Sacramento Restaurants, Nightlife and Entertainment

[TowerDistrict]

Originally Posted by wburg

The news I heard that I'm pretty excited about is an all-ages music venue going into MARRS: small, capacity less than 100, with KDVS DJ Rick Ele doing the booking. The owner is concerned that the corner isn't busy enough from 8 PM-11 PM, and a live music venue will keep things hopping in the later evening.

That's awesome news. Especially about who would be doing the booking. I love DJ Rick's show on KDVS. I'm not a fan of house shows and I don't go to Davis for anything. Midtown has been sorely lacking since Fools Foundation closed. This will be perfect!

[otnemarcaS]

Originally Posted by Sachornet

It looks like there is another ultra lounge opening up on 7th and J called "Image VIP Lounge". According to their website, they'll be open on May 29th. http://www.imageviplounge.com/index.html

Has anyone heard anything about this place?

Indeed, that used to be the old Ricci's bar and restaurant. It was also a nightclub for the longest time but I think it went downhill of late and they decided for an image (pun intended) change.

[BrianSac]

The following article appeared in the Bay Area Reporter, and the writer manages to promote Sacramento without taking potshots and jabs at our fair city. Also note TJ Bruce will be addding another nightspot/bar to his little empire.

Swingin' in Sacramento

In the Bars
A tale of two clubs, a burger joint and a hotel
Published 04/24/2008 in the BAY AREA REPORTER

by Mike Sher

Make-a-Date Mardi Gras night at The Depot. Photo: Courtesy The Depot


If you're looking for action in Sacramento, you can't go wrong at the corner of 20th and K Streets. On the corner at 2001 K is The Depot, a long-standing video bar. Right next to it at 2003 K is Badlands Sacramento, a pulsating dance club a little over a year old. Right next door, under the same management, is Hot Rod's, a classic burger, shakes and fries joint. And there's more to come. T.J. Bruce, owner of all three, tells us that soon, he's going to start building a country and western gay bar in the space above Hot Rod's.

Badlands Sacramento has no connection at all with Badlands in the Castro, which has seen its share of controversy. But Bruce is a consultant and contractor who helped Les Natali build the San Francisco Badlands. He'd been operating The Depot for a number of years, and decided to build something glitzier.

The result is something spectacular, worth a special trip to Sacramento. There are three stories of fun, and four different bars, one of which doubles as the coat check. A little to your right as you enter is a large oval bar with TV screens. In back is a large dance area. There are plasma TVs throughout, and an outdoor smoking area complete with waterfall.

Every Monday is Mad Monday, with two-for-one cocktails day and night. Tuesday is Noche de Hombres, with a special Latin flair. Wednesday is Girls' Night Out, and Thursday has seductive go-go boys. Friday is F.A.G. Friday, standing for Fabulous And Gay. Saturdays have high-energy dance videos, and Sunday features tea dancing, with $1 domestic and $2 import drafts.

Bruce is very committed to charitable events. He's held fundraisers for Stonewall Democrats and for the group CARES, helping people living with AIDS. In June, there will be a float in the gay parade.

The Depot is for drinking and TV watching, but every Sunday from 4-8 p.m. you can play bingo. It's hosted by Misha Kennedy with Bingo Bunnies Felicity and Rusty. There are $1 drafts and $3 pitchers, and bingo is free with a drink purchase. At 6 p.m., there's free pizza with a drink purchase. Winners can spin the prize wheel for a chance at hundreds of dollars of prizes.

Sunday nights, you can see live strippers and, during the season, football. During the new season, you can follow Desperate Housewives. Mondays, it's two-for-one cocktails and free pool all day. You can cheer them on in Monday night football, and follow The L Word. Fridays are F.A.G. Fridays at the Depot, too, with two-for-one premium cocktails, $1 well cocktails and $1 domestic drafts. Saturdays feature comedy with a beer bust from 4-8 p.m. spotlighting $1 draft Pabst and $3 pitchers.

