With Magpie Cafe's move to a new and larger space over the summer, is it still as good? Sac Bee dining critic Carla Meyer gives her two cents:

Magpie visits revealed remarkably high consistency in food quality and comfortable places to sit in a space I initially found too austere...

One can and should order the excellent burger, which is new to this location and already has evolved since the summer. The first burger was bigger, had cheese and was becoming too unwieldy to make for a place that’s not a dedicated burger joint, Roehr said. Diners often wanted to customize, creating 10 different experiences for every 10 burgers.

Magpie now offers one burger experience, which involves a house-baked brioche bun with a dark patch atop it courtesy of a grill flipover. The Niman chuck patty is cooked just past medium, so the salt and char tastes come through prominently. Brightened by mustard aioli and house dill and bread and butter pickles, and then peppered by arugula, this burger’s missing nothing, even with no cheese.

Read the entire review in the Sac Bee.

I've had several meals in their new space - including the aforementioned burger at a recent lunch - and all of my experiences have been delightful.

Magpie Cafe is located at 1601 16th Street, and can be found online at http://www.magpiecafe.com/.

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‘Culinary concourse’ proposed for downtown Sacramento - Downtown Sacramento’s historic D.O. Mills Bank Building could become a farm-to-fork showplace featuring a dozen high-end eating spots under plans being floated by the owners of the ornate, century-old building...The idea is to replicate the feel of San Francisco’s Ferry Building or the Oxbow Public Market in Napa, where multiple restaurants and related businesses operate synergistically in the same space, said Valerie Mamone-Werder, business development manager with the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. Bob Shallit in the Sac Bee.

Eat ’n’ drink: The local look ahead - The Food World is chatting with speculation: What trends will heat up and take off in the new year? Could there be another pastry as trendy as the Cronut? Will a fresh new cocktail push the shrub off the bar? Is there a step up from sous vide cooking? We asked a well-informed Kurt Spataro, Chris Tucker and Whitney Johnson for their 2016 forecasts for Sacramento. Allen Pierleoni in the Sac Bee.

Dig IPAs? Track 7 Brewing to host legit IPA ‘Invitational’ during Sacramento Beer Week - The city’s most popular local brewery, Track 7, will host its first ever Invitational Festival this year during Sacramento Beer Week. Nick Miller in Sac News & Review.

Roll-it-yourself: Hand rolls, Fish Face Poke Bar - Fish Face Poke Bar gets a lot of love for its DIY poke bowls, but its sushi is pretty genius as well. A few hand rolls ($4) are always ready to go. Janelle Bitker in Sac News & Review.

Hidden Breakfast Gem: Harry’s Cafe - Harry’s Café serves Chinese, Vietnamese, and American food, all of which is a reflection of owner Harry Luong – a Chinese man who grew up in Vietnam and moved to the United States in search of the American Dream. While the lunch and dinner options are good (try the oxtail stew), it’s the breakfast options that keep me coming back. Tony Cervo in Sac Press.

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.

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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.

To celebrate one million rides in Sacramento, Uber is will deliver Chando's Tacos from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Specifically, you'll get three carne asada tacos and a side of chips for $5, a 20% savings from the menu price. Plus they deliver it to you instead of you having to drive to their restaurant.

While Uber only provides rides in Sacramento, it has dabbled in food delivery in other cities such as Los Angeles, Austin, Chicago and San Francisco. In those cities, Uber partners with a handful of restaurants to deliver food from, with the restaurants changing daily. Click here to learn more.

Earlier this month, Postmates launched their delivery service in Sacramento. Unlike Uber, Postmates will deliver from any restaurant as long as they do to go orders. However, Postmates faces a backlash from some restaurants. Here's a really interesting Eater story on the dynamic between Postmates and some restaurant owners.

Sacramentans who want to order the $5 Chandos combo can do so via the Uber app, which you can download at Uber.com.

Photo via Chando's Tacos Facebook Page.

