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    Magpie Cafe

    4.3 (773 reviews)
    ModerateNew American, Bars
    Closed 4:30 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Magpie Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    MAGPIE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Magpie Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Alexander G.

    I have friends in the Sacramento area that have always touted the concept of "farm to fork" in that the region's farms are the direct source for so many restaurants. We decided for our last night all together we would pick a highly rated one for a special meal. Magpie Cafe right in downtown fit the bill and we were thoroughly impressed by everything. We ordered just about every special plus many other dishes, some multiple, from appetizers through to desserts. It's in a beautiful area of the city, open to the street and green park. We opted to sit outside as it was a lovely evening. The beer menu had some regional favorites, all small and well chosen. For food we went all out, and I'll let the photos speak for themselves. Everything was so colorful and presented beautifully. Highlights were the pickles, fried asparagus, anchovies, and croquettes. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable about our dishes, she added to the experience. If you're in the area, this restaurant is worth a stop. They even have a cafe in the airport!

    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.

    Halibut with leaks, simply delicious!!
    Wendy D.

    Excellent vibe and the food was outstanding. Our server was on point and super attentive and knowledgeable! We loved it and will be back!!

    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.

    Jiayi Anna Y.

    Is my mom's first time dining in a western restaurant and she loves it! Everything taste good, above our expectation, only improvement would be the pork belly if it could have some simple marinate to have some base taste would be great, and great services with attentive waitress and waiters, great atmosphere for dating with the dark environment vibe.

    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.

    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.

    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!

    Western Lamb Chop

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    One of the best restaurants in midtown. Also one of my favorite non alcoholic cocktails!

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    2 years ago

    Mushroom and white bean toast tasted wonderful. It was the perfect amount of food. My server was kind and helpful.

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    3 years ago

    Amazing! Great food, good service and inviting atmosphere!! What more could you ask for

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    9 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Consistent, delicious every time. Owners Janel and Ed are so warm and welcoming! Don't skip the cocktails and apps!

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    Page 5 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

    Tack Room

    Tack Room

    4.7
    (154 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Fantastic Spot To "Pregame" Shows @ Goldfields Next Door…read more SITREP We descended upon the Tack Room an hour before our show for "Ally The Piper" (both the classical AND heavy metal bagpiper extraordinaire) began her show! THE SETUP Goldfields is a charming, rustic country-western stylized saloon that serves up beer at good prices. But we weren't interested in beer and wanted quality cocktails. Hence, our pivot next door to the Tack Room! QUALITY COCKTAILS & DRINKS! The Tack Room specializes an amazing array of martinis, bourbons, and other deLISH cocktail drinks at really really reasonable prices! So this was an excellent choice to chill, thus avoiding the tremendous *noise pollution* we were immediately subjected to upon entering Goldfields an hour later for our show. THE LOWDOWN This is a quality bar with plenty of comfortable seating to relax and have quiet, intimate conversations. So if you and your later friend(s) want some privacy, cocktails at a reasonable price, etc., this is a good way to go.

    What an absolutely fantastic place to duck into and chill for a bit on a hot summer day. It's about…read moreas classic as you can ask for from a small bar. It's themed around horse racing, but not in an overbearing or... tacky way. The mixologist was delightful and had great recommendations, the lights were dim, and the drinks were all on point. The highlight was the espresso martini, which is among the best I've had. It was reminiscent of the one I had at the Starbucks Roastery in NYC, which is high praise. The other coffee drink that surprised me was the Revolver. I always forget about what a good pairing orange and coffee is, and I'll be taking this one back home with me to try! Every other drink we tried was delicious in some unique way. The Pho drink was savory and surprising, the New York Sour was rich and flavorful, and the Practical Move was refreshing. Will definitely return here after dinner to sip an espresso martini for dessert!

    Photos
    Tack Room
    Tack Room
    Tack Room

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    The Jungle Bird

    The Jungle Bird

    3.8
    (855 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Aside from Trader Sam's at Disneyland--this is hands down my fake tiki bar! And I have my own home…read morebar, so I'm picky! Drinks are delicious and not too fancy--I don't really want a drink that makes me feel like I got punched in the face. Strong, but not overly so. My faves are the Lava Flow and Macadamia Nut Chi Chi! Food and snacks are delicious! My go-to is Porch for dinner, JB for dranks! Street parking has always been easy to find Of note: their special popups are SO FUN! I've done Disney, Halloween and Christmas. The drinks and mugs are a blast, and the staff is always great. Go and have a blast!

    The Jungle Bird completely nailed the immersive tiki lounge vibe, right down to a fantastic…read moresoundtrack that kept the energy fun. It is on the darker side inside, which really helps set that moody tropical atmosphere. The service was great, and our wait time was very reasonable once they took our order. For food and drinks, we started with the Pupu Platter, which was a perfect mix of finger foods that pairs beautifully with the drinks. The Boozy Dole Whip Flight is an absolute must-order, and the Bourbon Cherry Heering flavor was the absolute standout--delicious and unique. We also loved the Togarashi Fries, which were super crispy with the perfect amount of savory, spicy seasoning. The only minor downside was that the restroom was completely out of toilet paper during our visit. Aside from that quick upkeep slip, everything else was high-quality and super fun. We will definitely be back!

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    Interior seating
    Interior seating
    Cocktail made with Ube
    Cocktail made with Ube
    Piñaiquiri and Plank Walker

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    Piñaiquiri and Plank Walker

    Magpie Cafe - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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