Restaurant Reviews

Dining review: Despite so-so menu, you can't help but enjoy Dave & Buster's - At the end, the chair stops, you get up and you have a smile on your face. Maybe you're a tad embarrassed that you enjoyed yourself, your stomach is only mildly unsettled, you have a hazy sense of the zeitgeist of postmodern suburban intimacy and, turns out, you haven't blown too much money. Kinda like the D&B experience itself. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Tikka’d off - It’s been said here previously that when it comes to Indian restaurants and lawyers, there’s always room for one more good one. Indian Grill on L Street does not qualify. Greg Lucas in the Sac News & Review.

Night Life: Ella loosens up a little for a still-upscale happy hour -  Understandably, happy hour is by nature all about cheap eats and drinks, but for just a few bucks more than a plate of lukewarm fries in a dank dive, Ella customers enjoy exceptional fare, atmosphere and service, elements crucial to a gratifying happy hour experience. Casey Mar in the Sac Bee.

First Bite: Kupros Bistro - I’ll be back soon for a cold pint of the Arrogant Bastard ale and the chef’s seasonal charcuterie platter, which includes “potted” rabbit, oxtail foie gras and pickled chanterelle mushrooms. Kira O'Donnell in Sac Mag.

Kupros: What exactly is a “gastropub”? - Good news: Kupros is just a few tweaks away from being outstanding. Bad news: places like Shady Lady, Golden Bear, and Samuel Horne’s will be trying to get themselves labelled as gastropubs to get in on the action. Not too much of a downside all in all. Sac Rag.

Mobile food vendors want ordinance changed - An ordinance to limit mobile food vendors to a total of 30 minutes in one spot in the city won’t go into effect until 2013, but groups are already working to fight it during the mandated review process. Brandon Darnell in Sac Press.

Void of Yumminess Around the Capitol - I work near the Capitol, which means there are a lot of people around during the work day. Yet despite this glutton of business potential, why is it so hard to find a good, easy, fast place to go pick up sandwiches that haven’t been wrapped in plastic for 12+ plus, salads wilting under neon light and interesting lunch snacks? Ashley Robinson in Girls on the Grid.

Venue shuts down - Venue, located at 1417 R St., officially closed its doors today after being sold last week. Brandon Darnell in Sac Press.

Zagat fast-food survey shocker: In-N-Out ousted - It’s that time of year again, where Zagat  releases the often controversial results of its fast food survey — where chains are ranked in categories ranging from best burger to best value. Nancy Luna in the OC Register.

Looking for more restaurant news and reviews? Find previous roundups at http://www.cowtowneats.com/happy_hour/weekly-news-roundup/

Restaurant Reviews

Dining review: El Dorado Hills' Sienna is doing plenty of things right - Sienna, which took over the 9,500-square-foot building once occupied by the tragic love story known as Masque Ristorante, is doing plenty of things right to gain a foothold in upscale El Dorado Hills. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Gatsby's Diner: Follow the green light - Gatsby’s accomplishes what any diner sets out to do: The servers are entertaining and professional, and the burgers more than meet expectations. It’s a green light that doesn’t fade, and encourages you to come in and reach for a menu. Garrett McCord in the Sac News & Review.

4th Street Grille conceals culinary gems -  Since 1992, the 4th Street Grille has been serving unique dishes crafted with care and attention to detail. Happy hour is a perfect time to sample some of the restaurant's extraordinary flavors at a greatly reduced price. Casey Mar in the Sac Bee.

Cornerstone Restaurant remodel delayed - The owners of Cornerstone Restaurant in Midtown may soon return to court to avoid eviction after the planned renovation of a nearby church has stalled. Suzanne Hurt in Sac Press.

Looking for more restaurant news and reviews? Find previous roundups at http://www.cowtowneats.com/happy_hour/weekly-news-roundup/

Restaurant Reviews

Dining review: Sacramento's Red Lotus a work of culinary artistry - Ngo wanted to go even more daring with the menu but decided to roll out the provocative, high-minded fusion of cuisines little by little. The menu will keep changing. It will be Chinese, Vietnamese and whatever else stirs in the minds back in the kitchen. Watch for dishes like geese feet – they're like those chicken feet you know and love, only bigger, better, bolder. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

The Green Boheme: Raw love - Somewhat pricey. “Warming” takes a while. But indisputably unique. And, like Green Boheme’s mantra reads: “All made with love.” Greg Lucas in the Sac News & Review.

Dining Review: Red Lotus Kitchen & Bar - It’s always fun to discover an innovative new menu, especially when it’s crafted by a talented chef like Billy Ngo. And while I think the restaurant has some kinks to work out, Red Lotus is a dynamic addition to midtown. Kira O'Donnell in Sac Mag.

