This place is always a vibe. Whether you're at the bar or at a table, it's just a classy, yet comfortable experience. I love their happy hour and their Dine Downtown menu for 2026 was fire. We all got the short ribs, fried green beans and the apple dessert and everything was bomb. The drinks are also tasty, on my most recent visit, we all got the berry lemon drop and I was able to swap out the vodka they use (Tito's I think?) with Ketel One for an extra dollar or so. The service is always friendly and I love that it's within walking distance of the arena (it's across the street, on the corner of 4th and L) and other bars. I don't work close by anymore but I look forward to visiting again soon. Thanks! read more

See all

I've finally made it to Foundation as I have been wanting to check them out for years and I always get side tracked. My friends and I decided to try out their dinning Downtown menu which is a $45 3 course menu. All of us ordered the exact same thing. Appetizer we ordered the spicy fried green beans. Main course....Beef short rib with seasonal vegetables and potatoes. I held off on the potatoes. Dessert .... Apple crisp. The spicy green bean is delicious nice and crispy and the ranch I believe is homemade. The beef short ribs is a tender bender, juicy and so flavorful I wanted more it was chefs kiss. The Apple crisp was piping hot so good yet not overly sweet. It was topping with homemade cream. The inside the restaurant is very nice, it's spacious and if you want to dine at the bar is it ample space if you decide not to wait on a table if you don't have a reservation. I did order a cocktail from the bar. I ordered an espresso martini and it was terrible. I sent it back and ordered a lemon drop martini which is super refreshing and tasty. The service was pretty good. Our waitress seemed a little overwhelmed with all the tables she had, but still super friendly and did check un on us the best she could. I would highly recommend checking out Foundation it is a great food experience. :) read more

See all

My first time at Foundation and here's what I think: the food was okay. Service was good. There's a bar and TVs to watch the games. It's dimly lit, good enough for a casual date or get together with a few friends. We did the dine in downtown menu. Spicy green beans-battered then fried. Different than what I am used to, but I really liked the crunch. Clam chowder was good. The chowder wasn't too thick and not too runny. I think it could use more clams, but the chowder tasted good. The braised beef was tender and the mash was buttery. Very rich and savory meal. This was a good hearty meal to enjoy while it was cold out. The salmon however was salty and the potatoes could be a little more crisp. This definitely wasn't what I would reorder. Desserts were good. The warm apple crisp was the best thing. I think it would've tasted better with french vanilla ice cream than whipped cream, but still tasty. read more

See all

Came here on a date for dine downtown and so much yes. Didn't want to be"that person" and be snapping pics lol so just use you imagination. But boy was everything amazing. We both throughly enjoyed our meal from start to finish. 1st Course Both:Baby Spinach Salad 2nd Course Him:Penne Pasta & Grilled Chicken Breast minus broccolini Me:Grilled Salmon Filet We both cleared out plates for the 1st and 2nd course so I'll say it was pretty good. 3rd Course Him:NY Style Cheese Cake Me: Warm Apple Crisp ***Desserts were okay*** I would have liked a bit more sweetness We both had a drink Him:espresso martini he doesn't drink so he said he enjoyed it and it looked perfect Me: glass of red wine can't recall the name but it was delicious It was so lively in the restaurant and I will definitely be coming back for happy hour and definitely another date night. Perfect place for a date or outing with girlfriends or even a solo meal. The server was so great with checking in on us. We were so engaged in conversation we didn't look at the menu for the first 20 min and she was mindful to check on us throughout the night. Overall verdict:10/10 Service-phenomenal. Vibe of the place-stellar Food-so good Date/conversation/ amazing read more

Foundation Restaurant & Bar - Obligatory first date bathroom flick - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

