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 B... colleen Ben Ilfeld 2009-07-23T05:35:41Z 2009-07-23T05:35:41Z

Good plug. I looked it up and it looks awesome!

Ben Ilfeld 2009-07-23T05:35:41Z jason 2009-07-23T00:30:38Z 2009-07-23T00:30:38Z

is it me, or did sacramento magazine get punked by its reader(s)? also, i'm plugging scott's burger shack.

jason 2009-07-23T00:30:38Z Ben Ilfeld 2009-07-22T23:27:18Z 2009-07-22T23:27:18Z

La Fiesta FTW!

Ben Ilfeld 2009-07-22T23:27:18Z Jenn Walker 2009-07-22T05:27:58Z 2009-07-22T05:27:58Z

I forgot about Butch-n-Nellies!!! They get 1st vote for coffee with best service! Incredibly nice people there.

Jenn Walker 2009-07-22T05:27:58Z SweetErina71 2009-07-22T05:25:45Z 2009-07-22T05:25:45Z

Breakfast: Jim-Denny's!! I can't believe they keep getting left off these lists for their best meal of the day. I don't eat beef, so I can't praise their burgers. They do however make a fabulous veggie burger. 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!

SweetErina71 2009-07-22T05:25:45Z TCSP 2009-07-22T05:09:05Z 2009-07-22T05:09:05Z

If this is off topic I apologize, but the story reminded me of this. If you want to make a statement about the economy buy from local small businesses whenever you can. Generally speaking you will get better quality and service. Thanks for this article.

TCSP 2009-07-22T05:09:05Z Patrick J. 2009-07-22T04:50:53Z 2009-07-22T04:50:53Z

Coffee - (1) The new Temple(2) Coffee Works (3) Chocolate Fish - 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.)

Patrick J. 2009-07-22T04:50:53Z William Burg 2009-07-22T00:06:28Z 2009-07-22T00:06:28Z

Pieces is a real neighborhood institution...as is the methadone clinic. 21st and Capitol is richly steeped in Midtown character. 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.

William Burg 2009-07-22T00:06:28Z RichardRich 2009-07-21T23:05:35Z 2009-07-21T23:05:35Z

For coffee it was Old Soul back when you could bring your dog and girlfriend and leave two bucks in the jar. 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.

RichardRich 2009-07-21T23:05:35Z William Burg 2009-07-21T21:14:37Z 2009-07-21T21:14:37Z

Burrito: Jalapeno's, Los Jarritos, Vallejo's (14th & R location.) 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.

William Burg 2009-07-21T21:14:37Z Nicholas Walsh 2009-07-21T21:08:14Z 2009-07-21T21:08:14Z

Coffee- Tupelo/Naked Butch and Nelles Chocolate Fish Burgers- Jim Dennys Tuli Bistro sliders Burgers and Brew

Nicholas Walsh 2009-07-21T21:08:14Z Colleen Belcher 2009-07-21T19:50:56Z 2009-07-21T19:50:56Z

Is it because the foam gets on your lip? Whenever I order an iced chai from Naked, I have to get a straw or else know that my face will be covered in cinnamon :)

Colleen Belcher 2009-07-21T19:50:56Z Colleen Belcher 2009-07-21T19:49:13Z 2009-07-21T19:49:13Z

Have you been to any of their live music nights?

Colleen Belcher 2009-07-21T19:49:13Z Colleen Belcher 2009-07-21T19:48:22Z 2009-07-21T19:48:22Z

Have you checked out the new Temple yet? Where is J's Cafe?

Colleen Belcher 2009-07-21T19:48:22Z Colleen Belcher 2009-07-21T19:47:43Z 2009-07-21T19:47:43Z

I've never been to Azul, but I've been wanting to try it.

Colleen Belcher 2009-07-21T19:47:43Z Lisa Martinez 2009-07-21T19:28:25Z 2009-07-21T19:28:25Z

My personal faves on The Grid: 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

Lisa Martinez 2009-07-21T19:28:25Z Brian Geremia 2009-07-21T18:09:43Z 2009-07-21T18:09:43Z

Burrito - Azul & Tres Hermanas Pizza - Tuli & Trattoria Bohemia Coffee - Naked Lounge

Brian Geremia 2009-07-21T18:09:43Z Tim White 2009-07-21T18:01:03Z 2009-07-21T18:01:03Z

I'm pretty new to the Midtown, but as far as coffee, I'd say 1. Naked Lounge 2. Old Soul 3. Peets. Haven't had too many burritos yet, but I'd have to plug Tres Hermanas. Great mexican food, in general.

Tim White 2009-07-21T18:01:03Z Jenn Walker 2009-07-21T17:57:20Z 2009-07-21T17:57:20Z

I'm a vegetarian borderline vegan so these are kind of difficult categories for me to consider ... 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.

Jenn Walker 2009-07-21T17:57:20Z teganaubrie 2009-07-21T17:00:52Z 2009-07-21T17:00:52Z

I have to say the foam swirls are more annoying to me than charming. I mean really, I'd just like my coffee drink please. I whole-heartedly agree though, chains should be excluded, or maybe just be allowed honorable mention.

teganaubrie 2009-07-21T17:00:52Z Sarah 2009-07-21T15:11:00Z 2009-07-21T15:11:00Z

For coffee, it's Javalounge, no question. Not only are they stumbling distance from my house, but the coffee's great, and the couches are comfortable. Plus they make a mean kid-sized chocolate milk. And the pizza's pretty good, too!

Sarah 2009-07-21T15:11:00Z