Iron Horse Tavern, by the team that brought Sacramento Mix Downtown and Cafeteria 15L, will open in April 2015, reports S.T. Vanairsdale in Sactown Mag.

The Iron Horse Tavern, set to open next April at the intersection of 15th and R streets, is the latest bar and restaurant project to imprint a spirit of urbane sophistication on the revived former railway stretch south of midtown. Named after the locomotives that once rumbled down R Street, Iron Horse features a style that interweaves the area’s industrial heritage with sleek international touches...

Iron Horse’s glass doors, meanwhile, will open onto the surrounding patio, where guests can dine and drink alfresco. Chef Christian Palmos of Cafeteria 15L—a downtown sister eatery in the Wong family of restaurants—will oversee the menu at Iron Horse as well. (Wong demurs when asked about planned dishes, opting to describe the cuisine as “creative American—maybe American with a twist.”)

Read the entire story in Sactown Mag.

You can also keep up with new developments by following Iron Horse Tavern online at https://www.facebook.com/ironhorsetavern916, which is also the source of the photo above.

More News:

Cafeteria 15L: Good management trickles down to the plate for delicious meal - I recently went to Cafeteria 15L and had an excellent meal. The food was delicious and fairly priced, the service was conscientious and friendly, and the casual, modern space buzzed with energy. My friends and I had a near perfect evening and talked of visiting again soon...But it did get better the next day, when I spoke with executive sous chef Katrina Mattia. The enthusiasm this employee had for her company was infectious, refreshing, and made the meal, in retrospect, an even happier memory. Andrea Thompson in Sac Biz Journal.

10 area restaurants to plan a last-minute Thanksgiving feast - If you and yours are still sorting out your Thanksgiving destination or facing some unexpected changes to your original plans, fear not: Here are 10 local spots that will be serving up their own specialties for holiday diners this Thursday. (Just be sure to inquire soon about reservations—spots are filling up quickly!) Alex Hernandez in Sactown Mag.

Feast Q&A: Jason Poole, of Sacramento’s Hyatt Regency, on serving Thanksgiving - One such holiday-dinner destination is the 26-year-old Hyatt Regency, where executive chef Jason Poole and his staff are planning on a few people dropping by for a meal. Poole was one of the major coordinators of the Tower Bridge Gala Dinner, the culmination of Farm-to-Fork Celebration in September. The Hyatt’s usual brunch menu has been expanded for Thanksgiving to 70-plus items to be served at eight stations at Dawson’s, Vines and Amourath lounge. The price is $55 general, $28 children ages 5 to 12, free for 5 and younger. Seatings will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at 1209 L St. Reservations: (916) 443-1234 or www.sacramento.hyatt.com. We caught up with Poole on Monday. Allen Pierleoni in the Sac Bee.

New Oak Park Brewing opens, draws crowds, then scrambles to find new chef - The owners estimate that upwards of 1,200 people attended the preview opening Saturday. It was a huge coup for the brewery and for the Oak Park neighborhood, which has been undergoing a high-profile renewal in recent years....The head chef, Christopher Davis-Murai, the day before the official opening abruptly announced he was bailing out. That left the folks at Oak Park Brewing to deal with more than their share of new-business adjustments mere hours before customers were going to start showing up. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

New craft brewery coming to Rancho Cordova - A new craft brewery in Rancho Cordova will have the atmosphere of an old mining town, according to its owner. Mike Ryan plans to open Argonaut Brewing Co. by June 2015. The brewery will fill approximately 5,000 square feet at 11366 Monier Park Place. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Vic's Cafe, the addition to the beloved ice cream parlor next door, has applied for a license to sell beer and wine, Cowtown Eats learned in a visit over the weekend.

The cafe, not yet a year old, plans to expand its evening business by serving alcohol. Since its opening, it has expanded from a very limited menu serving just coffee and breakfast pastries to lunch items such as wraps. This is the latest in their expansion plans, although they are not yet sure if they will expand their hours.

As a neighborhood resident, I'm very excited for another venue to grab a beer or a glass of wine within walking distance. Just a week ago, a group of friends and I had dinner at Masullo and wanted another after dinner drink, but felt guilty taking up table space with a line of diners waiting to eat. Nearby Riverside Clubhouse wasn't a real option since their bar is always busy on the weekend. We settled on Iron Grill, an adequate choice, but with a limited wine list.

