Magpie Cafe

My first time here. Serves was fast and waitress was friendly. Waffles were excellent and the fruit on top was fresh. The biscuits & Gravy was full of flavor. The restaurant is clean and open. There is seating outside too. I would recommend this place.

I walked by this place on my way to another location for brunch. As I walked by the people eating It looked so good I had to stop. The staff was super friendly and polite, even for it being a busy sunday afternoon. I ordered the biscuit and gravy with house made sausage, and scrambled eggs. $ 13, a bit pricey but sooo worth it. The gravy was thick and had bits of bacon in it. The eggs were, light fluffy, and not dry! sausage had a hint of rosemary which was a fabulous mix with the rest of the meal! They had a coconut mojito offered which i was unable to have, but i will surely revisit this establishment again!

Had to knock this place down a star. Went last weekend and ordered biscuits and gravy and was so disappointed. The biscuits were super dry. Gravy was too thick and bland. Such a bummer since everything else I’ve had has been awesome. I’ll be back, of course, just avoid this dish. I recommend their seasonal offerings.

Their food is just okay to be honest. The bread was a little hard to chew. very high class for people who can afford something like this. Just my opinion. Not the greatest experience eating there.

So the chef is just amazing the foods are just great and the atmosphere is relaxing location is perfect great place service is right on

This was my first time in Magpie Café. Downtown has so many locations to pick from so deciding is always a coin toss. Well, let’s just sat I’m glad I stopped into this place for lunch. I was undecided and the staff recommended the Magpie Burger. I am soo… pleased that he did. The burger was cooked medium like I like it and the fixing were all fresh. Grilled onions and some sauce which is unparalleled. I will go back soon and I recommend this place to burger eaters. The savory flavors were delightful to my palette. Good job, Magpie!

The food at Magpie never fails to be fresh, creative, and delicious. I still remember the very first dish I ever had at the original Magpie several years ago. It was amazing: tuna, black beans, white beans, and the freshest tomatoes you can imagine. A simple dish when you think about it, and yet, I still remember the bright flavor of the tomato balancing the briny fish and the earthy beans perfecly. That dish was summer on a plate.
I’ve been back several times over the years. In summer, you can’t go wrong ordering anything they make with heirloom tomatoes. Right now they have a Grilled and Roasted Vegetable Platter that is a work of art made with some unexpected veggies as well as the ones you’d expect. One of my favorite dishes is their Crab & Shrimp Louie Salad. I love that in addition to what’s usually in a Louie, they also include fresh asparagus and green beans along with some house-​made pickled items.
A couple years ago one of our houseguests wound up in the hospital overnight, and I needed a warming, comforting meal to serve when he was released. Bean and vegetable soup was the perfect welcome. I’ve given their baked goods as birthday gifts, taken employees there for end of year lunches, and celebrated birthdays with friends there. Magpie is consistently good and some of the freshest food I’ve had.
One thing I had always heard was good, but I never tried was their chocolate chip cookie. The one time I ordered it, they were out so I got a peanutbutter cookie instead, which was amazing. After having the pb cookie, I figured I didn’t need to try the chocolate chip because it couldn’t be as good as the pb. Well, the other day I tried the choc chip, and it’s even better than the other cookie if that’s even possible.
The larger new site makes it so some of the things that held the old one back – having to gather around a menu tacked to a post in the middle of the room, for instance – are now solved (now you get your own menu at your table and a server takes your order). There’s also much more space in the new place. Keep doing what you’re doing, Magpie!

