Press Bistro

Dining News: Now Open - Pre-Flite Lounge

 

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Pre-Flite Lounge, forced to move to make way for the new Kings arena, has opened at its new location on 10th St., across from Grange.

A call Wednesday evening was unanswered, but on it appears the dive bar has been open for at least a couple days.

The first Yelp review for the new location was posted yesterday. Owner Jason Yee also posted a picture on Yelp yesterday of a fully-stocked bar, and restaurant Mother posted a picture on Instagram on Wednesday afternoon showing a full bar.

Given its much better & convenient location, I can see the new spot becoming very successful.

Yee originally hoped to have the restaurant by December.

Previously: CBS 13 gets a tour of the space before it was built out.

Pre Flite Lounge will be located at 1011 10th St., and can be found online at http://www.preflitelounge.com/.

More News:

Hawks Restaurant getting closer to opening in long-vacant Alhambra Boulevard location - Interior construction should take about three months, Hawks said, putting the restaurant's likely opening date in early May. The existing site on the northeast corner of Stockton and Alhambra has two shell buildings separated by a small courtyard, so lots of interior work is still to come, she said. The buildings have been vacant since they were built in 2010. Ben van der Meer in Sac Biz Journal.

Skill, passion and polish found at The Press - These days, I cannot think of another restaurant in this category and price point that’s doing it any better. From the sourcing of ingredients to the exquisite, always-dialed-in seasoning of the food, The Press has the quality-to-value ratio worked out just right. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

More beer businesses planned in midtown - If you're thirsty for more beer in midtown Sacramento, you're in luck. The owners of Sac Brew Bike are adding a taproom to their business, and other entrepreneurs plan to open a taproom and beer store in the area. Sac Brew Bike, which entered the area last year, conducts local craft beer tours with two 15-passenger bikes. Currently, people show up for the tours on the street. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

French restaurant gets new space in El Dorado Hills - An upscale eatery in El Dorado Hills is downsizing, but the restaurant's manager says the smaller space is a step in the right direction. Cafe C opened in a space below Chili's near the movie theater in the El Dorado Hills Town Center. It's a new incarnation of Cafe Campanile, which was located across from Bistro 33 in the town center since 2004. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Blackbird expects its popularity to rise when arena is built - He envisions transforming the roof of Blackbird's building into a beer garden and imagines that Kings fans — even those who don't flock to the new arena — will arrive at the restaurant in droves "just to watch the game and be here if the players or owners drop in after the game." Neither Gregorakis nor Carina Lampkin, who each own 30 percent of the business, owns the building itself, which also houses the basement studio of Matt Brown, Blackbird's director (and selector) of art. Ed Goldman in Sac Biz Journal.

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Dining News: Iron Grill Gets Better With Age, Seasoning

Iron

Like a cast iron grill that's been properly cared for, Iron Grill (formerly known as Iron Steaks) across from Target on Broadway has hit its stride, says Sac Bee food critic Blair Anthony Robertson.

Slowly but surely, this eatery – stylish and casual – continues to improve...

Led by executive chef Keith Swiryn, the kitchen handled everything we ordered with aplomb, including a rib-eye special with blue cheese; surf and turf featuring wonderful lobster; crisp, golden-brown fried chicken; flavor-packed jambalaya with prawns, andouille sausage and free-range chicken; a simple yet stunningly delectable tempura green bean appetizer; and a thick and juicy “Battle Burger” topped with a slab of tender pork belly.

Even its wedge salad, a steakhouse staple that’s often awash in watery blandness, was a wonderful little dish, complete with thick and delicious cubes of house-cured bacon.

Read the entire review in the Sac Bee.

You can also read Robertson's 2010 review of Iron Steaks here.

Iron Grill is on my way home from work, and I stop by occasionally for happy hour (which I've found pleasant). I've also enjoyed brunch and dinners there in the past, and will have to add this to the list of places to try again soon.

BTW: If you're looking to save a few bucks while trying out Iron Grill, they have a deal over at Living Social.

Iron Grill is located at Broadway and 13th St, and can be found online at http://irongrillsacramento.com/.

* Photo via Iron Grill's Facebook Page.

