“On the Radar” Sacramento Brunch Spots
Turn off those burners, shut down your oven and unplug that coffee pot….it’s BRUNCH TIME in Sacramento! Bethany Heckman (Local Roots Food Tour Culinary Guide) takes you on a foodie tour to some of her “on the radar brunch spots” in Sacramento.
Tower Café
1518 Broadway
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 441-0222
Open Mon-Thu,Sun 8am-11pm; Fri-Sat 8am-12am
If you’ve ever experienced a warm Sunday afternoon in Sacramento and have driven by Tower Café on 15th and Broadway, you’ve seen the hoards of people standing in line. After you’ve sat outside under the gorgeous shade trees and listened to the sounds of the historic fountain, you’ll know why it’s worth the wait. Oh, yeah… The food is amazing too. The menu has an amazing assortment of dishes from all over the globe. The Madame Cristo is a favorite among eaters. Tower Café’s famous French Toast stuffed with sliced ham and swiss cheese, topped with two over-medium eggs, a creamy béchamel and a chipotle-raspberry jam. Is your mouth watering yet? Or maybe you want something to cater to that sweet tooth? What about the New Mexico Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes? Two large cornmeal pancakes topped with blueberry compote and whipped butter. A little parched? What about the La Frida? (my personal fav) Prosecco mixed with a pomegranate-blood orange nectar and pineapple juice. Just drinking it under the canopy of trees makes you feel like you are on vacation. Want to feel like you are in Mexico on vacation? Try the Jala-Pina, silver tequila mixed with a fresh pineapple puree, sliced jalapenos, and soda water. Sold.
Fox and Goose Pub & Restaurant
1001 R Street
Sacramento, CA 95811-6519
(916) 443-8825
Open Mon,Wed-Thu 7am-12am; Tue 7am-10pm; Fri-Sat 7am-2am; Sun 7am-3pm
It’s sometimes difficult to order Eggs Benedict at Brunch. Sure, you know you’ve had a ‘good’ Eggs Benedict and a ‘bad’ Eggs Benedict. My recommendation is try an ‘AMAZING’ Eggs Benedict at Fox and Goose. They begin with two poached eggs and your choice of Canadian bacon, bacon and fresh spinach OR (AND THIS IS WHAT IS THE AMAZING PART) tomatoes on an English muffin served with Welsh rarebit cheese sauce (DROOOOOOL) and country potatoes……………yes please. If there is room, which there always is try a olallieberry scone (warm, glorious and heavenly) with Devonshire cream and lemon curd. And to wash it down, the Pink Lady Mimosa- champagne and strawberry lemonade. You can’t go wrong.
Capitol Garage
1500 K Street
Sacramento, CA 95814-4018
(916) 444-3633
Open Mon-Thu 6:30am-12am; Fri 6:30am-2am; Weekends 8am-2am
Not only does Capitol Garage have an amazing brunch menu, it has a full bar and is open til 2am on the weekends! You cannot go wrong with the Fiji French Toast topped with rum flamed mangoes and toasted coconut, served with maple syrup, powdered sugar and cinnamon. <Insert mouth watering here> Or maybe you want something a little more savory? Try the Crab Hash: rock crab meat cooked up with potatoes, bacon, roasted red peppers and green onions, topped with fresh avocado, two eggs over easy and sour cream chive hollandaise. Yum. Not only is the food out of this world, they also offer unlimited mimosas and trust me, they keep your glasses filled!
Roxy
2381 Fair Oaks Blvd # 3
Sacramento, CA 95825-4748
(916) 489-2000
Open Mon-Thu 11:30am-9pm; Fri 11:30am-10pm; Weekends 9am-9pm
Would you go to a brunch solely for the cocktails? I would. And Roxy is one of my favorites for just that. (the food is an added bonus!) The Red Dawn, a blood orange juice and champagne mimosa is divine as is the Famous Roxy Fizz: Gin, St. Germain liquor, fresh orange juice with a dollop of cream. Unreal. Did I mention the food is an added bonus? The bag of HOUSEMADE DOUGHNUT HOLES with THREE dipping sauces!!
If you are in the mood for a full-blown meal the Sourdough Pancakes are out of this world, right now they are being served with seasonal stone fruit compote and Chantilly cream. A truly fantastic place for weekend brunch!
