2416 K St.
SACRAMENTO, CA

As I’ve mentioned before in this column, I’m a huge fan of taco trucks, and that same love extends to small “authentic”-feeling joints that sell forearm-sized burritos for $5.50. I don’t know if it’s a case of conditioning, because in college a trip to the taco truck also usually meant stocking up on blunts (which, after gutted and burned, generally makes the food that much better). That said, I generally ride with any truck, red-eyed or sober. I’m so attuned to all the fixings of a super burrito, the excess of every ingredient on a nacho plate and $1.25 tacos that when it comes to any sort of upper echelon Mexican food spot, I never quite enjoy myself. It sounds crazy I know, but it’s like the cheap joints don’t have the setting to entice you so instead they have to earn your adoration with the food alone.

My girlfriend and I headed out to Tres Hermanas for lunch the other day. Located on 2416 K St., Tres Hermanas is a decent sized restaurant with a nice patio, two inside dining areas and a full bar. We arrived at 12:30 and waited in line for while, which attests to the restaurant’s popularity. After settling for a seat at the bar, we were served some freshly made tortilla chips, which is always the first test of a Mexican restaurant. First off, if they charge you for chips, FUCK ‘EM. Complimentary chips should be mandatory, and if it’s obvious that the chips didn’t come in a 10 lbs. bag from Costco, all signs are pointing to quality food. Tres Hermanas passed this test. Scanning the menu, I noticed that there wasn’t anything under $8. I know this sounds like a total cheapskate thing to say, and while there is some truth to that, my only defense is that I’m spoiled by cheap Mexican goodness. In my head I kept thinking, “Well at (insert name here) I could get the same thing for half the price.”

I calmed down and decided on a carnitas burrito, which later proved to be a great choice. My only surprise came when I asked the waiter what came in the burrito, and after foreshadowing my response with a look of surprise he replied, “Well there is some pico de gallo.” I’m telling you, I’m spoiled by slabs of avocado, cilantro, onion, lettuce, tomato and whatever else you can stuff in a burrito, and an empty burrito sounds kind of boring.

When the food arrived, that wasn’t too far off from the truth. I will say that the carnitas was excellent. It was lean, tender and full of flavor. I could have eaten a full plate of it, but it made me wonder why once you wrap something in a burrito it becomes a burrito. It was literally just carnitas in a tortilla, with a little bit of pico thrown in for flavor (they could have easily topped a regular plate of carnitas with the same outcome). The whole thing got devoured, but for $9.50 I expected a lot more. Of course the “burrito” was served with rice that I could have done without and a bowl of black beans that made up for the sub-par rice. I ate everything, so again unlike the cheaper joints, I didn’t have a second meal to take home and enjoy later on, and trust me I budget meals like that. My girlfriend got the vegetarian burrito, which consisted of a bunch of grilled vegetables. She said it tasted good but wished it had the regular burrito fixings of avocado, sour cream, anything that resembled the traditional Californian burrito.

In the end, the food was good, but I felt like I could get more for half the price at the spot down the street. In the case of Tres Hermanas, I think you go there for the full dining experience, so if you’re taking friends or date, it’s a good place, but for the casual lunch burrito, it’s not the spot.

1309 21st Street | Sacramento, California

I never use this phrase, and I mean it in the most endearing and honorary sense, but Pieces Pizza is that crack! In terms of pizza by the slice restaurants, I will go on record as saying that Pieces is quite possibly the best pizza I have ever devoured. It’s the most expensive, but the heartiest and freshest slice you’ll find.

Located on 1309 21st St., across from Washington Mutual, Pieces is a little tricky to spot if you don’t know it exists. An illegible neon sign hangs in the window, but it is best recognized by the many patrons who dine in the restaurant’s outside seating. The atmosphere inside is equally modest, with home-style tables and chairs, a mural and a dizzying amount of flyers for upcoming local shows. One thing that immediately struck me about the joint prior to indulging in my first slice was the music they had playing. On my first visit they were playing Organized Konfusions’ Stress: The Extinction Agenda (I pay very close attention to these things and never forget such trivial moments), and have continually proven their fine taste in music with my every visit. Eating in at Pieces is almost like hanging out in your living room, and while some might scoff at that, I happen to enjoy the low key comfort and casual vibe of the restaurant.

