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    Helic International Bistro

    4.6 (158 reviews)
    ModerateItalian, American, French
    Open 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Order Helic International Bistro Takeout or Delivery

    Helic International Bistro Photos

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    HELIC INTERNATIONAL BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Helic International Bistro

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    Another view inside sports on the TVs over the bar
    Julieanne H.

    I really enjoyed my visit to Helic Int'l Bistro which is open for breakfast and lunch. The place was kind of empty on a Tuesday at 2 PM when I showed up. It is spacious and cute and has outdoor dining area . A fabulous place for an intimate or a large party brunch. I had researched a place to get a steak sandwich nearby and this place popped up. I had never heard of it even though I'm in the area for lunch a couple times a month. They have an extensive breakfast and lunch menu, but there wasn't exactly a steak sandwich. There was a Philly steak sandwich and then there was a Ny steak and egg breakfast so I asked if I could have NY steak that they serve for breakfast on a hoagie roll as a steak sandwich and they were happy to accommodate me. The steak sandwich was lovely. It's not the cheapest, but nobody is having cheap steak sandwiches these days. They also have cocktails and TVs with sports on. This will be a new regular place for me to suggest whenever we're going to brunch!

    Allison L.

    I dined at Helic International Bistro with some friends as we were looking for lunch options in the area. It's located in a strip mall so parking was convenient. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated and clean. I had the crab cake Benedict, which was great. Not sure if the crab cakes are made in house, but either way they tasted good and were well seasoned. They gave a generous serving of potatoes as well. My friends enjoyed their French toast and crepe. They have a pretty wide selection of options on their menu, so you're sure to find something for anybody. Overall, good option for the Natomas area!

    Breakfast Sandwich with no cheese
    Susan B.

    Once I walked in, I was shocked to see how nice the place looks inside. Nicely decorated, clean and bright. We came Saturday afternoon for brunch and was surprised, they were not packed. They offer weekly brunch menu and regular menu. I decided to go with their Breakfast Sandwich without the cheese. I went with their house potatoes as a side. Food came out promptly. The sandwich was good. The potatoes were ok. Overall, the food was good but nothing much to rave about. Service was awesome. Friendly and attentive. Plenty of parking which is shared with other businesses in the plaza.

    Iced horchata latte and iced tiramisu latte
    Linh N.

    What a gem of a place for brunch. Great customer service. All the staff are attentive and friendly which made the experience very enjoyable. Food was deliciously. We got the bacon avocado Benedict and it was perfectly cooked. Will definitely get this again. And their French toast is quite generous! Also delicious with two sauces. I had their horchata iced latte and it was perfect sweetness (not too sweet). My friend has their tiramisu latte and she also enjoyed it. The restaurant is tucked in a corner in the plaza so from the outside it was hard to notice but inside is spacious, open, plenty of plants and also has an outside patio. Thanks Christian for your great service. We'll definitely return.

    Strawberry match green tea latte
    Anthony A.

    My friend wanted to try a new brunch place and this was the one we settled on. Since then we have visited twice. They have a good amount of vegan options, but my favorite is the classic bacon and eggs. It comes with two eggs, two strips of bacon, one slice of sourdough toast or an English muffin, and breakfast potatoes or fruit. Usually to drink I get the Strawberry Matcha Green Tea Latte. All of the ingredients they use are fresh and tasty. The only two things I don't like is that they give two strips of bacon when most places offer three and though the Strawberry Matcha Green Tea Latte is tasty, it's heavy on the ice. The interior is really nice and classy with plenty of seating both inside and outside. Plus they have a bar and offer a wide variety of non alcohol and alcohol beverages. The owner we met was really friendly and she explained their menu periodically changes.

    Adriana D.

    We went on Super Bowl Sunday for brunch, and we had fantastic service from Alicia. However, I didn't enjoy my meal - I ordered the crispy crab sandwich $23 from the brunch special menu, and it was not good. The roll it came on was soggy, the onion was extremely sharp since they served the core of the onion only, and the crab patty itself was not crispy and seemed microwaved. I also did not enjoy the sweet taste from the chunks of imitation crab meat used as a filler. Barely any real crab at all :( :( My partner got some kind of carne asada breakfast, and the meat was overcooked and tough. However, he still thought it tasted good. lol It's been a year since we last dined here, and I loved it back then. I think if we go back, I will stick with the chilaquiles! Their mimosas are great too - I had the guava mimosa and its well balanced champagne/fruit juice ratio.

