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Foundation Restaurant & Bar

3.9 (685 reviews)
ModerateNew American, Bars
Open 11:30 am - 8:30 pm
Updated 2 months ago

Foundation Restaurant & Bar Photos

Business Info

FOUNDATION RESTAURANT & BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Happy hour specials
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Foundation Restaurant & Bar

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Obligatory first  date bathroom flick
Malikah H.

Came here on a date for dine downtown and so much yes. Didn't want to be"that person" and be snapping pics lol so just use you imagination. But boy was everything amazing. We both throughly enjoyed our meal from start to finish. 1st Course Both:Baby Spinach Salad 2nd Course Him:Penne Pasta & Grilled Chicken Breast minus broccolini Me:Grilled Salmon Filet We both cleared out plates for the 1st and 2nd course so I'll say it was pretty good. 3rd Course Him:NY Style Cheese Cake Me: Warm Apple Crisp ***Desserts were okay*** I would have liked a bit more sweetness We both had a drink Him:espresso martini he doesn't drink so he said he enjoyed it and it looked perfect Me: glass of red wine can't recall the name but it was delicious It was so lively in the restaurant and I will definitely be coming back for happy hour and definitely another date night. Perfect place for a date or outing with girlfriends or even a solo meal. The server was so great with checking in on us. We were so engaged in conversation we didn't look at the menu for the first 20 min and she was mindful to check on us throughout the night. Overall verdict:10/10 Service-phenomenal. Vibe of the place-stellar Food-so good Date/conversation/ amazing

Grilled Salmon Fillet
Geoff M.

**Came for the Dine Downtown event** Now, to be fair, the food and service were fine. Yelp needs an incremental rating system. I don't like to 'round up'. The overall experience was 3.6/5. Not bad by any means, not stellar, it was cool. Came in on a Thursday night and was seated promptly. Server was fine, the decor was curious, not sure if it is meant to be a sports bar, local bar, tavern, diner or a mix. Food Items: Spicy Fried Green Beans: 3.7/5 - Was fine. Nicely seasoned. Decent portion. New England Clam Chowder: 3.6/5 - Friend said it was fine, wish it was a bit thicker. Braised Beef Short Ribs: 3.6/5 - Friend said it was fine. Short rib was tasty. Potatoes were a bit firmer. They preferred a more smooth mashed potato experience. Grilled Salmon Filet: 4.1/5 - Salmon was cooked very nicely. The dish was heavily sauced, which is a pro/con as it took away from the salmon. Warm Apple Crisp: 3.5/5 - Was fine. More apples, cinnamon and granola. Missed the 'crisp' part of it. And it came with a cream, not ice cream, which was a bit different from the norm. The drinks were fine, average priced. Overall, if you haven't tried them, please do so. Come to your own conclusions. It was fine, service was quick, place was clean.

Pamela F.

I've been into Foundation just a few times over many years, including for Dine Downtown a long time ago. Most recently, I joined a colleague for lunch. We enjoyed friendly, helpful and quick service. I had the grilled steak salad, he had a burger and we split some garlic fries. I requested some extra blue cheese and was pleasantly surprised to get both blue cheese chunks and dressing, so enjoyed both with my salad as well as for dipping some fries. Overall, a pleasant most recent experience. I would gladly return again.

Flatbread pizza
Jay S.

Went to Foundation Restaurant & Bar today with my coworkers for lunch. The inside was actually pretty nice; chill vibe, clean, and comfortable atmosphere, so first impressions were good. I ordered the fish tacos with fries, while my coworkers went for the flatbread pizza. The tacos were decent in flavor. I'd give the taste a solid 7/10 but the portion of fish inside each taco was honestly disappointing. It looked like they tossed in a tiny nugget of fried fish and called it a day. For the price, it felt a bit sad they actually served that. To make things worse, there was no sauce or salsa, just toppings like pico de gallo, cabbage, and a lime wedge. The lack of sauce really made the tacos feel dry and underwhelming. So overall, I'd rate the tacos 5/10 (great flavor potential, poor execution). On the bright side, the ranch that came with the fries was amazing, easily the highlight of the meal! My coworkers said their flatbread pizza was okay but nothing to write home about. Overall, Foundation has a nice vibe but the food didn't live up to it. The service was pretty good though, they filled up my water several times because they serve their water in a tiny cup. I wouldn't come back here unless forced, definitely room for improvement, especially with portion size and flavor balance.