When it's all over, a great place to crash for the night is the Sheraton Grand Sacramento, not too far away at 1230 J Street. It's in the beautifully restored Public Market Building. We stayed on the 26th floor, and the view was so spectacular that we didn't draw the curtains at night, preferring to let the gorgeous scenery and stars shine in. There's a club with morning snacks and evening cocktails. For dinner, we tried Morgan's, named after one of the original vendors in the building, not the financier. The floor of Morgan's is vast, and you can tell it used to be the original marketplace. The kitchen is open to view in back, and we enjoyed everything from a rich cream of mushroom soup to succulent short ribs. The hotel is not only convenient to the bars, but is close to the State Capitol, and who knows, you might even spot the #1 hunk, Governor Arnold.

For drinking, dancing and cavorting, a trip to Sacramento can't be beat.

The Depot, 2001 K St., Sacramento, (916) 441-6823, www.thedepot.net. Badlands Sacramento, 2003 K St., Sacramento, (916) 448-8790, www.sacbadlands.com. Both bars open from 4 p.m.-2 a.m. daily. Sheraton Grand Sacramento, 1230 J St. (916) 447-1700.

[Sachornet]

I waited too long and never got around to checking out Gianni's Trattoria.

May 26, 2008
Peter Torza Pulls the Plug
After vacillating for weeks over the future of his Gianni's Trattoria in midtown Sacramento, Peter Torza is closing down the business and putting it on the market. Last call is this coming weekend.

"I gave this my all, but it jut didn't work. It hurts," said Torza Monday afternoon after dispatching a media email to announce his decision. "Rewards were many, but at my age this place takes just too much of my time. And time is pretty precious," wrote Torza.

He opened the sleek Gianni's in April of 2007 as a successor to his Black Pearl Oyster Bar in the same quarters. The Black Pearl had become too much of a bar scene for his taste and he hoped Gianni's would strike a better balance between restaurant and lounge, but that equilibrium never materialized. The restaurant was doing fine, but the bar business had fallen off. "You need the two of them."

He also speculated that Gianni's may have been hurt by the larger and splashier G.V. Hurley's restaurant and bar that opened recently next door, and by high gas prices that could be discouraging suburban residents from driving into Sacramento for dinner, especially midweek.

The final straw came this weekend, when business was "horrible," said Torza. "I loved doing it, but I don't want to work this hard this late in my life."

His plans are uncertain, though he indicated he'd be giving more of his time to nearby Harlow's, in which he is a principal. He's also thinking of relocating to Italy for a few months. He's also thinking of being a restaurant consultant, helping design new places but not operating them. "I feel my job is done," said Torza. "At this point, I think I'd enjoy building them more than running them. But I am going to miss the food here. I love that calamari."

Posted by mdunne at 4:02 PM

[wburg]

Nice article above, aside from one inaccuracy: Morgan's, the restaurant in the Sheraton, is not named after one of the building's original vendors (although many of the conference rooms at the Sheraton are.) It is named for Julia Morgan, the architect who designed the Public Market building, along with some other little places like Hearst Castle.

[ozone]

I'm sorry to hear that Gianni's Trattoria is closing. OK blame your failure on everything and everyone else. I've tried many times over the last few months to eat at Gianni's but it was never open. The couple of times that I ate there I really liked the food but the music was so loud I could not fully enjoy the dinning experience.

[otnemarcaS]

Yeah, too bad Gianni's Trattoria is closing down. It added to the vibe on that block but G.V. Hurleys has absolutely sucked business from GT. I've only eaten at GT twice. The food was okay but kinda pricey. IMO, he should have taken the cue from Centro's next door and opened a place with more moderate prices to attract midtowners too and not just suburbanites driving in.

Actually, it looks like Peter Torza may have bitten more than he could chew. He just recently closed I Dragoni which was the sandwich and pizza-by-the-slice place that replaced It's a Grind coffee cafe. Based on my experience of service at I Dragoni, that place couldn't close fast enough, although I did enjoy their pizza (which came from Gianni's Trattoria's oven).

