Sacramento lunch near Crocker Art Museum

[zinfanatic]

We are venturing up to the art museum from Berkeley and would like to eat at a (good food most important and can be any ethnic or "American") local place for lunch near the Crocker Art Museum. I am sure there is a restaurant in the museum, but we are interested in eating "out".

[PeterL]

How near is near? There isn't too much within short walking distance.

[alanbarnes]

Your nearby options are very limited. You can get a decent (but unremarkable) burger at the Tower Bridge Bistro in the Embassy Suites Hotel, or upscale chain Italian at Il Fornaio. House has its supporters (I am not among them). 4th Street Grille is serviceable. And there are a handful of places in Old Sac such as Rio City Cafe ($$) and The Firehouse ($$$) that serve a decent lunch to tourists and local business types. But there's really nothing to get excited about.

If you're in town on a weekday and are up for a longish (15-minute) walk, your best bet may be La Bonne Soupe. Daniel Pont is a retired French chef who got bored with retirement, so he opened up this tiny storefront where he makes wonderful soups, sandwiches, and salads. But it's a one-man show, and he won't be rushed, so the line tends to be long; that might be a deterrent if you've got "museum feet."

If you're there on a weekend or parking isn't too terrible, the best bet might be to hop in the car. Then you've got plenty of options over on Broadway - New Canton has outstanding dim sum - or in Midtown, where Rubicon has great pub grub and tasty beer, Aioli has a three-course lunch special for $12 as well as a good tapas menu, and The Waterboy serves some of the best California - Mediterranean cuisine around.

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Waterboy Restaurant
2000 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95814

New Canton Restaurant
2523 Broadway, Sacramento, CA 95818

La Bonne Soupe Cafe
920 8th St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Rubicon Brewing Co
2004 Capitol Ave, Sacramento, CA 95811

Fourth Street Grille
400 L St., Sacramento, CA 95814

Rio City Cafe
1110 Front St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Il Fornaio - Sacramento
400 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814

Tower Bridge Bistro - Embassy Suites Hotel Sacramento
100 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814

Firehouse Restaurant
1112 2nd St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Aioli Bodega Espanola
1800 L St, Sacramento, CA 95811

House Restaurant & Bar
555 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814

[c oliver]

Is Aioli Bodega Espanola where we went? If so, I thought it was terrific.

[alanbarnes]

Yep. The tapas were really good. My standard lunch there is the three-course prix fixe. It's the best deal in town.

[Backlund]

The new cafe at the museum is run by the same people who run Mulvaney's B&L, one of the top 5 restaurants in Sacramento. I haven't been there, but I'd give it a try.

[alanbarnes]

Great info! Patrick Mulvaney is one of my favorite chefs in town. Creative, whimsical, and engaged. A museum cafe may not be the setting for him to really show his chops, but it's a safe bet the food will be solid. Certainly worth serious consideration.

[zinfanatic]

Thanks so much you all! We are driving up from Berkeley today October 28. We will most likely try Mulvaney's B&L. Because we are going to the museum first we may call on the fly to make a reservation! It will be fun to try a new place in Sacramento!

[toodie jane]

too late for you zinf, but was just at the Crocker--the 29th--and had a coffee at the cafe, so got to watch the staff in action--they appear to be still getting to know the routines and menu, not too efficient yet, so if you stop there be kind and patient. There are snacks and hot foods available as well as coffee and refrigerated drinks. The cafe seating is a pleasant spot in front of a huge ocean mural.

(I had to laugh--there are hardly any benches w/in the museum, and BOY did I have "museum feet" by the time we were done--about 2 hours).

How was your meal??