Sacramento: No Reservations
The joy of living in the hustle and bustle of midtown and downtown means walkability and proximity to fantastic restaurants. Though getting seating during the weekdays is usually pretty easy, Fridays and Saturdays can be tough with no reservations. So we’ve compiled a list of 10 killer restaurants in Sacramento, no reservations needed.
South
$$$$ | Southern, Soul food
Located at 2005 11th St. in Southside Park, South is contemporary Southern cuisine, heavy on seasonal vegetables and driven by historical inspiration. South is traditional family food, unpretentious, with no gimmicks, and no crazy science. At South we are not trying to reinvent the wheel, we are just trying to express 200 years of our family’s story on a 12” plate. – weheartfriedchicken.com
Kru – Late Night (Friday & Saturday 10:00pm–1:00am)
$$$$ | Japanese, Sushi Bars
Kru seeks to interpret the guest’s intent, palate, mood and occasion through our technique and passion. Plates and glass our vehicles, we honor our ingredients through contemporary Japanese cuisine, Barmanship and Omakase. Kru delivers our product by way of single-hearted, two-way engagement and hospitality—Omotanashi. The customer is part of our crew who is of one goal—to share in a culinary experience that pushes the envelope of imagination and possibility. – krurestaurant.com
Chic on Q / Q St. Bar and Grill
$$$$ | Thai, Dive Bar
Q St. Bar and Grill is best known to midtown locals as “Benny’s,” a place to grab a stiff Jack and Coke while on a budget. What’s not as well known is this midtown dive bar also runs a respectable Thai food restaurant called Chic on Q Wednesdays through Mondays.
The chef is an alum of Tower Cafe, and a good place to start on the menu is with the Thai fried rice, a tasty and comforting version of kow-pad with tomato, egg, onion and a choice of protein. This fried rice will help you get revved up for a night of imbibing on the midtown grid, and take you off the beaten path of Sacramento Thai food. – Sacbee.com
Urban Roots
$$$$ | Brewery, BBQ, Smokehouse
At Urban Roots we put love into everything we do; and that includes the food that comes from our kitchen. We traveled the country, from California to Texas to Memphis to Louisiana, to find inspiration and to learn from the people who know how to do it best. Our kitchen will offer some classics such as smoked brisket and ribs, as well as some fun stuff you might not normally find in a traditional smokehouse. Did we mention, the food is extra tasty with fresh beer? – urbanrootsbrewing.com
The Shady Lady Saloon
$$$$ | Cocktail Bar, New American
At the Shady Lady, our setting and menu are reminiscent of America’s 1920s era with a modern feel. Enjoy a cocktail, sip on a beer; we encourage you to discover something new. The Shady Lady offers a glimpse into the past, with a contemporary twist. – shadyladybar.com
Ramen House Ryujin
$$$$ | Ramen, Japanese
The word “ramen” is right there in the name of Sacramento, so it should come as no surprise that our fair city has enjoyed a flowering of Japanese noodle houses. Friendly Ryu Jin, tucked into the shopping center that houses the S Street Safeway, wins plenty of hearts and minds not only with its toothsome noodles, but also with the diversity of its menu and soup toppings: In addition to basic broths like shio (sea salt) and shoyu (soy), the restaurant carries a wide range of tonkotsu (pork-based) soups, including a black ramen soup topped with fragrant black garlic oil, and spicy red ramen, with savory add-ins like red ginger and seasoned eggs. Other offerings include rice bowls, cold ramen dishes (great during hot summer days) and appetizers like gyoza and boiled Japanese sausage. -Sactownmag.com
The Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar
$$$$ | Cocktail Bar, New American
This farm-to-table bistro has been hopping since it opened in 2012, occupying a space that had been unlucky for other restaurants, including the erstwhile GV Hurley’s and Red Lotus. Red Rabbit (yes, the name was inspired by the giant sculpture hanging in the B Terminal at SMF) invites diners to tumble down the bunny hole and lose themselves in cushy black booths, dim lighting and expertly crafted cocktails, and a menu of moderately priced fare created by John Bays, an alum of Mulvaney’s. The understated atmosphere is equally well suited to a dinner date or a drop-in for snacks and libations. Don’t miss the ever-changing punch of the day or drinks like the Krakow Salt Mine (which combines vodka, apple cider, lemon, ginger beer and salt); to eat, you’ll want to sink your teeth into the pork osso bucco with polenta and green beans or the achiote chicken with micro cilantro and coconut-turmeric rice. – Sactownmag.com
Federalist Public House & Beer Garden
$$$$ | Pizza, Beer Garden
Federalist is a celebration of all things Sacramento: beer, pizza, wine & architecture. They are open lunch, dinner, late night and happy hour. Located in Midtown, a mere three blocks south of the MARRS Building, Federalist is comprised of a 1,700 SF 19th Century American Pub built in a 106 year old Federalist-Style-Victorian with a 2,200 SF shipping container beer garden in the rear yard with alley access. A perfect blend of old-meets new. – Exploremidtown.org
Mother
$$$$ | Vegan, Vegetarian, New American
Mother describes itself as “great food that just so happens to be meatless,” and we couldn’t agree more.
Midtown Sushi (formerly known as Lou’s Sushi)
$$$$ | Sushi Bar, Japanese, Vegan
Formally known as Lou’s Sushi, Midtown Sushi is an award-winning sushi restaurant, serving the highest quality ingredients, using classical techniques to prepare fish and offering a wide variety of vegan options. – midtownsushi.net
With my love of all things design and food, it was only natural for me to start a blog. I want to share with others my adventures as I travel, eat, read, photograph, and discover my way through Sacramento. As a Realtor, it’s important to me to know what’s happening in my community. And why not share that with you?