Amazing customer service and great wait staff. The food is innovative and fresh. The décor is modern and the atmosphere is welcoming.
I dined alone at the bar on a Thursday night and was impressed with the customer service and the Chef’s creations. I was seated immediately and was attended to by at least three different individuals. A big shout out to Liz and Daniel for being so welcoming to me. The bar-​tenders engaged in conversation which is important for someone dining alone.
I started with the dragon mushroom dish which was three different types of mushrooms cooked in truffle oil atop a white bean purée and crostini’s on the side. It was such a delicious dish and one I will order again. This was the highlight of my three course meal.
The main dish was a Lamb Bacon Fettuccine which was quite tasty but this dish was the reason I didn’t give this place five stars. It just wasn’t the dish for me because I was unaware that the pasta would be a wheat fettuccine. I should of asked. All of the other flavors and ingredients were well thought out and cooked to perfection but I just didn’t prefer the pasta served with it.
The staff was very accommodating when I expressed my concern about the dish and offered to bring me something else. I actually asked for some extra mushrooms cooked in truffle oil to add to the pasta and it was great. I really appreciated the attention to detail and maintaining amazing customer service.
Dessert was a real surprise for me and while I didn’t try the famous ice-​cream sandwich I did get a really delicious dessert that made me want a second portion. i had the Chocolate Avocado Mousse with Cinnamon and SeaSalt. it was decadent and rich. The chocolate was amazing and the creaminess of the avocado was pleasing to my palate.
I can’t wait to go back to Magpie and try more food and the famous ice-​cream sandwich :)

Never a bad experience here. The new (er) location is clean, modern and well suited to cater to Magpie’s customer base. The patio is spacious and overlooks the heart of Downtown Sacramento. The menu is simple and boasts some of the best local food Sac has to offer. One Unilocaler wrote «it might be the farmiest to forkiest restaurant in our farm to fork town» and I can’t think of a better way to describe it. Great food, great customer service, great setting. 10 stars.
PS, if you don’t leave with at least two of their carrot cake cookies, you’re missing out on something great.

I lived right around the corner from their old location and never went so I finally decided to try this place out. Myself and a friend went for brunch and we were not disappointed!
I ordered the french toast which came with fruit and almond butter. So gooood. I could tell all the ingredients were super fresh. Our waiter was really nice and I liked that you could move the outdoor heaters.
I feel like the portions were just right. This isn’t one of those breakfast/​brunch places where you’ll take home tons of leftovers and the menu options are kind of limited. Quality over quantity. Would also recommend checking the menu before heading out as it changes depending on the season I think.

Got to check out Magpie Café for the first time. Came in for the happy hour and tried the FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH #2 with natural chicken thighs, caper aioli, house pickles, lemon, and accompanied with french fries. It was very good and the chicken was tender and moist with a nice batter on the chicken and wrapped in a housemade egg bun. it was $ 11
We also tried the CRISPY PORK BELLY-​HAPPY SIZE, with blood orange, frisee, pickled onion, cilantro and coriander honey. The pork belly was cooked to my liking with a nice sear on it and the pork belly was nice and flavorful. The portion was very small, about two one inch squares. It was $ 7
Finished off happy hour with the ice cream sandwich and it was a nice creamy ice cream sandwich. Nice way to finish of the meal.
Service was prompt and efficient as the place and the place was sparse when we arrived at 4:30. One interesting thing to note is that the left a small note asking you to leave a tip for the server, AND for the kitchen staff. Although they stated it was optional, the way they presented it made you feel obligated to leave a normal top for the server 18% suggested, and 5% for the back staff for a total of 23% tip. This was the first time I have ever seen that. Not a big deal from my end, but just an observation.

Went here for a Wednesday lunch. I would not recommend the Banh Mi sandwich but the burger was great. The Banh Mi was terribly dry and tasteless so that it was tough to eat really. We tried to slosh it with water to no avail. The burger was served on a bed of pickles that are mad eon site I think… whatever they’re doing with those they’re doing it right.
It was casual and relaxed. For lunch, you order at the counter and find a seat so it was pretty relaxed. There was quite a flow coming in and out so it must be the place to be. The plethora of people didn’t make it too loud though because the open windows and doors allowed for free flow of sound, air, and sunshine.
PROS: the burger; range of seats; full bar; kind staff
CONS: the Banh Mi

We came to the new location after our first experience at the old location on R street. Our first experience was the best, we get the pork chop and papadella. This location is nicely decorated like the old one. The food was good but I think we were both chasing our first experience. The service was much better at the old location for whatever reason.