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What's brewing at seven late-summer beer events around the region - For all the hopheads, ale aficionados, IPA enthusiasts and lager lovers out there, here are seven upcoming beer-centric events throughout the region. Cheers! Featuing Hop Harvest Party (8/22), Yolo Micro Brewfest (8/29), CA Craft Beer Summit (9/11-12), Friends on the Farm Dinner (9/12) and CA Brewers Fest (9/19). Jessica Rine in Sactown Mag.

Cask & Barrel - This North Sacramento hot spot, which opened in February at the site of the former Enotria restaurant, just started serving brunch last weekend, with a menu that boasts items both sweet (the sugar-dusted French toast is made with Pugliese bread soaked in spiced crème brulee custard and served with jams, salted caramel and seared foie gras) and savory (the smoked pork shoulder hash features summer squash from Passmore Ranch, red-eye gravy made with Chocolate Fish Coffee and a buttery poached egg from Long Dream Farm in Lincoln). In Sactown Mag. (Second Item.)

Cold poke, Hot Italian and a warm Temple welcome - Hoping to start a wave in Davis, a Sacramento couple plans to open a Hawaiian poke restaurant, featuring build-your-own sushi bowls and boozy shaved ice. Zuma Poke and Lush Ice will fill the last ground-floor spot in the 3+G building, next to Temple Fine Coffee and Tea at Third and G streets. They hope to have it open by late November. Wendy Weitzel in The Davis Enterprise.

Track 7 Brewery Holds Annual Chili Cook-Off - Band leader and trumpeter Harry James once said, “Next to music there is nothing that lifts the spirit and strengthens the soul more than a good bowl of chili.” I think Harry may have been onto something, because spirits were lifted and souls were strengthened at the Third Annual Track 7 chili-cook-off at the taproom in Curtis Park. Greg Brown on SacramentoLand.

Hot Italian Coming to Davis - I have confirmed that the pizza and panini bar Hot Italian has plans to come to Davis Commons, filling the former Ben & Jerry’s spot last occupied by The Melt. The details are still being finalized, owner Andrea Lepore said Thursday. Wendy Weitzel in the Davis Enterprise. (Third Item.)

Localis, the latest outpost in the rapidly-expanding Team Broderick empire, will open on Friday, July 10.

The restaurant, led by chef Chris Barnum (most recently at Cibo 7 in Roseville), has been holding tastings for local chefs over the last week as they fine tune their menu. Among the chefs who have participated are Adam Pechal (Tuli), Noah Zonca (The Kitchen & Capital Dime), Bobby Coyote (Dos Coyotes), Jason Azevedo (Esquire Grill) and Michael Touhy (formerly of Grange, Lowbrau/Block Butcher Bar and now with Executive Chef & General Manager Legends Hospitality - Golden1 Center).

According to pictures posted on their Facebook page, Localis will be serving:

Rabbit

Duck two ways

Surf & Turf

Octopus

Chef Pechal, who once ran Tuli at that location, commented on Facebook: "The best meal I've had in a long time. So happy to see "my baby" in such capable hands. Keep up the good work!"

You can start making reservations now by e-mailing [email protected].

Localis is located at 2031 S Street, and can be found online at http://www.localissacramento.com/.

* Edit on Tuesday morning - added another chef who participated in the preview dinners.

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East Sac brewery boom -  Sactown Union Brewery is getting ready to make East Sacramento an even better craft beer community. The brewery, which will be at 1210 66th St., has had its demolition and building permits approved...While the brewery’s website currently says it will open in July, that’s probably too optimistic, given those bureaucratic delays. “We’ll probably be brewing beer in July, but I don’t think our tasting room is going to open until mid-August,” Gardner said. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee. (Third Item.)

Boatload of flavor: Ho Mok Seafood, Orchid Thai Restaurant & Bar - It's easy to get distracted by all of the fancy modern décor and glamor of 16 Powerhouse, but forget that: What's the chow like? If you're looking for Thai fishiness, a plate of Ho Mok Seafood ($16.50) is a great choice. Anthony Siino in Sac News & Review.

