Hot Italian Birthdays

1627 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 444-3000

Well damn. We went out of town for our anniversary and of course, the drunks doubled up their birthday game and celebrated two drunks with a huge group of peeps. I'm sure they had a evening full of pizza, beer, wine and laughs. I'm sad I missed it.

PS: I did get a text asking if their house red was good. I'm glad they did because the last time it was very sweet. I guided her to house prosecco. I love getting booze tip texts!

Tank House BBQ & Bar

1925 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 431-7199

This place has some of the best barbecue in Sacramento. They slow roast their meats over fire and flame to make some very delicious brisket, ribs and more. Their greens are tasty but not overcooked and who doesn't love tater tots! It's a great place to feed your inner carnivore.

Distillery & Zelda's

2107 L Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 443-8815

We'll we missed the kitchen at the Distillery but the drinks are strong and there is plenty of space. A phone order and a short walk brought us some Zelda's pizza to go along with our gin tonics and beers. Low key night was perfect for us to share stories about our trip last year at this time. Also, many jokes about the misspelled "bartener". Are there three of them?

Revolution Wine

2831 S Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 444-7711

Can we talk about the deal that is their Thursday night burger for $15 that comes with a glass of red wine? Steal of a deal and that burger was delicious! We also go a side order of chips and those were worth every penny. Nice a crisp, extra potato-y, nice level of salt - great paring with some wine. We haven't been here for so long and I can't remember why because it is sold.

Magpie Cafe

1601 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 452-7594

Magpie started their Thursday night fried chicken dinner and we had to check it out. $80 might sound like a lot for fried chicken, but we ordered two orders for 10 people and it was plenty. It came with biscuits, greens, beans, mashed potatoes - all the fixings!

The Federalist Public House

2009 Matsui Alley
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 661-6134

We love this place. It's so easy with pay-at-the-register pizza and beer, lovely space and just a great midtown spot. They had a great selection of beer for Beer Week, we celebrated our Emily and all tried on Jenny's glasses, which looked great on everyone!

Hot Italian - Ben's Birthday

1627 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 444-3000

Ben has a soft spot for great pizza, a giant round table and more than a dozen drunks for his birthday and Hot Italian hits the spot. All of the 18 drunks ate copious amounts of pizza and drank to the health of the birthday boy.

Orchid Thai

1609 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 476-3681

Orchid Thai is one of the newer places on the P/Q & 16th block. Being a neighbor to Magpie, we sometimes can't pry ourselves out of the Magpie bar, but we managed it this week! With a full bar and cocktails, it's a nice addition to the area. They event have some fun things like fried rice for their weekend breakfasts. We'll have to come back and try it!

Sandra Dee's

601 15th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 448-6375

With the Drinky Christmas Fundue party on the horizon in just two days, we had the usual small crowd which works just fine with some good old fashion southern food. Sandra Dee's always serves up the best fried chicken in town and pair that with some tri-tip and their half & half barbecue sauce and it's just about perfect. Oh, and the sides! It's really hard to choose just two.

Cafe Marika, Birth of Brian

2011 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 442-0405

Brian has two birthday traditions. 1) pick good food. 2) ask for toys then donate them. So this year, we return to maybe the smallest restaurant in Sacramento - Cafe Marika. It's so small that if you come in, the two owners and only people that work there, may shake their heads which means "none for you". We were a large group of eight so they said no to quite  few people that night.

We liked that they choose a size and style of beer glass for each person and that one whole table got soup while the other table choose salad. The food is here stick-to-your ribs delicious Hungarian comfort food. Nothing like it anywhere else and totally hits the spot on a cold winter night.

And to top off the night we watched as Brian opened all his wonderful gifts which were donated to kids in need the next day. Well done Brian!

Broderick Midtown

1820 L Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 469-9720

We've been out to the original Broderick location and thought it was about time to try out there new Midtown location. While it lacks the personality of the West Sac location, the menu still sports all our favorites like the Banh Mi fries and the Johnny Cash burger there are also so fun new options like booze milkshakes. Really good booze milkshakes!

Basically, get your fix of all the decadent Broderick food you know and love while staying on the grid.

Hot Italian & Magpie Cafe

Hot Italian 1627 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 444-3000

Magpie Cafe 1601 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 452-7594

Sliced was a week long celebration of all things pizza so we ended up at Hot Italian for a night of pizza pies, beer, wine and a really good showing of the next generation of Drunks for a total of 14 people! They changed up the menu for the fall with some fun new additions so check them out while you can.

And as a dessert and appertif follow up, we wandered a few doors down to Magpie for a nightcap and some desserts. The Port of Rye was a fabulous little cocktail and I have to say their cocktail game is strong! Ice cream sandwiches, chocolate mousse and a large selection of cookies were consumed.

Damn fine night.

