Broderick Est. 1893

This week we went to a little roadhouse in West Sacramento called Broderick. Here is a little bit about our experience.

Atmosphere: 

The atmosphere here was a bit dark. The small home like place was dimly lit and a little cramped. There was a very full dining area that was loud and an equally fully bar area that fared the same. A few pictures of Johnny Cash lined the walls as well as a large chalk board but other than that, decorations were sparse.

Service: 

The service was ordinary. The dining room was busy and it looked like only a few people were available so this really isn’t a make or break for them. The staff was nice and attentive, but nothing stood out as above and beyond expectations.

Food: 

Ummmm….where can we start? I know… first piece of important information, Broderick won the people’s choice in the Sacramento Burger Battle, with their Johnny Cash burger, so good for them there. Second piece of important information, we should have ordered the Johnny Cash burger. For our meal we ordered the classic burger with a side of chili cheese fries, the Banh Mi burger with a side of garlic fries and the biscuits and gravy with a side of potatoes. The classic burger, was just that, classic. It was a simple burger with all of the ordinary toppings you would expect; lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. The burger was a little over seasoned and became a little overbearing as the meal went on leaving us unable to actually finish the small burger. The chili cheese fries were most definitely the worst part of the meal, we actually had it taken off of the bill because we could not eat them. The fries by themselves were delicious but then the homemade chili happened. We thought it was just us for a minute when we tasted the very sweet concoction. At first we couldn’t quite place the flavor so we asked the waitress what was in the chili, and she said that it’s nutmeg. She also said that she gets asked that very frequently, hinting that we were not the first to think that the chili was subpar. The Banh Mi burger was good. The toppings were well put together and the burger was cooked nicely. Other than that the burger was not memorable. The garlic fries were the best part of the meal. They were not overpowering with chunks of garlic which was nice and they were fresh making it the star of the meal. The biscuits and gravy were salty. That is really the most I can say about that. The salt masked the flavor of the dish. The eggs that were set on top were dry and fell victim to the salty gravy. The potatoes tasted strictly of rosemary. The whole dish just seemed to be very over seasoned.

Value: 

The burgers were a little overpriced for the size and quality. The classic burger was $10 with a $2 upgrade charge for the chili cheese fries which we had removed. The Banh Mi burger was $13 with a $2 upgrade charge for the garlic fries. The biscuits and gravy were $12 with a $2 charge to add a very small amount of cheese to the eggs and a $3 charge for the side of potatoes. The reason we say that this is high priced is because a majority of the food was sitting on the table when we left.

Overall: 

Want to check out Broderick for yourself?

They have 2 locations:

319 Sixth Street

West Sacramento, CA 95605

and

1820 L Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Stagnaro Bros. Seafood Inc.

We were in beautiful Santa Cruz, Ca this weekend, so we decided to share one of our dining experiences from our trip. This is what we thought of our visit to Stagnaro Bros. :

Atmosphere:

The atmosphere was classy and calming. Our table looked out onto the ocean and provided a peaceful view to accompany the fresh ocean air coming in from the open doors. The sounds were of happy people taking in the scenery and nearby sea lions heading under the dock to relax for the night. Sail boats, paddle boarders and ambitious swimmers were the dining entertainment as they filled the ocean next to us. The décor was simple and clean, probably because, you can’t really beat the waterfront. Definitely made you feel like you can sit and stay awhile.

Service:

The service was decent. We wouldn’t necessarily give them a big high five for this category, but it wasn’t bad. We were seated promptly and our waitress Linda came to greet us shortly after. She was such a sweetheart and it was fun to listen to the stories that she had. Our food and drinks were brought out quickly, then after that, that was about it. We didn’t really see much of anyone until we need to get to go boxes and the check. We sat and waited for a little while before we had to flag our waitress to get some boxes. She then boxed the food for us and that was the last we saw of anyone.

