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    Tower Cafe

    4.1 (5.6k reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Tower Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    TOWER CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

    Recommended Reviews - Tower Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Famous French Toast and Shanghai omelette
    Jen-Ann L.

    A great place to impress your friends and family. I would say the food is good, but the ambiance is top tier. Sitting outside in the garden is such a wonderful experience. The service is extremely attentive and friendly. They do have a lot of staff to cover a lot of tables. The food itself is good, so much variety for a brunch place. I love the history behind the restaurant and what an institution it is in Sacramento. Offerings: - French toast: perfect balance of crispy crunch and soft and fluffy. They use a slice of loaf that really provides for both. With the table syrup, this is a near perfect dish. - Shanghai omelette: This was a special that was just not that special. The egg was cooked perfectly, but all the ingredients seemed like they were cooked separately and put in like a sandwich. What in the cabbage, bacon, shrimp, and onion says Shanghai or even Chinese? I didn't take much flavor other than salt and pepper. All the components were cooked well (individually) but there was no cohesion. Like a stir fry in a keto wrap. I've had this problem a few times with Tower Cafe, just stick to the tried and trues when ordering. The side of potatoes were fine. Coffee was good and she came by many times to refill.

    Gabrielle L.

    Came in Summer on a Saturday this time and forgot how huge the entrees were! Delicious nonetheless with plenty of leftovers to take out after a little food coma *Photos are from the past too

    Leif A.

    This is a must go to brunch location. Go early, the line will build. The staff was great and the food was exceptional. We had the Madame Cristo and Enchiladas de Oaxaca. So tasty and flavorful, with good portions, we all took a to go box. They would have gotten a 5 star but they need to prioritize cleanliness in the dinning room. We sat in the back room and it was very clear they had not dusted in a very long time. The glow on the fan is thick dust with the sunlight reflecting on it. Request the patio.

    El Marichi
    Anthony R.

    08/22/2026 at 08:00 Server: Crystal T FOOD & DRINKS Coffee first, house (medium toast). I always request heavy cream with my coffee. I was told they have heavy cream, but not for me. I can have any of their other creamers, just not heavy cream. Having the French Connection this morning. Eggs over medium w/apple wood smoked bacon. It comes with 3 slices of bacon and I want extra with my breakfast. A side of three pieces of bacon, $6 listed in my menu. I ask for the side of bacon and told it's $7 instead. I ask to have the listed price in the menu. The manager tells my server NO. SERVICE Mixed bag considering my experience today. Crystal was great! The management not so much. DECOR Always cool. Indoors or out. Indoors is eclectically decorated with lots of items to see. Outdoors is an oasis of a dining area. Peaceful, picturesque, and able to transport you out of the hustle and bustle of city life. CLEANLINESS In all my years of coming here, I've never spotted an issue with cleanliness. LOCATION Great location next to the iconic Tower Theater. Lots of parking! PRICE Reasonable for the quality of the food. It seems high for breakfast, $50.41, which includes tax and 20% tip. The reason is because I added two sides, Tower Potatoes at $6, and Applewood Smoked Bacon at $7. Otherwise, without the sides it would have been $33.48 which would include tax and 20% tip. OVERALL EXPERIENCE Usually, awesome! Today much less than awesome.

    Eggs Tower
    Victoria E.

    Good amazing service amazing and ambiance amazing. A great place for breakfast lunch or dinner! Family friendly parking galore. Their breakfasts are top notch!

    French toast, huevos rancheros, and Thai steak and eggs
    Shannon C.

    Finally got back to Tower Cafe to try out brunch. A few years ago I came for dinner and enjoyed the Thai steak but of course I got the Thai steak and eggs. It was so so good. The French toast was incredible. The heuvo rancheros were also very tasty. The strawberry matcha had yummy chunks of strawberries. The service was great and the vibes outside were immaculate. Brunch at Tower is a must!

    My Sister 3/6/26
    Marcia R.

    We really like this Resturant Tower Cafe We all gather after JABA was done. A big Bowling Tournament Japanese American Bowling Assocation it always in March always some State this time Sacramento. Our family in big in bowling To celebrate seeing family at this beautiful cool Resturant we enjoy the cool vibe here is so cute Inside and the patio too is very full of plants and Inviting We met for brunch and the service was great To drinks and food with the French Toast & breakfast dishes & Pozole we were happy the enjoy a good meal together Inside is a very large bar and bakery counter With amazing desserts I love the artwork

    French toast
    Clarissa P.

