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    Magpie Cafe

    4.3 (765 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
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Magpie Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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!

    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.

    Burger
    Stephanie S.

    This place has been on my must try list for forever and I was finally able to check it out for date night. It's a nice casual spot for dining with great drinks and great food. Service is friendly and their menu is on rotation. We decided to try the pomegranate mint fizz cocktail and it was nicely balanced and the vodka wasn't noticeable at all. I ordered the gnocchi and my husband ordered the burger. The gnocchi was extremely fluffy and delicious; it just melted in my mouth. The burger was cooked perfectly, and even though it only has pickles and cheese, it was the best tasting burger I've ever tried. Will definitely be visiting again!

    Lamb chop
    Hannah S.

    We went for Valentine's Day and the food was fresh and delicious. Filling but not in a way that makes you feel sick and stuffed. The lamb chop was amazing!! Perfect ambience for a nice dinner and a glass of wine.

    Brian H.

    Went to dine on a busy Friday night and the host was super nice and he was able to sit three of us with no reservations in about 20ish minutes. The drinks were great and the Pilsner was really good. The food was the perfect amount of portion and the Burger was top notch. Service throughout the night was stellar and wanted to thank them for a great experience.

    Western Lamb Chop
    Carine B.

    DINNER REVIEW: Stopped into Magpie on a Tuesday night around 7:30 PM for dinner. Magpie has been on my list of places I wanted to check out for a while so this was really exciting for me. I appreciate farm-to-table/local farmer restaurants and dining. I ordered: * Farmer Fritto * Crudo (scallop) * Western Lamb Chops The farmers fritto was 4/5. Texture of the fried batter was incredible and the vegetables remained al dente. What I didn't love was the sweet mayonnaise type of sauce served with this dish and the fried bell pepper...it's a weird vegetable to batter and fry because of its water content. I enjoyed the string beans, artichoke, carrot, and zucchini. Everything tasted fresh and I would order again. The scallop crudo was delicious. Although it probably deserves a five, I give it a 4/5 because when it arrived to my table I could not help but notice the strong scent of raw fish/seafood. The fresh pluots and cilantro added a lovely brightness to the dish, as well as a subtle contrast of sweet to savory/salty. I loved, conceptionally, the teeny dollops of pluot sorbet but I struggled to decide if it did anything for the dish other than add lovely pop of color and more sweetness. If you love seafood and scallops, it's definitely worth the try. Finally, I settled on the lamb chops. It took me a few bites to settle into the dish and decide...4/5 is where I'm landing. The dish seemed middle eastern inspired, pulling together baba ganoush, summer squash, cherry tomato, pickles, fresh herbs and sumac yogurt. Instead of the roasted eggplant flavor that I was excited for, it was giving more "hummus" than baba ganoush. Yummy still. Cherry tomatoes were excellent and I'm not even a huge tomato person. The vegetables again were al dente and the pickles were a nice touch. What made this dish for instead of a five for me was the glob of sumac yogurt that was dumped on top of one of the two lamb chops. The yogurt was cold and I would have preferred a little off to the sides. The restaurant is dimly lit, and I loved the music selection. The music was not loud, but at the right volume to where you could hear it, but still enjoy conversation with others. The staff was very friendly and attentive. I would return to magpie and it is somewhere I would recommend for those who appreciate local menus.

    Menu 12.2025
    Amy T.

    Last time I was at Magpie Cafe was at their previous location. We visited this time during lunch. Restaurant wasn't too busy. Ordered a small plate, salad, and large plate for sharing. The pork schnitzel was very good. Creamy mashed potatoes. Apple sauce and cabbage were great accompaniments. Really loved the freshness of the food. Saw crates of fresh vegetables brought in the side of the restaurant. I appreciate living in a place where we have access to year round fresh produce. Service was just ok today.

    Bay shrimp and avocado salad with grapefruit slices and sardine toast
    Leneisha C.

    This is one of my FAVORITE SALADS IN SACRAMENTO!! It's light crisp and refreshing. The avocado makes it super filling and pairs well with the grapefruit slices...and who doesn't like shrimp!! I believe it's also served with crab. And the sardine toasts are a MUST!!! IFYKYK

    Roasted Organic Nante Carrots

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    5 months ago

    Such good food at this place. Their bar is excellent too with a good selection of cocktails and wine. A Sacramento classic.

