Twenty years ago, I wrote, “Tower Café is the kind of place you take your out-of-town friends to show them Sacramento is cool.” Today the restaurant scene shines much brighter, with culinary gems in every neighborhood.
But there’s still something magical about dining at Tower Café, one of the city’s great outdoor spaces, sheltered by palm fronds and lit by neon from The Tower Theatre’s majestic marquee.
When Tower Café opened in 1990, the “world cuisine” concept was novel. Going to a single restaurant and choosing among curries, tacos and jerk chicken made one feel like Carmen San Diego with a fork and knife.
Roaring Back Ella was missed, but she’s solid as ever By Greg Sabin September 2021 The Selland family of restaurants includes Ella Dining Room & Bar, The Kitchen, OBO’ Italian Table & Bar and Selland’s Market-Café. The options run from grab-and-go to...
I’m happy to report Plan B, the California-meets-France restaurant in Arden Town Center, hasn’t lost a step. When my mother called and asked if I’d like to go for dinner, it delighted me to learn the food and service are still on point. Plan B’s resilience makes a visit that much more joyful.
If you are not familiar with Plan B, I understand. The restaurant sits in the back section of the center, facing neither Watt Avenue nor Fair Oaks Boulevard, the two main cross-streets. Plan B is a little tricky to find on La Sierra Drive but worth the search.
During many visits, I’ve sampled most dishes and found them consistent reminders as to why French cuisine still sets culinary standards.
Delizioso! Heavenly gnocchi tops new restaurant experience By Tessa Marguerite Outland July 2021 Mattone Ristorante is East Sacramento’s newest fine dining Italian restaurant. It’s the type of place where you have to think about which fork to use, where the salt and...
Since normal life stopped last year, we’ve all coped in different ways. We’ve hurt in different ways and changed in different ways. Few people have had more difficult times than my friends in the restaurant business.
As restrictions lift for restaurants, the demand for dining out is palpable. Restaurant owners scramble to find staff. Reservations are a must at many joints. I’ve seen dining rooms run out of food before dinner service ends.
James Lee’s friends call him “Panda.” As far as I can tell, everyone is his friend.
But if you forget Lee’s nickname, reminders are everywhere: on his panda-themed shirts and the panda mural painted on the side of the barbecue joint he owns with Julio Peix.
You’ll find Lee at the smoker most days. He smokes brisket, ribs or pork belly. He throws a little smoke onto his signature meatloaf or even tofu. If the smoker is going, he’s there.