    Honestly there wasn't anything that stood out enough to make us want to come back. The French toast especially was not what I was expecting. Overall, the food wasn't necessarily terrible, but it was nothing special, especially considering how busy the place was. I will say the service was good, and we had no issues with the staff. I just don't think the food itself was worth returning for.

    Ante A.

    This place is top 3 brunch spots in my opinion in the Sacramento area. The outside seating area is such a vibe and the food comes out quick and is very good.

    Chorizo Con Huevos and Churro French Toast
    Angie L.

    Always have a great time at tower!! We went around 10:30am and were able to get a table outside. We ordered some La Frida mimosas which were really good. For food we ordered chorizo con huevos and churro French toast. The chorizo dish was so delicious and I like how the refried beans are a little bit spicy. The churro French toast was flavorful and moist on the inside. We were interested in some pastries to go, and our server was so kind to go inside to take a picture of the pastry case and let us know what they had available. We ended up picking out a blackberry cream scone (which was so moist and cakey) and a chocolate financier due to the glowing recommendation of the sweet lady sitting next to us (and it was perfectly crispy on the outside and like a gooey brownie on the inside!). Can't wait to come back!!

    Madame Cristo
    Jacob M.

    Tower Cafe is one of the pillars of Sacramento, a longtime fixture in the city's zeitgeist. People understandably love it. It's been years since I've been, mainly because of the long wait times and no reservations on weekends. As a planner, I gravitate toward places where I can make a reservation. However, it was a special occasion, so we committed to it on a holiday weekend. The wait was estimated at 1.5 hours for a party of 7, but it ended up being closer to 40 minutes, which honestly wasn't bad at all. The patio and waiting area are gorgeous and make the wait worth it on a beautiful day. Great shade from the trees, solid service, and a really nice ambiance overall. The menu is massive with a little bit of everything and huge portions, so it's quite hard to decide. I settled on the Madame Cristo because it sounded decadent and somewhere between lunch and breakfast, which felt perfect for brunch. And decadent it was. The cheesy ham and béchamel blended into this super rich, fatty bite balanced by the French toast it was sandwiched between. The eggs on top were almost overkill, but still a welcome addition for some protein. The chipotle raspberry jam was surprisingly good too, almost like a smoky raspberry salsa that added sweetness and helped cut through some of the richness. The potatoes were standard and nothing to write home about. It was definitely a lot, but pretty good and exactly what you expect from a brunch spot like this. I'm not going to say the food is mind-blowing, but it's solid and they have unique dishes, great vibes, and something for everyone to enjoy. Nice to see that Tower Cafe is still doing well after all these years and remains a great place to celebrate special occasions.

    Madame Cristo
    Rich T.

    Overall pretty good brunch. I got the madam cristo with eggs over medium. They turned out over hard but still good. The wait can be pretty long on the weekends as well but worth an extra 20 minutes if you have time to spare.

    J B.

    Stopped in two times and the hamburger patty was burnt and under cooked. The service was good And the place is nice.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The food is always amazing here and the service from the staff as well. I love the ambiance.

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    3 years ago

    Food is really good, huggge variety. I love the ambiance the most. But service is also adequate, and reasonable priced.

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Service, food, ambience. This place is great! Love it!! Great eggs, excellent menu items. And to top it off, delicious Coffee!

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    I can have their French toast everyday! Food vibe and everything is 10/10 ! Service is great

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    8 years ago

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    2 years ago

    It was pretty good overall! They have unique selections and lots to choose from. Staff were friendly and attentive.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    LOVE this place. Great food and great people! Inside is great, but the patio is the best. A little $$ but worth it!

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    4 years ago

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    Page 21 of 141

    Tower Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Tower Cafe

    Is it kid friendly?

    Yes, it's very kid friendly. They are also pet friendly with outside dining.

    Do they have misters on the patio?

    I didn't see any

    Do they allow dogs at patio seating?

    No. We tried to bring our dog there for outdoor seating last year and they said no dogs.

    Do they take reservations?

    Not on weekends. They consider Friday a weekend day also, so essentially, no reservations on Fri, Sat or Sun.

    How do you make a reservation?

    They don't take reservations.

    Do they offer bottomless mimosas with brunch?

    No they don't

    Do they take reservations?

    No advance reservations. You show up and, if a table's not available immediately, they take your name and phone number and text you when they're ready.

    I've called numerous times too and you cannot leave a message either . It says mailbox full?