**Came for the Dine Downtown event** Now, to be fair, the food and service were fine. Yelp needs an incremental rating system. I don't like to 'round up'. The overall experience was 3.6/5. Not bad by any means, not stellar, it was cool. Came in on a Thursday night and was seated promptly. Server was fine, the decor was curious, not sure if it is meant to be a sports bar, local bar, tavern, diner or a mix. Food Items: Spicy Fried Green Beans: 3.7/5 - Was fine. Nicely seasoned. Decent portion. New England Clam Chowder: 3.6/5 - Friend said it was fine, wish it was a bit thicker. Braised Beef Short Ribs: 3.6/5 - Friend said it was fine. Short rib was tasty. Potatoes were a bit firmer. They preferred a more smooth mashed potato experience. Grilled Salmon Filet: 4.1/5 - Salmon was cooked very nicely. The dish was heavily sauced, which is a pro/con as it took away from the salmon. Warm Apple Crisp: 3.5/5 - Was fine. More apples, cinnamon and granola. Missed the 'crisp' part of it. And it came with a cream, not ice cream, which was a bit different from the norm. The drinks were fine, average priced. Overall, if you haven't tried them, please do so. Come to your own conclusions. It was fine, service was quick, place was clean. read more

See all

I've been into Foundation just a few times over many years, including for Dine Downtown a long time ago. Most recently, I joined a colleague for lunch. We enjoyed friendly, helpful and quick service. I had the grilled steak salad, he had a burger and we split some garlic fries. I requested some extra blue cheese and was pleasantly surprised to get both blue cheese chunks and dressing, so enjoyed both with my salad as well as for dipping some fries. Overall, a pleasant most recent experience. I would gladly return again. read more

Foundation Restaurant & Bar - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

Went to Foundation Restaurant & Bar today with my coworkers for lunch. The inside was actually pretty nice; chill vibe, clean, and comfortable atmosphere, so first impressions were good. I ordered the fish tacos with fries, while my coworkers went for the flatbread pizza. The tacos were decent in flavor. I'd give the taste a solid 7/10 but the portion of fish inside each taco was honestly disappointing. It looked like they tossed in a tiny nugget of fried fish and called it a day. For the price, it felt a bit sad they actually served that. To make things worse, there was no sauce or salsa, just toppings like pico de gallo, cabbage, and a lime wedge. The lack of sauce really made the tacos feel dry and underwhelming. So overall, I'd rate the tacos 5/10 (great flavor potential, poor execution). On the bright side, the ranch that came with the fries was amazing, easily the highlight of the meal! My coworkers said their flatbread pizza was okay but nothing to write home about. Overall, Foundation has a nice vibe but the food didn't live up to it. The service was pretty good though, they filled up my water several times because they serve their water in a tiny cup. I wouldn't come back here unless forced, definitely room for improvement, especially with portion size and flavor balance. read more

Foundation Restaurant & Bar - Flatbread pizza - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

We were lucky to get in on a Thursday night to do Dine Downtown with last minute reservation. For the starters, we tried the baby spinach salad and New England clam chowder. Salad had candied pecans, cranberries, and good amount of dressing. Chowder has lots of clams, good flavor. For main courses, we tried braised beef short rib and the grilled salmon filet. Short rib had good seasoning. Mashed potatoes could've used more seasoning. Salmon looked overcooked, but it was crispy on the outside, fine on the inside. It was served on crispy Yukon gold potatoes and thinly sliced zucchini/yellow squash. For dessert, we tried both options. My husband preferred the apple crisp. Service was good. Savannah was our waitress. read more

See all

We dropped in to Foundation on a Friday night a little later than normal after seeing a show. It was during Dine Downtown week so we wanted to enjoy their pre fix menu. Located right downtown on a corner, there is street and a parking structure nearby. The interior is contemporary and clean in appearance, with lots of windows, a large bar and a separate room for larger groups or parties. The bar was packed with lots of what appeared to be locals as they all seemed to know each other and they all knew the bartenders and servers. Cocktail prices were quite reasonable. Everyone was friendly throughout the evening. Our server was super nice, but quite honestly either new, or a little off her game. Not sure which applied. For the Dine Downtown event we chose a selection from the pre fix menu so we could get a variety of items between us. Food was just ok for us. Good but nothing special in my opinion. We may come back another time that is not the Dine Downtown menu. read more

