Sacramento Restaurants, Nightlife and Entertainment

[econgrad]

Originally Posted by Phillip

Fresh Choice or First Choice? Fresh Choice is a salad bar place on Howe. If you're talking about First Choice Chinese I used to order the Explosion Chicken there.

Explosion Chicken....such an image!

[BrianSac]

My Brother Vinny's Italian Restaurant: Sutter Street, Folsom

I was surprised, very good. Typical Italian, nice atmosphere, balcony above Sutter street. Great Service. I recommend it!!

For all you "urbanists" you can take light rail to the last stop in Folsom (Historic Folsom Station), walk up Sutter Street, Vinny's is upstairs, south side of street. Sutter Street is a happening fun little street.

Three people had:
Reasonable prices too
Mussels w/garlic, butter broth, excellent
Spaghetti w/meatballs, "sunday gravy", very good
Cheese Spiniach Raviolis, very good
Shrimp Scampi, very good
Shared a big fat Tiramisu (yum, yum)
Cambria Chardonay Wine, good

[innov8]

You sold me BrianSac My lady and I will check it out

[otnemarcaS]

Speaking of Folsom, for those of you that want to play outside the grid, next week is Folsom Live 2008 on Sat Sept 27th. Over 15 bands will be playing on indoor and outdoor stages on historic Sutter street in Folsom. Sutter street will be closed to car traffic and the event starts at 5pm. Light rail is free from Sac to Folsom and back if you have a purchased ticket in hand. I think light rail service runs till midnite on that day.

[wburg]

While I still think the big terrarium they're sticking on the side of 926 J looks like crud, I'm still looking forward to seeing the project completed. I'm not sure what to think of the name for the restaurant ("Grange") but I'm guessing it won't focus too much on the super ultra lounge sushi on a stick aesthetic.

Bob Shallit: New Grange chef emphasizes fresh 'n local
By Bob Shallit - [email protected]
Last Updated 2:54 pm PDT Monday, September 22, 2008


An artist's rendering reveals what the Citizen Hotel in downtown Sacramento will look like when it opens at year's end.
William Murphy


The chef at Sacramento's soon-to-open Grange Restaurant isn't saying yet what's on his menu.

"I've been sworn to secrecy," says Michael Tuohy.

But this is certain: He'll be serving lots of locally produced organic foods -- beef and poultry, fruits and vegetables, cheeses and oils.


During an award-winning 22-year cooking career in Atlanta, Tuohy was a leader of the "farm-to-table" movement. And he says the abundance of locally grown ingredients was one of the draws of taking the Grange gig.

"So much of what the (Bay Area's top restaurants) use comes from up here, so why not be near the source?" he says.

Tuohy's posting here is a bit of a coup for Joie de Vivre Hospitality, the San Francisco-based operator of the Grange and the 197-room Citizen Hotel at 10th and J streets.

The 46-year-old veteran chef and his wife, Patti, had been considering a move to his native California and first looked into buying a restaurant in Sonoma. "Too expensive," he says.

Then Tuohy was offered a post as culinary director of the prestigious (but financially troubled) Copia wine, food and arts center in Napa. It "didn't feel right" to him.

That's when he heard about the Grange opportunity. The hotel company's CEO, Chip Conley say he's thrilled to get someone of Tuohy's caliber.

Touhy has been in town a month, meeting other chefs and city leaders, selecting china and silverware, venturing out to local farms. And of course, perfecting the details on that mysterious menu.

Sacramento, he says, suits him nicely. After watching Atlanta experience a huge growth spurt with accompanying urban problems, Tuohy says likes being in a place that seems committed to smart growth.

Sacramento, he says, is "not too small, not super-urban."

Just right.

[otnemarcaS]

Downtown Sacramento Grub Crawl is this weekend Sept 27th. It's like a pub crawl, except for food instead of alcohol. Price: $25

Scheduled restaurants this year -

5pm-6pm Fuzio
6pm-7pm Three Monkeys
7pm-8pm 4th Street Grill
8pm-9pm Zokku
9pm-10pm Table 260

www.sacramentogrubcrawl.com

[BrianSac]

Originally Posted by wburg

While I still think the big terrarium they're sticking on the side of 926 J looks like crud, I'm still looking forward to seeing the project completed. I'm not sure what to think of the name for the restaurant ("Grange") but I'm guessing it won't focus too much on the super ultra lounge sushi on a stick aesthetic.