    Prickly pear spritz
    Mi M.

    I came in for Sunday brunch at Helic International Bistro with a friend, and what started as a pleasant morning ended in a frustrating and unnecessarily embarrassing experience. At first, everything was great. We enjoyed a reasonably good meal, had brunch drinks, while listening to smooth jazz and spent time catching up. When we were finished, I asked for the check. Instead of being presented with a paper bill, the electronic payment device was placed in front of me. The total looked correct, so I paid using Apple Pay, watched the confirmation come through on my iPhone, and even received the receipt by text. As we were preparing to leave, my friend stopped briefly for water, and that's when things went sideways. The waiter/bartender approached us and asked if we had paid. Since I had covered the bill, I said yes. He seemed confused, so I offered to show proof of payment. I showed him my text receipt, asked if he was satisfied, and he said yes. Moments later, the manager approached us and asked again about the bill. Again, I was asked to prove payment--this time in front of other customers. At that point, I felt insulted and publicly embarrassed, as though I was being questioned over whether I had tried to leave without paying. I showed proof again and even texted the receipt directly to the manager. As I was leaving, they handed me a paper receipt. Once I got to my car and looked at it closely, I realized it wasn't even my order--it was someone else's tab entirely. I had to go back inside and explain their mistake to them while they were still standing there trying to figure out what happened. Instead of simply owning the error, the manager tried to backtrack and imply he had been trying to explain that all along, which felt like gaslighting and made the situation even worse. The difference between the two tabs was only about a dollar, but that was never the issue. The issue was being repeatedly questioned, inconvenienced, and made to feel like I had done something wrong because of their internal mistake. A perfectly nice Sunday brunch was completely ruined over something that was not my fault. In my opinion, the meal should have been comped for the inconvenience, embarrassment, and poor handling of the situation. Instead, all I received were apologies. Mistakes happen. How a business handles them is what matters--and unfortunately, this experience left a very bad impression.

    Tamara P.

    This is a super cute place tucked in a shopping center in Natomas! We went to celebrate a few birthdays as a big group with reservations. They set up a a table that had a beautiful happy birthday banner. They have brunch and lunch menus with varying options from breakfast sandwiches, waffles, crepes, full breakfast plate and weekly specials. You can get a mimosa tower or other cocktails. I will definitely be back to try out the breakfast menu and cocktails another time. I opted for the lunch menu u and ordered the California burger with a side salad. Pictures here is also the Philly steak sandwich that someone else ordered. Service was great! Atmosphere was really cute. We are super excited to have another great option for brunch in Sacramento.

    Excellent hot chocolate
    Ann L.

    I will say up front that I struggled with a 4 or 5 star rating. The hospitality here is the likes of which you rarely encounter. We were so warmly welcomed it was almost getting hot in there. There is clearly pride of ownership here. The space is clean, open, and inviting and offers a large patio for those seasonal months. The chairs were nicely padded and super comfy. Here's where the rubber meets the road. It was such an enjoyable experience from a service point of view but I felt the food just slightly missed the mark for me. My husband loved his Italian omelet btw. My eggs Bennie were okay. I am not a fan of the rosemary potatoes at a few of the other breakfast spots around town and equally not a fan here. Rosemary is a strongly flavored herb that I just don't care to greet in the morning, but that's on me. The thin, tasteless hollandaise is a misstep. It's the reason for ordering a Bennie and this one missed. That being said, the food is good and we will be back.

    Avocado Toast
    Sarah-Lorraine K.