I’m in love!
I received a gift card for Magpie for Christmas. I went here for the first time last week for lunch, and everything was amazing. Friendly staff, great location, cool interior design, and great food.
I was craving bacon so I ordered the Winter BLT. I loved the fresh ingredients and the bacon was the best part! It was the perfect portion size too.
I will definitely be back! Everything was great!

Fun place to eat! Came here for lunch and I love the outdoor seating where you can enjoy the view of downtown sac!
During lunch, you seat yourselves and order at the counter. Inside is very contemporary and it’s an open kitchen which I think is cool!
What I like about the menu is they have seasonal choices so it keeps things different!
When I was glancing at the menu I saw beef stew and I couldn’t resist! The stew was really good… Meat was tender, Potatoes and carrots were soft and tasty, and it came with toasted bread to dip in the gravy! Yum yum!
We also ordered the crispy chicken aioli burger with fries and that didn’t disappoint either! Burger was delicious… Crispy chicken was tender, aioli sauce was good…
Fun place to come for brunch… Spring and summer days are even more fun because you can sit outside!

This place is over rated. The food is really just underwhelming and the wait can be overwhelming. The chicken and waffles is good and the portion is tiny, but not great compared to Mama Kims. We are not sure we want to come back here because there are so much more better restaurants around.

My favorite place in Midtown. Food speaks for itself, make sure to get the vegetable platter. Desserts are amazing.

Pretty sure this place is one of my favorite spots to eat at now. I came back but unfortunately still too rainy to sit outside on their nice patio area.
Split the happy hour burger with a friend. It was really really good. The burger comes cooked medium and there is no deviation from that fyi. Requested the squash guacamole but they were out and they brought this bacon jam dip that was amazing. Also tried the bean purée and mushroom spread which was also quite delicious.
I love that happy hour starts at 230 here. It also ends at 7pm which makes it even better. I think it is $ 1 off wines and $ 1 off drafts and $ 2 off their specialty cocktails.

MMMagpie! Let’s get started. The Host (we didn’t get his name) was incredibly friendly and accomodating considering we arrived at peak hour on a Friday night. He seated us at an awesome table next to Amber’s birthday party (great people-​watching and eavesdropping), so we were very pleased.
Ashley, our server, was amazing. We were on the fence about which wine to pair with our food and she brought us a side-​by-​side tasting of the French Chardonnay and the Gruner. We loved them both. For dinner we had the Panzanella and the Chicken For Two. Awesome all around. Ashley was attentive without being intrusive. Double thumbs up.
«Ed» visited us to see how we were enjoying our meal. Love him. How often does the owner check in to see how things are going? Magpie win.

I came in for happy hour which runs from 2:30 — 5:00. When comparing the happy hour (or happy time as they would call it) and dinner menu, most prices were the same. Service was ok. The waitress was friendly, but service was slow once the place started getting busy for dinner. As for the kitchen tip– I know it’s optional, but I felt obligated.
I didn’t care too much for the Manila clams in saffron broth. The clams were tiny and the toast was partially burnt. As for the truffle bean purée & dragon mushrooms– I like the taste of truffle. The grilled bread accompanied the bean purée nicely. The crispy pork belly was the clear favorite. The four cubes of pork belly were savory and sweet with coriander honey. The frisee and persimmon balanced the dish. I love crème brulee and it was mandatory for me to order their honey lavender crème brulee. I thought it was perfection and scraped the ramekin clean.