I was looking at the terrarium the other day and what I like is the fact that when you are sitting in the dining room of this "terrarium" you will be able to see the oranamentation of what was the exterior of the building. Kinda cool!

[wburg]

Originally Posted by BrianSac

I was looking at the terrarium the other day and what I like is the fact that when you are sitting in the dining room of this "terrarium" you will be able to see the oranamentation of what was the exterior of the building. Kinda cool!

That's kind of what I don't like about it. You used to be able to see the ornamentation on the exterior of the building from outside the building: now you have to be a paying customer to see it. They're also not going to restore most of the exterior facade that they ripped out: they're using the material from the side to restore the front facade. I'm not sure what they're using to clad the columns, although they have apparently talked to Gladding McBean and have the original specs for the tiles used on the exterior, and will match them in kind.

[innov8]

Originally Posted by wburg

That's kind of what I don't like about it. You used to be able to see the ornamentation on the exterior of the building from outside the building: now you have to be a paying customer to see it.

Couldn't you just walk around to the J Street side and see ornamentation?
This buildings going to look great when finished and all I hear from you is that
it still is not good enough. This is reuse of a building at its best... isn't this what
you're always crowing about?

[innov8]

The Cosmopolitan Cabaret
Last night my wife and I were able to see the premiere performance
of "Forever Plaid" and we both enjoyed the show. The Cosmopolitan seems
to bring a new energy and street presents that K Street has been needing.
The Cabaret has both a contemporary bar and restaurant (by Paragary) with
a night club soon to be opening upstairs.



"Forever Plaid's" a fun show that likes to get interactive with the audience.
The theater's cozy and gives everyone a good seat to enjoy the performance.
The production made me laugh and get into many songs from
the 1950's that were fun to hear in this setting. The Cosmopolitan’s defiantly
worth checking out. New life has been given to a street and corner that
deserves more entertainment like this.

[wburg]

Originally Posted by innov8

Couldn't you just walk around to the J Street side and see ornamentation?
This buildings going to look great when finished and all I hear from you is that
it still is not good enough. This is reuse of a building at its best... isn't this what
you're always crowing about?

That's not really the point. Others here have complained about new building designs that look good from one side but are plain-jane on others: this is a case where a beautiful building facade and streetscape is being covered from public view, and public right-of-way converted to controlled, private space.

If all you hear from me is that it isn't good enough, you aren't paying attention: as I have mentioned before, I am glad to see the building reused, but I don't like this particular aspect of it. I'd call it reuse of a building at its second-best: for the most part, they're doing a great job, including getting the original Gladding-McBean specs for the replacement tilework. But the terrarium, well, I'm just not feeling it.

[BrianSac]

Hey Innov8,
Thanks for the pics and review. Maybe guests of the Citizen will be patrons of the Cosmopolitian too.

[BrianSac]

Originally Posted by wburg

this is a case where a beautiful building facade and streetscape is being covered from public view.

I guess you will have to go inside the restaurant to enjoy the view, or stand outside in the rain and peer in the window.

[otnemarcaS]

Originally Posted by wburg

That's not really the point. Others here have complained about new building designs that look good from one side but are plain-jane on others

Damn if they do, damn if they don't. I don't see anything terribly wrong with what is being done to this reused building, especially if it bolsters activity and foot traffic around that area. Wait till the final product before passing full judgement. Y'know, this isn't Burger King so you can't have it your way. Unless, of course, it's your money.

Originally Posted by wburg

this is a case where a beautiful building facade and streetscape is being covered from public view, and public right-of-way converted to controlled, private space.

So what? Should we also shut down every other restaurant's sidewalk seating because they infringe on public right of way? Driving by J str, I noticed Parlare Euro lounge, across from the Citizen hotel, seems to have recently added sidewalk seating. No beef about that? You are really being anal about these so called issues. Maybe they should have just demolished the whole building and put up a four story Wal Mart just to really piss you off.

[wburg]

Originally Posted by otnemarcaS

So what? Should we also shut down every other restaurant's sidewalk seating because they infringe on public right of way? Driving by J str, I noticed Parlare Euro lounge, across from the Citizen hotel, seems to have recently added sidewalk seating. No beef about that? You are really being anal about these so called issues. Maybe they should have just demolished the whole building and put up a four story Wal Mart just to really piss you off.

