Morgan's Mill Cafe in Woodland, Ca

 

Morgan's Mill has become a frequent Saturday tradition for my family as it provides excellent food and drink in a relaxing and beautiful environment. It's location in Woodland is a bit tucked away, but it is definitely worth finding. Morgan's Mill has plenty of charm and you'll leave with a satisfied belly!

Food -
The menu at Morgan's Mill isn't very large. There are a good amount of coffees, but the food selection is limited to a few (but very good) items.

If you're into coffee, Morgan's Mill is definitely worth checking out. The coffee here is smooth and well prepared. Jenn, in particular, really loves the coffee here as it has a more mild feel to it as compared to places like Temple or Philz. It certainly doesn't kick as hard, so if that's what you're looking for, this place may be the place you need to go for your coffee fix!

In terms of food, you can order a variety of waffles, avocado toast, a breakfast burrito or sandwich, and pastries. The pastry selection comes from Woodland's own Zest West - which is a GREAT pastry location.

The hot items are very well portioned and will definitely fill you up. I also have found that the ingredients used are very fresh. Though there aren't too many items, the items that are offered are of a very high quality. I'd happily come here for any of their food items than a standard breakfast nook with a larger menu.

Service/Atmosphere -

The service at Morgan's Mill is friendly, but what really sets Morgan's Mill apart is the atmosphere. There is a very large outdoor area with different types of seating to enjoy. You can sit a traditional cafe style tables or on patio furniture style seats. It's a large area so social distancing can be easily achieved.

The inside of Morgan's Mill is beautiful as well. There is a rustic feel to the interior that is welcoming and very picture worthy!

Price -
You would think that the prices here may be on the upper end of the spectrum, but it's actually the opposite. The food and drink here are moderately priced - especially for the portions that you receive. Taking the family here on weekends and getting the bill I am always surprised at the total cost - it's always lower than I thought it would be!

Special Tips and Recommendations -
I really love the breakfast burrito that they have here. Unlike the kind that you might find at a greasy spoon, the burrito here is clean tasting and won't leave you bogged down for the rest of the morning.

Bottom Line - 
Morgan's Mill is a wonderful place to start the morning. If you're in Woodland, it's a MUST-GO! 

Letter Grade

A

The beautiful exterior or Morgan's Mill.

Pastries are from Zest West.

Grub Thai is Worth a Visit!

I wasn't planning on visiting Grub Thai today, but I was out in midtown and was looking for a lunch spot. Grub Thai had many positive reviews and I was in the mood for Thai so I decided to check it out. I'M SO GLAD I DID! Grub Thai is a gem of a restaurant and if you blink, you'd definitely miss it. I actually drove past it a couple times before figuring out where it was. Though it may be easy to overlook, don't do it. Grub Thai is worth your time!

Food -
You'll find all your favorite Thai dishes here, but when I went I had to go for the pad thai and crispy tofu. These are the dishes I use to measure how good a Thai restaurant is. I was pleased to find out that both dishes were excellently made.

The crispy tofu dish was presented gorgeously. I'm usually fine with restaurants just tossing the tofu sloppily onto a plate. It's not big deal as long as the food is good... but here at Grub Thai the food was carefully and thoughtfully presented in an appetizing way. And it tasted as good as it looked! The tofu was crispy and had some bit to it. The real deal sealer was the green leaves on top. They were fried perfectly and gave the dish a fun textural element.

The pad thai impressed me by its subtlety. I've had many pad thais where the flavor was just too strong. That's not the case here. I felt the pad thai was balanced well without any flavor being too overpowering. I really dislike it when cooks use too much fish sauce in pad thai. It just ruins it. Well, that doesn't happen here. If the pad thai is an indication, the rest of the dishes here should have the same deft of hand in how its prepared.

Service/Atmosphere -

During the COVID pandemic, Grub Thai has outdoor seating on the sidewalk. Thankfully, the sidewalk area is quite large and has enough room for a few tables. To keep things hands free, you can scan the menu on your phone to look at the menu - so smart! The waitress that served me was very polite and friendly. Definitely a well run restaurant!