    WHY WE WENT HERE: - brunch THE LOOK (FROM THE OUTSIDE): - located in the plaza off W El Camino Ave and Truxel Rd - located in the same plaza as Grocery Outlet - located in the southwest corner of the plaza - enclosed patio seating THE LOOK (FROM THE INSIDE): - so cute! lots of natural light - light wood and comfy looking seating at the tables THE (BREAKFAST) MENU: - from the griddle - eggs & omeletts - special plates THE MENU OF THE WEEK BRUNCH: - weekly special brunch menu THE (LUNCH) MENU: - sandwiches & burgers - salads - crepes THE (DINNER) MENU: - appetizers - pastas - entrees MENU OF THE WEEK DINNER: - weekly specials dinner menu THE (KIDS) MENU: - breakfast - lunch & dinner SIDES & ADDS: - adds - sides THE (DRINKS) MENU: - beverages - drinks, kids drinks, hot beverages - coffee & tea - espresso - soft drinks - juice - beer - seltzers - cocktails - mimosas, margaritas WHAT WE ORDERED: - avocado toast - chicken pesto sandwich - California burger - Western BBQ burger - mimosa tower THE TASTE: - food was all good, but the mimosa tower was pretty, didn't really like that they were pre-mixed; it was definitely mainly the champagne with a splash of enough juice to determine which flavor it was by how it looked but not enough to taste the juice itself CUSTOMER SERVICE: - warm - welcoming

    Interior

    Solid brunch spot with good food and a lively brunch vibe. I ordered the Breakfast Crepe which was very savory, hearty and filling. There was plenty of seating as well. I recommend this spot if you're looking for a great brunch meal with family or friends.

    VERY TASTY
    Daryna Y.

    Very tasty, polite waiters, I highly recommend it, there may be a queue in the morning, but we waited 10 minutes and we were seated at the table

    Pesto sandwich and steak and shrimp omelette
    Kaiya V.

    First off, food is up to par! Service is astounding, and not just the team members but the owner himself. Christian was an excellent server. Constantly checking up on us and made sure we felt welcomed. I would highly recommend this place.

    The Village Benedict for Two (an Instagram giveaway only special)

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    Ask the Community - Helic International Bistro

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    This restaurant is a winner. My Husband & I had lunch on Wed. 6/17/26 and were very pleased with…read morethe Food, Service and the ambiance. Will be reccomending Ippolitos Trattoria to everyone.We had the ceasar salad & their house salad with the blue cheese & it was wonderful. Then we had veal Piccatta, both of us & it was just perfect. Our waiter was friendly & competent & we will look forward to the next time in Sacramento to sample more on the menu.

    I've been to Italy--including Sicily--more times than most people have left California, and my…read morepartner even holds an Italian birth certificate. With that context, we don't take Italian food lightly. That's exactly why Ippolito's Trattoria stands out. Nick, the owner, is there seven days a week. Whether he's running the kitchen like a true master or walking the dining room checking in with guests, his presence is constant. His wife is often by his side, and together they've built something that feels less like a restaurant and more like a family. The staff reflects that--welcoming, attentive, and genuinely warm. Now, the food. The chicken parmigiana is massive--easily two meals--and executed perfectly. The chicken is tender, well-seasoned, and balanced. We usually start with calamari or a shared salad, both consistently excellent. I'm especially particular about carbonara, and this is the only place in Sacramento that truly gets it right. No shortcuts. No cream. No smoked bacon. They respect the tradition--using proper ingredients like guanciale or pancetta and incorporating the egg the way it's meant to be. It's easily the best carbonara I've had in years. The arancini are another highlight. If you've ever made them at home, you know the effort involved--this is the real deal. Crispy outside, rich and flavorful inside, and absolutely authentic. The bread is baked fresh daily by Nick, and it shows. The pasta is artisan-quality, also made fresh, and sourced from a trusted local partner. Every detail reflects care and intention. Dessert is not an afterthought here. The tiramisu--made in-house--is flawless. And the cannoli? Outstanding. The shells have the perfect crunch, and the fillings are rich without being overpowering. Even the pizzelle cookies are done right. It's no surprise they've earned recognition, including: Best Italian Restaurant in Sacramento Best Restaurant Overall in Sacramento Beyond the food, Nick is active in the community and gives back, which only adds to the experience. We've enjoyed this place so much that we've chosen them to cater my 60th birthday for 20 very discerning Italian family members--many of whom we've already brought here, all with the same glowing reactions. If there's any criticism to address, it's usually from people saying the food isn't salty or herb-heavy enough. That misses the point. This is balanced, authentic cooking--where ingredients shine without being masked. I've been to Papa Gianni's in Cameron Park dozens of times over the years, and it's a great spot. But when it comes to the Sacramento region, Ippolito's Trattoria is my go-to, without question.