See all

Amazing service from the co-owner! Great recommendation. Was debating between the stroganoff or pork loin. But with the apple caramel sauce it was amazing! The pork loin did it. The old fashion was perfect with it. Perfect meal! read more

Great place to go for a few drinks and actually enjoy the food too. Fairly common menu items but executed very well at a reasonable price and good service. read more

I was very excited to try Foundation during the Dine Downtown experience. We did call ahead to place a reservation the day of and were seated fairly quickly after arrival. It was busy and it's not a large restaurant so we were grateful. I found the food to be a hit or miss. Good in some ways and lacking in others. The fried green beans were great and the salad was as good as a simple salad can be. The pasta entrée was on the sweet side for some reason that I did not find pleasant. I did love the salmon and the potatoes and broccolini were cooked perfectly. I would eat that dish again. I found the warm apple crisp dessert to be too sweet and would've loved more crust/crisp with the apple filling and ice cream. I didn't love the sort of jam syrup on top of the cheesecake, but the cheesecake itself was good. I don't know if I would come back here to try more of their dishes based on the dine downtown experience. read more

See all

Came here for the dine downtown menu tonight. I really want to like this place but it just doesn't get it for me. I like the location and a couple times i've been here at parking seems to have not been an issue. The hostess on this occasion, just as the last couple seemed to be very nice and accommodating. I feel that they are trying to do a very good job. Maybe it's just me.But when i'm seated, I would prefer not to be right next to a bunch of other people. Having some space helps. On this night, it seemed like they were sitting table after table in order from front to back. I would have liked to have it maybe every other table? For our starter, we had the baby spinach salad. This was okay.The dressing was a little vinegary but still. I would have liked the dried cranberries to not have been slumped together.... For the entree, we had the short rib. This came bland lacking seasoning in the meat. The sauce seemed to have good seasoning and flavor however, it was inconsistent part of it was seasoned.Well, part of it didn't seem to have any flavor at all. The mashed potato that came with the meal was very liquidy. This lack consistency, almost as if it were out of a box. The carrots that came with it though my dining companion enjoyed them.I thought was undercooked.I prefer my carrots on a softer side. For a dessert, we had the apple crisp, and in New York cheesecake. The applecrisp was okay, seem to have something kind of crunchy or nutty in it? That kind of distracted from the apple and the whipped cream. I would have preferred apple to be more apple tasting.Instead of sweet and the whipped cream to have more consistency, rather than so light. The cheesecake I felt didn't have a lot of cheesecake flavor to it....and my serving seemed small. The service I felt was also awkward. Timing was an opportunity. There were long waits between appetizer and main course and dessert and the final check. Are servers seeing tentative, though, friendly and seem like she really wanted.If I'll lose you to do a good job. The ambience is good.I like the way the place is set up. If the food were better, the service can be overlooked. The service just needs your little fine tuning.And perhaps some training, however, the food needs some work. read more

See all

Although this was not the best rated restaurant, we decided to give it a try as part of the dine Sacramento series we came into the foundation restaurant so excited for a three course meal the appetizer that was pretty good was the green beans deep-fried I liked the taste and texture of them My entrée was the beef short ribs, which unfortunately were far from beef short ribs. I would've expected the short ribs to be soft and flavorful, however there was not much flavor other than the sauce on the side the mashed potatoes were plain . The meat Itself was actually on the dry side - very disappointing The salmon, however, was delightful along with the squash, which had a touch of salt and sweets finally for dessert we had the New York cheesecake, which was actually good and the apple crumble, which honestly was not crumbled at all . There should've been more of a crisp to it read more

See all

So I just had the house salad and a glass of wine. But the salad was so delicious that I needed to write a review. The house salad consists of mixed greens with chicken, tomatoes, and avocado with a raspberry vinaigrette. I was worried about the vinaigrette because they can be too sweet, but not this one. It had a good balance among the sweet, tart, and acidic flavors. And the mixed greens weren't bitter at all! The chicken was moist and anything that already comes with avocado is a plus! The white wine I ordered was also delicious! Despite it being a light meal, it was rather filling. Service was really friendly and accommodating as we were a group of six that didn't make reservations. It was a Tuesday night so there weren't many people around the area anyway. The ambiance has steakhouse vibes with its dark decor, but it's not pretentious. The music they were playing was eclectic, from top 40 to some EDM. I'd like to come back here again to try a heavier entree. The menu has some variety, from burgers to fish tacos to Korean chicken. read more