Price -
Pricing at Grub Thai is moderate. It's certainly not the cheapest place to eat, but it's on par with any other Thai restaurant. I do feel that the portions at Grub Thai are well sized so that you are full by the end of the meal.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
Be sure to check in on Yelp as they offer a 20% off deal on your first visit. That's a nice deal!

Bottom Line - 
Grub Thai is a wonderful Thai food restaurant that is well worth a visit. It can be a little hard to find and easy to overlook, but don't pass this excellent restaurant up!

Letter Grade

A

Up close and personal with the pad thai.

Krispy Krunchy Chicken Found inside BurgerIM!

I was walking around downtown Davis when I spotted signs that said Krispy Krunchy Chicken. I'd seen this brand before, but had never come across a restaurant location. Krispy Krunchy Chicken is actually located inside of BurgerIM in Davis. I believe Woodland also has one situated inside of a gas station. At first I thought that Krispy Krunchy Chicken had taken over BurgerIM's spot, but no... both are in full operation.

Food -

Krispy Krunchy Chicken serves up cajun style fried chicken. It's very much similar to that of Popeye's. They also have fried shrimp that you can order if you like. On my visit, I went for the cajun tenders. The four piece meal was nicely portioned as the tenders themselves were quite large. Most places have lots of breading on a thin strip of chicken. These were good cuts of chicken with just the right amount of breading.

The fried chicken pieces that I saw on display also looked perfectly fried. I would have actually ordered the chicken, but sadly they only had a few select pieces of chicken available at my time of ordering. It was right at noon when I went, so it was a bit odd not to have a fully stocked case.

The tenders were good, but there was a slight hint of oil taste to them that put me off just a little. Dipping it in the original sauce that came with the meal helped, but I definitely wasn't a fan of that oily aftertaste.

The best thing in my order was actually the biscuit that came with the meal. It was very flaky with a texture that broke apart as you ate it. The top was glazed over with a sweet butter sauce that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Service/Atmosphere -

The restaurant was in a bit of a messy state due to COVID - which is understandable, but the BurgerIM ordering screens were off. They had to tape some paper menus up for people to select items from BurgerIM. I thought this was a bit rag tag and could have been better. The cashiers were extremely friendly and I appreciated their warmth.

Price -
The prices at Krispy Krunchy Chicken are on par with those of KFC and Popeyes. My meal (without drink) was about seven dollars. That may seem a little high, but the 4 pieces of chicken tenders I got were pretty large and filled me up very well. 

Special Tips and Recommendations -
I suggest ordering a few of their biscuits when going to Krispy Krunchy Chicken. They are very different than any other biscuits that I've had and they have a blueberry version available!

Bottom Line - 
Krispy Krunchy Chicken is hit or miss when it comes to their overall performance as a restaurant. I'd like to like it more, but they have some missteps to clean up first.

Letter Grade

C

I highly recommend these delicious biscuits.

Look at those meaty chicken tenders!

Delish Pizza takes over the old Pizza Hut location in Woodland

Recently the Pizza Hut in Woodland closed down. Now the closest Pizza Hut is way out in Sacramento, which is inconvenient because Pizza Hut used to have a free pizza program for kids who read books during the school year. That whole thing is now out the window! In its stead, Delish Pizza has taken root. It wasn't on the plan to try, but according to Yelp, it is a great place for pizza. Let's see if they're right!

Food -

Delish Pizza serves up pizza, pasta, wings, and dessert. It's pretty much the standard in pizza joints anywhere in any city in America. As it turns out, there are a few locations scattered across the Sacramento region, with Woodland being one of them.

The pizza honestly reminds me of the pizza from Pizza Guys. From the crust to the toppings, the pizza has a familiarity to it. If I'm being really nitpicky, I would say that the crust here is just a little better than Pizza Guys'. There's a little bit more crunch and a little bit more flavor in this crust. It's not by much, but I could definitely tell.

As for the rest of the pizza, it was just as I expected it to be. It's good, honest pizza that you'd expect - nothing more, nothing less. It's satisfying and the ingredients have a good freshness to them. If you get the pizza here, you'll be satisfied. Is it mind blowing pizza? Nope. But it doesn't have to be, especially at the prices they have.

I have no complaints about the pizza here and would happily order from here anytime I have a craving for a pie. If I'm looking for something really different and special, I'd probably go elsewhere.