This was the article on I Dragoni closing -

Peter Torza Cuts Back
Northern California's increasingly expensive and unsteady economy hasn't led to a shakeout of restaurants, but in another sign that restaurateurs are uneasy Peter Torza has closed his I Dragoni Pizzeria in midtown Sacramento and cut back the days that his adjoining Gianni's Trattoria is open.

I Dragoni, open only two months, just didn't catch on, and to cut losses and to focus on his primary restaurant Torza decided to quickly pull the plug. Over the weekend, he met with employees to discuss options for Gianni's. The group agreed to start closing Tuesdays effective tomorrow to reduce operating costs about 17 percent. While Gianni's has been busy at the end of the week and during weekends, business has slowed appreciably earlier in the week, said Torza. Gianni's already closed Mondays.

Torza also will be trimming some dishes from the Gianni's menu to reduce preparation time and to focus on dishes that already sell well.

"The staff is upbeat and we're trying to come up with better ideas to encourage business," said Torza.

[SacTownAndy]

I was just checking out some of the photo threads and had an idea. If anyone is up for it, it would be really cool to see a photo thread of second saturday next month.

[What is a Rivercat?]

Hey all, what do you think is the BEST fine-dining restaurant in metro Sac?

Looking to take the wife out.

[BrianSac]

Depends on what you and wifey prefer.

My first choice for fine dining is Waterboy (20th & Capitol), next is Mulvaney's Building & Loan Restaurant. (19th & L).

Happy Dining!

[Cynikal]

Two solid choices above. Also, check out Moxies.

[ltsmotorsport]

Is the Firehouse in old sac still considered one of the top places in the city?

[urban_encounter]

Originally Posted by Sachornet

I waited too long and never got around to checking out Gianni's Trattoria.

May 26, 2008
Peter Torza Pulls the Plug
After vacillating for weeks over the future of his Gianni's Trattoria in midtown Sacramento, Peter Torza is closing down the business and putting it on the market. Last call is this coming weekend.

"I gave this my all, but it jut didn't work. It hurts," said Torza Monday afternoon after dispatching a media email to announce his decision. "Rewards were many, but at my age this place takes just too much of my time. And time is pretty precious," wrote Torza.

He opened the sleek Gianni's in April of 2007 as a successor to his Black Pearl Oyster Bar in the same quarters. The Black Pearl had become too much of a bar scene for his taste and he hoped Gianni's would strike a better balance between restaurant and lounge, but that equilibrium never materialized. The restaurant was doing fine, but the bar business had fallen off. "You need the two of them."

He also speculated that Gianni's may have been hurt by the larger and splashier G.V. Hurley's restaurant and bar that opened recently next door, and by high gas prices that could be discouraging suburban residents from driving into Sacramento for dinner, especially midweek.

The final straw came this weekend, when business was "horrible," said Torza. "I loved doing it, but I don't want to work this hard this late in my life."

His plans are uncertain, though he indicated he'd be giving more of his time to nearby Harlow's, in which he is a principal. He's also thinking of relocating to Italy for a few months. He's also thinking of being a restaurant consultant, helping design new places but not operating them. "I feel my job is done," said Torza. "At this point, I think I'd enjoy building them more than running them. But I am going to miss the food here. I love that calamari."

Posted by mdunne at 4:02 PM

Too bad, but he probably shouldn't have tinkered with the success of the Black Pearl.. That's a gamble that didn't pay off..

[sugit]

Originally Posted by What is a Rivercat?

Hey all, what do you think is the BEST fine-dining restaurant in metro Sac?

Looking to take the wife out.

If $$$ is no object. The Kitchen. $125 per person. 5 course meal with a Sushi/sashimi intermission. You can ask for 2nds, 3rds, 4ths of any course you want. You'll eat excellent food until you are stuffed and be thoroughly entertained the whole time. It's almost like a dinner and show.

Reservations are tough to get though. Probably need at least a month in advance

Here is the May menu for an example:
http://www.thekitchenrestaurant.com/menus/may.html

After than, I'm with Brian Waterboy and Mulvaney's are neck and neck for me.

