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    Magpie Cafe

    4.3 (770 reviews)
    ModerateNew American, Bars
    Closed 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Magpie Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    MAGPIE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Magpie Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Yummy ham sandwich, so good.
    Shelby G.

    Yummy, can't wait to go back and try other things. Spendy but that seems to be the norm. Great service, excellent food, clean, and everything looked so delicious

    menu 4/25
    Michelle P.

    Spent the weekend in Sacramento and Magpie has come up a few times to be on par with the Chicago food scene so I had to try! There is a really nice outdoor patio with heat lamps. Super spacious and dog friendly of course. Between four, we shared the fried panko asparagus, saffron arancini, and pork belly as our appetizers. We also ordered the black bean chili, winter BLT, and acme burger with fries. Fried panko asparagus - I'm not a huge fan of asparagus but this was super unique. I loved the play on the egg salad on top. I've never had egg salad that was super lemony but I think it helped pull everything together and make the fried part of the dish feel less heavy. Pork belly - Really tender and flavorful. I was a little thrown off by the apples but no comparison because our dog enjoyed it! Saffron arancini - Amazing. No words. Really fresh and love the addition of dill. I didn't try the winter BLT or black bean chili but I heard nothing but raving reviews. The winter BLT was honestly an art masterpiece. As for the ACME burger, the bread was fluffy and delicious and the burger was good but when I think about Chicago burgers, probably not on the same level. However! I can agree that the appetizers resemble those in some of my favorite restaurants in the Windy City. Overall, a serious gem in Sacramento and the service was amazing and friendly.

    Baked artichoke ricotta
    James L.

    Magpie Café is exactly the kind of restaurant that defines how I love to dine. Their menu is thoughtfully driven by the seasons, shifting often to reflect what's freshest and most inspiring at the moment. Dishes are presented in a way that encourages sharing, making the experience feel both communal and intentional. I've yet to have anything that disappoints. Their salads are among the best in the city--vibrant, balanced, and far from an afterthought--and the anchovy toast is nothing short of exceptional. It's the kind of place I'd bring out-of-town guests to showcase why Sacramento proudly carries the title of America's Farm-to-Fork Capital.

    Amy H.

    Food: Codfish Dip, Miso Radish, Sautéed Greens and Gnocchi. Literally all of them 10/10. I was surprised at how well balanced and delicious everything was. Even though the taste was very rich, it also felt clean and didn't make my stomach feel bloated. Service is friendly and informative. Love how proactive they are. Ambiance is lovely. Low lighting, warm walls, carefully chosen art. I can't wait to come back again!

    Diana L.

    Love, love, love Magpie! They never disappoint. We went for dinner and made reservations ahead of time. When you enter, the lights are dim but it gives a great vibe. The drinks are also so good and you a get a bang for your buck! I don't think I've ever had a bad drink here. I had the steak and my friend had the gnocchi and let's just say our plates were cleared off by how delicious the food was. This is a nice place to have a girls date to catch up or to bring your partner for a special occasion. Also, there is metered parking. We parked across the street at the park so it wasn't a bad walk to the restaurant. You definitely want to come a little earlier to find parking as it can get busy in that area.

    Joanne A.

    The special of the day which was the beet salad was delicious and our first waiter provided excellent service. Our first waiter (tall, slender, brown/blonde hair) had to leave and our second waiter (tall, slender, dark complexion with a poinytail) took over while my friend and I were waiting for our food. There were only three other tables of 2-4 people each. When we finished the waiter asked if we were done and we said yes, so he removed our plates and silverware. We waited for him to bring the check for about 10 minutes before I tried to get his attention about 3 times while looking in our direction. I finally had to wave both my arms to get his attention and he finally came over. I asked for the check and he said "oh, you're done?" I said yes, since he asked us if we were done earlier and took our place settings away. He came back with the check and said "thank you" in a very passive aggressive way to where my friend noticed and made a comment after he left. I only gave him a 10% tip because of his attitude and started serving us (and not very well) halfway through the meal. Love the food, ambience; but that one waiter needs to know that what you give is what you get.

    Smaller plates (Jan 2026)
    Loren P.

