It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

The holidays? New Years? Not quite. It’s Dine Downtown Restaurant Week in Sacramento! Which, let’s face it; if you celebrate right, you’ll eat as much gluttonous goodness as if it’s still the holidays!

Dine Downtown Sacramento is an awesome opportunity for Sacramento food lovers to try the best of the best at some of Sacramento’s hottest spots. Dine Downtown runs for 10 days from January 12-21, 2018. Local participating restaurants offer a 3-course menu for just $35. The list of restaurants has over doubled since the inaugural year to a whopping 35 this year!

With just 10 days, 35 restaurants, and $35 a meal, how can one possible try them all? Well, not to burst your bubble, but I’m pretty sure it is impossible. A lot of the restaurants have options for each course, meaning you would have to have multiple meals at several of the restaurants to really try it all. But fear not, being born and raised in Sacramento, I’ve enjoyed participating in Dine Downtown for all of the past 12 years and I’ve picked up a few tips along the way -

Tip #1: Peruse all menus thoroughly before passing judgment. Trust me, one menu in, you’ll be like OMG, this is all amazing, I want to go here! Then repeat this 30+ menu’s later, and you WILL be overwhelmed. Learn from my mistakes, it results in the feeling of food coma without the satisfaction of consumption. Not a good feeling.

Tip #2: Remember, this is just a way to sample the restaurant. Focus on the main dish, just like any other meal, this will provide the greatest satisfaction. I often compare what’s on the $35 menu to what they offer on their regular menu and see if it’s a new item or something they’re famous for and weigh that in on my decision.

Tip #3: There will always be next year. (At least, there better be, because it’s the best week in Sacramento!) Dine Downtown is great way to try new flavors and new foods, so don’t hold back if your gut is saying to go for it!

I decided to start this 13th year off with Iron Horse Tavern, located at 1800 15th Street, Suite B. The first two courses offered menu options, with the third course being a chocolate tart. Obviously, no argument on the chocolate tart - I mean, who can say no to chocolate!

First: Fried Brussels Sprout Salad OR Roasted Apple-Butternut Squash Soup

Typically, I’d choose the soup, because anything with butternut squash is amazing. It just screams fall, and I absolutely love everything fall. However, the Brussels sprout salad not only came with BACON, which is basically my second love to fall, but with Sriracha maple vinaigrette. Yes, please!

The Brussels sprouts were perfectly crispy on the outside and smoked bacon chunks were everywhere! There was easily enough bacon to go around, without overshadowing the main attraction. The smoke of the bacon perfectly complemented the fry of the Brussels sprouts. The Sriracha maple vinaigrette added just a hint of sweet spice to balance out the salt from the bacon. Loved that it was not only a different twist on Sriracha, but also an unsuspecting pairing to the Brussels sprout.

Main: Fusilli Carbonara OR New Orleans Style Shrimp and Grits.

​I’m a sucker for shrimp and grits. I will order it anywhere and everywhere I can - the creamier and cheesier the grits, the better! These grits were smooth as could be and piled high with shrimp and Andouille sausage. Serving sizes here were no joke! You will not leave hungry! The sauce was plenty, the shrimp were covered in generous chunks of garlic, and the Andouille sausage added just a hint of saltiness to the dish. Definitely pairs perfect with a nice tall beer!

Dessert: Chocolate Tart

The chocolate was silky smooth and surprisingly light, almost mousse light, but not quite. It was rich, but balanced, thanks to the ever so flakey tart crust. The topping of mascarpone whipped cream was exactly what was needed to not be over powered with chocolate. The generous serving of espresso gelato was equally delicious to the chocolate tart. I especially loved the chocolate chips in the gelato and graham cracker crumbles it was served on top of. It was a surprisingly, yet welcoming, light ending to a superbly scrumptious meal.

3 courses and $35 later, I think it’s safe to say, money very well spent! Now, where to next? #dinedowntownsac

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