More News:

Living Legend: Frank Fat's Celebrates 75th Anniversary & Looks Toward the Future - The block of 8th and L, and downtown in general, has changed immensely over the decades. Businesses have come and gone, people have aged and moved and buildings have been torn down and rebuilt. Frank Fat’s restaurant, however, is a rare exception that has remained a piece of Sacramento history and mastered the changing tides of Downtown Sacramento for 75 years. Alia Cruz in Submerge Mag.

Firehouse Subs opening more Sacramento-area restaurants - Firehouse Subs plans to open restaurants in Roseville and Davis early next year. The company says it will likely open two other restaurants in undisclosed locations by the end of 2015. With all those sites, Firehouse Subs will have six restaurants in the Sacramento area. The sandwich shop entered the region in January with a Truxel Road location. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Wing Zone plans to enter Sacramento region - Wing Zone plans to open 10 to 15 locations in the Sacramento region over the next five years, according to Matt Friedman, the company's co-founder and CEO. The restaurant currently has no California locations. Friedman called Sacramento his "first choice in developing our first units in California." Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Hot, hot buns - Having just celebrated its five-year anniversary, the bakery seems to have picked up huge swarms of similar addicts over the years. On a recent Saturday, the pastry spot was abuzz with customers trying to get some of the shop's most popular doughnut-esque pastries. And for good reason: The cream-cheese-filled pastries I sampled were like a slice of heaven for a Chinese Jew such as myself. Jonathan Mendick in Sac News & Review.

Cold-pressed juice movement draws Sacramento health-seekers - The premise is simple: Plants naturally contain enzymes and nutrients that promote health in the human body. Cold-press advocates – if not all nutritionists – believe these “living” ingredients are regularly killed by the harsh pasteurizing and processing of the modern Western diet. Even putting vegetables through your home juicer, they say, will rob them of some of their nutrient load. Sammy Caiola in the Sac Bee.

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Dining News: Local Chef Not Headed to ABC's The Taste

Despite publicly musing that competing on ABC's The Taste might be in his future, Chef Keith Breedlove tweets that he won't be participating in Season 3 of the cooking reality show.

But for fans of Chef Breedlove's, he's set to appear on Food Network's Cutthroat Kitchen on Dec. 7 and Guy's Grocery Games in October. Chef Breedlove will be (at least) the second Sacramento chef on Cutthroat Kitchen, with Kru's Billy Ngo appearing in Feb. 2014.

More News:

The Press Still Delights - It’s been a long time since I’ve had an opportunity to visit The Press, located smack-dab in the heart of midtown. A recent dinner there convinced me that chef/owner David English is still firmly on his game, celebrating our seasonal bounty and offering patrons “food and drink of the Mediterranean table.” Kira O'Donnell in Sac Mag.

Try It: The Porch’s Tuscaloosa Fried Green Tomatoes - I’m reveling in this season’s bounty of gorgeous, sweet, sun-kissed tomatoes, but a dish I had recently at The Porch Restaurant and Bar reminded me that green, unripe tomatoes can also knock my socks off. Kira O'Donnell in Sac Mag.

Green Thumb Deli offers specialty sandwiches in West Sacramento - Owners of a new West Sacramento eatery are making it easier to be green. Green Thumb Deli opened about three weeks ago at 322 Third St. It offers "a little healthier slant than your normal deli," according to Paul Mallary, who manages the business and owns it with his wife, cousin and uncle. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

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Celebrate The Press Bistro's 3rd Birthday with $50 Meal for 2

For those of you who have been to The Press Bistro, you know how consistently good their food and service is. For those of you who have never been, here's your chance to get a Great Deal at one of Sacramento's most overlooked restaurants.

In celebration of their 3rd Anniversary, The Press Bistro is offering a 4 course meal for 2 for just $50 through Sunday, July 7 (excluding July 4). The menu for 2 includes:

  • A tapas trio of your choice
  • An appetizer or small pasta of your choice
  • 2 entrees or large pastas of your choice
  • A dessert of your choice

You must have a reservation to get this deal. For reservations, please call 916-444-2566 or e-mail [email protected] and tell them you want the "original guest menu."

The Press Bistro is helmed by David English, a former chef at Ella.

Find them online at ThePressBistro.com.


