When we got word that House Kitchen & Bar, the new restaurant at 555 Capitol Mall, had finally opened, we promptly scheduled a lunch trip down the street. Not that we don’t love our old standby lunch destinations like Il Fo, Subway and the hot dog cart, but we’ve been looking forward to having a new dining option within walking distance of our office.

Arriving at the restaurant at Noon, we found the place bustling and almost every table full of diners. We even caught a glimpse of Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson digging into lunch at the new restaurant.

Unfortunately, we working girls did not have time for table service, so we placed a to-go order instead. Here’s what we tried:

Liz Conant – “I had the a sandwich called the hot press (I think!) with turkey, bacon, ham, cheddar, tomatoes and a special aioli mayo on foccacia. Served with a side of fries, this was more than a filling lunch! I’m looking forward to going back and sampling more menu items, especially when House opens for dinner, which I hear should be soon….”  
Brittany Mohr – “I’d heard that House was going to be all about comfort food, and in my book comfort food = mac and cheese. So, I ordered the Five Cheese Elbow Mac & Cheese with Applewood Smoked Bacon and it proved to be the epitome of all things comforting. Perfectly warm and cheesy, this dish is listed on the starters section of the menu but was more than enough to satiate my appetite. Next time I’m there, I want to check out the drink menu … anything for the excuse to sip from a Mason Jar while out to eat!”
Jenna Buhagiar – “It was feeling like a ‘go big or go home’ kind of day, so I opted for Christopher’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich dipped in hot sauce with melted bleu cheese and it sure was big. Like the other sandwiches, it also came piled with a side of tasty fries. I’m always a fan of a super-messy, saucy and spicy chicken sandwich, but could always go for more bleu cheese. I’m glad I was able to sneak a bite of Brittany’s mac & cheese – can’t wait to order a bowl for myself next time.”
House Kitchen and Bar
555 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, CA 95814

Over the summer, we shared a review of one Sac Foodie’s late-night dining experience at Bistro 33 Midtown. Recently, I also had the pleasure of trying this trendy restaurant, although my experience was during daylight hours. It was mid-day on a Saturday and my dining companions and I were facing a dilemma: Where could we eat lunch that would be a step-up from bar food but still allow us to watch the Cal v. Stanford football game? We found ourselves at Bistro 33 in Midtown Sacramento and it could not have been more perfect; complete with a cozy corner booth facing a flat-screen TV which the staff was more than happy to change to the game we wanted.

The restaurant was serving both brunch and lunch menus, which made deciding on entrees difficult . . . at least for me! Once decisions were made and our food arrived, we found ourselves perfectly happy with our meals, and the score of the football game.

The Linguine Carbonara was piled high and included chicken, pork belly and toasted walnuts in an egg cream sauce. To say the dish was creamy would be an understatement. A big plus was the generous amount of chicken and pork belly – the Linguinie could easily feed two people!

The Midtown Chop Salad included chopped romaine, smoked turkey, red onion, tomato, goat cheese, pepper bacon and toasted almonds in a creamy green goddess dressing – and this was the small size! The salad was delish, crisp and perfectly dressed.

The Roasted Sirloin Dip sandwich might have taken the prize for favorite dish of the meal. The meat was tender and juicy and the au jus sauce was poured hot table-side. Plus, it came with fries that we all got to share!
If you find yourself looking for a place to dine for lunch on a weekend, you might consider Bistro 33. A cozy atmosphere, friendly servers, TV’s with sports, great food and a vast drink selection make this spot perfect for foodies and sports aficionados alike!
Bistro 33 Midtown
1020 16th Street (at K)
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-233-3633

Our office celebrated the holiday season last week with an amazing lunch at Ella Dining Room. Being an office of foodies and the like, I was looking forward to an afternoon to enjoy the company of our office away from our busy desks, and experience one of Sacramento’s top restaurants.

The restaurant itself was alive with a full lunch crowd. And the décor (which I usually evaluate as much as the food) was fun and modern, yet inviting and comfortable. Our resident party planner (aka Kim Bedwell) must have called weeks ahead, because FH got the two large tables next to the open kitchen, where we could see the wood fire flames and some food preparation – definitely the best seats in the house.
Because we had a large group we were given an abbreviated menu; even with a short list, the choices were not easy to make. We started with the Fried Giant Rock Shrimp with Chili Aioli and Wood Oven Meatballs, Roasted Tomato Sauce and Sheep’s Milk Ricotta.

The next course was a choice between salad or soup (I choice the soup special, which as great) but in my view the highlight of the meal was the entrée. We had a choice between a Wild Mushroom Ravioli dish or a Seared Sea Bass with Dungeness Snow Crab (I don’t have the exact menu names, since much of our selections aren’t on their regular menu).

By foodie code, I must give special recognition to the Seared Sea Bass with crab- it was amazing. The sea bass cooked just right and the crab was just buttery enough to melt in your mouth, but still flavorful. Below is a picture of the ravioli, which also got rave reviews.

Our dessert options included: Warm Bittersweet Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Cake with Toasted Coconut Ice Cream OR Meyer Lemon Tartlet, Sweet Crème Fraiche and Blackberry Sorbet – both pictured below. I selected the chocolate option (usually do) and my favorite was undoubtedly the coconut ice cream.


I just glanced at the full menu, and am already looking forward to my next trip to Ella. Cheers and happy holiday eating!
Check out other blogger reviews of Ella Dining Room:
Edible Sacramento
MetroBlogging Sacramento
Tastes of Life
Midtown Guru