Per the store personnel, the public notice has to be up at least 3 months before they can start serving alcohol. The posting went up on Oct. 20, which means that the end of January is the earliest they can start serving beer and wine. The type of liquor they've applined for will not allow Vic's to serve hard liquor.

I hope the Vic's Cafe team builds a great wine and beer program. The demographics of the neighborhood would certainly support a sophisticated and unique menu.

I can't wait to finally have a place that I can walk home from after several drinks.

Vic's Cafe is located at 3193 Riverside Blvd., and can be found online at http://cafevics.com/.

More News:

Shady Lady owners take over Monte Carlo Club - One of Sacramento’s oldest bars will debut in February with a new name and ownership team. The owners of Shady Lady Saloon at 14th and R streets – Jason Boggs, Alex Origoni and Garrett Van Vleck – have taken over the Monte Carlo Club a block away at 15th and S streets. The bar, which is undergoing a remodel, will debut in February with a new name, B-Side. Bret Bair, co-owner of Ace of Spades music club and Goldfield Trading Post, serves as the landlord. Chris Macias in the Sac Bee.

Streets of London changes owners, but fish ’n’ chips stay great - The recent newspaper ad caught our attention: “Keep calm. We are under new ownership.” Egad! Nobody called to tell us. Turns out the time-tested Streets of London Pub has simplified its name to Streets, expanded its menu and slicked-up its logo to show profiles of Sacramento’s Tower Bridge and the Tower Bridge in London. Allen Pierleoni in the Sac Bee.

The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread - I have loved sandwiches since I was a little kid.  Growing up in Ireland, my Mom always made me a packed lunch to take to school, a tradition she continued well into my high school years.  Everyone at school knew about my mom’s sandwiches, and she would often make me extras to share with “the boarders”—the students who lived in dormitory during the week and supplemented their cafeteria diet with large quantities of sugary snacks from the tuck shop.  The best sandwich my mom made, (and I’m hoping she will make when I visit over the holidays, wink!) is the roast chicken sandwich, which includes white and dark meat, sausage stuffing, arugula, mayonnaise, and a few slivers of red onion.  This was usually served on a perfectly fresh and crunchy French baguette.  I think because my mother is an artist and interior designer, she can’t help but express her superior understanding of the intricacies of flavor and texture and proportion even when making a humble sandwich. Featuring Dad's Sandwiches, Cafe Rolle, Corti Brothers, Juno's Deli & Mr. Pickles. Laurn Norton on Girls on the Grid.

Try It: Evan's Kitchen & Catering - Tuck into the kitchen’s superb omelets (I’m partial to the rib-sticking “Evan’s Favorite,” packed full of ground beef, spinach and mushrooms and doused with chunky country gravy) or choose from a delectable selection of creative Benedicts (don’t miss the indulgent version prepared with crab cakes). Other starring dishes include a rustic, fabulous housemade corned beef hash; and the cinnamon-kissed Texas-style French toast. Kira O'Donnell in Sac Mag.

Drought-defying tomato harvest breaks California record - In a year when most commodities saw declines in production, the tomato crop was 16 percent larger than last year. It surpassed the old record of 13.3 million tons harvested in 2009, according to the California Tomato Growers Association. Dale Kasler in the Sac Bee.

Rick's Dessert Diner will say farewell to its K street location and move to a larger spot a block away on J street next week, reports Jamie Slater in Sactown Mag.

The new location at 2401 J St. will nearly double the diner’s size to 3,600 square feet, accommodating 100 customers indoors and up to 40 on the patio (currently, only 40 people can fit inside the space) while allowing for a wider range of the delectable desserts for which Rick’s is famous...

Eita says that in addition to continuing to offer Rick’s favorites like Coconut Pineapple and Death by Chocolate cakes, he intends to reintroduce macaroons, homemade biscotti, Rick’s classic peach cobbler and a Coca Cola Cake (which Eita made on Good Day Sacramento last May) on a more regular basis.

In addition to the expanded space, Rick's dessert diner also has plans to offer beer and wine.

Read the entire story in Sactown Mag.

Rick's Dessert Diner is currently located at 2322 K St, and can be found online at http://ricksdessertdiner.com/.