I came back home for the holidays and seeing as downtown Sacramento has the best places to eat breakfast, I had my friend look for a spot in the area. After 25 minutes of scrolling through Unilocal,he finally decided on Magpie. He’s not from the area, so he picked Magpie because it had the most reviews and decent pictures.
Although, the service was great and the coffee was smooth, we were simply not as impressed with our meals.
$ 14 — Magpie Breakfast Plate. I ordered the Magpie Breakfast Plate with two over easy, organic eggs and sausages. Taste like breakfast! Like others have mentioned, more baguette would be nice and, maybe, not as hard? Half the plate was consumed by a variety of not-​your-​average vegetables. I can see that being a problem for those who don’t like Brussels sprouts, purple potatoes, yellow potatoes, and pumpkin. Overall, if you are looking for a breakfast plate that’s simple, not so heavy, but will keep you energized for a couple of hours, I’d recommend this.
$ 7.50 — French Toast. My friend ordered the French toast. They looked and smelled amazing! I didn’t get to try it, but it was my second choice! I just didn’t want anything overly sweet.
Lastly, it’s really great that you get to tip your server and the kitchen! Don’t forget the people in the back make your food.

Finally tried this place after hearing many good reviews. It was… ok. The winter BLT is good. Bread was a bit chewy and hard to bite into but the aioli and bacon with roasted tomatoes were delicious! The potato salad it came with was a bit too sour (not spoiled just vinegary) for my taste. Banh mi was ok but not worth $ 11. Go to south sac for a more authentic Vietnamese sandwich for $ 3. I ordered an Irish coffee as well and got something fairly watery and very light on the alcohol. Overall, kind of expensive for what you get but ok service, nice décor and clean. I would come back to try their breakfast menu but other than that… Meh.
Random tip: For those with gluten intolerance or allergies I would not recommend this place. My friend was unable to eat anything on their menu except for the salads (ask for them to hold the bread).

3^rd time at Magpie but 1^st time at the new location! Food is really really delicious, well seasoned and nicely presented as usual. Came on a Saturday at 11:30 and it was a miracle that we didn’t have to wait! But right after that, there was a huge crowd waiting. Got lucky! Service was really good, so maybe those who had bad service in the past just happened to be unlucky (or I’m just super lucky I guess) will definitely be back! Chocolate avocado mousse is sooo good, I get it every single time :)

HAVE AGAIN: Both Autumn Skillet and Magpie Breakfast Plate were excellent. Poached eggs perfect, potatoes and vegetables seasoned perfectly, and service was perfect! Only negative was that the breakfast Plate needed a second slice of the baguette toast.
Here’s my previous review, which is not on this page because of their move to a new location: HAVE AGAIN: Hot chocolate was very good, as was the vegetable, vegan soup. The papardelle with pork belly was outstanding. Salmon nicoise salad was very good and well presented. Grilled fresh corn was delicious with just the right amount of butter and salt.
NOT HAVE AGAIN: chocolate avocado mousse. I absolutely love chocolate mousse but this one reminded me too much of a thick and slightly oily pudding. It was good and I’m glad I had it, but would not have it again. The carrot cookie was not very interesting. Two slices of carrot cookie with cream cheese in-​between. Nice idea, again, glad to try once, but no interest for a repeat.

Beef stew is a must here. Only stew I’ve eaten with a knife and fork. Very rich and rustic. Everything on the menu sounded great, so it made it super hard to choose. It was a bit loud, and not the most comfortable seating arrangement, but perfect for a lunch with colleagues or friends.

I really wanted to like the relocation of Magpie as it used to be my favorite restaurant. I think the quality has been somewhat compromised after the move.
At first glance, my family and I didn’t know what to order because the dinner menu did not seem appealing.
When the food was served, we were pleasantly surprised by the taste because it was not aesthetically pleasing. So ugly that I didn’t even want to Snapchat it!
Bacon Brussel Sprout Mac n Cheese: more like a dried out alfredo penne pasta dish :-(
Catch of the day: Fish n chips. Fresh Yukon gold fries were similar to In n Out fries. Fish was fresh and paired well with house-​made tartar sauce! Batter slightly oily but not too bad. The fried slices of lemon added a nice touch.
Pork Chop: Juicy and cooked thoroughly. Was not a fan of the oversized beans and sauce on the side.
Magpie’s famous ice cream sandwich: lemon poppy seed graham cracker crust with gunther’s vanilla ice cream. Portioned into five perfect pieces, but served on a dirty-​looking wooden board. Lol.
I’ll give their lunch menu a chance next time.