Ink Eats & Drinks
2730 N St
Sacramento, CA 95816-6007
(916) 456-2800
Open Mon-Tue 11:30am-1am; Wed-Fri 11:30am-4am; Sat 11am-4am; Sun 9am-1am
Three Items that should ALWAYS be ordered at your weekend Brunch: the Fried Egg Sliders with American cheese and sausage. Chicken fried steak sandwich with gravy. And last but certainly not least a build-your-own Bloody Mary Bar. And this isn’t just any build your own “BM.” With pickeled asparagus, celery, pickles and a huge selection of olives I suggest ordering the BM as your appetizer. It’s almost a meal in itself! If you aren’t a big fan of the BM’s Ink offers the endless mimosa and $2 Screwdrivers! Yes, please.
Café Bernardo
2726 Capitol Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone: 916-443-1180
Breakfast hours:
Monday – Friday: 7:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday: 8:00 am – 1:00 pm (Limited Lunch menu from 11 to 1)
Sunday: 8:00 am – 2:00 pm (Limited Lunch menu from 11 to 2)
1431 R Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-930-9191
Breakfast Hours
Monday – Friday: 7:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday: 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Sunday: 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
With locations throughout Sacramento and Davis, Café Bernardo is a staple for Brunch. I suggest starting with an in-house made Honey Lemonade… it lingers on the tongue and isn’t too sweet- and it gets your palate ready. Next, a malted Belgian waffle with toasted pecan butter and pure maple syrup. To die for. Tell your Brunch companion to order the Bernardo Breakfast Sandwich so you can share large delicious bites of two eggs, black forest ham, white cheddar cheese and tomatoes… (oh yeah, and it comes with herbed potatoes which are always easy to sneak off your companions plate.
Sugar Plum Vegan
2315 K Street
Sacramento, CA 95816-5012
(916) 706-3302
Hours:
Closed Monday, Tuesday 10am-3pm, Wed-Sat 10am-9pm, Sunday Bottomless Brunch 10am-3pm
To some, the Vegan brunch place may spark ideas of poorly seasoned soy meat or soggy lumps of tofu. Sugar Plum is anything but. Every Sunday, Sugar Plum features a bottomless brunch plate. They will serve as many plates as you want from the brunch menu for $12. Yes, $12. I suggest the sweet potato and avocado panini with poppy aioli. Delicious. The jalapeno cheddar biscuits and the shitake mushroom gravy is another crowd pleaser. With a fine tuned menu like the one at Sugar Plum, you may be considering a vegan lifestyle after a brunch or two.
The Shack
5201 Folsom Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95819-4536
(916) 457-5997
Open Monday 11am-3pm, Tuesday through Friday, 11am-8pm, Brunch Saturday and Sundays, 8am-3pm
If you like to enjoy a nice beer with your brunch, The Shack on Folsom Blvd. should be on the top of your list for this weekend. With over 100 Belgian beers on tap and bottles, Sacramento Magazine has rated The Shack the “Best Place to drink a Belgian Ale.” The Shack has been serving East Sacramento since 1931 and one of their best brunch menu items is the Salmon Benedict, smoked salmon, capers and chives on a savory scone, topped with hollandaise and served with potatoes. Had a little too much to drink on Saturday night? Order the “BBB (Hangover helper)” – Bacon, red onion & jalapeno scramble on a buttermilk biscuit topped with country gravy and served with potatoes & a red beer. All for $8. You just can’t beat it!
The Terrace
2673 El Paseo Lane
Sacramento, CA 95821
(916) 486-1904
Open Tue-Sun 8am-3pm
Sometimes you are in the mood for a savory brunch (at least I am) and if that is the case, let me recommend The Terrace. The Spanakopita is something rarely seen on a brunch menu, which is why I think it was necessary to order it. The spinach and feta filled phyllo dough triangles and lightly baked and served with an amazing feta filled Greek salad. Delicious! If you have room or are in the mood for a sweet dish, The Terrace features banana pancakes: two cakes with pecans, walnuts and caramelized bananas and if that isn’t enough it comes with two eggs and bacon, sausage or ham! The thing I loved most about The Terrace: you can even bring your dog on the patio! Extra points!
Sweetwater Restaurant and Bar
1901 S St
Sacramento, California 95811
(916) 731-8857
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday 9:30am-2:00pm
Sweetwater calls their Sunday Brunch: Sunday Funday. And boy, do they make it a fun day: Bottomless Mimosas for $10. Not only is that a great deal, the food is absolutely amazing. The Shamrock French toast is sure to please. It’s prepared with thick egg bread dipped in Bailey’s Irish Cream, coated with maple syrup and topped off with whipped cream. Saturday brunch patron are offered a unlimited Bloody Mary bar stocked with several hot sauces choices, fresh veggies and olives. Delicious.