Foundation Restaurant & Bar - House Salad - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

This Italian Cobb Salad was everything! It had grilled chicken, crisp pepperoni, red onion, tomato, cucumbers, croutons, parmesan, egg pepperoncini & Italian dressing. The best salad ever! The service was wonderful even though I did a to go order I had no complaints. The ambiance is beautiful for night with friends or date night. Classy restaurant make a reservation. I will come back read more

Foundation Restaurant & Bar - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

Been coming here for several years and the food has always been really good, but unfortunately Friday night (last kings game) was a serious let down. I ordered off their special menu. Wife ordered the Foundation burger and fries and I ordered the chili cheese dog. We waited appx 40 mins for our food which came out after nearby tables arrived and ordered after us and theirs arrived before ours. The burger was good, but chili cheese dog ($13) was PATHETIC! Rather than return it right away, I took a couple of bites to see if it tasted better than it looked and it was horrible. Asked to talk to the manager and I explained to her that not only that it tasted old, but that I couldn't believe the kitchen would serve that. The hot dog looked like it was grilled several hrs earlier and had very little chili and hard cheese on a hard bun. It was served with tasteless limp coleslaw. The mgr stated that I should have brought it to there attention when it arrived, but I wanted ti try it before passing judgment. I thought she would have made an adjustment on our bill, but nothing! Again, I've had 40± meals here and this was the worst meal ever and the new owners need to get it together or it will be short-lived. read more

Foundation Restaurant & Bar - Dried up hot dog - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

I met up with family for a last-minute dinner before the Kings game, and I'm so glad we were able to get a reservation--most places around the Golden 1 Center were fully booked, but Foundation came through! The location is tucked away on a corner and easy to miss if you're not looking for it, but once inside, it has a cozy, modern vibe. You walk in and are immediately greeted by the bar and a gallery-style dining space that feels both relaxed and lively. Even though the place was packed, the staff was incredibly attentive and friendly. We were seated right away (despite running a few minutes late), and our server made sure we were taken care of throughout the meal. I ordered the risotto with shrimp and salmon, which was a great gluten-free option--super flavorful and cooked perfectly. My family ordered a variety of dishes: spaghetti and meatballs for the kids, chicken fettuccine, beef skewers, a steak salad, and a chicken sandwich with fries. Everything came out quickly and was well-prepared. No complaints across the table! A special highlight was how kind the staff was to my niece--they brought out a brownie with ice cream to help us celebrate her 7th birthday, which was such a sweet and thoughtful touch. Overall, a wonderful experience. I'd definitely return, maybe next time for a girls' night out. Great location, tasty food, and stellar service! read more

Foundation Restaurant & Bar - Grilled Salmon & Prawn Risotto - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

I, unfortunately, didn't snap any pictures of the restaurant or my dinner. I ordered the braised beef short rib. The beef was great and came with a complimentary sauce. The bed of mashed potatoes the beef was on was also great. They were fluffy and creamy. Nice place for a large group or just you and another person. read more

Awesome local bar with higher end American eats without the big price hike. It's located on the corner of 4th street between J street and Capitol. Great place to grab a bite before or after a movie, pregaming here before King's games is a must as well. Even if it's just lunch with a friend or date, Foundation has never disappointed. I love their burgers and wings here. They have plenty of local and popular beers on tap as well. Full bar so something for everyone. The servers here are always friendly and know what to offer for whatever piques your interest. The crowd here isn't upscale but rather casual and working class. Foundation is in my top choice when I'm in or around DOCO and feeling like getting a quality bite. read more

Foundation Restaurant & Bar - Buffalo wings - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

