Good to see this older article’s restaurants come to fruition. It lists restaurants, mainly in Midtown, that were coming on the scene in 2015.
I’ve been to most of them …. here’s some commentary:
#1 – Empress Tavern – If you didn’t know, this is the meat eaters version of MOTHER (a wonderful restaurant that serves no meat). Or, at least the same owners, I’ve been told. Killer, coved brick walls and ceilings that make you feel like you’re sitting in a speak-easy of some sort, except they have LED lights and mirrors (no windows) that brighten the place up. I took my wife there on a special date – my fault for not confirming the reservation. I made the rezo on an answering machine, um, I mean voice mail. Do people still have answering machines? “Wait honey, rewind the tape and play it back to me.” We arrive and they don’t have my name on THE LIST. The place is fairly empty on a Tuesday night at 6:00pm, but they tell me that everything is booked for a later party, blah, blah, blah. We sat in the bar seating area, aka, people-that-didn’t-make-reservations-punishment place. Okay, I exaggerate. It was still cool a joint and delicious food, but the initial impression soured my experience. I will go back a 2nd time. We just ate a bunch of appetizers – loved the brussel sprouts
#2 – Hawks Provisions and Public House – I must try this place. Darling, if you are reading this, put it on our next date night, please.
#3 – Braisserie Capitale – never heard of it – any good? anyone?
#5 – Fish Face – Heard it was delicious! Out of sight, out of mind. Kru is legit and one of our go-to’s when wanting to see a sushi chief boggle your mind with his fluidity. Billy’s like the high-end, night club DJ of sushi, with the sensibilities of Rembrandt. He does have a hand washing fetish though (I love you Billy) – but you want this when it comes to
fresh fish – right! Just saw this today while grabbing a Peets coffee (think this may be #6 on the list). Seems like everything Billy Nho touches turns to gold. Is it just me, or is he blowing the lid off this town?!
#7 – Bottles and Barrow – Trendy concept. Maybe I’m just jealous of guys who actually can style their hair, or have hair?
#8 – Iron Tavern – It’s kind of like a modern day TGI Fridays with decent beer and really good food. I was surprised, and kind of wanted to not like it, but I actually do. The poke nachos are delicious… and my wife got this bloody Mary that was more like a meal than a drink. It had a strip of bacon in it for god sakes! Another trendy thing, which I like… if only I liked tomato juice.
#10 – B-Side Bar – Great local bar with a boom box frontage – yeah, it looks like an old school radio like I had in the 5th grade. Put it on your shoulder and turn it up. B-side has records in the window, taking it to a whole … nuther… level!
#11 – Coin Op – Ah yes, then there was a bar with old video games. I actually went there and had an informal Donkey Kong battle with a few guys – none of us got very far, but it brought back some memories, of me spending a zillion quarters on this game when I was a kid. Very good selection of brews and tasty pizza too.
#13 – Chandos – … nuff said. Actually I’m going to say something that may be controversial. I like Chandos, but I don’t love Chandos, like everyone else. There are better tacos out there. There, I said it.
#15 – Track 7 Natomas – The only reason I go to Natomas – to sell a house, or go with buyers to show a house, or visit my homie Earl (shout out to 8 Track Masacre – and who doesn’t love a rockin’ 80’s cover band!). Curtis Park Track 7 is my hood.
#16 – Magpie – I’m a big fan. Been there a bunch of times and have only good things to say about it. Besides, my wife loves it… men, you need to tune in to what your spouse likes, and do that – whatever it is, even if you don’t like it. Just so happens, I really like Magpie. Yeah, yeah – it’s hipster-ville at it’s finest. The people watching is great fun. I think the hostess had on a plaid 70’s dress which made me feel like I was at a dress up, decades party. I didn’t mind it at all.
#17 – The Barn in West Sac. – Still being built out – this place has some fantastic architecture flow going on, and I can’t wait until it’s done. Should be a great hang spot if they do it right.
#20 – (the new location) Shoki Ramen House – Just went there a few weeks ago, at the old Trails Restaurant on 21st, near Broadway – only 4 block from my house, which the old one was 2 blocks away (on 24th st and 2nd Ave.) – Noodles to Thai for is now in that location, which you need to try – I liked it way better than Shoki. Maybe their Ramen is just not my thing. Their menu mainly consists of a build-a-bowl of Ramen that is a little too much decision making, and gets expensive. A dollar more for green onions – com’on! I’ll pay a dollar more for an egg, but not onions. I just ended up getting a standard bowl and it was okay. Just okay. If you like Japanese soup, you’ll probably love it like everyone else. I actually like my friend Dennis’ ramen up at Kansai – great sushi too (Dennis – glad you started hitting up Jiu Jitsu. You’ll be submitting me before you know it… well, actually it’ll take a long time, but maybe you can tap out Nate – ha ha ha).
What’s your take on any of these haunts?
Cheers,
Keith Klassen, Real Estate Broker
916.595.7900
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Next things we knew the bar tender served us two complimentary gimlets with those two gins, to compare and contrast! When has that happened to you? We love the steak tar-tare, as well as the clams and fries. This time we also tried the special, which consisted of thick pasta noodles and foraged mushrooms from some local dude that picks them after it rains and sells them to local eateries. I know, sounds kind of sketchy… we had to try it. The mushrooms were like eating a steak… translation = delish!
I was once a server too. The bar tender was way too cool to be bothered by my questions, but still managed to make me a 
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