Our #OneYearAnniversary & #GrandOpening of our #espresso bar is 4/11! Get a free #mocha or #latte 9am-noon. pic.twitter.com/HU5uoTngSn

— StringsUrbanKitchen (@StringsKitchen) April 8, 2015

Strings Urban Kitchen (disclosure: longtime Cowtown Eats advertiser) is celebrating their first anniversary at Capitol Towers by opening an espresso bar.

In addition, they are giving away a free 12 oz cup of coffee, latte or mocha on Saturday, April 11 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon to mark the occasion.

I'm a huge fan of the place, and especially enjoy their retail wine shop with a curated selection by their in house sommelier and their great shaded patio for summer outdoor drinking.

Check them out on Saturday, or at for a happy hour soon. I think you'll enjoy it.

Strings Urban Kitchen is located at 1500 7th St. and can be found online at StringsUrbanKitchen.com.

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What Pieology is planning in the region - A Pieology Pizzeria location is in the works on Douglas Boulevard, according to the city of Roseville. An April newsletter from the city's economic development department says the Rancho Santa Margarita-based company is processing tenant improvements for 2030 Douglas Blvd., suite 30, which is in the Rocky Ridge Town Center. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

4 Sacramento area breweries set to host first Fantasy Food Truck Showdown - Coming to a craft brewery near you are six Sacramento gourmet food trucks that will compete every first Thursday of the month for the inaugural Fantasy Food Truck Showdown. Cecil's Taste, California Love Truck, Gyrostop, Mama Kim, Brunch Boys and Culinerdy Cruzer will gather at Track 7 Brewing Company in Natomas for round one (May 7) to win the hearts—and stomachs—of attendees and a panel of judges. Nicole Yi in Sactown Mag.

Stockton Boulevard restaurant will offer unique breakfasts - A chef who once operated a Cajun-style food truck in the Sacramento region is opening a restaurant on Stockton Boulevard. John Finnegan is chef and co-owner of Finnegan's Public House, which is expected to open this month at 3751 Stockton Blvd. It will begin by serving only breakfast and lunch before including dinner service with beer and wine. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

El Dorado Hills Town Center is losing one of its restaurants - The days are numbered for Chili's Grill & Bar in the El Dorado Hills Town Center. The location at 2085 Vine St. will have its final day of business on April 27, according to restaurant spokeswoman Aisha Fletcher. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Strings Urban Kitchen, the grould-floor restaurant at Capitol Towers, is "a find in downtown Sacramento," says the Sacramento Bee.

Next up was the star of the show, a bowl of pasta Mediterranean, a signature dish. Thin spaghetti is splashed with marinara sauce and an intriguing “hint of curry,” and topped with perfectly cooked prawns, coins of spicy Italian sausage, tomato, basil and Parmesan.

“This is unusual and spectacular,” [KCRA News anchor Edit Lambert] said. “I love it...”

Edie had to dash to the studio, but later sent an email: “Our family get-togethers are often centered around a shared love for and interest in good food and everything that goes into it. … I thought the food and ambiance (at Strings Urban Kitchen) were unique enough to make it a spot I would recommend to friends.”

Now for the breaking news: We agree.

Read the Allen Pierleoni's entire article in the Sac Bee.

I find Strings Urban Kitchen to be cozy and delightful. I've enjoyed every meal I've had there. (Disclosure: Strings Urban Kitchen is an advertiser on Cowtown Eats. You should give them a try since they're a) good and b) help keep the lights on around here.)

Strings Urban Kitchen is located at 1500 7th Street, and can be found online at http://stringsurbankitchen.com/. You can also check out their happy hour here.

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Sunday’s last quaff for Sacramento Beer Week draws thousands - There’s a beer for every tastebud. That is the conclusion, fair and frothy, from Sacramento Beer Week, which concluded Sunday afternoon with thousands gathering on the downtown Capitol Mall for a keg-pumping, crowd-pleasing afternoon of music, food trucks and lots of beer sampling. Offering coffee-infused ales to creamy stouts, the 2015 Capitol Beer Fest drew an over-21 crowd that lined up at tasting booths to quaff beer creations in miniature glasses. Peter Hecht in the Sac Bee.

Track 7 Receives a Warm Natomas Welcome - Track 7 Brewing Company’s new taproom in Natomas received a warm welcome over the weekend. Hundreds of people were on hand for the grand-opening festivities held Feb. 21. On Natomas Buzz.

VIDEO: Roseville Red Robin Catches Fire - A fire broke out inside the Red Robin in Roseville on Wednesday night, while the restaurant was full of customers. The Red Robin is located on on the 1100 block of Galleria Boulevard, near Antelope Creek Drive. Witnesses say they could see 10 to 15 foot flames pouring out of the building’s roof at one point. Doug Johnson on FOX 40.