Upon entering, there are always at least three different pizzas to choose your slice from. Pesto and pepperoni are the mainstay slices, and combinations, Hawaiian or vegetarian are also frequently ready. On occasion, you can find more unusual slices like a sun-dried tomato and blue cheese crumble, or maybe a chicken and bacon and slice. If you don’t find something you like, they will make to order, but be prepared to hang out for a minute. One of the restaurant’s defining traits is they use only fresh ingredients. The vegetables are still full of life and taste, and the meats are always juicy and full of flavor. They serve light on the sauce (which I like) and lay on a thick layer of cheese (again, which I thoroughly enjoy). As mentioned, a slice is a little expensive (running from $4 to $6), but they are huge and fitting for an entire meal. A regular slice is often too big to fit entirely on a plate. I’m telling you, one slice is a meal, and while I’ve seen the brave try to take on two slices they inevitably fall short.

Their portions and fresh ingredients are all worthy of praise, but what makes Pieces that crack is the crust. I don’t know what they do to it, (I suspect a lot of butter) but it is fucking incredible. If you’re there with me, I will give you uncomfortable glares until you offer me your crust; it’s that good. I swear it’s in the crust that lays that secret to all my cravings. It’s not overly thick or fluffy, but again just right (due to the hand-tossing no doubt) with the ends rolled into tunnels of buttery and cheesy awesomeness. It’s crispy and never soggy, and also makes for a sturdy handle if you’re eating with the taco fold method. They need to make bread sticks of the crust, and if they do, I hope they name it after me, because there is no way a mans life can be immortalized with more honor than having a doughy stick of carbs named after him.

If the above-mentioned facts weren’t enough, Pieces is open late into the night and come 2 a.m. is often full of like-minded drunkards looking to consume a sponge for all the liquor. They also serve beer (I believe four different kinds including Stella), but don’t go in at 1:45 with the intention of furthering your night of drinking as all alcoholic beverages are collected as soon as the clock strikes 2″¦trust me, I made the mistake last night and watched four full pints whisked away to who knows where. Also worth noting, their tip jar is a pitcher full of water, which I was told is to deter theft. Ingenious!

So yeah, I jock Pieces pretty tough. The food is great, they’re open late and the staff is always real cool. I ate twice there last night so pardon me while I lace up my running shoes.

The Sandwich Spot

18th and Q Sacramento, CA

When it comes to going out for sandwiches, I’m always a little leery. So many times I’ve gone to a deli and left feeling like I could have assembled a better sandwich at home and saved a couple bucks in the process. Really though, there isn’t much skill in sandwich making. Sure there are methods to constructing a sandwich that should at the very least be taken into consideration, but the key to a good sandwich is the ingredients. For this reason, commercial joints will always just be eh, and the small independently run spots will reign supreme.

On an unusually painful hung-over Monday, Bocephus and I took the journey over to The Sandwich Spot on the corner of 18th and Q. I don’t know how many times I’ve driven past this corner without noticing it, but I’m hating myself for it now. Built into what appears to be a normal house, The Sandwich Spot offers up a decent sized dining area, as well as nicely shaded patio and sidewalk seating. Open from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, the lunch hours are obviously hectic with lines that reach the sidewalk, so plan accordingly. Oh yeah, they deliver if you’re ordering more than five sandwiches, so if you’re feeling lazy and exceptionally hungry call 492-2613.

An abundance of options always complicates things (ultimately for the better), and after browsing through their 18 “signature sandwiches,” and then trying to choose from their four bread types and six cheeses, a couple minutes had passed. I finally settled with The Dosky (which oddly isn’t on their takeout menu), which consisted of warm turkey and prosciutto, provolone and avocado on the crunch roll. Goddamn it was a great sandwich! The bread was perfect, the lettuce and tomato were fresh and tasty, and while the secret sauce made things a little messier, it enhanced the flavors with its oily garlic goodness. I wouldn’t have thought prosciutto and turkey would have tasted so good together, but the simple taste of the turkey paired well with the salty prosciutto, and then add in some provolone and The Dosky earned its place as one of the best sandwiches I’ve tasted.