    6/5 stars for Magpie if I could! Magpie has been on my list to try for a long time, and I'm so glad we finally got to go during Dine Downtown week! My husband and I both went with the prix fixe menu for $45/person, and it was absolutely divine. We both chose the artisanal salad with house-made potato chips and onion dip. For our entrees my husband went with the gnocchi and batter-fried winter squash, while I went with the steelhead trout and seasonal roasted vegetables. Lastly, for dessert we got both the chocolate avocado mousse and meringue with lemon curd to share. We started off with some cocktails--I chose the Yeti and my husband chose the Rodeo Star. Both were made and presented beautifully, and wonderfully smooth. The salad was absolutely refreshing. I especially loved the crispy quinoa. I'm also a sucker for purple leaves, and the apple cider vinaigrette was right up my alley. The apple slices and radishes were a perfect pairing. The house-made potato chips and onion dip were spectacular. Our entrees were beautifully plated, and we were both so eager to dig in. Boy oh boy was the skin on my steelhead trout crispy, and paired with the beurre blanc sauce, I went straight to culinary heaven. The trout roe had a wonderful mouthfeel, and the smashed potatoes were perfect for soaking up every last drop of the beurre blanc sauce. The roasted veggies were a nice pairing with my trout as well! My husband was enamored with his gnocchi dish too. The duck confit was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the gnocchi had a lovely crispy bite. I tried a bit of both the duck and the gnocchi and was blown away by the texture and flavor of both. The batter fried winter squash was excellent as well. Dessert was a perfect way to end our meal, paired with their seasonal cider on draft. While I loved the chocolate avocado mousse, the meringue was definitely my favorite of the two. Service was attentive, and we were given a decanter of water to replenish our glasses, which I always appreciate. We were seated in the back corner, which I also enjoyed, so it was more of a semi-private dining experience away from the rest of the other diners. We left stuffed and happy. Definitely a meal to remember! I have eaten at many New American restaurants, including some in Carmel, but Magpie sits high on my list of favorite places for New American, and I will most certainly be back. The freshness of each ingredient and thoughtfulness of each element in every dish are main contributors as to why Magpie stands out from the rest.

    Burger, Steelhead Trout, and Seasonal Vegetables
    Melissa G.

    My favorite Dine Downtown 2026 experience! This was my first visit, and I made a reservation for two on a weekday evening. When we arrived, the restaurant was packed! Service was excellent, and wait staff got us seated in a timely manner. We waited less than five minutes past our reservation, which wasn't an issue, but I appreciated how customer-focused wait staff were! Our server was quick, to the point, and less personable, but I didn't mind as we were ready to order. Magpie's Dine Downtown menu offers plenty of options to customize your own 3-course meal. I started with the artisan lettuces with a side of bread and hummus. The salad was a little overdressed, but it was nicely offset by the bread and hummus. For my entree, I got the steelhead trout, which was amazing! Crispy skin, beautiful presentation, and the right amount of beurre blanc. For the side, I ordered the roasted vegetables with Seka Hills Olive Oil - good variety of vegetables including carrots, cauliflower, and beets! Finally, my partner and I ended with the chocolate and avocado mousse. It was smooth and a little salty, but overall very satisfying. It would've been nice to have the orange flavor infused too! Magpie Cafe is a great choice if you're looking for somewhere nice to dine downtown and celebrate a special occasion! Low light ambiance and perfect for a date night, business meeting, or simply any occasion to celebrate.

    Gnocchi
    Anabel U.

    Happy to have finally stopped in for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. While we made a reservation, there were still plenty of tables available. I would recommend a dinner reservation as the closer we got to dinner, the more people came in. The appetizer and meal both were delicious and full of fresh ingredients. The artichoke dip was more than enough for 2 adults and a kid, though they were very kind to bring out more bread for us. The gnocchi was cooked to perfection, and the whole meal left me feeling full but with room still for more.

    Steak
    Jen-Ann L.

    A really great meal if you're looking to splurge. The staff is always extremely professional and welcoming and we even got a glimpse of one of the co-owners, Janel Inouye, a local restaurant celebrity! The vibe is very crisp and modern and everything is plated beautifully! Offerings - Cauliflower Fritters - I think this was the star of the meal. Extremely well fried and well seasoned. The sauce was very flavorful and other accoutrements paired perfectly. - Crudo - I think this was decent. I remember going to a talk once about Magpie's dedication to sustainable seafood and was excited to try it. I think it was good but not special. Flavors were very subtle, which may have been intentional for the fish. - Lamb - this was my partner's favorite. Cooked extremely well, perfect texture. The side veggies were a fine addition. - Steak - I may be biased but I don't think this was very spectacular at all. It was cooked medium rare as ordered, but lacked flavor and seasoning. A bit of salt or even a sauce on the side would have helped. Or is that sacrilegious for steak? Perhaps my simple palette could not appreciate the meat on its own. The sides were also a bit too oily and again, lacked flavor. Overall, I would say it's a great restaurant with good quality ingredients but they rely (heavily) on the ingredients shining and may sometimes lack taste and flavor. Cooking techniques seem 10/10 too!