This is one of those places that is just too popular for most people to tolerate (meaning it’s hard to get into even at the new and bigger venue) when you would normally want to eat. MC takes a slightly oblique look into popular dishes and make them sing. Plus they do things, like serving pickled stuff (no I’m not giving it away) that just makes me happy.
Go here only if you like to eat.

Came here for weekend brunch. Street parking only and managed to finish eating before our hour parking was up. Sweet!
I had the French Toast and was not a major fan. Presentation was beautiful and it was tasty, BUT the whole meal sat in a puddle of syrup. All the sweetness killed if for me since the french toast was swimming in syrup.
However, I had some bites of my friend’s Chicken and Waffles and really enjoyed that dish. Waffle had a great texture and chicken was great flavor. I’d order that next time!
Service was good. I’d come back again!

After raving about our first experience at Magpie Café in late May, we decided to try Magpie again, this time sampling their Winter menu.
Instead of getting a chunk of meat like I usually do, this time I opted to try their Heirloom Bean & Seasonal Vegetable Soup, along with their Clams and Saffron Broth. For a cold night, to me they seemed like what I needed to warm up .
Both tasted great. The broth for the clams was complex and full of many flavors that came together well. Personally, I would’ve wanted more garlic, but that’s just me. There was garlic in the broth, but my preference was to have more.
The vegetable soup was full of thick-​cut vegetables that were nice and soft, making it easy to eat. There was less broth and more veggies and beans, which meant more substance.
My wife had the Mac and Cheese, sans bacon because she’s a vegetarian. The staff happily accommodated. It doesn’t look and feel like the traditional mac and cheese: in fact, if the menu didn’t say ‘mac and cheese’, it could be mistaken for a pasta dish. Having said that, my wife enjoyed the fact that it was light, but she said that the flavors didn’t mesh well.
The new location is very nice and cozy. The staff are still friendly and helpful, as before. My wife did note of the lack of vegetarian options.

Have you ever had dinner where your meal complimented the weather outside?
I swear Magpie was very thoughtful in creating there current menu options to fit the season. It couldn’t have been a coincidence!
The hubs and I came in on a chilly Saturday night at around 8pm. The place was packed so instead of waiting the 10 – 15 minutes for a table, we opted to sit at the bar. The bartender was ok and made sure we had everything we needed in regards to menus, drink menus, utensils, and drinks.
What really stands out about Magpie is their food! What we ordered:
1. Clams and Saffron Broth: We chose this as an appetizer to share. It was perfect for two people and it came out with two large pieces of perfectly grilled bread to accompany the clams in broth. The clams were delicious and the broth was light and tasty. I’d definitely get this dish again.
2. Berkshire T Bone Pork Chop: the hubs chose this entrée because he was craving MEAT! LOL. It came with Dragon Tongue beans and a white bean ragu. Very hearty meal for the cold weather.
3. Natural Pot Roast: This comfort food item was delicious! Meat was tender and fell apart at the touch of the fork. The pot roast sauce was not too overwhelming. Just enough for the mashed potatoes underneath. The roasted vegetables were a nice touch. Overall, this meal was amazing! It definitely made me sleepy once we were home.
So apparently, there is this new thing where you can tip your kitchen staff as well as your wait staff. The food was so amazing and well presented that we WANTED to tip the kitchen staff. You don’t have to of course, and there is no pressure to do that. But when your meal is that good you have to give it up to the kitchen!!! This meal awakened the foodie inside me and encouraged a Unilocal Review!

4.5 stars bumped up for what continues to stand as one of the best restaurants in the city, my meal at the new location was nothing short of derricious. My girlfriend’s mac & cheese was superbly done — rich, creamy, flavorful and decked out with roasted brussies. The duck confit with root vegetable risotto also knocked it out of the park — the meat was tender and I loved the huge pieces of fresh root veggies. Likewise, my friend visiting from NYC seemed to enjoy his crispy pork belly with candy striped figs as much as we did on our last visit a while back.
Compared to what is now Nido, the interior is considerably large though it’s worth nothing that it gets pretty noisy in there during peak hours. The outdoor patio is spacious and opens up directly to the street corner, so I’d highly recommend opting for that if a table’s available.
Just as before, service was top notch and a variety of cocktails, wines and beers can be had to pair with the all the tasty noms.

