Like a TGIFriday’s that didn’t sell out

A foggy night in downtown Sacramento

A few of my aunts and uncles lived in Sacramento back in their youth and, when I asked for suggestions of places to go at night in Sacramento, one of them answered immediately with what turned out to be a great place to get a little local flavor, cheap booze, and some pretty tasty burgers. Fanny Ann’s Saloon is in Old Sac and is a 4-level building that was originally, you guessed it, a saloon. There’s kitsch everywhere and license plates nailed to the wall from all over. One Yelper wrote this apt description: “Imagine a universe where a TGI Friday's was actually cool and not a gimmick.”

A few interesting things before you go:

• The place has four levels and the atmosphere on each is different, so check them all. The bar/food counter is on one, an arcade area on another, karaoke on another, and a level with more secluded booth dining.
• The bartenders make STIFF drinks, so make sure you know how you’re getting back to the hotel safely. They also don’t keep tabs, so pay in cash or you can charge $5 to your credit card and get wooden coins to use as payment.
• Be wary of the restrooms; choose your door wisely.
• Good food and drink specials are listed on their website

[ official site ] – [ Yelp ]

Jonge-what’s?

 A Long Beach favorite for decades!

If you feel a little bored on the drive between Pasadena and Anaheim, I would suggest taking a detour through Long Beach. Sure, go ahead and do some sightseeing in the downtown/Seal Beach area because it’s nice, but head north towards the 405 and the airport when you get hungry.

I think this quote from LA Times food writer Russ Parsons sums up the place nicely:

“Its food will never be mistaken for cuisine — nothing is reimagined and garnishes are usually limited to a single sprig of parsley — but over the last 15 years, I would guess that my family has averaged at least two meals a week there, and if I was being completely honest, probably more. If you’re lucky, you have a place like it near you.” [ link ]

Pronounced something like “young ward’s,” I was introduced to Jongewaard’s by a presenter who grew up in the Long Beach area and has been a frequenter of the restaurant for the last 50+ years (she always gets the burger special with a slice of lemon cream pie). If that doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will.

Whatever appeals to you on the menu (to-die-for chicken pot pie), please make sure to get some of their baked goods for desert. Cake, pie, cookies, cinnamon buns, and on and on and on!

Sacramen-thai

Okay, corny title, I know. Simply put, Bangkok @ 12 in Sacramento, CA is an awesome Thai food restuarant just two blocks away from The Sterling Hotel.

Avocado curry, Bangkok @ 12

I tried the Avocado Curry with chicken and was pleasantly surprised. Many of the reviewers on Yelp! [ Yelp! page ] agreed that their curry is great and I'd have to join their ranks. As you can see from the picture, their portion sizes are more suited for 2-3 people, but priced for one. The hotel has a fridge and microwave guests can use, so get the leftovers to-go. $6.95 lunch specials and $2 beers/wine for Happy Hour make this a great option for you or your participants during lunch.

A Program Developer's Take on Things (pg 1 of 5)

Disclaimer: Former BER program developer, Sandy Anderson, has kindly provided her list of favorite restaurants around the country and the following descriptions are verbatim from her notes with the addition of formatting and hyperlinks by myself. Enjoy!

Sandy's Restaurant Reviews - Updated Version for Fall 2000

I always enjoy the opportunity to try out innovative, fresh cooking (or maybe decadent, wonderful cooking). So I thought I'd pass along some of my favorites - if you have favorites, I hope you'll let me know, and I'll add to the list.

Albuquerque (Santa Fe), NM

My favorite is the Coyote Cafe (map) in Santa Fe - incredible southwestern food and well worth a trip to Santa Fe. They also sell some of the spices and sauces in their gift shop.

Alexandria, VA

Try Le Gaulois (map) for great country French cooking. It's in Old Town on King Street - great fireplace for a cold winter day.

Anaheim, CA

If you're int he mood for Italian, consider Pavia in the Anaheim Hilton (map). The prawns were incredible. Tutto Mare (map) in Newport Beach offers upscale contemporary dining at reasonable prices. They always feature a wide assortment of fresh seafood and shellfish. You can eat to your heart's content and then shop until your plastic melts at Fashion Island (map) right next door. The sushi restaurant at the Disneyland Hotel (map) has excellent sashimi and roll assortments created by a talented crew from the Land of the Rising Sun using only the freshest ingredients. Try the Ahi roll or California Roll - they're outstanding.

Atlanta, GA

Buckhead has a number of restaurants that are outstanding, but one of my favorites is Cafe Tutu Tango (map), which serves incredible tapas. They also have one in Orlando.

Boston, MA

If you like seafood, try Legal Sea Foods (map). There are several of them in the Boston area.

Chicago, IL

The list is unending, but some of my favorites are Cafe Spiaggia (map) near the Drake Hotel (map) serving Italian, the Cape Cod Room in the Drake Hotel with incredible seafood soups and chowders, Prairie in the Hyatt on Printers Row (map) where I had a portabello salad, and Cafe La Cave (map) near the airport for wonderful seafood and/or Italian food. A new favorite is Maggiano's (map) for Italian food - the portions are oversized so plan on sharing or eating a lot - there are multiple locations, including downtown, Oak Brook, Schaumberg, and Arlington Heights.