Food:

Our food was fresh and satisfying. The meal began with sourdough bread rolls that were warm and delicious. The butter just melted with ease. The inside was light and fluffy and the outside was crispy; just as great sourdough bread is. We then had the clam chowder. It had large clumps of fresh clams and plenty of potatoes to fill up each bite. The soup base was comparable to chicken and dumplings in taste. We like chicken and dumplings so it was pretty good.  For our entrees we had Giovanni’s famous cioppino and the calamari steak parmesan.  The cioppino was wonderful. It consisted of six fresh fish; crab, shrimp, mussels, clams, calamari, and snapper all tossed in a tomato sauce. The fish came from the Stagnaro market that is directly outside of the front doors and comes from the waters that are right outside of the restaurant.  This is about as fresh as it gets. All of the fish went well together and the sauce was light and very flavorful. The calamari parmesan was a play on the more familiar chicken parmesan. This was a calamari steak breaded in a parmesan based breading and tomato sauce paired with vegetables. The calamari steak also came from the market outside. It was tender and unlike popular belief was not chewy or bland. The portions were large which left quite a bit to take home for later. Not such a bad thing when it was so good the first time.

 

 

 

 

Value: 

This is a nice restaurant located in a prime tourist area so it is a little bit more expensive than your run of the mill seafood place. Giovanni’s famous cioppino came in at $24.95, which is pretty good for the quality and quantity of food given. The calamari steak parmesan came in at $18.95. Both entrees came with clam chowder or salad at no additional cost. We ended up being there during happy hour so we also bought a souvenir logo glass for $3.95.

Overall: 

Want to visit Stagnaro Bros. and try it out for yourself:

59 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Iron Horse

This week we dined at Iron Horse; an upbeat modern tavern in downtown Sacramento that provided a comfortable experience and great food. Here is what we though about Iron Horse:

Atmosphere: 

The restaurant was clean and modern with a very open and airy feel. the tables were well spaced and the large bay windows were open allowing bright light and fresh air to fill the whole place. The tables and bar area were full; but while sitting at our table it felt quiet. We could talk at a comfortable level without feeling like we were being to loud or that anyone else was. There were about 3 birthday celebrations going on while we were having lunch and there was plenty of room in the dining area to accommodate the groups while still maintaining an enjoyable dining experience for everyone around.

Service: 

We are going to have to give them a gold star for service, they hands down take the cake in this category, because to be honest I was kind of a pain in the butt while we were there. I wanted to change my order after I had already placed it and our waitress did it with a smile and without hesitation; and all of our food still came out at the same time and piping hot. I also ordered dessert and right before it came I told her I meant to order two and she was more than happy to get us another one even though at this point she had re-done the check 3 times. We were seated promptly our food came out quickly and everyone not just our waitress was very attentive and made sure that we had everything we needed.

Food: 

We started our meal with the cheesy bread and the sweet and spicy shrimp. The cheesy bread was just that…cheesy and in our book that is the best it can be, it was a nice size loaf with cheese sauce, and added bonus there was bacon on top. The sweet and spicy shrimp were probably the best part of the entire meal. They were lightly breaded with a house made honey mayonnaise and a house made sriracha mayonnaise on top. The flavors were well balanced and the portion was just right. For our entrees we had the shrimp and lobster roll, the lobster paella and the fish and chips. Where to even start with the main courses….well first…they were all delicious. The shrimp and lobster roll was made up of a flavorful shrimp and lobster salad loaded into a soft, buttery, light roll and served with house made french fries. The lobster paella was a delicious blend of rice, shrimp, mussels, andouille sausage and lobster tails. They did not skimp on any of the meat there was definitely plenty to have with every bite, which is important because we have all had meals where it is un-proportionate and then we leave sad. The fish and chips consisted  of 2 pieces of lightly breaded fish and house made chips. The fish was moist but not soggy and the chips were thin and crispy and added the perfect amount of crunch to the plate. For dessert we had the red velvet hoho’s. A red velvet cake with a cream cheese filling and a chocolate coating served with a raspberry compote sauce. The chocolate was very rich and the filling was a little thin, but the raspberry sauce had an excellent flavor and paired really well with the cake.