The homie Bocephus, a seasoned vet of The Sandwich Spot, opted for The Sac Bee which included marinated chunks of chicken, bacon, and avocado. His praise of the sandwich was demonstrated in an empty basket without a crumb to spare. It looked good enough to question my choice, but I imagine that to be the same with every sandwich.

As mentioned, it’s the ingredients that make the sandwich, and The Sandwich Spot seems to understand this. The bread alone was reason to celebrate: The crunch roll had a nice crisp to the crust to get the crunch feel but wasn’t chewy or hard to eat. Healthy portions of all their sandwich accessories made it a hearty and balanced meal (in my skewed version of the food pyramid). Not to mention, their prices are great ($6.99 for a sandwich that will hold you down all day). There’s no reason not to go back to The Sandwich Spot again, and again, and again.

By Corey Bloom

I admit to not being well versed on Thai food; all I know is that I like it. I couldn’t tell you what is authentic and what’s not, but Taste of Thai, located on 1628 Broadway, makes the guessing game easy. Their tag line reads, “Authentic Thai Cuisine” and is followed by the key attributes, “Fresh, Healthy and No MSG,” so I would just assume that this is the real deal.

The small restaurant probably has around 20 tables, and is set up giving space between tables. Incredibly clean, and moderately decorated with classy decor, there is a soothing vibe that fills the restaurant. The staff is always pleasant and never gives off that feeling that they just want you to eat and leave. All the elements of a good meal are in place before the food even comes.

Being the low budget baller I am, the first thing I consider when evaluating a restaurant are its prices. Taste of Thai meets my standards of price to proportion: a meal for two (plus tip and an appetizer) will cost you about $30 dollars, but you will have at least two meals leftover. Doing the math that’s around $6 a serving, which isn’t bad considering it’s high quality food. Curry and noodle dishes with your choice of chicken, meat and vegetarian dishes cost $8.95, while shrimp dishes go for $10.95, and seafood combinations reach $12.95. A la carte dishes range from $10-$14, and they also feature delicious chicken specialties. Salads are in the $7-$8 range and appetizers fall somewhere between $5-$8—across the board, not a bad deal.

On this particular visit my girlfriend and I ordered relatively bland in hindsight, but sometimes the best gauge of a restaurant’s abilities are how they serve the basics. Starting off with some spring rolls (forget all that fried mess), the tone was set for a meal of fresh and flavorful ingredients. These particular rolls were again of perfect proportion, with just enough lettuce and rice noodles, with a fair amount of tofu and the slightest hint of mint leaf. A sweet and sour dipping sauce topped with peanuts accompanied the appetizers and made the dish that much more enjoyable and addictive.

For the main course we had the vegetarian gaeng massaman curry, which consisted of a light curry with potatoes, carrots, onions and peanuts. The curry itself, which can be ordered to preferred spiciness, was rich in flavor but not overbearing. Each vegetable was cooked just enough to retain some of its crispiness and complemented each other nicely. It was a hearty meal, and could have only been enhanced by meat (my girlfriend is vegetarian, lucky me).

Our second entree was the traditional pad Thai. Lame, I know, but after trying a lot of the other dishes (and enjoying them thoroughly), it seemed appropriate to see how the restaurant handled the most traditional of dishes. To no surprise they hit it right on, with a hefty portion rice noodles with just enough flavor to tickle the taste buds. Loaded with egg, chicken (on the side in my case), shrimp, tofu, green onions, bean sprouts and topped with ground peanuts there are more than enough elements to be appreciated. It even passed the next-day test, tasting just as good cold as it did warm the night before.

Our meal was incredible. Taste of Thai live up to their slogan, always using the freshest ingredients, and after eating you don’t feel weighted down or greasy. Just go check it out, and I promise you’ll like it.