We didn't have a reservation before our concert on a Saturday night. We ran into Foundation and luckily, they had open seating available for us at the bar. Elias behind the bar was providing great service to all parties. He made the experience extra special by asking another party who they were going to see at Golden1 that night and playing the artist's music throughout the restaurant. read more

Foundation Restaurant & Bar - Center Cut Pork Loin - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

Food and service were good. Good place for lunch. If you are short on time, you can make a reservation ahead of time. read more

See all

Extremely understaffed during an event, which is when they should shine to get repeat business. However, the food was served cold, 2 orders of pasta, and took 15 minutes to get it back. No additional cheese offered and some of the servers trying to help looked like they were customers trying to help get decent food out. Water glasses were tiny and refills were scarce.Overall, it was a bad experience and not worth the time or money..... read more

They seated us first at table by the bar, super noisy and ppl were in our space crowding us, asked to be moved to a different table. So much better, server was very good on his game. Would go back as long as not near bar. Food was good, but need to go back not during Dine Downtown where servings were smaller read more

The husband and I found this place while walking to the game about a week ago. Decided to try it out the other day and was pleasantly surprised!! We were seated quickly without a reservation woo hoo!! It was in high top seats in the bar area but that didn't bother us. We had martinis, tacos and a salmon sandwich. And garlic fries. The tacos shredded meat was in the dry side I like dripping saucy meat in my tacos so not my preference. Salmon very good simple sandwich. And garlic fries melted in our mouths. So over all good time and good food. There are a few more things I'd like to try on the menu so we will be back in another game night. read more

See all

What a great restaurant with a location that means easy parking! Had a business lunch here and it was the perfect choice. The acoustics were great for carrying on a business conversation. We could hear other without shouting. Great job, Foundation. Hard surfaces and echoing acoustics are the bane of my dining experience. You've nailed acoustical control! The food was delicious. My dining partner had the Grilled Chicken & Fettuccine that was generous in sauce and she said it delicious. I had the Pepperoni Flat Bread and it hit the spot taste-wise and was the perfect lunch size. Our server was perfect...attentive but invisible at the same time. Our business conversation wasn't interrupted while he took care of us. Can't wait to come back! read more

Great spot, we've been here a few times. They have a decent happy hour, good burgers and drinks, great for an office team lunch or date night before an event at the golden 1 center next door. read more

Parking is bad because it's downtown Bathroom love it Service 10/10 should say 12/10 because I was able to get some ranch to go on the house Price is reasonable FYI there is a full bar and this place is an amazing place. Definitely coming back. read more

See all

Excellent service, good food, reasonable prices and close to nearby attractions. There is even an area you can reserve for group gatherings.

We came in on a Saturday night before the Shane Gillis show at Golden One. The food was good, the spicy green beans were spectacular, but the reason I'm writing this review is for the service. I wish I had caught the gentleman's name (possibly Cam?) but he was INCREDIBLE. He was slammed when we sat down and he managed to be personable and attentive to every single table. He was a true class act and made sure everyone was taken care of. My husband and I truly appreciate the experience we had with him and will be back because of his service! read more

Stopped in for Xmas party the week before Christmas. The staff were initially friendly and we were quickly seated. Drinks are not good. When I say this, I am underselling as I was deeply unhappy with my drink. My SO was also unhappy with her martini and we chalked it up as a loss. The food was pretty good overall but the staff trying to push us out early despite hitting us with a 22% mandatory tip was not a good look, especially given how much money we spent. read more

Went down and were generally underwhelmed. It's probably a good place to meet for happy hour though. The food was really salty and the entrees weren't brought out all at the same time. The server was nice enough. The decor was clean and felt like a good meeting spot. The salmon was decent but a small portion. The braised short rib was pretty good but the salt levels were all too high. We personally will not be back but I get the appeal if you like to drink. read more

This place is a block away from the Golden 1 Center. We went the night of the Depeche Mode concert and luckily got a spot at the bar before it filled up. Food was great as was the service. On concert nights, you need to make a reservation or hope you get lucky like we did. Would totally go back. read more

Foundation Restaurant & Bar - Western Cowgirl Burger - Now serving a la carte - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