    Burger
    Stephanie S.

    This place has been on my must try list for forever and I was finally able to check it out for date night. It's a nice casual spot for dining with great drinks and great food. Service is friendly and their menu is on rotation. We decided to try the pomegranate mint fizz cocktail and it was nicely balanced and the vodka wasn't noticeable at all. I ordered the gnocchi and my husband ordered the burger. The gnocchi was extremely fluffy and delicious; it just melted in my mouth. The burger was cooked perfectly, and even though it only has pickles and cheese, it was the best tasting burger I've ever tried. Will definitely be visiting again!

    Western Lamb Chop
    Carine B.

    DINNER REVIEW: Stopped into Magpie on a Tuesday night around 7:30 PM for dinner. Magpie has been on my list of places I wanted to check out for a while so this was really exciting for me. I appreciate farm-to-table/local farmer restaurants and dining. I ordered: * Farmer Fritto * Crudo (scallop) * Western Lamb Chops The farmers fritto was 4/5. Texture of the fried batter was incredible and the vegetables remained al dente. What I didn't love was the sweet mayonnaise type of sauce served with this dish and the fried bell pepper...it's a weird vegetable to batter and fry because of its water content. I enjoyed the string beans, artichoke, carrot, and zucchini. Everything tasted fresh and I would order again. The scallop crudo was delicious. Although it probably deserves a five, I give it a 4/5 because when it arrived to my table I could not help but notice the strong scent of raw fish/seafood. The fresh pluots and cilantro added a lovely brightness to the dish, as well as a subtle contrast of sweet to savory/salty. I loved, conceptionally, the teeny dollops of pluot sorbet but I struggled to decide if it did anything for the dish other than add lovely pop of color and more sweetness. If you love seafood and scallops, it's definitely worth the try. Finally, I settled on the lamb chops. It took me a few bites to settle into the dish and decide...4/5 is where I'm landing. The dish seemed middle eastern inspired, pulling together baba ganoush, summer squash, cherry tomato, pickles, fresh herbs and sumac yogurt. Instead of the roasted eggplant flavor that I was excited for, it was giving more "hummus" than baba ganoush. Yummy still. Cherry tomatoes were excellent and I'm not even a huge tomato person. The vegetables again were al dente and the pickles were a nice touch. What made this dish for instead of a five for me was the glob of sumac yogurt that was dumped on top of one of the two lamb chops. The yogurt was cold and I would have preferred a little off to the sides. The restaurant is dimly lit, and I loved the music selection. The music was not loud, but at the right volume to where you could hear it, but still enjoy conversation with others. The staff was very friendly and attentive. I would return to magpie and it is somewhere I would recommend for those who appreciate local menus.

    Lamb chop
    Hannah S.

    We went for Valentine's Day and the food was fresh and delicious. Filling but not in a way that makes you feel sick and stuffed. The lamb chop was amazing!! Perfect ambience for a nice dinner and a glass of wine.

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    8 days ago

    Omg. This place is amazing. Great ambience. Great staff. The food is phenomenal. One of our favorites now. Thank the amazing staff.

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    Beautiful outdoor seating great seasonal fresh food. Service was efficient and pleasant. Happy to return again.

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    Page 1 of 20

    Ask the Community - Magpie Cafe

    Any Keto friendly foods?

    It's not "menued" as "Keto friendly" since they make everything fresh, you have more options.

    Is anything on the menu 100% organic?

    Most of everything on the menu is organic. They even have organic spirits if you like. Probably one of the best places I've eaten in Sac.

    Is this restaurant Child Friendly or just mostly bar area?

    Child friendly

    View All 4 Questions

    Cafeteria 15L

    Cafeteria 15L

    3.9
    (4k reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Our server was very friendly and the food was fantastic. My picky niece said the Mac and cheese…read morewas the best she ever had and the hamburger I got was excellent. Wonderfully cooked and it was tender. The premium price for the hamburger was worth it. The chicken sandwich my nephew had was fantastic and he was a huge fan of the s'mores. Everyone in our party enjoyed what they had. Highly recommend

    Was in Sac for a concert and stopped by Cafeteria 15L for their happy hour. The place is huge with…read moreoutdoor and indoor seating. The happy hour prices were reasonable and had so many great options. Can't say for certain about the parking situation because it was a close walk from our hotel. We ordered 2 mocktails, the watermelon sugar and basil berry fizz. Both drinks were super sugary and tart, which I ended up diluting with water. Still refreshing and tasty, but I think it was a bit overkill on sugar. For our mains, we tried the rigatoni bolognese, trio of fries, and chicken tenders. All food and drinks for under $50! The portions were massive, especially the trio of fries, which I was not expecting. The sweet potato fries were a bit soggy compared to the other 2, which were significantly crispier. The chicken tenders were ok and probably the least exciting thing we ordered haha. On the other hand, the bolognese was by far the standout! Flavorful, rich, creamy and the cheese pull from the pasta was to die for. Our server was super cool and patient with us, as it was our first time coming here. Totally recommend checking this place out with a group of friends to enjoy happy hour.