Service/Atmosphere -

I ordered the pizza online so there wasn't much to the experience inside. The person at the register greeted me and got my pizzas right to me very quickly. The interior of the restaurant is very small, just a counter with a menu above it so there's nothing to write home about in terms of atmosphere.

Price -
Make sure you check online for their deals. I was able to get a large specialty pizza and a one topping pizza for under $30. The pizzas are of good size so those guys will last me multiple meals. Delish Pizza is right on par with places like Pizza Guys and Pizza Hut. Pricing is very similar - definitely under Round Table pricing.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
If you come in and pick up your pizza, and your order is over $20, you get a free 2-liter bottle of soda! If you're ordering from Delish, chances are that you're in Woodland anyways, so might as well save the delivery charge AND get something for free!

Bottom Line - 
Delish Pizza is a no nonsense place to get a good pizza pie. I can scarf down slices of Delish easily as it is exactly the quality and price I look for in an everyday pizza.

Letter Grade

B

On the corner of a small strip mall shopping plaza.

The crust is medium in every way.

Madar Modern Afghani Street Food

Jenn and I are big fans of Afghani food, and we're so glad that we have House of Shah near us to enjoy whenever we would like, but it's always good to branch out and see what's out there. We went out to Marconi Ave to give Madar a try. Madar is very highly rated on Yelp and we wanted to see what all the fuss was about!

Food -

Unlike House of Shah, Madar serves up a street food style menu. These items are ones that you can pick up and eat on the go. House of Shah offers more of a 'sit-down' style experience. On the menu are things like hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, bolani, and sliders. There are also a number different types of french fries available. To be honest, the entire menu looked amazing, but we had to narrow our choices and make a careful decision of what to eat this lunch hour.

I ended up going with the crispy chicken sandwich. It was a toss up between that and the chapli burger. I'm sure the chapli burger is great, but the crispy chicken sandwich blew my mind! The chicken was very well seasoned and spiced (but not in a hot way). There were flavors upon flavors in the chicken and in the sandwich too. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this sandwich! It has got to be one of the best chicken sandwiches in town. I tell you... I've been on a chicken sandwich hot streak lately! Sacramento has some AMAZINGLY good chicken sandwiches... and this is right there with the best!

I also ordered some 'Merica fries. Once the cashier said blue cheese I was sold on them. These thicker cut fries are done to a perfect golden color and topped with blue cheese sauce and chili flakes. The toppings give the fries a similar look to the Urban Fries at Jack's Urban Eats. These fries had a bold, hit you in your face flavor that was delicious.

All-in-all, the food well exceeded my expectations. There is a ton of flavor at Madar and they make it all with an expert, loving hand.

Service/Atmosphere -

The restaurant is beautiful. Around one of the walls is a black chalkboard with sayings that are meant to inspire. Usually these things around restaurants are a bit cheesy, but the ones here make you want to read them all. The words are uplifting in a way that you don't expect. I also found the servers to be gracious and friendly. 

Price -
Madar doesn't gouge you with prices. My amazing chicken sandwich was about six dollars, and we ended up with 4 items and a drink for about twenty bucks. Not bad at all!

Special Tips and Recommendations -
If you're hungry, try the bolani. The cashier told us that it is a well-portioned entree and will do a good job of filling you up. Add fries and a drink for three bucks and you're all set!

Bottom Line - 
Madar deserves a visit from you! The flavors and atmosphere are top notch with food that you'll be thinking about long after you've finished!

Letter Grade

A

Nice seating options!

Guess what's inside... if you guess potato, you're correct!

'Merica fries.

Zitio Mexican Restaurant in Woodland

Woodland has a ton of Mexican restaurants, and I've been to most of them. Zitio was one that I had not been to yet because its location is in an area that I don't frequent much. I am SO GLAD Jenn suggested that we try this place out. I loved the food here and long story short: I'll be back here again and again and again as the food is just that good!

Food -

Zitio has a small but power packed menu. You can select a from a few appetizers as well as burritos, nachos, street tacos, burrito bowls, and the like. There are many kinds of meats to select from to top off your selection. On our visit to Zitio I got an asada burrito bowl and a chorizo street taco while Jenn chose to get 4 different street tacos.

