 pounds of fresh tuna daily – sometimes selling out of product – to meet its customer demand. Chris Macias in the Sac Bee.

Beer glassware: It’s not just about what you drink - Why do you drink beer? Your answer will have a lot to do with how you drink beer. If you consider craft beer to be an engaging sensory experience and if you’re committed to seeing, smelling and tasting your beer, then the glassware into which it is poured will be an important consideration. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Foundation Restaurant & Bar: Uneven but stable - One of the real winners is Foundation’s Big Ol’ BBQ burger. There are four burgers on the menu, but the waitress assured us this was a good one. She was right: Topped with sharp cheddar, caramelized onions, two big strips of bacon and house-made barbecue sauce, it was a winner. The beef flavor came through well and the bun held up despite the oceans of sauce and juice that poured forth. Stock up on napkins for this one...Foundation is perfectly fine, if a bit uneven in execution. It’s a good option for lunches and drinks and, come 2016, or whenever the arena opens, it should be packed to the rafters. Ann Martin Rolke in Sac News & Review.

Berry nutty: Strawberry Fields 4EVER, WholeHearted Juice Co. - Try the Strawberry Fields 4EVER ($11 including $1 deposit for the 16-ounce bottle), which delights with almonds, strawberries, cacao butter, dates, vanilla, ocean minerals and sea salt. It's slightly sweet, salty and nutty with a quiet reminder of chocolate-covered strawberries. Janelle Bitker in Sac News & Review.

Tales and Ales: A Red Solo Cup Anniversary Party - Come celebrate 56 years of enchantment at Fairytale Town, Sacramento’s favorite (and only) storybook park. On the evening of Aug. 29, Fairytale Town welcomes all generations of fans to an anniversary party. While the kids enjoy Fairytale Town’s countless attractions, adults can join local craft breweries in unlimited beer tasting. Fill up your red Solo cup as many times as you want from some of the featured local breweries, including Lost Coast Brewery, Oak Park Brewing Company, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Track 7 Brewing Co. and more. Sara Stidham in Sac Mag.

Here are the 15 most popular Sacramento happy hours of July 2015 (based on page views) on Cowtown Eats:

1. BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse (Last month's rank: 1)
2. Zocalo (Last month's rank: 2)
3. Bento Box (Last month's rank: 3)
4. Chicago Fire (Last month's rank: 5)
5. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse (Last month's rank: 4)
6. Fat's Asia Bistro (Last month's rank: 6)
7. Burgers & Brew (Last month's rank: 9)
8. Cheesecake Factory (Last month's rank: 13)
9. Lucca Restaurant (Last month's rank: 10)
10. Paesanos (Last month's rank: 8)
11. 33rd St. Bistro (Last month's rank: 5)
12. Shady Lady Saloon (Last month's rank: 15)
13. Firestone Public House (Last month's rank: 12)
14. Hook & Ladder (Last month: Unranked
15. Chevy's Fresh Mex - On the River (Last month's rank: 9)

Thanks for visiting Cowtown Eats! We had more than 69,000 page views and more than 29,750 unique visitors.

I also want to give a special shout out to Cask & Barrel and Hook & Ladder  for generously sponsoring Cowtown Eats and keeping the lights on here.

Hawks Provisions & Public House, the East Sac outpost of the well-reviewed Hawks Restaurant in Granite Bay, is set to open in August, it announced via e-mail.

We're getting close! Our new restaurant, Hawks Provisions & Public House will be set to open some time in August. Our kitchen installation begins mid July, and our bar top will arrive shortly thereafter. We'll keep you posted as we can't wait to introduce our new location on the corner of Stockton and Alhambra Blvds.

This project has been in the works since at least Feb. 2013. If you're wondering what the fuss is all about, the Sac Bee declared it “the best restaurant” in the region in Feb. 2012. Last year, they told me they were aiming for an August 2014 opening date. Earlier this year, the date had slipped to  March.

With real construction going on, we're closer than ever.

Relatedly, the flagship location in Granite Bay will celebrate its 8th Anniversary on August 21. To celebrate, they're offering a special tasting menu, the details of which they'll announce soon.

They also have a new general manager, David Ostrom, who comes to Hawks from restaurant experience in Sacramento, San Francisco and Napa Valley.

More News:

Checking in with Chando - I asked him if he was ready to open location #4, possibly in Folsom and he said he's taking a break. His next project is actually to create a central facility where all of the catering and supply will function out of. At this location he can accept all deliveries, prep for catering events, and even make his own tortillas and more items from scratch. Catherine Enfield on Munchie Musings.

Pachamama Coffee Cooperative - In August, the local coffee co-op will open a coffee bar in East Sacramento, at the former location of The Cultured and the Cured cheese shop. Similar to its Davis location, the new shop will serve pour-overs and espresso drinks, plus baked goods from Sugar Plum Vegan bakery. In Sactown Mag. (Fourth Item.)

Try it: Fat’s Asia Bistro's Pot Stickers - Sacramentans know that when a restaurant has “Fat’s” in the name, you can expect nothing but the best gourmet Chinese—and the pot stickers at Fat’s Asia Bistro, located in Folsom and Roseville, are no exception. Barbara Harvey in Sac Mag.

Three cheers for new website - There’s a terrific new local beer-focused website called Hops About Beer. It’s the work of beer enthusiast Zach Clevenger, who happens to have a secret weapon. I noticed as much when I read a recent post that contained a recipe for a treat called Track Seven Nukin’ Futz Chocolate Cupcakes. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee. (Third item.)

Feline buzzed: Suiyoubi No Neko, Yo-Ho Brewing Company - Described by the Japanese brewery as a beverage “made for Hump Day” and “fluffy and refreshing,” it's a lovely brew with a light, creamy texture and hints of orange. Rachel Leibrock in Sac News & Review.

Here are the 15 most popular Sacramento happy hours of June 2015 (based on page views) on Cowtown Eats:

1. BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse (Last month's rank: 1)
2. Zocalo (Last month's rank: 2)
3. Bento Box (Last month's rank: 3)
4. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse (Last month's rank: 6)
5. Chicago Fire (Last month's rank: 4)
6. Fat's Asia Bistro (Last month: Unranked)
7. Chevy's Fresh Mex - On the River (Last month's rank: 9)
8. 33rd St. Bistro (Last month's rank: 5)
9. Burgers & Brew (Last month's rank: 10)
10. Lucca Restaurant (Last month's rank: 8)
11. 3 Fires Lounge (Last month's rank: 13)
12. Firestone Public House (Last month's rank: 7)
13. Cheesecake Factory (Last month's rank: 11)
14. Paesanos (Last month's rank: 12)
15. Shady Lady Saloon (Last month: Unranked)

Thanks for visiting Cowtown Eats! We had more than 58,000 page views and more than 22,250 unique visitors.

I also want to give a special shout out to Cask & Barrel and Hook and Ladder  for generously sponsoring Cowtown Eats and keeping the lights on here. I also want to thank Strings Urban Kitchen and ASR Restaurant & Lounge, who completed their advertising with Cowtown Eats last month.