    Photos
    Inside dining area
    Inside dining area
    Cafeteria 15L
    Cafeteria 15L
    Brick Chicken

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    Brick Chicken
    Ella Dining Room and Bar

    Ella Dining Room and Bar

    4.1
    (2.3k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$$
    Available by appointment
    Romantic vibe

    Ella is a special fine dining experience, perfect for a birthday or anniversary. The vibe is, "We…read morefold your napkin before desert and when you go to the restroom", so dress accordingly and plan to pay accordingly as well. Our waitress was fantastic and gave a great tour of the menu as well as the dishes we ended up ordering. The food here is fantastic. So too are the drinks. Drink wise, I went for a tequila/mezcal based cocktail and it did not disappoint. The balance was impeccable. Later on in the meal, I had a nice glass of red wine which complimented the steak well. The food was the star of the show. Bone Marrow is one of those dishes you don't expect to be quite so rich, but it is amazing and worth the visit for. The fish was cooked perfectly and the mushrooms on the steak were delightful and earthy, as well as the steak being a tender, juicy medium rare. I will say the lobster paella was a little disappointing, I expected a little bit more from a nearly $100 dish. Not that it wasn't delicious, but it did not stand out nearly as much as the other dishes ordered. The tartar was a solid app, the oysters were delectable, the bread was toasty and hot with a generous side portion of creamy butter. By my book, service, ambiance, and FLAVOR, Ella is worth the visit.

    Still love dinning at Ella's…read more On the visit, we opted for the seafood paella and the tomahawk. I love all the fresh seafood. The rice was crispy on the bottom, which is what I prefer. This dish was perfect. The tomahawk was good, but not the best I've had. It contained a good amount of fat, which I had to trim off myself. I did enjoy the tenderness of the tomahawk. We will dine in again for another date night occasion.

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    Enjoy Sangria and Paella all July at Ella
    Enjoy Sangria and Paella all July at Ella
    Ella offers numerous versatile spaces for your party or event. Let our catering specialists and staff help plan the perfect event for you.
    Ella offers numerous versatile spaces for your party or event. Let our catering specialists and staff help plan the perfect event for you.
    Lobster Paella, available all July at Ella

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    Lobster Paella, available all July at Ella
    Pangaea Bier Cafe

    Pangaea Bier Cafe

    4.3
    (1.1k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    BEST PRETZELS IVE EVER HAD! And with the beer cheese?? Umm yes please! Crispy fries? Sign me up!…read moreJuicy burger? I'm there! The staff are great! I'm so sad it's closing because I only just discovered this place a month ago! Definitely stop by before it's gone!

    Directly across the street from Gunther's ice cream sits this non-descript watering hole. There…read morewere patrons inside and out as well as many standing around the bar. I was able to get to the front of the line and order their burger that I was told was one of the best. I grabbed a beer as well because it was one of those days ya know! I took my number sign and found some space next to a couple playing card games on a bench inside. They had a self serve icewater area that I was able to fill up my water bottle. I was also able to grab some ketchup to enjoy those fries. My burger and fries was delivered and there were more fries than expected. I focused on those first because who like cold fries, right??? The fries were actually pretty good, an above average standard French fry with salt. The burger however was phenomenal. There was an amazing crust on the outside reminiscent of a backyard bbq. There was ample bacon, lettuce, cheese and sauce to make it a balanced bite. The bun was high end brioche style, they really went all out on quality of ingredients. A standard burger build but done perfectly! Beer was cold, food was great and the ambiance is a perfect local bar. Great spot to go if you don't mind hunting for a parking space.

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    Pangaea Bier Cafe
    OLD OLD MENU: Vegetable Rice & half a Turkey & Swiss Panini
    OLD OLD MENU: Vegetable Rice & half a Turkey & Swiss Panini
    OLD OLD MENU: Spicy "Beef" Empanada/ Vegan

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    OLD OLD MENU: Spicy "Beef" Empanada/ Vegan

    Magpie Cafe - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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