Paragary’s – Sacramento Restaurants (part of an occasional series)

(Last UPDATED 9/17/21) Description and review of Paragary’s, a popular restaurant located in Midtown Sacramento. See UPDATES below.

Randy Paragary opened  Paragary’s in Midtown Sacramento in 1983, introducing Sacramento to its first wood-fired pizza oven.

I have been frequenting Paragary’s since the restaurant first opened.  Its food is consistently good, and the staff is always pleasant and helpful.

Dining outside on the patio when the weather allows is something I particularly enjoy.  The patio features a fireplace, fountains, trees, outdoor art, and assorted plants and greenery.  At night, lights twinkle in the trees.

It was dining on Paragary’s patio one summer evening a number of years ago that inspired me to re-do my small East Sacramento backyard.  While I do not have a fireplace – I do have a brick patio, fountain, trees and assorted greenery as well as outdoor lighting.  

SacramentoRevealed.com – All Things Sacramento (from a personal perspective)

Paragary’s underwent a major renovation in 2015.  The restaurant is more light and airy, and it appears that the new configuration allows for more seating.  The “wall” adjacent to the patio can be opened so that those dining “inside” can in reality be “almost” sitting outside.  Very cool.

Paragary’s has always had a full bar.  On my most recent visit I enjoyed their Sangria which includes seasonal fruit – in this case – peaches.  Very refreshing.  Paragary’s “Stag Savior” (No. 209 Gin, Jagermeister, Apricot Liqueur, Grenadine, Lime, Aromatic Bitters, Absinthe) won the 2016 Regional Star of the Bar Award.   I plan to try the Stag Savior on a future visit during happy hour. 

See related blog post: Stag Savior – 2016 Star of the Bar Award.

The menu at Paragary’s has also been overhauled.  The offerings have been pared down, and I regret to say that one of my favorite dishes – the artichoke and goat cheese calzone – is no longer offered.  In fact, only one or two pizza’s appear on the menu at any one time (under hors d’oeuvres).  The only other long-time favorite menu item still on the menu is the sliced mushroom salad.

On a recent visit six of us were dining out prior to the theatre.  Among us we ordered a variety of items from the menu including: Mary’s Chicken Liver Mousse; wood oven roasted mussels; wood oven roasted shishito peppers; mushroom and goat cheese pizza; little gem salad; Caesar Salad; and a pasta dish.  Everyone in our group commented on how much they enjoyed their meal.  

On this most recent visit there was one minor misstep.   One of the diners had ordered the soup of the day (a cold soup) and it did not arrive prior to the main course.  At that point the waiter was asked to cancel the soup order.  As it turns out the kitchen had run out of the soup and was in the process of whipping up a new batch.  After we were finished eating the waiter appeared with a bowl of the soup (gratis) so that it could be tasted for future reference – which was very thoughtful.   

The Paragary Restaurant Group operates a number of restaurants including: Café Bernardo, Centro Cocina Mexicana, Bernardo Bar, Berkley Bar, Monkey Bar, KBAR, and R15 Bar. 

Tip:  Sign up for iEAT Rewards.  Provide your phone number when you pay at any one of the Paragary establishments and earn rewards that can be used to defray costs on a future visit.

See related blog posts: Cafe Bernardo Midtown and Centro Cocina Mexicana and  21 Sacramento Restaurants Reviewed!

Updates

(8/17/2021)  Randy Paragary, a Sacramento icon, has died at 74.  The Sacramento Bee has done a very nice article about the man and his impact on the Sacramento restaurant scene.  (9/18/2021) Also find his obituary published in the Sacramento Bee on September 15.

(5/31/21) Additional links added.

(12/29/19)  Broken link repaired.

(10/2/19)  Snapshot added.

(6/27/17)  Paragary’s has recently announced that it is dropping weekday lunch service, but in turn is adding weekend brunch.

Comments on Paragary’s?

What is your opinion about the “new” Paragary’s?  Did you have any favorite dishes that no longer appear on the menu?  What new menu items did you enjoy?

Paragary’s Snapshot:

• 1401 20th Street, Sacramento, CA  95816
• (916) 457-5737
• Happy Hour:  Monday (4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.); Tuesday – Friday (4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.); Saturday – Sunday (3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Dinner:  Sunday – Thursday (4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.); Friday – Saturday (4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.)
• Brunch Served: Saturday – Sunday (9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
• Parking:  Paid parking at private parking lot across the street from the restaurant; Public garage adjacent to the restaurant; Metered street parking

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