I started with the chorizo street taco and was absolutely floored by the flavor that was in it. It literally was bursting with savory flavor! The chorizo combined with the radishes and pepper was tantalizingly delicious. I filled myself eating it and I could barely contain myself - it was that good! I kind of want to say it's the best taco I've ever had... or if not best then for sure top three!

The burrito bowl was also excellent. The asada wasn't as flavor packed as the chorizo, but that's a given. The folks at Zitio constructed the bowl so that all the flavors meshed together to create a harmonious melding of all the flavors. I just ate bite after bite and didn't stop until it was completely gone. I told Jenn that I should have ordered more stuff!

Jenn was also very impressed with her tacos. She said that the carnitas were some of the most flavorful that she had ever had.

Woodland does Mexican food right, and Zitio is hands down one of the best!

Service/Atmosphere -

Walking in to the restaurant we were welcomed in a very friendly manner. The servers there were attentive and kind. The food came out quickly with very little wait time. I was impressed with the overall experience there.

Price -
The burrito bowl and other comparable items are a little under $10 each. The appetizers were actually a little more than that. The tacos were about $2.50 or so on average. I'd say the pricing at Zitio is just a smidge higher than other restaurants around town, but not overly high.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
Zitio does their meats right! I'd say to try as many different kinds of meat that you can get. As much as I like the asada (and it is very good), I'd get other meats as they pack in more and better flavors.

Bottom Line - 
I'm pretty sure Jenn and I have found a new favorite Mexican restaurant to frequent in Woodland. Good, flavor packed food is always a huge draw!

Letter Grade

A

When you see this sign, pull in!

I like the branded stickers they put on everything.

Deliciously hot pepper.

Milk Money Donuts

I am a HUGE donut lover and have had Milk Money on my radar for a while now. Donuts are a simple food, so I always am a bit skeptical whenever it comes to a fancy version of it. My curiosity for the high-end donuts at Milk Money got the best of me, so I went out to their location on R Street to give them a try.

Food -

Milk Money has a small selection of items that you can order. It's not like the traditional donut shop down the street where they have a wide selection of all kinds of donuts. Milk Money makes their small selection of donuts for the day and THAT'S IT! When I visited I had the choice three: their signature, a mango donut, and their C&C (cookies and cream). I went for the signature and a C&C. 

The signature donut is the base donut at Milk Money. It has an interesting texture that is unlike any other donut that I've ever had. It falls somewhere between a traditional fried donut and a cake donut. I'd say that these donuts lean toward the cake donuts more as they are more dense than your typical fried donut. But while the donut is denser, it still is easy to eat and has a pleasing amount of chew to it. The signature is moderately sweet even though you can see the glaze on the top. It tasted very fresh and had almost a citrus feel to it.

The cookies and cream donut was the one I preferred of the two. It also had a mild flavor that was very pleasing. It was a bit more smooth in its overall flavor profile. This donut is also a vegan donut.

Milk Money also has ice-cream and donut holes available for purchase but I didn't get around to those on this visit.

Service/Atmosphere -

R Street is a very nice part of Sacramento's downtown area, and you feel that with Milk Money. The storefront is modern and trendy. You definitely get the feeling that you are somewhere that is a bit more posh when you're here.

Price -
The price reflects the atmosphere of the area. I don't think I've ever had a donut that costs as much as the ones here. The total for my two donuts was seven dollars. I could get a bunch of donuts at the donut shop down the street for the same price. These donuts are, however, premium quality... and you pay for that. 

Special Tips and Recommendations -
Milk Money is open late, but they can sometimes run out of donuts early on popular days. I suggest you come as early as you can to make sure you get the donuts you want! Otherwise you'll only be able to get ice-cream.

Bottom Line - 
Milk Money is a unique establishment that provides a lovingly made product. These donuts may be a bit too pricey or particular for some, but worth a try to see if they're for you!

Letter Grade

B

The Milk Money neon sign.

Daily board displaying the types of donuts available.

The signature donut.

Kusina Lumpia Filipino Food

Browsing through Yelp I came across Kusina Lumpia in Natomas. It was rated at 4 1/2 stars out of 5 with over 200 reviews. The pictures of the food looked mouth watering and the reviews were extremely positive. This was definitely a place I had to go check out for myself. 

