Sacramento Restaurants, Nightlife and Entertainment - Page 23

TowerDistrict · #**441** Posted **Oct 23, 2007, 4:09 PM**

There was actually a write up on the change of ownership a few weeks ago.
It sounds like the new owners have no plans to change the format. Save for
maybe some new expertly installed equipment!

A Hof Brau Revival Brewing?

Sacramento Bee file photograph/Brian Baer

The deal closed in May, but word is just starting to get around that one of Sacramento's more venerable restaurants has changed hands. That would be Plaza Hof Brau, founded as Sam's Hof Brau along Watt Avenue in 1959 by legendary restaurateur Sam Gordon, who died in 1998 at 91.

Over the past 48 years, the restaurant has changed little, adhering to the principles of the traditional German hof brau - big portions of hearty fare at value prices in a practical and comfortable setting. That formula won't change significantly, vows Derrick Fong, who heads up Hof Brau Restaurant Group. Fong is the CEO of the thriving and growing group of Mikuni restaurants, and while several of the "seven or eight" partners who brought the hof brau also are with Mikuni this investment is separate from Mikuni's operations, says Fong.

"If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it," says Fong, repeating a longstanding canon of the way Plaza Hof Brau has been run since Gordon founded the restaurant. In 1992, Gordon sold the restaurant to Pete and Mary Lennarz, who in turn sold it this spring to Hof Brau Restaurant Group. Pete Lennarz began working for Gordon as a teenager.

Fong says his group has been sprucing up the building, installing some new equipment, increasing the efficiency of its takeout program and experimenting with dishes that may be added to the menu. The restaurant recently ran a special on ribs, for example, and though the crew thought they had stocked enough to last from the Thursday to the Saturday of the promotion they ran out on Friday, says Fong.

The restaurnt is averaging about 1,200 meals a day, and while its clientele tends to be older, Fong is seeing a shift to a younger customer. That's got him to thinking that the hof-brau concept may be in for a revival, and he's already talking of additional restaurants, the first possibly in Rocklin and Reno. "The concept has a lot of potential," says Fong. "It's great value."

Posted by mdunne at September 18, 2007 10:43 AM

Phillip · #**442** Posted **Oct 23, 2007, 7:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TowerDistrict

The deal closed in May, but word is just starting to get around that one of Sacramento's more venerable restaurants has changed hands. That would be Plaza Hof Brau, founded as Sam's Hof Brau along Watt Avenue in 1959 by legendary restaurateur Sam Gordon, who died in 1998 at 91.

Hmmm, I'm not sure how to reconcile Sam Gordon dying in 1998 with the obit I read a just a couple months ago for a fellow who lived in Sacramento and founded a Hofbrau chain. I don't remember his name but it wasn't Sam Gordon. Maybe there were two competing Hofbrau chains? Maybe the guy who passed a couple months ago was Sam's original partner? I searched on "hofbrau" at sacbee.com and couldn't come up with anything.

SacTownAndy · #**443** Posted **Oct 23, 2007, 9:47 PM**

Is Sam Gordon the same guy who opened up Sam's Town in Cameron Park?

ltsmotorsport · #**444** Posted **Oct 23, 2007, 10:23 PM**

Would make sense, since 1998 or the year or so after was around the time it closed.

reggiesquared · #**445** Posted **Oct 24, 2007, 10:15 PM**

So, I usually go to sacbee.com in the mornings to get caught up on whats going down. I noticed a trend. I've always hated the bee but they get away with anything and everything, including shameless reporting because of the lack of competition. Check out my compilation.

http://www.fojax.com/profile.php?req=picture_details&picture_id=1836&owner=521

Web · #**446** Posted **Oct 25, 2007, 5:11 AM**

Hofbrau is a common theme for restaurants.
A google search finds many in Northern California.

But Sams Hofbrau I think was only Sacramento, Oakland and LA......

Oakland by Lake Merrit is now closed. I don;t know of the LA one or ones.
The DT Sac one closed a long time ago I heard. Although a diiferent one on K st just closed last year......9th and K Northeast corner. or was it 10th??

Phillip · #**447** Posted **Oct 28, 2007, 3:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Web

But Sams Hofbrau I think was only Sacramento, Oakland and LA......

I'm pretty sure the Hofbrau in downtown Portland was a Sam's too.

I drove to Plaza Hofbrau on Watt today, formerly Sam's, and had lunch. It hasn't changed a bit since I was last there, probably 6 or 7 years ago. Saturdays the special is barbecued beef ribs and that's what I had with corn on the cob, baked beans, and a roll for $7.99.

On the wall near the entrance there's an old restaurant review framed with more history. The first Sam's Hofbrau was at 17th and J, in 1959. The chain grew to 11 restaurants, 6 of which were in Sacramento area. In 1964 Sam sold the chain to Denny's (!) and Denny's resold it a few years later.

In the back of the restaurant was a 1961 photo of Sam Gordon paying $5,000to a 19 year old kid named Durante who caught Roger Maris' 61st home run baseball. Sam wanted the baseball. The caption says the transfer happened at Sam's Original Ranch Wagon at 19th and Broadway in Sacramento. So not all of Sam's restaurants were called "Sam's Hofbrau".

I think most readers of this forum would enjoy the photos lining the walls at Plaza Hofbrau. Lots of early century photos of J Street and K Street and shipping activity along the waterfront. The ribs aren't bad either. Bring a small flashlight if you go because some of the best photos are hanging in deeply recessed booths where the light doesn't reach.

Next to the Hofbrau there's a temporary Hallloween store in the old Tower Video and Books. Very busy today. Tower Music is still empty. All the shelving is still there and the counters and cash registers and some of the old posters on the walls, like they're waiting for another music store to come in.