VIDEO: Man Found Dead Inside South Sacramento Cafe - A man was found dead inside a Sacramento County cafe early Friday morning. Deputies say they received a call of shots being fired around 4:30 a.m. at The Cafe Monaco on Savings Place Drive off 65th Street. When authorities arrived on scene, they say an Asian man was found shot to death. Investigators are not releasing his identity at this time. Darla-Tess Weaver and Sam Cohen on FOX 40.

The Melt closes in Davis - There's a new chapter in the saga of struggling cheese-related businesses in the Sacramento region. The Melt, a quick-serve restaurant specializing in grilled cheese sandwiches, has closed its Davis restaurant. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

The reviews are starting to come in for Strings Urban Kitchen, the newish eatery at the base of Capitol Towers at 7th & O. First up, it's Ann Martin Rolke in Sac News & Review. (Full Disclosure: Strings Urban Kitchen is currently an advertiser on Cowtown Eats.)

At dinner, Strings offers table service. We shared the Bruschetta Rustico, with chunky toasts layered with seasoned cheese, grape tomatoes, basil and balsamic vinegar. With less garlic than many versions, it’s a delicious and date-friendly choice...

It’s an old tradition that deserves renewed attention. The food at Strings is similar: traditional dishes with new attention to detail and flavor. It’s a nice addition to the downtown grid.

Read the entire article in Sac News & Review.

I've eaten there several times, including during their media preview and later for happy hour on my own dime. I've enjoyed it both times, due to its relaxed atmosphere, friendly service and solid food. On my next visit, I'll be checking out their retail wine store too.

Strings Urban Kitchen is located at 1500 7th Street, can be found online at StringsUrbanKitchen.com.

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LowBrau brunch features signature sausage, drinks - What is less known about them is that they also serve brunch. On Saturdays and Sundays, their deck, shaded by a large tree canopy, is an excellent spot to people watch, sip a shandy, and nosh on sausage-centric brunch food. Andrea Thompson in Sac Biz Journal.

The claim: food trucks are as safe as restaurants - Food trucks are just as safe as restaurants — and, in many cases, safer. That's the conclusion of a new report by the Institute of Justice, a Virginia-based libertarian law firm. The group found that food trucks and carts don't receive any more citations for health-safety violations than restaurants do. In fact, in most of the cities studied, the trucks actually did better. Susannah Locke on Vox.com.

VIDEO: Ice Cream Shops Thrive in Record Heat - It should be no surprise that ice cream shops around the valley are very busy during this spell of triple-digit heat. Staff at Leatherby’s in Elk Grove say they go through 500 to 600 gallons of ice cream on a hot day. Multiply that by three locations, and that number ends up being around 1,500 gallons. Alisa Becerra on FOX 40.

Coriander Vietnamese Restaurant, located at S & Alhambra streets, opened in April. I e-mailed with Kristi Ng (no relation) and she gave me some more info about the restaurant.

Q: What's the concept of your restaurant?

A: Our concept is very simple:  although vietnamese food is getting more mainstream, the quality, service and cleanliness still lacks in most restaurants.  We pledge to provide excellent customer service, clean and modern atmosphere, quality ingredients that won't compromise traditional recipes.

Q: Is there any notable experience for the chef or owner in the restaurant industry?

A: There are 3 main chefs at Coriander.  Myself, Kevin and Linh.  Kevin has many years of restaurant experience though myself and Linh are great home cooks.

Q: Anything else interesting you want to share?

A: We are very careful in handling our food. What we serve at the restaurant is what we would serve at home to our families-no compromises.

She also pointed to her business pledge on Coriander's Web site.

At Coriander restaurant, diners will enjoy savory Vietnamese appetizers and entrees in a clean and modern environment without compromising quality, taste, and service.

I haven't had the chance to try it yet, but I'm sure I'll pay a visit in the fall when the air chills and I'm in the mood for soup and spicy food.

Coriander Vietnamese Restaurant is located at 1899 Alhambra Street, and can be found online at http://savorycoriander.com/.

More News:

First impressions: Coriander Vietnamese Restaurant - The impression of garlic and spices still lingers on our palates a few hours after lunch. Many of the foods, especially the chicken wings and Coriander fried rice, are flavored strongly per central Vietnamese custom. So far, Coriander looks to be a good alternative to Star Ginger in terms of ambiance and accessibility. Chris Macias in the Sac Bee.

Tapa the World no longer on top - And then there is Tapa the World, a long-running, pun-loving tapas eatery on J Street in midtown that once was a star attraction for tapas. At its peak, the place was packed and was so noisy it was often a struggle to hear the live classical guitarist. Things change. The restaurant scene evolves, and what the competition is doing plays a part in determining the rating a restaurant receives. Since it was last reviewed in 2005, Tapa the World is no longer at the tapa the heap for casual dining in this category. While there are still ways to enjoy this eatery, its food has clearly declined in recent years while the competition has clearly elevated. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Introducing a new voice for food and restaurants - I'm delighted to introduce Andrea Thompson as the Sacramento Business Journal's new restaurant columnist. She brings a deep knowledge of food and has well-honed skills at telling stories about who makes it, how and why. Her first column went up on our site this morning. Jack Robinson in Sac Biz Journal.