 

Value: 

It was a little pricey. Not bad enough to not come back, but maybe not an eat at all the time place. The appetizers were pretty typical price with the cheesy bread at $7.50 and the sweet and spicy shrimp at $9.95. With the portion for the appetizers you could probably make this into a light lunch for two with drinks and come out with a happy belly and a happy wallet. The entrees were a bit on the expensive side. The shrimp and lobster roll was $17.95, the lobster paella was $23.95 and the fish and chips were $15.95. The quality was definitely there so it gives a little leeway for the prices, because we will pay them again. The desert was a decent price for two fair size pieces of cake at $7.50. Probably wont order dessert every time so its a bit of a splurge.

Overall we rate Iron Horse: 

Try Iron Horse for yourself

1800 15th st

Suite B

Sacramento, Ca. 95811

Relish Burger Bar

On Sunday afternoon we went to Relish Burger Bar in El Dorado Hills. As soon as we walked in we noticed it was a festive eatery, with Giants memorabilia and liquor signs lining the walls in a modern and clean way. We went at lunch time and in the middle of Giants game so it was loud and energetic. This is definitely a place to go for a good time with friends. Here is our take on Relish Burger Bar:

Atmosphere: 

The modern sports bar feel is uplifting and welcoming. Patrons packed the bar area and families occupied tables in the dining area. The environment was loud, but festive. While sitting in the restaurant during a popular sports event, a deep conversation should not be at the top of your priority list.

Service:

The service was top notch . We were greeted at the door and seated quickly. Our server brought our drinks quickly, and we never had to ask for a refill. We had our appetizers out shortly after with a fair amount of time passing before we got our main dishes . Everyone was polite and friendly. At one point when I went to open the door to the bathroom to help my mom in, who is in a wheelchair, I couldn’t quite get the door open and push her in at the same time; one of the staff members held the door open for us so that I could push her in. When we were leaving the bathroom a different staff member held the door open so that we could leave. It is little things like that, that really set a place apart from others.

Food:

We started our meal with the Chilled Shrimp Cocktail and the Nachos. The shrimp cocktail had 5 large shrimp displayed in a martini glass with horseradish cocktail sauce. The sauce was tangy and the shrimp were large, they were a perfect portion for an appetizer. The nachos were large and they did not skimp on any of the toppings. The portion was a bit big for an appetizer but still very satisfying. For our main dish we each had a burger called “The Stuffy,” one was paired with garlic fries and one with chili cheese fries.  The burger was stuffed with cheese with all of the usual toppings: lettuce, tomatoe, pickles, onions and a house made burger sauce. The burger was well cooked but a little bland. When we have had a stuffed cheeseburger it has really been stuffed to the point of oozing when you bite into it, this one seemed a little light on the cheese. The toppings and the burger sauce were nice, the sauce had a good flavor and really added to the burger, and the produce was fresh and crisp. The fries that the burgers came with left a lot to be desired. They seemed like pre-made frozen french fries with toppings. We ordered garlic fries, and they were smothered with garlic, which was a nice surprise; and chili cheese fries, those came with a spoon-full of bland chili and some cheese on top. Overall the food was good, they have branded themselves as a burger bar, but the appetizers really stole the show.

Value:

The prices were as expected for a high end burger bar in El Dorado Hills. The appetizers were a little pricey with the shrimp cocktail at $9.50 and the nachos at $11.95, but they were well worth it and we will definitely get them again. Now on a side note, if you are going to watch a game with friends and you want some nachos and beer to share, you really can’t beat that price. The burgers were $10.95, not bad, but a little disappointing when it’s not quite what was expected.

Overall we rate the Relish Burger Bar: 

Go experience Relish Burger Bar for your self

1000 White Rock Road

El Dorado Hills, CA 95762