DALINSAC · #**448** Posted **Oct 28, 2007, 8:22 PM**

Thanks for the info Phillip. Might need to just check it out. A friend of mine ate there a few weeks back. She said the food was pretty good.
Did anyone ever feel like that little shopping center there had a bit of an urban feel to it? I kind of did. When Tower Records and books was still there.

innov8 · #**449** Posted **Nov 15, 2007, 5:36 PM**

Last night was the opening night for the Dream Ultra Lounge on 15th Street.

Photo from Blogging the Grid

I drove by and it looked pretty cool, did anybody get a chance to check it out?

otnemarcaS · #**450** Posted **Nov 15, 2007, 6:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by innov8

Last night was the opening night for the Dream Ultra Lounge on 15th Street.

Photo from Blogging the Grid

I drove by and it looked pretty cool, did anybody get a chance to check it out?

I walked past it, but didn't go in, on Tuesday night when they were having a pre-opening night for friends and family. Wow, quite a change they've done from the old sky bar. The lights bouncing against the chain curtain outside plus the aquarium of fire certain is quite eye catching from the street. Looks like another good club addition to that whole corridor. The crowd would be an interesting contrast to the Torch club next door. Looks like it will be more of a Cabana Ultra Lounge / The Park Ultra Lounge kind of crowd.

urban_encounter · #**451** Posted **Nov 20, 2007, 1:48 AM**

By Bob Shallit - SacBee Business
Last Updated 5:53 am PST Monday, November 19, 2007
Story appeared in BUSINESS section, Page D3

Hot spot: It looks like Randy Paragary has finally found the right formula for the corner of 15th and R streets.

His first venture there, an eatery called Sammy Chu's, was a dud. "It shot up like a rocket and came down just as fast," says SonnyMayugba, marketing chief for the Paragary Restaurant Group of dining and drinking spots.

Its successor, Icon, did just as poorly.

But the current incarnation, a bar called R15 married with a Cafe Bernardo restaurant, has been in operation just over a year and reportedly is going gangbusters.

Just how good is business? Mayugba isn't providing revenue figures. But he says the place is open 19 hours a day, seven days a week.

"That's a really good sign," he says.

People seem drawn by the bar's 15 flat-screen TVs – which show sports and music videos but also can be used for Xbox games – and its private "living rooms" that adjoin the pool table area.

On a recent Saturday night, Mayugba reports, there was a 90-minute wait to get in.

That's not so unusual

otnemarcaS · #**452** Posted **Nov 20, 2007, 6:48 AM**

last line is ... "That's not so unusual for a club offering live music or a hot DJ. But, Mayugba notes, "this is just a bar."

I have driven past R15 on a weekend and the lines are indeed crazy long. Not sure why people would wait so long to get into a bar. I have been inside the place about 3 times or so but not on a weekend evening.

I did eat at Sammy Chu's back then. The food was really good but it was a little ahead of it's time for Sacramento, especially in that location.

urban_encounter · #**453** Posted **Nov 20, 2007, 7:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by otnemarcaS

I did eat at Sammy Chu's back then. The food was really good but it was a little ahead of it's time for Sacramento, especially in that location.

I only dined at Sammy Chu's once, but i really liked it.. I was sorry to see it go. But like you said, it was a bit ahead of the time for Sacramento.

TowerDistrict · #**454** Posted **Nov 20, 2007, 6:26 PM**

R15 is a great bar. I'd say it's the best bar in Sacramento.

As one Yelper puts it:

"All the strengths of a dive bar and none of the weaknesses."

LWR · #**455** Posted **Nov 20, 2007, 7:27 PM**

Does anyone know where to go for Eggs Benedict for a morning bite to eat?

I've been to one place, who's name I can't remember, in an older section of town within a block of a freeway... something like one of the "alphabet" streets. There is a medical clinic nearby.

I'm going to be in the Sacramento area the second week of December, 2007. HELP !!!!

Thanks beforehand.

snfenoc · #**456** Posted **Nov 20, 2007, 7:50 PM**

I can't tell you where you went for breakfast, but I can make a couple of my own recommendations:

1) Evan's on 57th between J and H (in a little antique shopping center) makes really nice Eggs Benedict

2) The Fox and Goose on R Street at 10th is also wonderful.
http://www.foxandgoose.com/

TowerDistrict · #**457** Posted **Nov 20, 2007, 8:03 PM**

Those two and Capitol Garage, Cafe Bernardo, Crepeville, Cornerstone,
Riverside Clubhouse, Tower Cafe, and Limelight.

Fancier places: Rio City Cafe and Chanterelle.

sugit · #**458** Posted **Nov 20, 2007, 8:27 PM**

I like the Eggs Benedict at Cafe Bernardo. Capitol Garage has a good Sunday brunch as well as $4.95 all you can drink mimosas.

Fox and Goose has killer scones, plus a ton of good beers if you like a pint with brunch.

DALINSAC · #**459** Posted **Nov 20, 2007, 8:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugit

I like the Eggs Benedict at Cafe Bernardo. Capitol Garage has a good Sunday brunch as well as $4.95 all you can drink mimosas.

Fox and Goose has killer scones, plus a ton of good beers if you like a pint with brunch.

Hmmm? I never knew that Capitol Garage had a brunch on Sundays. Interesting. All you can drink Mimosas sound real good

PS/ I remember the old Capitol Garage in the 90's. Had that urban hip edgy feel. (I believe live bands too? ) The new one has a completely different vibe. Is it the same owners?

innov8 · #**460** Posted **Nov 20, 2007, 8:54 PM**

I really like the Riverside Clubhouse... great atmosphere and food