The Dollar-Wise Gourmet: Buy Me Some Peanuts and Cracker Jack - Along with popcorn, peanuts and all the usual suspects, Raley Field’s newly expanded menu features such fun finds as portobello mushroom burgers, pesto chicken sandwiches and salads—most for a reasonable $8 or less. But so much for price; how does it taste? Drumroll, please . . . Cathy Cassinos-Carr in the Sac Mag.

2010 Best of Sacramento Dining Awards - Take the valley’s enviable agricultural bounty and combine it with our noted cultural diversity and ever-growing appreciation for all things food, and it’s no wonder the region’s dining scene is flourishing. It seems our appetite for dining out is as strong as ever, with many new restaurants sharing the spotlight with tried-and-true favorites. Marybeth Bizjak & Kira O'Donnell in the Sac Mag.

Looking for more restaurant news and reviews? Find previous roundups at http://www.cowtowneats.com/happy_hour/weekly-news-roundup/

Restaurant Reviews

Dining: 524 adds up to reliable Mexican dining - With traditional, straightforward recipes, his goal was simple: Feed the Alkali Flat neighborhood by combining the time-honored cooking of Mexico with the preferences of modern Sacramento. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Il Forno Classico: Italian Standby - Tucked into the Gold Centre Lane’s supermarket-anchored brick strip mall, Il Forno lets a diner know precisely what to expect with the banner across its facade: pasta, pollo, pizza, focaccia, risotto, pesce, bistecca, dolce, espresso, vino, martini, birra. Vinoteca is far less gussied-up than the busy interior of Il Forno. There’s coats of arms from Sienna, cross-thatch tan and black upholstery, similarly hued tile work. It’s festive but a bit dark, the two-person booths tight. Greg Lucas in the Sac News & Review.

First Bite: Heat - I had a knockout dinner last night at Heat restaurant, which specializes in Japanese fondue (shabu shabu). It's only been open for 10 days, but service was impeccable and the food was spot-on. Kira O'Donnell in Sac Mag.

Night Life: Morton's a good value for happy hour - If happy hour is a time to grab cheap food and drinks, you might not think of Morton's The Steakhouse on Capitol Mall. Morton's, known for its upscale dining, has an underappreciated gem in its Power Hour. Casey Mar in the Sac Bee.

Restaurant News

Your Sacramento Guide: More of the area's best restaurant tables -  A couple of weeks back, I brought up the notion of finding great tables in restaurants around the region. Not simply great rooms, though there are plenty, but particular tables that stand out for their charm, cozy privacy or engaging views of the street or the restaurant. Rick Kushman in the Sac Bee.

The Press restaurant opens [Tuesday] in midtown Sacramento - David English, former executive chef at Ella Dining Room and Bar, opens The Press [Tuesday] at 4 p.m. at 18th and Capitol. The restaurant will occupy the former space of Dragonfly. With the Press, English has crafted a menu that's inspired by the Mediterranean and emphasizes fresh seasonal ingredients. Chris Macias in the Sac Bee.

Eating Out - Top local chef Mai Pham is expanding her empire again. She has just leased the former Togo's site at Alhambra and Folsom boulevards and plans to open an eatery there, called Star Ginger, featuring flavorful street foods from Southeast Asia. Bob Shallit in the Sac Bee. (Second Item)

The Tortilla Takes a Road Trip to Korea - What captured Ms. Lee’s attention was Kogi Korean BBQ-To-Go, a retrofitted catering truck that rolled onto the streets of Southern California in November 2008, selling corn tortillas piled with Korean-style barbecued short ribs known as kalbi, garnished with onion, cilantro and a hash of chili-soy-dressed lettuce. John T. Edge in the NY Times.

Looking for more restaurant news and reviews? Find previous roundups at http://www.cowtowneats.com/happy_hour/weekly-news-roundup/

Restaurant Reviews

Dining: Capitol Garage good; with a tune-up, could be great - No other place in town seems to be trying to do as much. With a tighter focus on what it does best, a tweak or two of service and a paring-down of the menu, this place could become an even more appealing treasure. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Cafe Capricho: On a whim - The cafe has a number of things going for it, starting with its name. Capricho  is “whim” or “caprice” in Spanish. Prices are bad-economy-friendly. Scads of joyful little nippers laugh, wander amongst the chairs and, occasionally, listen to their moms and sit still and eat their lunch. As though that weren’t sufficient thumbs up, there’s a friendly industrious staff that often includes one or both of the cafe’s owners and a relaxed atmosphere. Greg Lucas in the Sac News & Review.

Restaurant News

Your Sacramento Guide: Restaurants play summer waiting game -  We've entered the month of gloom. Not, technically, we as a group. For most of us, it's the sunny middle of summer. Time to play outside and barbecue and travel and go to the fair. That's what we do. What restaurants do from mid-July through August is wait. They wait for people to slow down and, sometimes, for the temperatures to drop enough so folks will want to go out to eat. Rick Kushman in the Sac Bee.