I'd noticed the change in signage for the restaurant inside Mango's, but I never had the time to track it down. Luckily, Sac Biz Journal's Mark Anderson has the news.

Guadalajara Grill operates daily during lunch and dinner at 1930 K St., and then later at night the venue becomes Mango's, a Latin night club with three dance floors sprawled out over 10,000 square feet through two buildings and a large outdoor courtyard...

Guadalajara was invited to take over the restaurant operations by Gomez, who liked the food at their other locations.

The first Taqueria Guadalajara opened in 1991. With the new midtown restaurant, there are now four locations. The others are 640 West Covell Blvd. and 417 Mace Blvd. in Davis and 6 West Court St. in Woodland.

Read the entire story in Sac Biz Journal.

I've eaten at their location on Mace Blvd. and found it good for being in Davis. With Tres Hermanas just a short distance down K Street, the competition will be much higher in Midtown, but I hope the owners are ready for it.

Photo taken on May 1, 2014.

More News:

San Francisco’s 7x7 magazine shouts out Sacramento food scene - Seems as those big city folk in San Francisco are continuing to warm to its cowtown neighbor about 75 miles away. Following an April article in the SF Weekly which gave well deserved props to Sacramento’s cocktail scene, the San Francisco lifestyle magazine 7x7 posted a piece today about Sacramento becoming a culinary destination for farm-to-fork restaurants. Chris Macias in the Sac Bee.

VIDEO: Firefighters Respond to Original Squeeze Inn Location - Crews responded to a fire at the original Squeeze Inn location on Fruitridge Road Wednesday evening. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. On FOX 40.

Midtown BevMo opening in June - A midtown Sacramento BevMo store will open soon. The big-box liquor and specialty food store at 1700 J St. is expected to open at 9 a.m. on June 13. It fills a 12,484-square-foot building that long housed The Beat record store. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Strings Urban Kitchen
1500 7th St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-444-6500

Web site: http://stringsurbankitchen.com/

Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/strings-urban-kitchen-sacramento

Happy Hour

Monday to Friday
Drinks - 4 to 6 p.m.
Bites - 2 to 5 p.m.

The owners of Crepeville & Burgers & Brew have purchased the building that formerly housed Purgatory, reports Sac Biz Journal's Ben van der Meer.

The owners of Burgers & Brew and Crepeville have bought a midtown Sacramento building with plans to convert it into a restaurant and brewery...

Burgers & Brew owners Derar Zawaydeh and Philippe Masoud could not be immediately reached for comment. Herrera said the concept would have a similar feel to what they’ve done at their Burgers & Brew and Crepeville locations, five in all between Sacramento, Davis and Chico.

There was no immediate word on the timing of the new venture or a possible name.  Another new bar and restaurant, Goldfield Trading Post, is scheduled to open this summer on the same block farther east in the former Hamburger Patties location.

Read the entire story in Sac Biz Journal.

One other tidbit from the piece. According to one of van der Meer's sources, Azukar (which used to be housed there before Purgatory) was doing $3 million a year in revenue. Maybe I'm not in the right demographic, but I never would have guessed that Azukar was successful in that spot.

More News:

Now Open: Strings Urban Kitchen - The Sacramento food scene is a buzz with new restaurants and we were thrilled to find out that one of the newest eateries to open in town is right in our backyard. Strings Urban Kitchen, also known as SUK, now open at Capitol Towers (O and 7th), is dishing up delicious flavors for both lunch and dinner brought to life by the folks from Strings Italian Kitchen. Jake Ferguson and Amanda Frew on Sac Foodies.

RedBrick Pizza Café coming to Folsom - RedBrick Pizza Café is entering the Sacramento region with a location in Folsom. General manager Al Castillo said he hopes to open the restaurant within the next two months. It’s at 2379 Iron Point Road, Suite 110, in the Folsom Gateway shopping center near Folsom’s Palladio at Broadstone. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Dad’s Sandwiches, Sacramento - You all know that we SacFoodies are suckers for great sandwiches. And lucky for us, there sure are some great sandwiches in and around Sacramento. Still, it never ceases to amaze me when there is a sandwich spot that I haven’t yet tried. Enter Dad’s Sandwiches, with two Sactown locations – on J Street and on S Street – and just as the name suggests, sandwiches are their sole focus. I decided to skip on over to the S Street location a few weeks ago. Upon reviewing the mouthwatering options on their giant chalk menu board, I decided to go with their veggie option – The Green Machine – but, with a twist. Jenna Buhagiar on Sac Foodies.