Food -

There are a number of rice plates that you can select from their main menu along with lumpia and other daily specials. Sadly, I'm not very familiar with Filipino food, so many of the dish names were foreign to me. That makes me SO SAD because I know some of their best dishes must be in there!!!

I'll have to bring a Filipino friend next time and have them help me with the menu. So for today I stuck with the basics. Thankfully, there were pictures of the food on the main menu to help me decide what to get. I ordered the meat plate, some bbq pork skewers, lumpia, and halo halo. The beef plate was for my mom - which I didn't get to try, but the food that I did eat I enjoyed very much.

I started off with the halo halo. Usually the halo halo would be the final thing to eat, but it was a hot day and we had a drive back to Woodland before eating the meal so I just dug into the halo halo. The halo halo was topped with ube ice cream and flan. The middle consisted of ice and coconut milk with the bottom having sweet beans and jellies. Mixing it all together created a unique taste sensation. The cold dessert was perfect for a hot day and something I would definitely order again.

The lumpia was the first savory item I had when I returned home from getting the take-out. The shell was thin and crispy. I found the lumpia easy to just scarf down quickly. I thought that getting 10 was a bit much. NOPE. The sweet and sour sauce that came with it was the icing on the cake. It brought a tang to each bite that made you want to go back for more. It was a pretty small cup of sauce... I actually ran out before I finished the lumpia. I'll have to ask for 2 on my next visit.

As for the main dish, my bbq pork skewers, they really blew my mind. They were charred but still tender on the inside. The blackened outer part was glistening and invited me to take bite after bite. Combining the meat with the fried egg and flavorful rice created a mixture of tastes that was just right. It was a simple entree of meat, egg, and rice, but putting it together was perfection. The meal was very satisfying and enjoyable.

Service/Atmosphere - 
The outside of the building Kusina Lumpia is at doesn't look like too much. They are part of a strip mall with lots of other food places. Kusina is actually a bit hard to find as the front of the store doesn't face the parking lot. You have to go around the building to actually get to the entrance. I wonder if that hinders business.

The person at the register was friendly and helpful, but ordering on the spot we had to wait about 15 minutes before we got our food. I think it's best to call in the order and then just pick it up when it is done.

Price -
The overall price at Kusina is moderate. You'll be paying around ten dollars a plate and around seven/eight dollars for 10 pieces of lumpia. The only item that I think is on the more expensive side is the halo halo at about eight dollars.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
I suggest you take a look at some of the grocery items inside Kusnina Lumpia. Besides boxed items, you'll find a section with some great breads. One of the ube breads looked especially appetizing. 

Bottom Line - 
Kusina Lumpia is an excellent restaurant and mini grocery store. There are many authentic Filipino dishes that you can order if you know what they are. If not, you really can't go wrong with some of the simple entrees shown on the main menu.

Letter Grade

A-

This is the front of the restaurant on the other side of the parking lot.

Vegetable lumpia.

Beef with egg over rice.

Halo halo.

Saigon Corner in Natomas

I was still in the mood for a sandwich today so I looked up some places that I hadn't been before. Saigon Corner came up as a place to get banh mi sandwiches. A banh mi is a Vietnamese sandwich that comes on a french roll. There are many varieties to select from, but I really enjoy the grilled pork version. Vietnamese grilled pork is a favorite of mine.

Food -

Saigon Corner isn't just a sandwich shop. They also serve traditional Vietnamese dishes like pho and rice plates. I took my family here and while I ordered the banh mi, they went for some of the other items. There was plenty of seating room in the dining area, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we got our food to go.

Everything was packed up very nicely. The pho, which was the hardest item to have to-go, came in a nice wrapped up container for the soup with all the meat and veggies in their own container. It just needed to be combined when eaten. The rice plate that we ordered came self contained with a healthy portion of meat along with some veggies and sauce.

The banh mi was excellent. The french roll was nice and crunchy on the outside with a soft interior. It combined the fresh taste of the vegetables inside with the savory taste of the grilled pork. The hot pepper inside it added a strong heat that I enjoyed feeling. For those who don't want it to be too spicy, the pepper is easily removed. There is no taste like a banh mi sandwich, so if you've never had it before, it's worth a try! Because it can be such a foreign taste, it may not be for everyone. This is not a roast beef or turkey sandwich. It's a whole 'nother animal!