Pros: BEST FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH EVER, brunch, patio seating, happy hour til 6, chocolate avocado mousse, beautiful presentations, brussel sprouts/​bacon mac & cheese, smoked trout omelette
Cons: I’ve yet to find one…

I was a fan of the old place so of course I was looking forward to the new place with more seating! I read through some reviews beforehand and noticed a few of the same complaints. I won’t rehash all of them but one was that staff are rude or preoccupied or what have you.
Fortunately for us, our server was lovely. I think complimenting her cheetah shirt right off the bat probably helped. She was the perfect amount of leaving-​us-​alone and knowing-​when-​we-​needed-​her. She was knowledgeable about the menu and was genuinely sad for us when I nearly cried over being out of steak tartare. Instead we got the pork belly with figs. I probably could have just eaten that for my dinner and been satisfied. The frisee salad and dressing were just tangy enough to balance the richness of the pork belly. And throw figs at me any time. I’ll eat them up like candy (striped figs).
For entrees I went with the NY steak with roasted corn and peppers. The steak was cooked perfectly, at the only temperature you should ever cook a steak, you heathen, medium rare. The peppers were pretty spicy in some bites but the herb butter and potatoes helped to calm it down a bit. My almost-​husband had the mac and cheese. He said it was delicious but the Brussels sprouts didn’t really fit in well with the dish.
Bonus points: multiple LOCAL ciders on the menu! I had the Golden State which had an adorable cartoon beaver on the can and it was dry, crisp and delightful.
Only complaints: tall chairs on the patio. I’m on the petite end of the human height spectrum and the bar on the chair for your feet was just at an awkward place. My feet were either dangling uncomfortably or crunched up too high. I found myself fidgeting most of the time just to get comfortable.
Other complaint that has nothing to do with Magpie: the couple seated next to us that ordered one cocktail each then proceeded to play backgammon and shout loudly when one of them scored a goal (I really have no idea how to play backgammon). First of all, you should be at a pub, not a restaurant, if you want to play games. It’s just disruptive to diners. Secondly, sir, every time you jangled your dice in the cup (which was NEAR FREAKING CONSTANTLY) it sounded like horse hooves. This is a restaurant, not a filming of Monty Python.

My first time experience was wonderful! They have an excellent selection of beer and wine and knowledgeable bartender to help you choose according to your taste. Their menu changes with what is in-​season, sourcing a lot of their food locally.
My first visit, I ordered a pasta dish where they make their pasta fresh in house and used heirloom tomatoes. It was phenomenal!
On my second visit, I ordered their soup of the day (heirloom bean and tomato in a miso base) and a mushroom appetizer. Everything is seasoned perfectly!
You seriously can’t make a bad decision here because it is so good!

I can understand the exceptional ratings for Magpie. Their commitment to fresh, local foods and their incredible array of «farm to table» dishes is second to none. But damn if this isn’t one of the longest waits for lunch in Sacramento.
I’ve been here many times, and usually against the advice of my wife and friends who complain about the slow service. Well, I am stubbornly following their lead. During our latest visit, we actually got there at 11:30 to get our order in before the crowds and actually find a seat. We sat down and waited a good twenty minutes, watching the restaurant rapidly fill around us and people who entered after us getting served. Our server, who looked like she could have used some more help on the floor, apologized and said the kitchen mixed up our ticket. Finally, after waiting longer, our food came. While our server on this day was very nice, other visits have been marked by servers that seem unhappy, cold or distant. It’s like you have to catch the staff in the right mood.
The common theme among other negative reviews is the wait and either attitude or a lack of warmth from the staff. I’m here to say I’ve experienced both. I’ll be back for their outstanding menu, but I sure hope the wait and service improve.