More News:

33rd Street Bistro remains solid but staid - In 1996, my predecessor, Mike Dunne, gave the food three out of four stars, emphasizing the quality and value and noting that a couple could enjoy dinner for about $30. In 1998, the rating had climbed to three-and-a-half stars, identifying 33rd Street Bistro as one of the best restaurants in its category. And then something happened. No, 33rd Street Bistro didn’t change much. But Sacramento sure did. What once seemed new and enterprising now feels safe and sometimes dated. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Krush Burger always on the move with new locations - Thankfully, business is steady despite the out-of-the-way location. Lunch is the biggest business, and Saturdays are the busiest. “That turned out to be a shocker,” says Davin Vculek, who co-owns the company with Joseph Blanton. Since customers came mostly at lunch, he explains, “We had to trim back some of the evening hours, but that may change since there’s a lot of development going on in the river district and Township Nine.” Andrea Thompson in Sac Biz Journal.

San Diego Favorite, Sammy's, Arrives Locally - Overall the food we had was excellent and I was very impressed.  I'm a bit dismayed at the location, but hope that it does well there. Catherine Enfield on Munchie Musings.

Crawdads, recently reopened and featuring food by Chef Adam Pechal, opened earlier this month. To check it out was Sac Biz Journal's Ed Murrieta.

It doesn't take salty margaritas or any palate-zapping pale ales to make waterfront bar food appealing.

There's nothing groundbreaking here -- Pechal's initial menu doesn't stray from the moneymakers: finger-food fried fish, burger, sandwiches, tacos.

Based a first taste of three dishes, I found creative combinations, comforting Cajun flavors, quality ingredients, simple presentations and promising execution. All in a marina atmosphere that brightens up a muddy river.

Read the entire review in Sac Biz Journal.

I made it out there on Friday night, but haven't had time to write a proper post. Look for it later in the week.

Crawdad's is located at 1375 Garden Hwy, and can be found online at SacCrawdads.com.

More News:

New barbecue restaurant opening in Sacramento - Fahrenheit 250 BBQ will open at 5 p.m. on March 28 at 7042 Folsom Blvd. in Sacramento. Fans of the locally owned restaurant can get updates using the hashtag #ThisLittlePig. It will specialize in classic barbecue, craft beer and cocktails. The restaurant’s name comes from the temperature at which its signature items, such as brisket, are cooked. Entrees are prepared on a barbecue that was hand-welded in Texas and traveled more than 4,500 miles to Sacramento, through a circuitous route. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Brazilian steakhouse coming to Roseville - Emanuel Peres is bringing a Brazilian steakhouse to Roseville in early May. The restaurant, Chamas E Fogo -- flames and fire in Portuguese -- will feature Brazilian-style barbecue, where the meat is grilled on spits and carved directly off the spits at the table. It is a destination restaurant, where the food is the entertainment, said Peres, who is from Porto Alegre, Brazil, where this kind of service is the tradition. Mark Anderson in Sac Biz Journal.

VIDEO: Food Trucks Could Soon Have Longer Term Parking Spots - Food trucks are known for always being on the go, but that may not necessarily be the case in Sacramento in the near future. A city committee heard a motion Tuesday about expanding time limits for food trucks that buy permits for certain areas which they’re calling “pods.” The proposed cost for a permit for the pods is $3,710 per year. Zohreen Adamjee on FOX 40.

Vic's Cafe, open in the same building as the landmark Vic's Ice Cream on Riverside Blvd. in Land Park, officially opened on Friday.

Serving Old Soul coffee and baked goods, the cafe seats about 20. When I visited on Saturday afternoon, a smattering of locals filtered into the place as they discovered it was open. An older woman sat at one table, reading The Economist, while a mother and young child sought respite from the rain by getting a drink.

The cafe features a doorway into Vic's Ice Cream. Though they share the same owner, customers aren't able to order food while at the cafe. The current workaround is to order food "to go" on one side and bring it to the other side. I hope they decide to work as a unified operation and more food options soon.

As a neighborhood resident, I was very excited to hear about the addition of a local coffee house. There's no place to get coffee within a mile of Vic's, which means I get in a car to grab coffee on the weekends or on my days off.

Vic's Cafe is located at 3193 Riverside Blvd, and is open every day at 6 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Vic's Cafe can be found online at http://cafevics.com/.

