(Last UPDATED 6/1/2022) Description and review of Brasserie Capitale, a French restaurant located in Downtown Sacramento. NEW: See UPDATE below the lowdown on name and menu change.
Three friends and I dined at Brasserie Capitale on a weekday during Dine Downtown Week 2020. I had enjoyed lunch at the restaurant in the past, and the online Dine Downtown Week (three-courses for $40) menu looked appealing.
I had made reservations in advance on Open Table for five – only to discover upon arriving at Brasserie Capitale that one of my friends was not joining us as he was ill.
Brasserie Capitale Service
The hostess, a middle-aged woman, was noticeably irritated that our table of five was now a table of four. We waited a short time before we were seated in a back corner at what was obviously not the original table. Seating us and removing one place setting is apparently not the way things are done at Brasserie Capitale.
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That was bad enough but the hostess, as we were being seated, voiced her displeasure by remarking that I should have notified them in advance about the change. It was not an auspicious way to start the evening!
Note: A friend who dined there earlier that same week had the opposite experience. The hostess, a young woman, was both welcoming and gracious.
The Dine Downtown menu we received at the restaurant was somewhat different than the menu posted online. That was a bit of a disappointment, but not a major issue.
While the hostess had been less than gracious, our waiter was both pleasant and attentive.
Wine List
We decided to order a bottle of wine for the table. The wine menu is extensive – and a bit overwhelming. That evening I was happy with my choice – the Fellot Emanuel Vigneron Beaujolais Blanc Chardonnay (2018) ($40). I was not as happy the next day when I discovered that the exact same bottle of wine retails at Wine.com for $13.99. That is quite the mark-up!
Les Entrees
One member of our party ordered the La Soupe a l’Oignon Gratinee (French Onion Soup, Gruyere, Crouton). It was said to be excellent.
Two others ordered the Laitue aux Fines Herbes (Layered Leaves of Living Butter Lettuces, Fresh Herbes, Watermelon Radish & House Vinaigrette), and I ordered the Salade de Saumon en Miettes (Salmon, Fingerling Potato, Julienned Beets, Mixed Greens, Roasted Garlic, Thyme & Citrus Vinaigrette).
All three of our salads tasted extremely salty. At first I thought it was just my salmon salad, but when I commented on the fact the other two chimed in that their butter lettuce salads tasted likewise.
Something obviously went very wrong in the making of the vinaigrette salad dressing.
Les Plats
One member of our party ordered the Gigot d’Agneau (Lamb Shank Braised in White Wine & Onion, Green Flageolet Beans), and three of us ordered the Boeuf Bourguignon (Beef Braised in Red Wine, Carrot, Mushroom, Bacon, Over Pasta Ribbons).
The Lamb Shank and the Braised Beef did not disappoint. Both the lamb and beef were tender, and both dishes were deemed flavorful.
Les Desserts
For the final course one member of our party ordered the Macaron au Chatagne el Poivre, and three of us the Marquis au Chocolat.
Both the desserts were on the small side, but they were a tasty end to the meal.
Brasserie Capitale Parking
As we were finishing up, we overheard the table next to us asking the waiter about parking validation. We had not been aware that the restaurant provides validation for on-site parking – but it is good to know for future reference!
Parking validation is available Monday – Friday after 4:30 p.m. and on Saturday during restaurant business hours.
The parking garage entrance is in the alley behind the building. Take the elevator up to the building lobby for both Brasserie Capitale and Café a Cote, the café associated with the restaurant.
See related blog posts: 2020 Restaurant Review Recap and Sacramento Ethnic Restaurants
Updates
(6/1/2022) Broken link deleted.
(5/16/2021) On May 11, the former Brasserie Capitale announced both a name and menu change. The rebranded restaurant is now called Brasserie du Monde. Brasserie du Monde means “brasserie of the world” in French.
The vision for the new menu is to increase creativity while utilizing French cooking as a starting point. An example given in the announcement – French tacos. That sounds interesting!
Also planned are changes to its wine and spirits offerings with a focus on local producers and distillers.
See related blog post: Brasserie du Monde
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Brasserie Capitale Snapshot:
- 1210 K Street, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95814 (12th & K Streets)
- (916) 329-8033
- Hours: Sunday – Closed; Monday – Friday (8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.); Saturday (4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.)
- Café a Cote Happy Hour: Monday – Friday (3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
- On-site parking validation (see above)
- Outdoor patio(s)
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