    That's the only downside for this amazing place - it's super busy! You have to head over there and put your party on the list. Trust me, it's worth the wait!

    Do they ever answer the phone? I've tried to place to-go order and all I get is a continuous busy signal. For weeks. Curious is anyone ever gets their call answered.

    When we went there a couple of weeks ago I heard the hostess say they were having quite some difficulty with their phone line for a while now. Not sure if it's been repaired since then. They also seem super busy during brunch hours, especially on… 

    Are dogs allowed?

    I called last month and was told me dogs were not allowed inside or outside.

    Is this place allergy friendly?

    They have the presence (or not) of many major allergens listed on their menu for each food item (but I'm pretty sure they weren't all there, just some). Wheat and milk are definitely on there, I can't remember which of the others are.

    Do they stop serving their famous French toast after a certain time?

    Weekdays until 11am and weekends until 3pm

    Is this establishment wheelchair accessible?

    Yes

    Is breakfast served all day?

    no, its not

    Do they have there regular desserts back?

    Yes, they have all of the classics: Napoleon, whole cakes, etc in the glass display case next to the bar!

    Are they open?

    They moved the opening date to June 2021

    When will Tower cafe reopen?

    July 12, 2021!!!

    Is it true this place is permanently closing?

    No On their website they say temporarily closing with that it's been open for 30 years in fact I was there the day it opened and I was doing massage on People💗

    Is the restaurant closed permanently?

    No...just temporary because of the COVID19

    What's the average wait on a Sunday at noon for 2?

    I would say like 15-20 minutes if you just say you don't care if it's inside or outside

    View All 37 Questions

    Ella Dining Room and Bar - Whole Chilled Lobster

    Ella Dining Room and Bar

    4.1(2.4k reviews)
    1.2 miDowntown
    $$$
    Available by appointment
    Romantic vibe

    BEST. DINNER. EVER…read more Picture This: We are one of those obnoxious couples who have the audacity to hold hands and sit on the same side during dinner. Maybe steal a kiss. Yep. That's us. We arrived at Ella just before our 9:15 reservation and were promptly sat at a beautiful table. And wow, this table was gorgeous! The beautiful design of the space keeps your eyes entertained on every level. Both beauty and intrigue. It is a feast for the eyes before you get to the actual feast. However, we were hoping for a more intimate date experience so we asked for somewhere a little more secluded. Without hesitation, we were moved to another, equally beautiful table. Enter Kelly and Hunter. These two help to make our evening even more spectacular. The ambience was perfect. We started with their signature cocktail, gin and tonic with their homemade tonic and a martini. Hey-ooo! Dang that was a good drink. And efficient ;) We moved onto the heirloom tomato starter. Here is where I realized it started to get a little difficult. I was trying to look polished and refined, and really, you could've licked the plate. My handsome man is a vegetarian so he got the Barada spaghetti. I'm assuming he liked it because he ate every last bite. That, and he told me it was delicious. I ordered the lobster risotto. I have a hard time with food that looks too pretty to eat. But, I stopped staring at the beauty of the plate once the delicious smell rose in the air. Best risotto I've ever had. Hands-down. Makes a second place look pretty sad. No dessert but that can be remedied the next time we visit. We ended up having one of those dates where we ordered the appetizer and an hour later we hadn't finished it because we were still talking. I realized we hadn't even finished our appetizer course and yet, the restaurant was almost empty. When Hunter came by to refill the waters, I apologized that we hadn't even started eating yet and asked what time they closed. Hunter proceeded to provide the most amazing interaction. Making eye contact with both of us, he very kindly explained how they wanted this dinner to be an utterly unique experience and not worry. That we are here to enjoy ourselves in this beautiful restaurant so drink in every moment. And so we did. Kelly was awesome. We chatted for a bit about the musical tattoos on her hands. Just kind and sincere. Incredibly diligent service. At no time was I in need of anything. Waters were kept full, table kept cleared, food served exactly on time. It's a well oiled machine underneath the vibrant atmosphere. The food was spectacular. The ambience was one of a kind. A feast at every level. PS - I'm positive the open kitchen in the back would've been fun to watch, if I could have peeled my eyes off of who was in front of me.