Grilled salmon
Amy T.

We were lucky to get in on a Thursday night to do Dine Downtown with last minute reservation. For the starters, we tried the baby spinach salad and New England clam chowder. Salad had candied pecans, cranberries, and good amount of dressing. Chowder has lots of clams, good flavor. For main courses, we tried braised beef short rib and the grilled salmon filet. Short rib had good seasoning. Mashed potatoes could've used more seasoning. Salmon looked overcooked, but it was crispy on the outside, fine on the inside. It was served on crispy Yukon gold potatoes and thinly sliced zucchini/yellow squash. For dessert, we tried both options. My husband preferred the apple crisp. Service was good. Savannah was our waitress.

Greg S.

We dropped in to Foundation on a Friday night a little later than normal after seeing a show. It was during Dine Downtown week so we wanted to enjoy their pre fix menu. Located right downtown on a corner, there is street and a parking structure nearby. The interior is contemporary and clean in appearance, with lots of windows, a large bar and a separate room for larger groups or parties. The bar was packed with lots of what appeared to be locals as they all seemed to know each other and they all knew the bartenders and servers. Cocktail prices were quite reasonable. Everyone was friendly throughout the evening. Our server was super nice, but quite honestly either new, or a little off her game. Not sure which applied. For the Dine Downtown event we chose a selection from the pre fix menu so we could get a variety of items between us. Food was just ok for us. Good but nothing special in my opinion. We may come back another time that is not the Dine Downtown menu.

Menu for Dine Downtown
Nia C.

I was very excited to try Foundation during the Dine Downtown experience. We did call ahead to place a reservation the day of and were seated fairly quickly after arrival. It was busy and it's not a large restaurant so we were grateful. I found the food to be a hit or miss. Good in some ways and lacking in others. The fried green beans were great and the salad was as good as a simple salad can be. The pasta entrée was on the sweet side for some reason that I did not find pleasant. I did love the salmon and the potatoes and broccolini were cooked perfectly. I would eat that dish again. I found the warm apple crisp dessert to be too sweet and would've loved more crust/crisp with the apple filling and ice cream. I didn't love the sort of jam syrup on top of the cheesecake, but the cheesecake itself was good. I don't know if I would come back here to try more of their dishes based on the dine downtown experience.

Shortrib
Alan J.

Came here for the dine downtown menu tonight. I really want to like this place but it just doesn't get it for me. I like the location and a couple times i've been here at parking seems to have not been an issue. The hostess on this occasion, just as the last couple seemed to be very nice and accommodating. I feel that they are trying to do a very good job. Maybe it's just me.But when i'm seated, I would prefer not to be right next to a bunch of other people. Having some space helps. On this night, it seemed like they were sitting table after table in order from front to back. I would have liked to have it maybe every other table? For our starter, we had the baby spinach salad. This was okay.The dressing was a little vinegary but still. I would have liked the dried cranberries to not have been slumped together.... For the entree, we had the short rib. This came bland lacking seasoning in the meat. The sauce seemed to have good seasoning and flavor however, it was inconsistent part of it was seasoned.Well, part of it didn't seem to have any flavor at all. The mashed potato that came with the meal was very liquidy. This lack consistency, almost as if it were out of a box. The carrots that came with it though my dining companion enjoyed them.I thought was undercooked.I prefer my carrots on a softer side. For a dessert, we had the apple crisp, and in New York cheesecake. The applecrisp was okay, seem to have something kind of crunchy or nutty in it? That kind of distracted from the apple and the whipped cream. I would have preferred apple to be more apple tasting.Instead of sweet and the whipped cream to have more consistency, rather than so light. The cheesecake I felt didn't have a lot of cheesecake flavor to it....and my serving seemed small. The service I felt was also awkward. Timing was an opportunity. There were long waits between appetizer and main course and dessert and the final check. Are servers seeing tentative, though, friendly and seem like she really wanted.If I'll lose you to do a good job. The ambience is good.I like the way the place is set up. If the food were better, the service can be overlooked. The service just needs your little fine tuning.And perhaps some training, however, the food needs some work.