Dining News: JR's Texas BBQ Thrown a Lifeline

To paraphrase Mark Twain, the news of JR's Texas BBQ were greatly exaggerated, reports Allen Pierleoni in the Sac Bee.

Rothenberger got a reprieve in the form of a $20,000 personal loan "from a friend" and will continue to deliver hard-to-find smoked brisket, deeply flavored pork and beef ribs, pork shoulder, chicken, turkey and hot links. "The Lord has worked this out," he said. "I'm cool..."

That combination - plus Rothenberger's stack of previously unpaid bills and an approved $156,000 loan that was canceled - brought him to the verge of his own fiscal cliff.

"A lot of businesses have the same problem I do, but don't say anything," he said. "(The big customer turnout) happened when I told my daughter, 'Honey, I may have to close in five days because I don't have enough money.' So she called (the media) and every TV station came out.

"(Consequently) I had a line (of customers) out the door (at the main store) for four hours on Friday," he said. "It was the biggest day we've ever had. I almost ran out of brisket. Saturday was nearly the same. All day long I had hugs and kisses and people saying, 'J.R., we are not going to let this put you out of business, you've got the best thing on the planet. We're going to be here as much as we can.' I'm packed right now, and this is a Monday. My other two places did well (over the weekend), too, but everybody wants to come here and see me."

Read the entire story in the Sac Bee.

While I'm sure the owner of JR's Texas BBQ is glad to have people coming in the door, it looks like the real reason his business survives is the $175,000 in loans and loan forgiveness that he's received in the last week. Based on the numbers he's provided the media, that's about equal to about 3.5 months of revenue. Let's hope business turns around for him before time runs out again.

More News:

Try It: Lucky Cafe's Omlets - It’s hard to steer myself away from ordering the corned beef hash at Lucky Café, whose hearty version is, I believe, the best in town. But several times I have visited this no-frills midtown diner only to discover that hungry diners before me have gobbled up all the corned beef hash, forcing me to try something different on the menu. Kira O'Donnell in Sac Mag.

Bacon Fest is Coming to Sacramento Jan. 20 – 27 - There are few culinary phenomenons quite like bacon. It has long surpassed being the sidekick to eggs and now has become a (much-deserved) star on its own, which is why we’re so excited about Bacon Fest coming to Sacramento January 20 -27.  Sponsored by the California Pork Producers Association, the eight-day Baconpalooza brings together some of the best, most creative chefs in the region with competitions and special bacon-themed menus at many of our favorite Sacramento restaurants. Below is a list of planned events including the Second Annual Bacon Fest Sacramento Chef’s Competition that’s sure to sell out. Kim Bedwell in Sac Foodies. 

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Daily Dining News: Temple Coffee Expanding to Arden

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Cowtown Eats was the first to report that Temple Coffee was moving from its original location. Now, Temple Coffee is expanding to Fair Oaks and Munroe St., reports Bob Shallit in the Sac Bee.

Temple Coffee, which opened its first shop in a former downtown Sacramento bookstore seven years ago, is opening its third location next week, in the Arden Arcade area.

Temple founder Sean Kohmescher said Wednesday that the owner of Cafe La Boca asked him to take over the shop at 2600 Fair Oaks Blvd.

Read the entire story in the Sac Bee.

More News:

Brewer not too happy with local eatery after sky high prices - Earlier today, ranSACkedmedia ran the story about Kupros Bistro landing a rare keg of Pliny the Younger IPA and charging $45 for a 12 oz. glass with a burger. Apparently, Russian River Brewing Co. got several emails from beer lovers who protested the price point that Kupros set their beer at, and one received the following feedback and forwarded it to us. Issac Gonzalez in RanSackedMedia.com.

Beer and chili in Sacramento this weekend - As the winter season comes to a close, one cold-weather stew will receive a lively send-off this Saturday. The Sacramento Beer & Chili Festival at Southside Park (2116 Sixth Street), which coincides with Beer Week, celebrates both vegetarian and meat versions of a certain hearty stew called chili. The competition will determine a winner in three categories: individual, corporate and industry. Additionally, attendees can pair their chili with a beer from such regional breweries as Ruhstaller, Sudwerk and Lost Coast. Local band As Yet Untitled will kick out some live jams. Jonathan Mendick in the Sac News & Review.

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