In the greater world of banh mis, I'd say that the ones here at Saigon Corner are top notch. They are not fancy or pretentious. Some places try to put their own spin on the banh me and end up complicating it too much. The banh mis here are your tradition Vietnamese sandwiches done exactly right!

To wash it all down I ordered a boba tea drink. Yes! They have boba tea here! I ordered my favorite flavor, taro, and thought it was an above average version of the drink. It had a milky sweet quality that I liked a lot. I'd say that the sweetness level here is just above average, so if you like your drinks less sweet, you may want to tell them that when you order.

Service/Atmosphere - 
Saigon Corner is quite large and has a lot of space inside. There is actually a little section in the restaurant for a tiny Asian grocery store. You can buy rice, Asian treats, noodles, and many other items. My mom actually stopped and purchased a few things for herself. I found the service to be very friendly and patient as we navigated the menu. 

Price -
The prices at Saigon Corner are moderate and a good value for what you pay. The banh mis were around six and seven dollars with the rice plates and pho around ten. I'd say it's the average price you'd expect to pay for Vietnamese food in the area, and it won't break the bank.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
Don't sleep on the desserts that you can buy right next to the cash register. I picked up a green jelly dessert and thoroughly enjoyed it. It had a sweet bean/coconut taste that reminded me of Asian desserts I had as a kid. 

Bottom Line - 
Saigon Corner is a great choice for Vietnamese food. Whether you feel like a sandwich or a rice plate, this place has you covered! The price is right and the portions won't leave you hungry. I'm a fan of Saigon Corner and I'll be paying more visits to this place in the near future!

Letter Grade

A

They have taro milk tea and other boba drinks!

The inside of a banh mi.

Vermicelli noodles and grilled pork.

Dessert with a mildly sweet taste.

Corti Brothers Sandwiches

Jenn told me to try Corti Bros sandwiches because I had a hankering for something fresh. I'd never heard of it, but Jenn said it was very highly regarded so I went ahead and drove out there. Corti Bros is near Sacramento State - not an area that I go to too often for food, but if there are places like Corti Bros around there... I'm definitely going more often!

Food -

So it turns out that Cori Bros is actually a grocery store with a killer deli section. The store itself looks to be on the older side of things, but I like the feel of it quite a bit. It's not sleek and modern, but feels like a nicely run grocery store from yesteryear. Before I talk about the sandwich I got here, I have to mention that I was impressed with the food selection at the store. They had a nice selection of local breads to select from as well as some items I have not seen at the places I shop at for groceries. I ended up picking up some things besides the sandwich I wanted to try!

As for the sandwich, it was large, filling, and very fresh tasting. It was exactly what I wanted today and I loved every bite. I chose a nice, crunchy sourdough roll. The roll had a nice semi-crunchy exterior with a softer inside. It held the large sandwich together well, but it wasn't a lot of work to chew through. All the ingredients were stacked high in the sandwich.

The meat inside had a thicker cut that normal. I am someone who enjoys very thinly sliced meat, so I was skeptical at first when I saw the size of the meat. My apprehension disappeared when I bit into the sandwich. Despite the thickness of the meat, it wasn't tough or chewy. The meat was satisfying without feeling too heavy as thick meats often do. It was a pleasant surprise that I appreciated greatly. 

As an extra treat to myself I added both avocado and bacon to the sandwich. It was a total splurge and half of it was worth it. The avocado was the better of the two. It brought in that buttery avocado flavor and heightened the sandwich for me. The bacon was a colder, thick cut bacon that actually added to the chewiness of the sandwich in a negative way. It wasn't too bad tasting or anything, it just wasn't needed. I would have preferred a crispy hot piece of bacon in there. Live and learn, I guess!

Service/Atmosphere - 
The service was great! I really liked the system that Corti Bros had for ordering the sandwiches. For those introverts out there, this should be right up your ally! The deli has a section with slips of paper and pencils for you to fill out the exact sandwich you want. Just put in the information and set it in the basket and it will get picked up and made! Simple! There is even a space at the bottom for you to write in any special instructions. The whole operation is very organized. It has to be, I guess, as otherwise there would be absolute pandemonium at high volume times.