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    Pazza Notte

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    Every time I come here I am blown away. If the portraits of Katherine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and…read moreElizabeth Taylor on the wall don't make you want to sing, your food sure will. Even the bread you start with is great. I started with a peach bellini which made the whole visit. Thank you to the bartender for that drink! Then I ordered the seasonal risotto with mushrooms, pancetta, mascarpone, goat cheese and parmesan. My dad got the Panna e Pancetta. The noodles are cooked perfectly and the risotto is so creamy. Well priced, evenly spaced and their happy hour is well worth the visit. Indoor table, indoor bar, and gorgeous outdoor patio seating available. Stop in and try it all!

    What an experience it is to dine here! I learned that there's two locations. One in Midtown,…read moreManhattan and the one in Midtown, Sacramento. There is a beautiful vibe once you step onto the 1801 L Street Ste 10 property with their outdoor patio with lush greenery and their dining room with a vibrant and stunning atmosphere. I dined with two friends and we made reservations ahead of time. Although walk ins are welcome, they do encourage making reservations so please consider that as you plan to dine here. I LOVED my first experience here. When I walked in, I noticed the beautiful bar and exhibition kitchen. Then I noticed the black and white photographs on the wall. I loved it all. My friends who already have been here before told me about their famous martinis so I just had to order one. I got the lychee one and loved it. It is great how they have the second pour in the shaker with these martinis. I am a sucker for fries and their salt & vinegar fries are so good. I also enjoyed the brussels sprouts and burrata. Their affogato was a perfect ending to my time here. They even gave small candies and limoncello during the end of the meal and check time. I noticed they had a happy hour menu weekdays 4-6p. I need to check it out because I do love a good happy hour. Parking is tricky around this area. Expect to pay at the meter and be mindful of timed parking. Overall, definitely check out this unique dining experience at Pazza Notte for their great food and fun vibes. I hear this location has a DJ on some nights so I will be back to check that out too! Thank you Pazza Notte!

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    If you're heading to Piatti with a group, skip the individual entrees and go full family style…read more It's the definitive way to experience the menu. We had a reservation and waited a few minutes longer than expected, a small grievance quickly forgotten once they sat us near the kitchen with a sightline to the live music, which was actually good. Meatballs, lemon pizza, and caesar salad to start. The caesar has been better elsewhere, but the other two were excellent. The wood fired pork chop, saffron spaghetti, and radiatore that followed were all really good. We finished with the strawberry bread pudding and aperitifs, staying much longer than we needed to. The room feels like a place people return to, filled with neighborhood regulars, which is always a good sign. But the real story is Claudia, our server. Everything arrived exactly when it should, every question was answered before we finished asking it, and nobody at the table wanted for anything all night. That kind of service is rare and she made the whole evening feel effortless. If you go, hope you get her.

    So good I didn't get any pictures!! I'm an in-home caregiver and was given a gift card for Piatti…read morefor Christmas! Hubs and I made an early dinner reservation and enjoyed every minute! From the moment we walked through the door (which was held open by one of the staff who was arriving for her shift) we were treated with kindness and appreciation! Anthony was our server and he was exceptional! Just the right amount of checking in during our meal and the timing of everything was perfect! We started with cocktails - the Paper Plane for me and the old-fashioned for hubs. Both were delish. We had the meatballs and bread with dip to start! The sauce on the meatballs was deliciously tangy! Next up we split a Caesar Salad. If you like anchovies you are in luck! We asked for them, thinking maybe there would be one, but there were 5 big pieces on each plate - too much for us, but nice to know they don't skimp! I really appreciated that they allowed me to try a couple of wines before I decided which one would be my choice! My original choice would not have been as good as the one I landed on. I got the gnocchi and hubs got the New York steak. His was cooked perfectly and mine was delicious. I brought half of mine home and he brought 1/3 of his steak. Had to save room for dessert! The brown butter pear bread pudding for dessert was the perfect end! We look forward to a return trip!

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    Piatti
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    Sampino's Kitchen At Joe Marty's

    Sampino's Kitchen At Joe Marty's

    4.6
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    A great place for dinner with friends to catch up or celebrate a birthday. The staff is super…read morefriendly and attentive, checking in and refilling your table with bread. The food is also amazing. Portions are large (you may have left overs), full of flavor and cooked to perfection. And I do recommend that you get dessert, the tiramisu melts in your mouth.

