By: Jake Ferguson and Amanda Frew
The Sacramento food scene is a buzz with new restaurants and we were thrilled to find out that one of the newest eateries to open in town is right in our backyard. Strings Urban Kitchen, also known as SUK, now open at Capitol Towers (O and 7th), is dishing up delicious flavors for both lunch and dinner brought to life by the folks from Strings Italian Kitchen.
We were recently invited to enjoy a delicious 3-course meal that showcased the options available at SUK. We were pleased by the welcoming atmosphere, revamped interior and hospitality we received from the staff and owner Michael Gelber.
Upon our arrival, we were greeted with a glass of Prosecco (who doesn’t love that) and received a full tour of the tastefully designed décor and offerings, which included an expansive wine selection and display, state of the art soda dispenser and a private dining area that is perfect for an occasion-based dinner or work lunch.
The evening featured a custom menu made up of some of the signature dishes offered at SUK. Here are our thoughts on the various dishes:
Seafood-Based Tomato Bisque: This bisque is creamy with a nice kick of spice and is topped with just the right amount of lump crab to give the dish distinct seafood flair. While served as a starter, this bisque would have no problem holding its own as a main course.
Pasta Sienna: This hearty pasta dish includes chicken and shrimp sautéed in pesto, garlic and red chili pepper, tossed with sun-dried tomatoes, penne pasta and a touch of alfredo and curry. Admittedly, the addition of curry caused some hesitation initially, but we must say that it really makes the dish! The flavors marry together perfectly and we couldn’t get enough of the subtle spice and flavor the curry added.
Cioppino: SUK focuses on freshly sourced seafood, and this dish is a perfect example of the succulent seafood available at the restaurant. The light garlicky broth is beautifully complemented by a plethora of fish, mussels and shrimp with a generous portion of lump crab. The fresh Italian bread was a perfect vehicle to soak up the delicious broth, as we didn’t want any of it to go to waste! This dish is definitely a winner.
Conchiglie Ripiene (stuffed shells): This dish is indulgent, yet perfectly balanced. The creamy cheese stuffing is offset by crispy, salty pepperoni, making each bite interesting and addictive. The creamy tomato vodka sauce brings this dish together with a bit of spice and some acid to round out the dish. We heartily recommend this dish.
In addition to the restaurant and full bar, SUK also features a retail wine shop in which sommelier and partner Michael Chandler can assist in selecting the perfect bottle of vino! SUK promises to provide Downtown Sacramento with an inviting place to “Eat. Drink. Gather.” and we recommend doing just that.
Strings Urban Kitchen
1500 7th St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-444-6500
Archives for March 2014
Food as Art: Paris Edition
From one of the SacFoodies’ travel files – Paris 2012 — this fruit platter in a 16th century Chateau makes us all hungry to hit the road. We’d love to know, where’s a place you’ve experienced food so gorgeous it could live on as a piece of art?
Dad’s Sandwiches, Sacramento
You all know that we SacFoodies are suckers for great sandwiches. And lucky for us, there sure are some great sandwiches in and around Sacramento. Still, it never ceases to amaze me when there is a sandwich spot that I haven’t yet tried.
Enter Dad’s Sandwiches, with two Sactown locations – on J Street and on S Street – and just as the name suggests, sandwiches are their sole focus. I decided to skip on over to the S Street location a few weeks ago. Upon reviewing the mouthwatering options on their giant chalk menu board, I decided to go with their veggie option – The Green Machine – but, with a twist.
What could make a sandwich smothered with garlic spread, brown mustard and Pepper Plant Sauce, then layered with cream cheese, avocado, lettuce, tomato, wax peppers and olives even better? You guessed it. I had them add bacon.
Whoever “Dad” is, he sure knows his sandwiches. Thanks for a great lunch.
Dad’s Sandwiches on J
1004 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 446 -7456
Dad’s Sandwiches on S
1310 S Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 448-3237
Crawdads on the River
With warm whispers of spring and not-so-distant summer in the air, enjoying an evening along the river with a cocktail in hand doesn’t sound too bad.
Word on the street is Crawdads on the River has been newly remodeled and re-opened on March 14, promising tasty creations by executive Chef Adam Pechal of Restaurant Th13teen and Tuli Bistro. Crawdads’ innovative menu boasts flavorful dishes such as Mai Tai Chicken with Pineapple Rum Sweet & Sour Sauce, New Orleans inspired Crawfish Étouffée, and classic river cocktails with a few new twists.
So if you’re in the mood for expertly prepared seafood and delicious cocktails, make your way to the Riverbank Marina and enjoy an afternoon or evening meal on the water.
Crawdads on the River
1375 Garden Hwy
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 929-2268
Hours:
Sun – Thurs, 11 a.m. – 12 a.m.
Fri – Sat, 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.
Mother, Sacramento
If you live in Sacramento and hearing “Mother” does not immediately make you think “Sacramento’s most buzzed about new restaurant” then I may have to politely ask if you’ve been living under a rock. The new restaurant venture from Chef Michael Thiemann who was previously with Ella Dining Room has already received rave reviews from just about every local media outlet since opening its doors in January. And, what many are surprised to learn about this new Sacramento gem is that the restaurant is completely vegetarian.
The SacFoodies quickly got wind about Mother and who had or had not tried Mother yet has now been a hallway topic of conversation around the office for weeks. I may not have won the award for being the first to try Mother, but it looks like I win for being the first to blog about the new restaurant.
I visited on a Saturday evening around 9pm with three dining companions. We knew we would be in for a wait as the restaurant does not take reservations, but snagged a table after about 30 minutes. Although we were tempted to order the “Chef’s Special” which is 10 surprise dishes, we weren’t quite that daring and elected to share a few appetizers and order our own entrées.
The appetizers we sampled were: the Kale Salad with Apple, Grape, Walnut and Dill (very fresh!); the Roasted Beet Salad with Carrot, Red Quinoa, Almond “Mayo,” Garam Masala, Rose Yogurt and Watercress (if you love beets like I do, you will love this salad); the Chicken Fried Mushrooms (this one needs no description and it was hands-down our favorite appetizer); and the Pan Roasted Delta Asparagus with Chimichurri Sauce (just the right amount of kick!).
As delicious as the appetizers were, the main courses took the cake. One favorite was the Chile Verde with Roasted Potatoes, Pinto Beans, Hominy, Smoked Pickled Jalapeños and Mozzarella. Your server will ask if you want to add a fried egg to the top – of course I said yes. This dish was rich with flavor, incredibly filling and something I would definitely order again.
But the standout of the evening was the Fresh Pasta. This dish changes regularly, but on the night we dined it included fresh homemade noodles, peas, mushrooms, asparagus, buffalo mozzarella and mint leaves to garnish. Lucky for me that my friend who ordered this dish was willing to share because it was so fresh, so good and so clean plate-worthy.
Now I am no vegetarian, but I didn’t miss the meat for a second during my meal at Mother. It’s walking distance from our office, so for my next visit I’m planning to grab a few fellow SacFoodies and head over for lunch. Who’s with me?
Mother
1023 K St
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-594-9812