Price -
My sandwich with the added avocado and bacon didn't come cheap. In total it was $11.99 - quite high for a sandwich. I'd say that you'll pay a little premium for a sandwich here than some other places... but not too much higher as sandwich prices have definitely risen the past few years. I just had a meal from Sourdough and Co. a couple weeks ago and my soup and sandwich meal was seventeen dollars. Yikes.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
If you're really in a hurry, you can go to their online site to order from. There was a big board at the deli stating where online orders could be picked up. Seems really convenient. I wasn't sure a place like Corti Bros would have an online system, but they do!

Bottom Line - 
Corti Bros is an excellent place to get a sandwich in Sacramento. It's a grocery store, so it might not be the most obvious choice for a good deli sandwich, but it's a place that I highly recommend! And go do some shopping while you're at it!

Letter Grade

A

This sandwich is THICK!

Shake Shack at the Ice Blocks

Despite a resurgence of COVID-19 worries in recent days, Shake Shack opened their doors for business in Sacramento. The famous hamburger chain is located in the trendy Ice Blocks on R Street. I visited on a beautiful afternoon and found that many of my fellow Sacramentans had the same idea as I did - to give this new place a try! 

Food -
I have had Shake Shack once before on a recent visit to San Diego. I enjoyed the food I had then, but I was a bit rushed during that visit. Today I had the chance to savor the food and really give it a good evaluation.

Today I ordered their standard burger as well as the hotdog and fries. Getting a shake would have been a great idea as well, but I opted for their craft root beer as getting a shake and a hamburger and a hotdog and fries seemed to be a bit much.

I've got to say that the hamburger was much better than I remember. It's a very soft and easy to eat burger with the bun and meat just melting and melding together. There's also cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes to accent all the flavors, but the whole thing is bang on. It's not an overly large burger. It's a quarter pound burger that's cooked just right. The whole thing has a ton of flavor that I attribute that to their never frozen proprietary blend of meat. It's definitely one of the better burgers I've had and would happily come back here over and over get some.

The fries are of the crinkly variety. Something that I really appreciated was the fact that the fry box had ventilation so that the fries didn't get soggy. Soggy fries are the absolute worst so having that little bit of ingenuity was appreciated greatly. The fries had a nice crunch to them and did a decent job of filling me up. I wouldn't say these fries are crave-worthy. The burger is... but these fries are just a nice partner... definitely not a star.

My least favorite item of the day was the hot dog. The bun was good (soft like the burger buns), but the wiener lacked the plump juiciness that I like. It comes split in half and you get to put ketchup, mustard, and mayo in yourself if you like. The taste was rather one-note and it is an item that I will avoid getting on subsequent visits to Shake Shack.

Besides getting a shake next time, the mushroom burger looks like a real winner. I'm going to have to taste that on my next visit. Currently Shake Shack Sacramento is operating on a limited menu, but hopefully in time they will have everything that Shake Shack offers across the nation.

Service/Atmosphere - 
The doors to Shake Shack are open, but there is no dining it. There is a table outside for you to line-up and get your order taken care of. I found that the employees at Shake Shack were efficient and friendly at their jobs, but it was hard to gauge the service due to the COVID-19 restrictions changing how things normally operate. I will say, however, that the restaurant looks gorgeous and modern - a place that would be a pleasure to frequent.

Price -
Burgers at Shake Shack go between six and eight dollars. It's a bit expensive - especially since the burgers are so easy to eat and seemingly disappear quickly from your hands once you begin eating. You are paying for the quality though - and these burgers warrant the slightly higher price. All of the bags and materials at Shake Shack are of nice quality as well, so you do feel like you're getting a premium experience from the restaurant.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
I suggest downloading the Shake Shack App for your phone and ordering ahead of time. Because of the long lines during peak hours, the App will get your order and and let you know via text when your food is ready. It's pretty much a must-have.

Bottom Line - 
It's great that Sacramento finally has a Shake Shack to call their own. It's a restaurant that is worth a visit with burgers that are all their own. I'd certainly enjoy visiting the Shack anytime as it is really that good!

Letter Grade

A

Excellent burger construction.

Crinkly fries.

The hot dog.