Tag Cloud
It's that time of year again - time for "Best Restaurants," brought to you by Sacramento Magazine.
After reading the readers' picks for each category, it made me wonder whether the results would be different for readers of The Sacramento Press. Our focus has been primarily on events and coverage of things in the Grid, whereas Sacramento Magazine covers a larger demographic including the suburbs.
There were four categories that stood out to me in Sacramento Magazine's Best Restaurants: Best Burrito, Best Pizza, Best Burger and Best Coffeehouse.
I live in the Grid and therefore have my own biases about restaurants that live in Downtown and Midtown. I prefer restaurants in this area to those found in the outlying areas. It would be interesting to see the results had it been limited to only restaurants in the Grid.
Best Burrito went to Chipotle, with Dos Coyotes coming in second and Ernesto's coming in third. Both Chipotle and Dos Coyotes are chains. The Grid has very few chain restaurants, and I wonder if the presence of chains amidst family-owned and unique Sacramento restaurants makes a difference in reader choice. Does the quality speak for itself?
Best Pizza went to Round Table. Granted, Chicago Fire and Zelda's picked up second and third place, but I wonder how a delivery-based chain is even allowed in the running. Did Hot Italian or Luigi's or Giovanni's make it in the top five?
For the category of Best Burger, there are quite a few restaurants that come to mind that did not make the top three. Jim Denny's, Whitey Jolly Cones and Nationwide Freezer Meats were all missing from page 115 for best burger. In-N-Out, however, took first place, the Squeeze Inn (deserving, in my opinion, one of the top three) made second and McDonald's placed third.
For Best Coffeehouses, Starbucks was voted first place, Peet's took second and It's a Grind made third. When I think of good coffeehouses, I think of the unique havens in the Grid. Temple comes to mind. So does Weatherstone and Naked Lounge. If I want ambiance and a coffee or tea that comes in a mug that was washed and that is reusable, I do not go to Starbucks. If I want free wi-fi that does not require a cellular account, I cannot go to Starbucks. If I want a swirled foam design on my latte, I will not go to a mass chain coffeehouse.
My coffee choices come from currently living in the Grid, although I did grow up in the suburbs.
After reading this list, I looked at Sacramento Magazine's website. At the bottom, it reads "Find the best that Sacramento, California has to offer at Sacramento Magazine Online. With fantastic features such as a restaurant guide, an entertainment and events calendar and monthly recipes, you’ll find everything you need to know about exciting Sacramento, California."
Now, I ask you - readers of The Sacramento Press - if you were to vote on Best Restaurants for The Sacramento Press (in the Grid), which ones would make your top three for best burrito, pizza, burger and coffeehouse?
But I wonder if Willie's, Suzie's or Hamburger Patties are up there for best burger? I'm sure people will scream Jim Denny's, I've heard their burgers are amazing.
I think Centro and Tres Hermanas make really good burritos if I remember correctly.
The last time I had a memorably good slice of pizza it was from Zelda's. I know a lot of people rave about Chicago Fire, too, and Tuli Bistro, I think? ...
My coffee vote goes to Old Soul or Temple.
Pizza - Tuli & Trattoria Bohemia
Coffee - Naked Lounge
Coffee - (1) Temple, (2) Naked Lounge, (3) Weatherstones
Pizza - (1) Chicago Fire (2) Hot Italian (3) Luigi's
Burgers - in no particular order Burgers & Brew, J's Cafe, Jim Denny's
Tupelo/Naked
Butch and Nelles
Chocolate Fish
Burgers-
Jim Dennys
Tuli Bistro sliders
Burgers and Brew
Pizza: Zelda's, Luigi's, Chicago Fire.
Coffee: Temple, Naked Lounge, Coffee Garden.
Burger: Jim-Denny's, Nationwide, Broiler (they do a very, very good burger.)
There are plenty of great non-chain places in the suburbs to choose from, so it's not even necessarily a suburbs/grid thing. People select chains because they are popular, and they assume "local" means "a business in my neighborhood" rather than "a locally based business." Any time a "reader's choice" survey is done, chains will feature heavily--unless the editorial staff deliberately disqualify chain restaurants. Sometimes they will have an "editor's pick" with a write-up and briefly list the "reader picks" of the top three chain restaurants.
For burritos, actually any mexican-like grub...Fiesta Taqueria where you can't beat the service, the music or the soccer tv.
For burgers, 58 Degrees if its quality you're looking for, or Jim Denny's or Squeeze in (outtagridexperience) for cholesterol maximus.
For pizza it's Slice by the methadone clinic and head shop. Peperoni with extra garlic and don't even think about talking to me till tomorrow. I know I get the name wrong so the locators are necessary.
La Fiesta does have amazingly fast service. Usually I barely have time to grab a basket of chips before the order is on my table.
Pizza - (1) Gonna break the mold here and Nominate Uncle Vitos for best Slice. 2. Pieces has been around for ever so what are you going to do. 3. eh
Burgers - 1. Squeeze IN 2. Nationwide 3. Burgers and Brew is quite good and somehow feels healthier than the aforementioned places. This is no doubt a folly.
Burrito - 1. The grid is a joke.(La fiesta disappoints me) Head to West or South Sac. (Or if you live there, just stay and eat the really good Mexican food.)
Tupelo/Naked for coffee... The Kerouac is divine!! But Javalounge has the best overall package... Great coffee, friendly staff, yummy sandwiches and live music.
Azul has great bean burritos. Centro has THE best guacamole!
also, i'm plugging scott's burger shack.