Dried up hot dog
Rick G.

Been coming here for several years and the food has always been really good, but unfortunately Friday night (last kings game) was a serious let down. I ordered off their special menu. Wife ordered the Foundation burger and fries and I ordered the chili cheese dog. We waited appx 40 mins for our food which came out after nearby tables arrived and ordered after us and theirs arrived before ours. The burger was good, but chili cheese dog ($13) was PATHETIC! Rather than return it right away, I took a couple of bites to see if it tasted better than it looked and it was horrible. Asked to talk to the manager and I explained to her that not only that it tasted old, but that I couldn't believe the kitchen would serve that. The hot dog looked like it was grilled several hrs earlier and had very little chili and hard cheese on a hard bun. It was served with tasteless limp coleslaw. The mgr stated that I should have brought it to there attention when it arrived, but I wanted ti try it before passing judgment. I thought she would have made an adjustment on our bill, but nothing! Again, I've had 40± meals here and this was the worst meal ever and the new owners need to get it together or it will be short-lived.

Heather C.

Although this was not the best rated restaurant, we decided to give it a try as part of the dine Sacramento series we came into the foundation restaurant so excited for a three course meal the appetizer that was pretty good was the green beans deep-fried I liked the taste and texture of them My entrée was the beef short ribs, which unfortunately were far from beef short ribs. I would've expected the short ribs to be soft and flavorful, however there was not much flavor other than the sauce on the side the mashed potatoes were plain . The meat Itself was actually on the dry side - very disappointing The salmon, however, was delightful along with the squash, which had a touch of salt and sweets finally for dessert we had the New York cheesecake, which was actually good and the apple crumble, which honestly was not crumbled at all . There should've been more of a crisp to it

House Salad
Vira P.

So I just had the house salad and a glass of wine. But the salad was so delicious that I needed to write a review. The house salad consists of mixed greens with chicken, tomatoes, and avocado with a raspberry vinaigrette. I was worried about the vinaigrette because they can be too sweet, but not this one. It had a good balance among the sweet, tart, and acidic flavors. And the mixed greens weren't bitter at all! The chicken was moist and anything that already comes with avocado is a plus! The white wine I ordered was also delicious! Despite it being a light meal, it was rather filling. Service was really friendly and accommodating as we were a group of six that didn't make reservations. It was a Tuesday night so there weren't many people around the area anyway. The ambiance has steakhouse vibes with its dark decor, but it's not pretentious. The music they were playing was eclectic, from top 40 to some EDM. I'd like to come back here again to try a heavier entree. The menu has some variety, from burgers to fish tacos to Korean chicken.

Ms. Krystall M.

This Italian Cobb Salad was everything! It had grilled chicken, crisp pepperoni, red onion, tomato, cucumbers, croutons, parmesan, egg pepperoncini & Italian dressing. The best salad ever! The service was wonderful even though I did a to go order I had no complaints. The ambiance is beautiful for night with friends or date night. Classy restaurant make a reservation. I will come back

Grilled Salmon & Prawn Risotto
Holly W.

