A gastropub called Kupros Bistro is expected to open next month in a 100-year-old Midtown house that underwent a costly renovation. Owners Stephen and Sharon Tokuhama are opening a restaurant and bar after nearly rebuilding the formerly purple house that held a costume shop, Cheap Thrills, for 40 years at 1217 21st St. The remodel cost more than $750,000 because the building went through a structural retrofit, restoration and a restaurant buildout. The business got its liquor license from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Tuesday. Building inspections are complete. The couple hopes to open Saturday, Aug. 14, once final health and fire inspections are held, which may

Love is in the air but more importantly, so is butter. Although Valentine's Day is fast approaching, don't worry. There is still time to book a romantic evening. Restaurants all over town have special menus to mark the occasion. Below are menu samplings from several local restaurants: Paragary's, 1408 28th St., and Cosmo Cafe, 1000 K St., are having a special weekend prix fixe menu in honor of Valentine's Day. Paragay's menu will include an appetizer, entree and dessert. Entree choices are petrale sole or beef short ribs braised in red wine. Cosmo also will offer three courses, with an entree choice of roasted lamb loin chop or grilled Hawaiian swordfish. After your meal at Cosmo, keep t

Mason's New American Restaurant, the high dining that gave Downtown Sacramento a "big city" feel, will be closing its doors Feb. 15 to renovate and reopen as Cafeteria 15L. Co-owner of Mason's, Mason Wong, said that Cafeteria 15L will feature American comfort cuisine, what he sees as the next big trend in the food industry. Public relations manager Jennifer Bulotti said Wong has watched the development of the comfort food trend as it has grown in cities like San Francisco, New York, Portland and many others. "He’s seen this as a trend that appeals to a lot of people, and the draw toward comfort food dining is working in other similar cities," Bulotti said. The decision to transform Mas