    Finally made it to Sampino's Kitchen at Joe Marty. I recommend making reservations because it's…read morebusy! We didn't make reservations and added our name to the wait list and it was about 40m before we were seated. The smell of the food was the smell of goodness and we decided to wait. We weee seated by the front window and a great view of the restaurant. We order the meatball and garlic bread and prior to our appetizer we had salad and bread service. For the main we ordered the prawns linguine and the lasagna. The portions were very generous and everything it tasted very authentic and so delicious. Halfway through my meal, I already decided that I'll be returning to try the other pasta dishes that I also wanted to order, but couldn't. As we are robbing up with our dinner and waiting for our bill, I noticed a server who was helping with another table. Stop and ask if I needed my food boxed. She was also busy, but stopped to ask, which I definitely appreciated. You also get ice cream after your main course, but we were too stuffed and declined, but like I mentioned, I will be back for more! Amazing service amazing food very authentic family oriented style establishment, love it!

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    Inside the restaurant.
    Inside the restaurant.
    Best bruschetta by far. The tomatoes are perfectly marinated, and the toast is crunchy. 10/10
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    Mattone Ristorante

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    4.3
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    Came here for our 15 year anniversary :)…read more Customer service: Felt welcomed, seated quickly ( we did have a res ). Intimate but spacious, everyone greeted us politely. Waiter Sara (I think that was where name) she was very nice and felt no rush from her at all. Very attentive as well. Will def come back because of the nice service. Food: It was soo good. Not atonement but did have likable options. I had the ravioli of the day ( mine was stuffed with crab and shrimp with a white sauce 10/10 recommend. My husband got the 12 layer ravioli which was also very good 10/10. For appetizers we got the bread basket $5, beef tips $24, and fried calamari $18 all of it was good. Def worth a try prices are not bad and portions were perfect leaving us full but able to finish :) For us we will be coming back.

    We enjoyed the cozy, friendly staff and attentive service. Reservations are recommended but we were…read morepassing by and were able to get a table. There are so many delicious menu items I'd like to come here again and again. We shared a delicious appetizer and then indulged in our favorite Italian main dishes. The "Jeanne" martini was scrumptious. The wines were spot on. This evening it was a toss up between going to Grange or here, totally different experiences with equally delicious food; parking was easier here. The acoustics are a little loud, mostly because people' are enjoying themselves and chatting it up.

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    Il Fornaio

    Il Fornaio

    3.9
    (1k reviews)
    2.3 mi
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    I've been here twice now, and both visits have been great. The music is at the perfect volume;…read morelively enough to create a nice atmosphere but quiet enough that we could actually enjoy a conversation. Cory, the manager, checked in with us both times to make sure everything was going well. She was incredibly friendly and even made sure our parking was validated before we left, which was a thoughtful touch. My favorites are the Bruschette Assortite and, of course, the tiramisu. Both are absolutely worth ordering!

    Our server, Marcelo, was competent and the setting has a welcome old-time majesty, with soaring…read moreceilings and plaster fleur-de-lis decorations on the walls. The bread, though an added surcharge, was warm, yeasty, and pleasant. The cons were more substantial. The fusilone in basil cream was okay: the sauce was tasty, but the pasta was slightly overcooked. The menu says the pasta is made in-house, though this dish did not have the texture or character I associate with fresh house-made pasta. The beet and arugula salad was straightforward. The dressing leaned acidic. Given personal preference, we did not hold that strongly against them, but it is worth noting for anyone who does not enjoy a sharp, mouth-puckering dressing on greens. The half roast pollo toscano was the biggest failure. It tasted old, dry, and lacked the easy-to-achieve magic that a good roast chicken can have. As a former chef, it had the texture of chicken cooked ahead and reheated for service. That technique can work, but it did not work here, or at least not on the night we ordered it. At $34, I do not expect unusual or stellar flavor combinations, but the protein needs to be cooked correctly. The nutmeg in the mashed potatoes was also a bit heavy-handed. I did not complain at the table because I do not like asking to be comped, especially in an industry as difficult as restaurants. But for the same reason, I would not feel right accepting a reduced check and then softening an honest review. I do not have anything against Il Fornaio, and I hope they improve, but this particular meal was disappointing.

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    Helic International Bistro - italian - Updated July 2026

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