Frozen dessert shop to open in Rocklin - Vampire Penguin – a shaved-snow specialty dessert shop – is projected to open Aug. 1 in Rocklin’s Blue Oaks Town Center...Vampire Penguin owners plan to expand with four new locations slated to open in Berkeley, San Mateo, Reno and Emeryville within the next few months. Jennifer Crane in the Sac Bee.

Don't roll with it - Tsukiji Sushi is a conundrum: a terrible, repetitious sushi joint but an excellent Japanese fry and noodle house. Still, know what to order and your visit will be worth the time and money. Garrett McCord in Sac News & Review.

Nuevo Latino - Inspired by the colorful cuisines of Latin America, Sacramento chefs are inventing a whole new way to dine. Featuring Lola's Lounge in Elk Grove, La Huaca in Roseville, Sol Cubano in North Highlands, Tequila Museo Mayahuel downtown, Flame & Fire in Roseville, Las Islitas off Florin Ave., Waffle King - Machu Picchu in Carmichael, Cafe Capricho in East Sac and Cielito Lindo in East Sac. Catherine Warmerdam in Sac Mag.

Much has been written about what behavior can be expected of parents with children in restaurants.

However, as craft breweries become more mainstream and their clientele changes from beer nerds to families, the same types of problems arise.

Last week, the popular Track 7 Brewery, which now has tasting rooms in Curtis Park and Natomas, had to take to Facebook to plead with the vast minority of parents who don't supervise their kids well to be more considerate of others.

Predictably, the thread drew much conversation with absolutists on both sides chiming in that people should never bring kids to a place that serves beer, to others that say that kids are kids and should be allowed to run wild. However, most seemed to be reasonable and understand the balance that can be achieved by being a family-friendly place without it being a free for all.

I checked in with Track 7's Becca Scott, who provided a little more detail on what led up to the request and what's happened since. Here's our e-mail Q and A:

1. Was it a specific incident, or is it just a general feeling that the issue needed to be addressed? If a specific incident, can you describe what happened?

There was not a specific incident. We received several complaints from people that there were unsupervised children playing at both taprooms. We want all people to be comfortable, and we want to make sure that both kids and customers are safe. The intent of our post was to just be a friendly reminder.

2. I noticed that this warning was added pretty soon after the Natomas location opened. Is there a difference between behavior at the Track 7 locations in Curtis Park and Natomas? I've been to the Curtis Park location many times and find the kids mostly well behaved.

There is not a difference between the Natomas and Curtis Park locations. Comments about unsupervised children have been made about both locations. Most of our customers supervise their children, and their children are well behaved. We have signs at the taproom regarding supervising children, but some people that visit might not even realize this is expected at a taproom. We thought an informative reminder would help spread the word.

We, the owners, have children, and we bring them to the brewery all the time. A brewery is different than a bar. Most people come to have a pint and talk with friends or play a game with the family. We have food trucks every night, and often times families come to have dinner or snacks. It's important that our taproom remains a gathering place for the community where everyone is welcome.

3. How's the reaction been after the post? Have things gotten better?

It is pretty soon after the post, but we have noticed parents bringing games and toys for their kids to play with while at Track 7. The majority of our customers have done this in the past as well. We have games that people can check out, and we have coloring books and crayons that children can use.

So it seems like their gentle reminder has solved the problem, at least for now.

Track 7 Brewing Company is located at 3747 West Pacific Ave. in Curtis Park and 826 Professor Lane in Natomas. They can also be found online at http://track7brewing.com/.

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Outstanding in the Field returns to Capay Organic for farm dinner - A dinner cooked by Grange executive chef Oliver Ridgeway will be served on the farm at Capay Organic this spring as part of the national tour of Outstanding in the Field, a company that puts on farm-to-table dinners featuring local purveyors. It's one of 82 dinners on Outstanding in the Field schedule across the country, and the only one in the Sacramento area. Mark Anderson in Sac Biz Journal.