KCRA sends their intern to try out the exotic state fair food. Video Link.

Looking for more restaurant news and reviews? Find previous roundups at http://www.cowtowneats.com/happy_hour/weekly-news-roundup/

Restaurant Reviews

Bistro Michel: Èlan and energy - Though much is taken, much abides, as old Al Tennyson says. For almost as long as Ulysses was marooned, the space on the northeastern corner of O and 14th streets was Julie Virga’s eponymous Virga’s. Then it became Gaylord, an Indian restaurant. Having scaffolding around the two-story mixed-use structure while its exterior and interior was renovated didn’t exactly boom business, and Gaylord based into the sad netherworld of vanished restaurants. Greg Lucas in the Sac News & Review.

Dining review: Eccentricities are part of the fun at Casablanca -  This restaurant is not for everyone. Uptight people, stay away. Fussy eaters? Surely you'd rather wait in line at Olive Garden or Chili's. Eccentrics? Only if you don't mind being upstaged. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Restaurant News

Early Taste of new State Fair foods - Looking to channel your inner Anthony Bourdain? The California State Fair has you covered this year. And no, we're not talking about cooking something straight from the petting zoo.  How about deep fried scorpions covered in chocolate, or grilled python kabobs? Chris Macias in the Sac Bee.

California State Fair food prices cut 25% - Hoping to increase attendance and jump-start concession sales, officials at the California State Fair have slashed food prices by 25 percent. Chris Macias in the Sac Bee.

Super Unimpressive Restaurant Trends - As a diner I’m pretty uncritical. I let a lot of stuff slide. I don’t give much of a care is service is good, or bad, or horrendous as long as the food is good. There are, however, a few things that drive me f’ing bonkers, and I’ve been running into them a lot lately. In Sac Rag.

L Wine Lounge gains partner, new ventures - The owners of L Wine Lounge & Urban Kitchen, 1801 L St., in Sacramento are teeing off a new business partnership, franchise concept and cookbooks. Chris Macias in the Sac Bee.

Franks for the memories - Sacramentan John Koogle says he had 35 good years in the construction business. The past two? "Not so fun," he says. So Koogle and his wife, Suzann, recently scaled back their drywall firm, Interior Partitions Inc., and branched off into a new line of business: selling hot dogs. The couple on Thursday opened a lunch stand at 13th and I streets in downtown Sacramento, selling their basic "BiteMe Dog" and a "Sonoran Dog" (with bacon, pinto beans and cheese on a Mexican bolillo roll). Bob Shallit in the Sac Bee. (Second Item)

Greek restaurant shutters midtown Sacramento location - Greek eatery Daphne's has announced that it's closed its location at 19th and S streets in Sacramento. Niesha Lofing in the Sac Bee.

Five Guys joins Sacramento burger scene - The burger wars in Sacramento are getting another contender for the champion belt with the addition of Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurant, which next week opens its first Sacramento location at 4630 Natomas Blvd. Five Guys is one of the fastest-growing burger chains in the country. Mark Anderson in the Sac Biz Journal, or KCRA reports (video).

Looking for more restaurant news and reviews? Find previous roundups at http://www.cowtowneats.com/happy_hour/weekly-news-roundup/

Restaurant Reviews

Super Tortas Chilangas “El Abuelo”: Gramps’ way - As testimony to El Abuelo’s authenticity, there isn’t much English spoken by the waitstaff, who sport T-shirts featuring Superman’s “S” logo. The owner’s very pregnant daughter-in-law, however, is an exception. Unfettered from my limited facility with Spanish, recommendations can now be sought. Her favorite is pambaso, as El Abuelo’s name suggests, a Mexico City specialty. Greg Lucas in the Sac News & Review.

First Bite: Cafe Capricho -  East Sacramento has a friendly and colorful new family-owned restaurant on Folsom Boulevard, just a hop, skip and a jump from 33rd Street Bistro. Teeny Café Capricho offers a flavorful lineup of homestyle Mexican dishes, which include some not-so-typical selections. Kira O'Donnell in Sac Mag.

Restaurant News

Your Sacramento Guide: These tables have location, location, location -  A major date night was coming for one of my buddies. He had an anniversary to plan, so he made a dinner reservation for his favorite table. He even knew its identity: Table 8 at Aioli Bodega Española. Rick Kushman in the Sac Bee.

Need a Pinkberry fix? More shops set to open this month - Four more Pinkberry stores are set to open in the next few weeks in the Sacramento region. The area's first Pinkberry shops opened April 9 in the Howe 'Bout Arden shopping center and on April 29 in Laguna. Niesha Lofing in the Sac Bee.

Looking for more restaurant news and reviews? Find previous roundups at http://www.cowtowneats.com/happy_hour/weekly-news-roundup/