Outside sidewalk seating does require the city's okay, but a sidewalk seating area doesn't hide two stories of the exterior facade of the building, nor does it convert that area into the interior of the building. This terrarium does, so no, it's not exactly the same thing. You guys feel free to like it if you want to, I just don't.

Put it this way. It's kind of like seeing an immaculately restored 1925 Silver Ghost, except the owner has replaced the original wheels with 22s and "spinnaz."

[otnemarcaS]

By Bob Shallit - [email protected]
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, October 7, 2008


What slowdown?

A limping economy isn't worrying the local owners of the Crepeville restaurant chain.

They've just signed a lease to open their fifth restaurant – this one a Burgers and Brew – at the former Wonder Bread bakery/warehouse at 14th and R streets in downtown Sacramento.

"Business really hasn't slowed down for us," says co-owner Derar Zawaydeh, who contends higher-priced eateries are hardest hit by a downturn.

His "moderate-priced" restaurants may actually benefit, he says. "People still want to go out. They're just looking for better values."

Zawaydeh and Philippe Masoud, his brother and business partner, opened a Burgers and Brew in downtown Davis a year ago.

"It's packed all the time ... hopefully we can replicate that here," says Zawaydeh, who is self-financing his expansion.

As in Davis, the Sacramento outlet will offer half-pound burgers made with Niman Ranch beef, along with 12 beers on tap, 40 more in bottles and 30 wine selections. The new restaurant – expected to open in March – will have a fireplace, an indoor fountain and lots of exposed brick.

"It's not your typical burger dive," the owner says of his new cafe, part of a D&S Development project that includes 12 upstairs loft condos. Also atypical: It will stay open until 4 a.m. Thursday through Saturday and midnight the rest of the week.

[otnemarcaS]

No kidding? Moderately priced restaurants will fare better than high priced ones? No duh! Since midtowners/downtowners certainly cannot support these high priced places like Fins and 55 degrees without suburban dineros, the prudent thing to do is open up moderately priced places. This fills the gap.

For those of us that eat beyond the grid, I have been to the Burgers and Brew in Davis. Really good burgers and cold brew. It is great to have another late night dining option in the central city.

[Surefiresacto]

4am!?! That's awesome. Even later than Casbah.

[innov8]

Landmark Rusty Duck restaurant by the river closes
By Gina Kim - [email protected]
Thursday, October 9, 2008

The Rusty Duck, the longtime Sacramento restaurant backed up to the American River off Interstate 5, hung up its oyster shuckers and closed its doors this week.

Workers were notified of the closure Tuesday, said a spokeswoman for Landry's Restaurants, the corporation that owns the restaurant.

The Houston-based restaurant chain also owns Joe's Crab Shack and the Chart House.

"The owners have decided to close the location and focus on other areas. The land and building are currently for sale," said a company statement.

Modeled after a hunting lodge on stilts, the rustic restaurant had a Swiss Family Robinson treehouse feel and was noted for its towering mud pie desserts.

It celebrated its 20th birthday in 1996, with prices rolled back to 1976 for one night, such as $10.95 for the saut�ed mustard-coated salmon and $16.95 for the Alaskan king crab.

Paul Robins, host and anchor of Fox40 Live, worked as a server at the restaurant from 1979 to 1984.

"You have hit me right in the chest - that breaks my heart," Robins said upon learning of the closure. "You have to give me a moment."

When Robins started working at the restaurant, it was all men who worked the dinner shift, he recalled. But by the time he left, the genders were largely equal, except that women wore leotards with flowered wraparound skirts that slit high up on the leg, while men wore long-sleeved shirts and slacks.

"The women suffered much more than the men outfit-wise," he said.

Servers took pride in knowing their seafood dishes, and pre-shift tastings were held every day, said Shawn Helwig who worked as a server at the restaurant in the late 1990s.

During its heyday, the restaurant drew many patrons who were in town for business or staying at nearby hotels. It was also known to be a nice date spot on the river, Robins said.

"Every time the prom season rolled around, we were swamped with goober kids in velvet tuxedos," he recalled.

http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/1301709.html

[TowerDistrict]

with prices rolled back to 1976 for one night, such as $10.95 for the sauteed mustard-coated salmon and $16.95 for the Alaskan king crab.

wow.. was dinner that expensive in 1976? considering that a house in Sacramento was probably around 400% less, dinner sounds like it has been relatively stable?