More News:

Ruhstaller Brewing announces plans for tasting room on the grid; pushing ahead to build its own brewery - That will be changing, as the once-fledgling Sacramento-based company continues to flourish. Paino said Thursday he is applying for permits to open a tasting room on the periphery of Downtown Plaza (630 K St.), where he already has warehouse and office space. The building is next door to the new arena planned for the Sacramento Kings. The tasting room does not have a firm opening date, but Paino says he hopes to be operating by springtime. The only issue is the timing of approval by the city. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Sacramento gets another taproom: New Glory Craft Brewery Now Open - A one-year-old brewery finally has a taproom: New Glory Craft Brewery, formerly known as Old Glory Craft Brewery.  New Glory opened its doors for a soft opening today at 4 p.m., and a line of enthusiasts formed immediately. Owner/brewer Julien Lux and the gang were overwhelmed by the turnout—construction was still making noise for the first few minutes until Lux shoved them out the door, taster glasses were still in their packaging and so forth. But the crowd was patient, and the brew ultimatley flowed. Janelle Bitker in Sac News & Review.

Selland's Market Cafe on H Street closed on Jan. 1 for a weeklong "minor remodel," Selland's announced via their e-mail newsletter. They plan to reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 8.

I checked in with Selland Group marketing manager Gina Funk Nelson to see what the "minor remodel" would entail.

"We're doing mostly a 'facelift' of new paint, replacing the ceiling, replacing some counters, a deep clean and some sprucing up," e-mailed Nelson. "Nothing major, but with how the pace of work can sometimes drag depending on surprises we thought it best to close for the 6 days."

She also joked that Sellands Market Cafe wanted to "look our best for Bacon Fest."

Sellands is located at 5340 H St.

While we're on the topic of restaurants that are closing for short periods of time in early January, Vic's Ice Cream announced on Twitter that they too would be closed for cleaning.

Hope everyone is having a fun and safe start to the new year! We will be closed for our new year cleaning today and will reopen on Jan 6.

— Vic's Ice Cream (@VicsIceCream) January 1, 2014

Finally, Enotria announced that they too would be closed from Jan. 1 to Jan. 9 for "winter holiday." They plan to reopen on Jan. 10.

More News:

Dining: The Sacramento area’s best servers - Great servers can be the most powerful people in a restaurant, for they are the direct link between the kitchen and the customer. They are in the business of serving. They are in sales. They are explainers, advisers, observers, amateur psychologists, problem solvers, masters of timing and, beyond all that, they know how to put on a show. When they step into the dining room, they are in their element, bringing to bear their commitment and passion for executing at the highest level. They can be witty, charismatic, intuitive, serious or solemn, but they are never dull, and they are always on. Featuring servers from Blackbird, Kru, Hook & Ladder, Formoli's Bistro, Juno's Kitchen and Jamie's Broadway Grille. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

First Impressions: Dad’s Kitchen brings brew to Fair Oaks - After seeing Guy Fieri’s over-the-top review on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” and after enjoying the signature Dad’s Burger earlier this year, we expected better. We ate the light and crunchy deep-fried garbanzo beans by the handfuls. The ramekin of mac ’n’ cheese with bacon looked great, but lacked depth. “I like the crust, but where’s the sharp cheese taste?” one pal said...Let’s say the kitchen is still coming together. Allen Pierleoni in the Sac Bee.

Osaka Sushi will open as early as Saturday, Dec. 7, reports the Capitol Morning Report.

Osaka Sushi Japanese Restaurant at 1200 K St., Suite 7, took over the space that formally housed Magnolia Grill, which closed earlier this year...[Owner Kevin] Ho says the restaurant, which can seat up to 80 people, will be open daily with tentative hours of 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for lunch and 5-9 p.m. for dinner.

Read the entire story on CapitolMR.com. (Subscription required).

More News:

Vic’s Ice Cream expands, adding a new coffee cafe - Vic’s Ice Cream, the longtime Land Park fixture, is expanding, adding a next-door coffee cafe that could open by year’s end. When it does, Vic’s Café will offer a double-scoop of local pairings, serving Temple Coffee brews and Old Soul pastries. Claudia Buck in the Sac Bee.

Local Baker Offers Cronut™-like Pastry - Eli Frank ,who owns Rustic Grains Bakery in Roseville, is now offering his own version of a Cronut™, called a “Boundi.” Offered in several varieties – including cinnamon-sugar, custard-filled and chocolate-topped – the Boundis are, according to a staff member, selling like, er…hotcakes. Kira O'Donnell in Sac Mag.