Worst cocktails I have ever had at a restaraunt, tried to return upon receipt and they only discounted 3$. the braised short ribs were okay, but the mashed potatoes were lackluster. read more

The food is so good, but the people and owners are my favorite part! I come here all the time for work events and lunch because it's right down the street from work, but it is my favorite because the food is consistently delicious! Krissy is the best bartender who remembers your drink every time and Matt makes the best daily specials. Definitely recommended, especially pre-game for Kings games! read more

I was leaving work and decided to order a pick up order for me and my wife. I found this restaurant on yelp and the menu items were phenomenal. I ordered the Italian Cobb salad for my wife and I ordered the Asian short rib salad. When I called the staff was very polite and very helpful over the phone. When I came to pick up the food the front desk person was very helpful and polite. My wife loved her salad. She said it was the best salad she has had. My salad was phenomenal. The short ribs were cooked to perfection and very flavorful. The dressing and additional ingredients were the perfect combination for the salad. The ambiance is very customer friendly. A great place to have a nice meal. read more

Foundation Restaurant & Bar - Italian Cobb Salad - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

Our group of 8 friends had an incredible first-time visit to Foundation on a Saturday evening. Seated promptly upon opening, we were pleasantly surprised by the friendly waitress announcing happy hour. On my side of the table, we decided to order a bunch of stuff off the happy hour. For the first round, we got the fish tacos, buffalo wings, fries, the foundation burger, calamari, pesto margarita flat bread, and bacon garlic flat bread. Second round we got the Korean beef skewers and some mozzarella cheese sticks. On the other side of the table, they got the bourbon wings, the impossible burger, and mashed potatoes. Everything was not only delicious but served fresh and hot and everyone enjoyed all the food. The restaurant was clean, and the happy hour pricing was reasonable--$165 for all we ordered, evenly split among us. Situated amidst parking options, it's unfortunate they don't validate. However, the service was great, our waitress, we awesome, and we appreciated the central location. Keep in mind, for large groups, checks aren't split, and a 20% gratuity is automatically added. Overall, a fantastic first experience at Foundation--I'll definitely be back again to try more things! read more

See all

Came here after having a terrible experience at Il Fornaio right up street. Foundation Restaurant and Bar welcomed me in on a cold, wet night and gave me top notch service. Cameron really made me experience terrific with his friendly attentive service. I got in after the dinner rush so I was able to be seated quickly at a high top near the bar. The restaurant clearly does well because it was busy. I ordered the impossible burger which came with lettuce, red onions, pickle, and house sauce + cheese. Burger also came with fries. I'm a vegetarian and was really hungry so I was happy to have this option. My review is more so to highlight the service which was amazing. For a drink I ordered a sidecar and was THRILLED the bartender knew how to make one because literally the pervious restaurant had no idea what to do. The bartender did such a great job I was able to order 3 probably should've stopped at 2 but I was on "vacation" and was walking distance from my hotel. Overall really great place, terrific service, plenty of menu options for. Check it out! Cameron read more

See all

We made reservations and I'm glad we did as every table was full! We were seated by the window and I didn't like the sun in my eyes. They had a sheer shade but it's not enough to fully block the sunlight. We also had a very loud group next to us but that's not the restaurant's fault. This made it difficult to have a conversation and hear each other. I ordered the New York steak and perfect cook to my liking. It comes with mashed potatoes. I wish it came with some sort of vegetable on the side as well. I ordered the berry drop drink. Wasn't a fan of it as it reminded me of an artificial shampoo smell. I would return if I was ever in the area to try the rest of the menu. read more

Foundation Restaurant & Bar - Beef Short Rib Stroganoff Plate - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

What an awesome place for dinner and a drinks. We came here yesterday (Tuesday) and decided to eat at the bar. First off the Alias the bartender/manager is amazing! The food was fabulous as well. I had the skewers with a Caesar salad and the guys got burgers that were to die for. My friend had the tacos and really enjoyed them as well. The ambiance is perfect. If you're in the area this is the place to go. Definitely sit at the bar and enjoy a fantastic meal. read more