    Not our first time going to Ella, but this time I walked out feeling the need to leave a review…read more Ella is still one of the finer dining experiences in Sacramento, not doubt about it. However, when we let our server know that we were not pleased with the lobster risotto because it was under-seasoned, his solution was to bring us salt and pepper and explained that customers do find their food to be under-seasoned. Well that was not the case for the two other dishes we ordered. There was no remaking or comping. I had to season the dish on the table. On top of that, my daughter let the server know that she had peanut allergies. When one of the sides were served, there were peanuts on it. My daughter saw it and avoided it, but the server did not tell the kitchen to not put peanuts on it or warn us about it. He later on came to say oh I forgot to tell you that there's peanuts on this dish. There was no damage done. But there could be.

    Photos
    Ella Dining Room and Bar - Ella Caesar Salad

    Ella Caesar Salad

    Ella Dining Room and Bar - The Real Gin & Tonic

    The Real Gin & Tonic

    Ella Dining Room and Bar - Oysters on the Half Shell

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    Oysters on the Half Shell

    Historic Star Lounge - Hashbrowns Lyonnaise

    Historic Star Lounge

    4.4(302 reviews)
    1.5 miMidtown
    $$$

    Having not been here in over a year, there have been a lot of changes! 1. No more happy hour food…read more2. You cannot walk up the wooden stairs to the third floor 3. Definitely new management! As for the food: 1. The grilled shrimp were nice and firm and well grilled. Enjoyed them a lot 2. The hash brown fries were pretty unique and definitely a must get. It comes with a nice creamy sauce that you want to dip everything in. Only criticism is the prices. Didn't really order a lot of food with two appetizers, but I paid two main entree type prices for them. Were that great? Definitely! Just be aware up front if this is a factor.

    Great food great drinks and above and beyond service! The place is beautiful and sophisticated…read more For my first drink I ordered a martini. This is my first classic martini (unlike lychee martinis I've had before at other places). My server asked how I like it, with olive juice or with lemon twist or another option I don't remember. To be honest I don't know how I like it because it's is my first classic martini. So I was honest with him. I said I'll do whatever you recommend because I wanted to try a classic martini cuz I've been watching Gossip Girl. I felt silly admitting I wanted a martini because of a tv show. But my server actually did his research and found that Blair (a main character in the show) likes her martini with a lemon twist. And that is the martini I got. He brought frozen glass and poured the drink on the spot. It was such a vibe and a great drink. For food I got the grilled prawns. This dish is delicious and goes so well with my martini! For my second drink I got the shiso fresh. I was debating between two drinks and asked my server for suggestions. He is absolutely right with this recommendation. Shiso fresh is refreshing and sweet but not too sweet. I loved it. Service is wonder and drinks are tasty. I can't wait to come back!

    Photos
    Historic Star Lounge - Rich interior with high ceilings

    Rich interior with high ceilings

    Historic Star Lounge - Whole roasted game hen

    Whole roasted game hen

    Historic Star Lounge - Lovely interior

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    Lovely interior

    Citizen Capitol Craft House - Espresso martini

    Citizen Capitol Craft House

    4.3(106 reviews)
    1.3 miDowntown
    $$

    I have to say the food was good. The smash burger was a hit. The ribeye was a little lacking in…read moreflavor and thickness - lol. But the veggies were good. Their devil eggs were ok. The service was decent. They did forget to tell us about happy hour until we had ordered - but no worries. The space is well organized. Lots of dark woods and comfortable leather. There is a nice big bar in the middle of the space. Large selection of libations. My cocktail was very tasty - a rye and brandy mix.

    Citizen Capital Craft House didn't impress me at all. Unfortunately, the drinks were subpar, and…read morethe food was mediocre at best. The crab roll was probably the biggest disappointment. The smashed avocado was mixed in with the crab, making the whole thing look like a green, mushy roll that wasn't very appetizing. On top of that, it lacked flavor. Even the chips that came with it were bland and desperately needed some seasoning and salt. The fish and chips weren't much better. The batter on the fish was way too thick, which took away from the fish itself. The Caesar salad was also disappointing--the dressing lacked flavor, and it was basically just lettuce topped with a soft-boiled egg. There weren't even any croutons. The only things we really enjoyed were the fries and the fried cauliflower. Those were actually great, but unfortunately, they weren't enough to make up for the rest of the meal. Overall, between the disappointing drinks and lackluster food, I don't see myself rushing back.

    Photos
    Citizen Capitol Craft House - Available alcohol

    Available alcohol

    Citizen Capitol Craft House - Back few days later for this

    Back few days later for this

    Citizen Capitol Craft House - Espresso martini, house margarita

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    Espresso martini, house margarita

    Tower Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated September 2026

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