If you want something more upscale and hip. Mason's has a very good menu as well with lots of meats and fished not found on many Sac menus. They are losing their Exec Chef though, so I'm not sure how things have been recently though.

Hasn't been to Ella's yet, but reviews are mixed. Some love it, some not so much.

[BrianSac]

Originally Posted by otnemarcaS

Yeah, too bad Gianni's Trattoria is closing down. It added to the vibe on that block but G.V. Hurleys has absolutely sucked business from GT. I've only eaten at GT twice. The food was okay but kinda pricey. IMO, he should have taken the cue from Centro's next door and opened a place with more moderate prices to attract midtowners too and not just suburbanites driving in.

Actually, it looks like Peter Torza may have bitten more than he could chew. He just recently closed I Dragoni which was the sandwich and pizza-by-the-slice place that replaced It's a Grind coffee cafe. Based on my experience of service at I Dragoni, that place couldn't close fast enough, although I did enjoy their pizza (which came from Gianni's Trattoria's oven).

This was the article on I Dragoni closing -

Peter Torza Cuts Back
Northern California's increasingly expensive and unsteady economy hasn't led to a shakeout of restaurants, but in another sign that restaurateurs are uneasy Peter Torza has closed his I Dragoni Pizzeria in midtown Sacramento and cut back the days that his adjoining Gianni's Trattoria is open.

I Dragoni, open only two months, just didn't catch on, and to cut losses and to focus on his primary restaurant Torza decided to quickly pull the plug. Over the weekend, he met with employees to discuss options for Gianni's. The group agreed to start closing Tuesdays effective tomorrow to reduce operating costs about 17 percent. While Gianni's has been busy at the end of the week and during weekends, business has slowed appreciably earlier in the week, said Torza. Gianni's already closed Mondays.

Torza also will be trimming some dishes from the Gianni's menu to reduce preparation time and to focus on dishes that already sell well.

"The staff is upbeat and we're trying to come up with better ideas to encourage business," said Torza.

Gianni's Trattatoria: We gave this place a go about 5months ago, the food was horrible, the drinks water-down and the prices way way too high for pasta. They served chilled red wine and warm white wine. There was something wrong about the whole place; I'm not surprised at all that he is turning in the keys.

After experiencing real Italian trattorias in Rome calling this place a trattoria is a crime worthy of a public gladiator lashing. Trattoria=inexpensive, really good pasta and pizza in a very casual setting where you can order the food to-go if you prefer, not some "hip" joint where they push hard booze. By the way, the pizza in Rome is way more like California style pizza then anything in NY or Chicago. Also, the best, mouth watering pasta I've ever had was in the ristorantes and trattorias in Rome...duh.

[BrianSac]

Originally Posted by ltsmotorsport

Is the Firehouse in old sac still considered one of the top places in the city?

Good question, i've been to a wedding reception in the firehouse courtyard and the food was good, but never been to the restaurant.

[Grimnebulin]

Originally Posted by What is a Rivercat?

Hey all, what do you think is the BEST fine-dining restaurant in metro Sac?

Looking to take the wife out.

My personal preference is for Mulvaney's...even though it may not be as formal as some other places around town, I really love the food there as many of the ingredients are sourced from small local farms and all their combinations usually work out great.

[Grimnebulin]

As for Gianni's and the sandwich shop next door, what do they say about karma?

[What is a Rivercat?]

thanks all, I'll try the Kitchen and see if we can the a table

[travis bickle]

Originally Posted by What is a Rivercat?

thanks all, I'll try the Kitchen and see if we can the a table

Rivercat,

One thing about The Kitchen. Although I feel that it is the best and most unique dining experience in town with outstanding food and an experience that can't be matched by anyplace in California, it is more showbiz than it is romantic. If you're searching for a more romantic setting, you may want to go with Waterboy. In addition to what others have mentioned, Masque in El Dorado Hills is also outstanding.