Best Hidden Gems
April 5 @ 12:00 am - December 31 @ 12:00 am
Sacramento, CA 95814
Located in a former Tower Records spot, the restaurant previously known as Solomon’s Delicatessen now focuses on globally-inspired dishes like the “Sapporo” fried chicken sandwich with sunomono. Jewish deli favorites, including some of the best pastrami in town, remain from its original concept as a delicatessen. While much of the nearby area resembles a ghost town in the COVID era, this restaurant — named after Tower Records founder Russ Solomon — remains a lively spot. Look for the outdoor “disco brunch” on weekends with DJs in the mix and plenty of patio dining.
Sacramento, CA 95814
In terms of classic Sacramento cuisine, it doesn’t get much more iconic than a “Frank’s Style” New York steak that’s loaded with oyster sauce and onions, plus banana cream pie for dessert. Frank Fat’s has bridged Chinese and American cuisines since 1939 and remained a hotbed of political wheeling and dealing. It’s the oldest family-run restaurant in Sacramento, enduring times of war and recessions, and now the COVID-19 pandemic. Dine-in and takeout available — lobbyist not included.
Sacramento, CA 95811
Long before the city’s great marketing takeover designated Sacramento as “America’s Farm-To-Fork Capital,” chef Rick Mahan and crew were putting this ethos in action. Seasonally driven menus with an emphasis on local ingredients set the stage for such dishes housemade strozzaapreti with lamb raised in nearby Dixon, and mixed grills of Llano Seco pork loin. The sauteed sweetbreads with bacon, mushrooms, and capers remains one of Sacramento’s definitive dishes.
Sacramento, CA 95816
Splurge on some of Sacramento’s most artfully executed and flavorful Japanese food at this elegant East Sacramento spot. Chef Billy Ngo and his team are producing precision-sliced nigiri and sashimi, plus such small plates as tea-smoked duck kushiyaki and grilled corn with miso butter. The restaurant is open for dine-in but act fast and early if you want to snag a reservation, which can be made online.
April 5, 2022 12:00 am - December 31, 2022 12:00 am