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    Page 1 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

    Dive Bar

    Dive Bar

    3.2(988 reviews)
    0.6 miDowntown
    $$

    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

    If you want to be charged a cover to get into a place where you'll be comepletely ignored by…read morebartenders, harassed by security and patrons and allegedly have to worry about your drink being accompanied by something a little extra...just so you can see a "mermaid" swim around in a fish tank then this is the perfect place for you. The bar tenders have horrible customer service even when the bar isn't busy. It seems like they rather hang out and chat with regulars and friends than serve paying customers. The security guards we're blatantly discriminating against my friend for no good reason. Also, security apparently accepts bribes at the front door to let people in, so much for safety. The drinks were in my opinion overpriced and didn't taste good. Maybe I'm biased because my whole experience here put a complete sour taste in my mouth. Then, to top it all off my friends and I were being harassed by two patrons who had clearly been overserved the entire time we were there. We had no choice but to leave and we will never be back again! After visiting I wanted to leave a review because I felt other people should steer clear. To my surprise, I read reviews here that mentioned almost the exact experience we had. So, this is not an isolated incident and Dive Bar has not taken our comments into consideration. Disclaimer: I did not have this experience, but it was very disheartening to see all the reviews, tik toks, reels, etc. I found after visiting Dive Bar in which women and men are claiming to have been roofied. This may or may not be true, but it can't be a coincidence this many people have had the same experience. There needs to be an investigation into this bar. I myself will be placing a call to the BBB and I hope that anyone who has had that experience feels empowered to speak to the authorities.

    Photos
    Dive Bar
    Dive Bar - Inside

    Inside

    Dive Bar

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    The Jungle Bird - Jungle Bird

    The Jungle Bird

    3.8(842 reviews)
    0.9 miMidtown
    $$

    We stopped by there yesterday! What an amazing place!!! Ginger was awesome!!! It's a hidden gem!!read more

    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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    The Jungle Bird - Cocktail made with Ube

    Cocktail made with Ube

    The Jungle Bird - Interior seating

    Interior seating

    The Jungle Bird - Piñaiquiri and Plank Walker

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    Piñaiquiri and Plank Walker

    ForePlay

    ForePlay

    4.7(55 reviews)
    0.5 miMidtown

    Excellent stop to cool off after wandering the Saturday Sacramento Midtown Market!…read more SITREP Located right on K Street a block down from the Midtown Market's main channel up & down 20th Street, ForePlay is a fun stop that is full of LOTS of distractions of fun and drink to escape the heat. THE SETUP It would be imprecise to call ForePlay just an arade because it also brings in some of the fun carnie elements you'd catch at a State Fair. One of the more eclectic elements is the axe-throwing range! Tons o' fun. FULL BAR The most beneficial aspect of this stop was the full bar, which - after a couple of hours of heat in the sun while wandering the Midtown Market stalls - was a wonderful treat. Coool beer! There is random parking along the streets and some rare off-street parking lots, but limited parking during events. THE LOWDOWN This is a great stop from to duck into from the heat, or for groups making the rounds. I enjoyed watching a bridal shower when I was here!

    Sad to report this place wasn't somewhere I plan to return…read more Half the pinballs machines didn't work. Three of the machines got the ball stuck and wouldn't allow me to keep playing. With each game costing one to two dollars I felt a little ripped off I couldn't even finish my game of three balls. The pool table me and my friend played on was quite frankly disgusting. Tons of stains on the table and felt peeling. The balls all chipped and scratched. Also there was some issue with something being stuck when the game was first setup with my friend putting it together but I wasn't paying attention. He had to flag down a worker to help resolve the issue. I get it, things are pricey these days, so a newer business has to find a deal when they can, but at least find a way to improve an already overly used item. I don't expect brand new pool tables, but at least tables that look like the business cares Not to mention the ground and walls were just dirty and gross. Seemed like nobody is really cleaning the place. All the tables tops seemed sticky (if you know you know). The velvet lounge just kinda seemed like a random thrown together area, but maybe on a slow Monday it didn't feel right with lack of people. The workers were great and gave great service, just sadly all the half run down amenities that is supposed to make this place great, makes it pretty lackluster. I guess come if you want the axe throwing?

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    ForePlay - Arcade games pool table & tables

    Arcade games pool table & tables

    ForePlay - Signs

    Signs

    ForePlay - Signs

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    Signs

    Magpie Cafe - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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