(Updated 2/9/2020) Description and review of lunch at Magpie Cafe, located at 16th & P Streets in Downtown Sacramento.
The highly regarded Magpie Café is always a solid – and delicious – choice for lunch, dinner or brunch (on weekends).
Yes, it does get crowded, but there is significantly more seating inside and outside on the patio than at the previous R Street location. Ed Roehr and Janel Inouye have definitely made their mark on the Sacramento restaurant scene since Magpie Café debuted in 2009.
I suggested lunch at Magpie Café to a friend recently, and I was delighted to find out that she had not yet dined there. It is always a pleasure to “introduce” someone to a restaurant you are sure they will enjoy – and enjoy we did.
The restaurant was not crowded – perhaps because it was a Monday and the Legislature was on summer break. We were in no particular hurry and enjoyed both our lunch and catching up.
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We both found ourselves watching as one appetizing dish after another was served to diners in our near vicinity. If you have been to Magpie Café I am sure you will agree that the presentation of the food whets the appetite.
We decided on the lemon chicken salad, the Banh Mi, and a carrot cake cookie (to share). I suggested the carrot cake cookie as I had recently read that the Dali Lama had greatly enjoyed this particular dessert – with good reason it turns out.
We both greatly enjoyed our lunch at Magpie Cafe – and I look forward to returning soon to try some of their other specialties.
Dali Lama
Walking over to Magpie Café I had mentioned to my friend that it was reported in the media that the Dalai Lama has a sweet tooth and that he had recently enjoyed two of Magpie’s popular carrot cake cookies (a cookie sandwich with cream cheese frosting in the middle).
Magpie Café was chosen to prepare lunch for the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, when he was in town to address a joint session of the State Legislature in mid-June. His speech covered topics like gun control, the environment and the need for more compassion.
The lunch for the Dalai Lama was held at the Leland Stanford Mansion, a State Historic Park. While the Leland Stanford Mansion is open to the public as a museum, it also serves at the state’s official reception center for leaders from around the world.
See related blog posts: SacTown Bites Midtown Tour Magpie Café Revisited 21 Sacramento Restaurants Reviewed! Sacramento Must Try Restaurants
Comments on Magpie Cafe?
While the menu at Magpie Café changes with the seasons – what is your favorite dish or dishes?
Magpie Cafe Snapshot (updated 2/9/2020):
- 1601 16th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
- (916) 452-7594
- Hours: Closed Monday; Tuesday (5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.); Wednesday – Thursday (11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.); Friday (11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.); Saturday (9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.); Sunday (9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
- Outdoor patio
- Parking: Public garage on R Street between 15th and 16th Streets; metered street parking
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