A few weekends ago I enjoyed a late lunch at Riverside Clubhouse with my parents and fiancé, Stefan. I’ve only lived in Sacramento since June and I try to make every eating-out opportunity a new experience. After a quick Internet search on Sacramento restaurants, I decided that we should try the Riverside Clubhouse because of the varied menu and affordable prices.
My mom and I rolled our eyes when we saw that the walls of the restaurant were adorned with 50-inch plasma TVs showing Sunday football games—so much for a nice conversation with my dad and Stefan!
The brief regret I had for choosing the restaurant immediately vanished as soon as I realized that the menu had my new favorite appetizer . . . Sweet Potato Fries (my love for Sweet Potato Fries began at Table 260)! I insisted that we order the Sweet Potato Fries and began scouring the rest of the menu while I anxiously awaited the arrival of our appetizer.
There were so many tempting items on the menu that I had trouble making a decision. I decided to go the more healthful route and ordered the Ken’s Big Daddy Turkey Burger—besides, I knew I could steal a few bites of the Roasted Sirloin Dip that Stefan was ordering! My parents opted to order the Cobb Salad.
When the Sweet Potato Fries arrived, I was truly in heaven. They came with three dipping sauces: Housemade Peach Ketchup, Herb Mayonnaise and Creamy Bleu Cheese, which were all worth multiple dips. The fries were sweet, crunchy and only increased my preexisting addiction.
Just as I had snagged the last fry from the basket, my turkey burger arrived. The burger was served with Green Goddess Dressing, which gave it a delicious herbed flavoring. My meal also came with a small salad of mixed greens, which made me feel better since I had just consumed half of the Sweet Potato Fries.
My parents and Stefan enjoyed their meals as well. My dad devoured his Cobb Salad and I can personally vouch that the Roasted Sirloin Dip was very tasty. Catching up with my parents and trying new tasty food was the perfect ending to my weekend.
Riverside Clubhouse
2633 Riverside Blvd.
(916) 448-9988
Last Friday at Zócalo
My fiancé and I wanted to kickoff the weekend by trying out a restaurant in Sacramento that we had never been to. Since we both are pretty new to the area, this wasn’t a difficult task. I’m a Mexican food lover and I had heard good things about Zócalo, so we decided to give it a try.
Zócalo immediately reminded me of this gorgeous villa I stayed at in Puerto Vallarta a few years ago. The restaurant was very spacious with large open windows and authentic décor – I felt like I was back in Mexico the whole time I was there!
We started out our meal with chips and margaritas, as we do at most Mexican restaurants we go to. The chips were warm, salty and delicious – the quality of chips and salsa are always very important to my dining experience. The margaritas were smooth and refreshing.
There were so many choices on the menu that I had a tough time making a decision. When it came time to order I chose the flautas de pollo and my fiancé chose the carnitas burrito.
The flautas were crunchy and topped with cabbage and radish, which was a fresh twist. The carnitas burrito was absolutely delicious, the pork was very tender and flavorful – I kept stealing bites off of my fiancé’s plate! The entrees were served with black beans and tasty cilantro-flavored rice.
We were also surprised to find that a mariachi band plays at Zócalo on Fridays. There’s nothing wrong with being serenaded while eating delicious food!
Zócalo
1801 Capitol Avenue
(916) 441-0303
The Sacramento Salmon Swap
My fiancé, Stefan, recently went on an Alaskan fishing adventure with his father and grandfather. They stayed at Alaska’s Sea Otter Sound Lodge, which is located 100 miles by float plane from Ketchikan. Some of the highlights of the trip were the gorgeous scenery, sea otters, seals, bald eagles and humpback whale sightings.
After five days of non-stop fishing, the three of them had caught more than 300 pounds of fish – mostly salmon! This would be great news for any seafood lover, but my seafood experiences rarely venture beyond shrimp and clam chowder.
I made the decision to be optimistic and proactive with this bounty of salmon – it was falling out of my freezer, what choice did I have? I decided to swap some salmon with the seafood lovers in our office, in exchange for some tasty recipes. I’m hoping they will inspire me with their favorite salmon dishes – stay tuned for their culinary creations!
Late-Night Dining at Bistro 33 Midtown
Believe it or not, late-night dining in Midtown Sacramento is not limited to drive-through windows. In fact, Bistro 33 Midtown has a menu designed to satisfy even the strongest nocturnal cravings. Bistro 33’s “Midnight at Midtown” menu is served nightly from 10 p.m. to close, which is either 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. depending on the day of the week.
The Midnight at Midtown menu is a combination of appetizers, soups, salads, main dishes and even breakfast dishes! Some of the items on the menu are Carnitas Street Tacos, Oven Dried Tomato & Shrimp Ravioli and Kobi Mini Burgers—no late-night drive-through menu can compete with variety like that!
A few weeks ago, I found myself at Bistro 33 celebrating a friend’s birthday at midnight. I tried the French Onion Soup Gratinée and loved it. The bowl was brimming with Swiss cheese and sweet caramelized onions, which was just what I needed to satisfy my late-night craving. My fellow night owls enjoyed the Roasted Sirloin Dip with house-made au jus and Eggs Any Style.
Located at the corner of 16th and K streets, Bistro 33 Midtown also has a full bar with an extensive wine and cocktail list. If you ever find yourself in a late-night dining dilemma, back away from the drive-through window and satisfy your appetite at Bistro 33 Midtown.