Kasbah Lounge

2115 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 442-4353

Why have we not been here before?! Their happy hour is full of good deals and delicious snacks and even though you can purchase food from Tapas next door, they have a strong menu of their very own. With a full bar, comfy and lush seating (as well as tables for those not included to lounging), it is a wonderful place to hangout with friends for a long conversation.

The hummus is outstanding and their shwarma is wonderful. We want to go back to try all the foods!

Bombay Bar & Grill

1315 21st Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 441-7100

This is our favorite Indian restaurant on the grid. the staff and family who own it are always gracious and nice, their menu is more diverse than most and their food is richly spiced and each dish is unique. Add in a full bar and this place is a great addition to midtown.

Hit this place up, get then thali and enjoy!

Goldfield Trading Post

1630 J Street
Sacramento, California 95814
(916) 476-5076

With a western theme, a place like this wouldn't normally speak to us but after more than one person said the food was great and the cocktails were solid, we had to go.

It didn't disappoint. The three long rooms that made up Hamburger Mary's remain the same with the bar int the front but now the second room has a stage and the third is largely empty with a cornhole setup and a couple of video games.

Food was easy to order and very good. The fried mushrooms were downright delicious. Basically, if you're looking for a some affordable, good food and a solid beverage without much fuss, this is your place.

KRU Restaurant

2516 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 551-1559

Man, we haven't been here for a while. It's on the pricey side but it might be the best thing you ever put in your mouth. We used the excuse of a long-lost Spanish friend visiting for choosing Kru but then she couldn't make it and well, we went there anyway.

Eat whatever they tell you to eat. Best piece of $7 farmed, fatty tuna I have ever eaten. The salmon was freakishly good as well. Pretty much the food will rock your world so suck it up and pay them. Shut up and take my money!!

Luscious pork belly ramen

Grilled lemon with togarashi for the ika geso.

Gorgeous, sexy fish.

The Federalist Public House

2009 Matsui Alley
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 661-6134

The #Spaindinavia crew is back so we hit up the Federalist in midtown Sacramento for a collection of pizza's beer and salad. The pizza is fantastic! This time the kale salad was a little bit off, the pieces were so large it was hard to chew. The beer selection as always has a nice array from local places but you do have to ask what they all are which might stop people from trying them all. Overall, I will forgive the salad, because really...you don't win friends with salad.

I love the collection of faces being made here.

Drunks are 40!

Mulvaney's B&L
1215 19th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 441-6022

Five of our favorite drunks turned 40 this year and since they all fall within a couple of months we decided to have a fancy ass dinner. Mulvaney's B&L it is! We had 10 out in the patio and 8 inside the snug room which works just fine for us since we're social and like to move around. Our servers Sarah Jean and Ginger were just fabulous and Dan the bartender took great care of us as usual. Chef stopped by and thanked us for coming on not a Thursday. Overall, it was a fabulous night with fabulous people, food and drinks with the traditional Mulvaney's shot of Red Breast for everyone to top off the night.

Foie gras. Buttery.

Pea tendrils and asparagus.

Housemade smoked salmon.

Ribeye. So freaking good.

Handmade pasta with morels

And because the Patron Saint of the Thursday Drunks was our dinner fairy (yeah, it IS amazing!), we sent her a ridiculously large floral arrangement and champagne.

Capital Dime

1801 L St #50
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 443-1010

Finally checked this place out. They do have some great fries - rustic, nice toothiness, salt and pepper. It's a great option for a happy hour that's for sure.

The food is really good. Fried green tomato BLT, giant hamburgers, elotes. So many good options. The full bar, wine and local beers round it out nicely. They have an odd set up of bar downstairs and upstairs dining room/loft but surprisingly they don't forget you up there. Service was great!

We would highly recommend this place for a happy hour spot with a great open window view of midtown and a fun vibe. Come for the happy hour, stay for the dinner.

Federalist Public House

2009 N Street (via Matsui Alley)
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 661-6134

Starting off our 12th year with a new place! The Federalist recently opened a swanky set of shipping containers. It has a refined industrial feel to with a beer hall heart. Long community tables are housed in an open sided set of containers with a bocce lane as well. The most charming part is that you enter through an alley behind the Waterboy.

They've really stepped up the pub grub that you would expect with wood fired pizza much like Masullo (which makes sense since their chef spent considerable time learning Robert Masullo's ways). I would say the food is a bit pricey for what you would expect to find here, but that's because it's great! And NOT what you would expect to find here.

They have an array of local taps: Bike Dog, Track 7, Yolo Brewing, New Helvetia, Rustaller. They do have some wines as well in case you're not feeling the beer but you'll pay the price for those.

Overall, this is a really great addition for the area and a nice new mix of beer garden/great food. This one is a keeper - check them out!