I met up with family for a last-minute dinner before the Kings game, and I'm so glad we were able to get a reservation--most places around the Golden 1 Center were fully booked, but Foundation came through! The location is tucked away on a corner and easy to miss if you're not looking for it, but once inside, it has a cozy, modern vibe. You walk in and are immediately greeted by the bar and a gallery-style dining space that feels both relaxed and lively. Even though the place was packed, the staff was incredibly attentive and friendly. We were seated right away (despite running a few minutes late), and our server made sure we were taken care of throughout the meal. I ordered the risotto with shrimp and salmon, which was a great gluten-free option--super flavorful and cooked perfectly. My family ordered a variety of dishes: spaghetti and meatballs for the kids, chicken fettuccine, beef skewers, a steak salad, and a chicken sandwich with fries. Everything came out quickly and was well-prepared. No complaints across the table! A special highlight was how kind the staff was to my niece--they brought out a brownie with ice cream to help us celebrate her 7th birthday, which was such a sweet and thoughtful touch. Overall, a wonderful experience. I'd definitely return, maybe next time for a girls' night out. Great location, tasty food, and stellar service!

Center Cut Pork Loin

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3 months ago

Excellent service, good food, reasonable prices and close to nearby attractions. There is even an area you can reserve for group gatherings.

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Foundation Restaurant & Bar Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Foundation Restaurant & Bar

Is there any outdoor dining?

Hi Cary, Yes but it's dependent on weather. If it's too windy or rain is in the forecast, we do… Read more

Is there a corkage fee?

Yes. $13 per bottle.

How much room is there in there parking lot and is it park for free?

We do not offer free parking. There is usually plenty of street metered parking and also garages in the surrounding area ($1.50 - $2.00 per 1/2 hour). If there is a schedule event at the Golden 1 Center, it can jump up to $25. Unfortunately this… Read more

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After leaving the Crest Theatre, my girl and I walked across the street to The Dive Bar to end the…read morenight. Security checked our IDs at the door, and once we walked in, the bar area was packed. Luckily, there were reserved booths nobody was using and my girl, and I sat there since the main bar was crowded. It actually worked out perfect for us. It gave us space to sit, relax, and have a good conversation without feeling cramped. We ordered a couple of colorful drinks that were nicely balanced and flavorful, not too overpowering, and easy to enjoy. The music was hip-hop which is right up my alley, so the vibe was definitely on point. What really stood out was the atmosphere. I've never been in a bar quite like this where jellyfish were hanging from the ceiling, and a whole underwater theme. I was told a mermaid appears over the bar at certain times, but sadly, I didn't get to see her this visit. Overall, it was a great spot to end the night after the movie. Good drinks, good music, and a unique sea-themed vibe. If I return, I will hope to see a mermaid

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This little piece of Hawaiian paradise is so much fun! Now that there are a few tiki bars in town…read moreto choose from, the Jungle Bird still holds its own for some kitschy tiki vibes. Think dive bar meets aloha: it's crowded and dark, nicely furnished and decorated with island style, and serves amazing tropical drinks and food. We went recently for the Aftershock 2026 promotion night. First 100 drinks were on them, and they had a raffle for a pair of tickets! There was a long line when we pulled up, but luckily, my friend was able to snag a reservation right at the start of the promo. (Pro tip: always MAKE RESERVATIONS!) I know it's just a bar, but they are so busy most nights, you will be grateful you got in right away and get to sit down at a table. They also have a patio for more seating. The bar itself is small and is right at the front, so it's crowded right as you walk in. The host stand is to the right. Service was very welcoming and polite albeit slow, just for the fact that it was a very busy night. The mai tai and pina colada were delicious, fruity, and strong. We ordered Spam fried rice (my favorite), chicken potstickers (OK), and the coconut shrimp (good and not too sweet). We shared that between 3 people and it was a good snack while we sipped on our tropical drinks, but we were still hungry when we left. It's a good portion for 1-2 people for a meal, and prices were average.

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Foundation Restaurant & Bar - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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