By: Amanda Frew and Jake Ferguson
For those of us that work in downtown Sacramento, keeping us in the area after work hours is not easy to do with midtown’s many bars and restaurants luring us away after we leave the office. On a recent visit to Blackbird Kitchen + Beer Gallery though, two of us Sac Foodies found ourselves happily whiling away the evening without the slightest thought of our usual midtown haunts.
This February, Blackbird reopened its doors with a new identity. They now feature dishes starring local farm-fresh produce and incredibly fresh fish for their many raw offerings and to live up to their namesake as a “Beer Gallery,” Blackbird also boasts over 50 beers on tap from all over the world. It’s not often you have the chance to partake in upscale food with such a wide range of craft beers, but we highly suggest you visit Blackbird soon to do so. Below is a recap of our delicious evening.
Salmon Crudo with Pickled Shishito Peppers
This dish was full of flavor and was the perfect size for an appetizer. The tangy peppers cut the fattiness of the salmon and the crunch of the sea salt on top created and exceptional bite.
Blackbird Kitchen+Bar, Sacramento
A little while back, I had the pleasure of trying new Sacramento hot-spot Blackbird Kitchen+ Bar for the first time. Hiding on a dark strip of 9th Street in between J and K Streets, it would be easy to miss at first glance, but once inside the festive ambiance quickly makes up for the slightly hidden location.
Blackbird bills itself as a restaurant serving American cuisine with a special focus on seafood, including a raw bar, so we took a cue and started by ordering the Arctic Char, which is served with a vichyssoise sauce, cured roe, chives and truffle oil – and it was hands down our favorite dish of the night. We paired it with a side order of the Grilled Bread with Tomato Tapenade – which also earned a “yum” rating!
For entrees, we shared two dishes: the Maine Lobster & Roasted Beet Salad with Burrata and the Pork Belly, Pomegranate & Prawns. If you think lobster + beets + burrata sounds like an odd combination, think again – it was fresh, delicious and filling. The pork belly and head-on prawns with pomegranate did not disappoint either, albeit a bit of a heavier dish. We also split an order of the Carrot Curry Soup topped with Lime Crema – another flavor-packed, unique dish that I would easily order again.
Blackbird Kitchen+Bar
1015 9th Street
Sacramento, CA
(916) 498-9224