'Paint and sip' business opening in Elk Grove - Pinot's Palette, a Houston-based franchise that combines wine and painting lessons, will open its first Sacramento region location this week. Pinot's Palette of Elk Grove features a 1,975-square-foot art studio at 8962 Elk Grove Blvd. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Linda's Chicago Style Pizzeria opening second location - Chicago-style pizza is coming to Loomis. Linda's Chicago Style Pizzeria will take over the space formerly known as Cafe Zorro, which has closed. Owner Linda Ellington expects to open the business at 5911 King Road in early April. Ellington's sister, Zelda Breslin, is the namesake of Zelda's Original Gourmet Pizza in midtown Sacramento. Breslin died in 2006. 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.

Before Broderick Roadhouse, Capital Dime and Trick Pony, there was Wicked 'Wich, the food truck that has now spawned a small chain of distinctive restaurants in Sacramento.

Now, the owners have brought back the Wicked 'Wich brand with a cafe and sandwich shop format inside the West Sacramento Community Center, they revealed on Facebook. In addition to the ownership group, Jess Milbourn, formerly of The Eatery and now chef at Broderick, is involved with the project.

I e-mailed co-owner Matt Chong for more information on Sunday night, but he did not respond.

But Janelle Bitker in Sac News & Review was able to get more:

Today, Wicked ‘Wich softly opened inside the West Sacramento Community Center (1075 West Capitol Avenue). Now open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, the cafe offers breakfast, sandwiches, salads, soup and pastries along with an espresso bar. There are four small tables right by the counter, but also the rest of the Community Center for seating options.

Old ‘Wich truck fans won’t see any familiar sandwich names, and they might find the current menu tame. No banh mi fries, or fries stuffed in sandwiches, for example. But flavors still sound robust: one sandwich holds chipotle- and coffee-rubbed beef with jack cheese and chimichurri; a spin on a Cuban features citrus-marinated pork loin, ham, house-made mustard, Swiss cheese and bacon relish. Most sandwiches go for $8-$10.

Read the entire story in Sac News & Review.

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New Sacramento food trucks crank the ignition - Then, as the food-truck trend gained traction, naysayers scoffed, saying all this mobile-food madness was just a flash in the pan, the culinary equivalent of “Gangnam Style.” But it’s become clear that the trucks are here to stay, having become an integral part of local food culture. Tacos from Chando’s, a Hemi sandwich from Drewski’s Hot Rod Kitchen, shaved ice from Local Kine – all signature Sacramento food staples. SactoMoFo food truck roundups under the freeway at Sixth and W streets draw thousands. Chris Macias in the Sac Bee.

Sac Brewery Tour during Sacramento Beer Week! - If you’ll be beer weeking this year, chances are you’ll need a ride. Sacramento travel curator Grady O’Bryant of SacTrips has put together a brand new Hop-On Hop-Off Brewery Tour, happening Saturday 2/27 and 3/7. From noon to 8 pm, revelers can catch a ride any and every thirty minutes along the route of 15 central pubs and breweries. Cost of a day long ticket is only $30 – about what you’d pay for a cab to and from a single location. Elizabeth Welsh on Girls on the Grid.

VIDEO: Beer Week Shining Spotlight On Sacramento's Growing Craft Brewing Industry - Local entrepreneurs say they are simply tapping into demand. And if you think there's a lot of beer to choose from now, just wait. They're calling this the golden age for beer in the capital city. Lemor Abrams on CBS 13.

VIDEO: Sacramento Beer Week could draw scrutiny of state regulators - Beer week has begun in Sacramento, folks have flooded downtown and the brew is flowing. But all the excitement could capture the attention of state alcohol regulators. Melinda Meza on KCRA.

VIDEO: Sacramento all a buzz about Beer Week - Formoli’s Bistro previews the Sacramento Beer Week’s special menu which will only be available Tuesday-Thursday. On KCRA.