By Ashley Robinson
When Le Petit Paris closed a couple of years ago (which, by the way, I am still mourning), I lost a go-to hangout. I missed the Midtown place where I could just go and sit and relax and not think. (Same goes for L Bar.) I know there are other places in Sacramento I could have gone to check out, but I was too forlorn, too lost in my own misery to commit.
Source: CBS 13
But guess what! I found a new place!
Fat Face, the café in the back of Bows and Arrows on 19th (across the street from Safeway) is my new favorite hangout.
Why do I love Fat Face, let me count the ways:
- The patio. You would never know it, zooming past the old music studio location, but behind the brick exterior is a beautiful patio covered by canvas sails, bedecked by cooling tropical plants, and soundscaped by the trickling of water falling. The tables are funky and small, but the patio is spacious and relaxing. (And you just relax, there’s room inside, too.)
- The food. I can’t get enough of that damn grilled cheese sandwich on walnut bread. Coupled with the salad and the vegan split pea soup, done and did. The pulled pork sandwich braised in cola with avocado is also deliciousness. My vegetarian husband enjoys the mushroom Ruben and the carrot chili cheese dog. There’s something for everyone.
- The booze. The wine menu is small but mighty. I normally opt for the Gruner Veltliner, which is a crisp Austrian white wine that pairs well with Sacramento evenings and water features on a patio. I haven’t yet explored the beer menu, but I understand it is also impressive.
- The music. Sometimes it’s recorded and played over the loudspeaker (for instance, they were playing Neil Diamond the other night – classic!), and sometimes it’s live. I’m not cuckoo over live music all the time, but in my experience, the live music played inside has actually been enjoyable.
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The popsicles. These frozen treats have had more than a few write-ups in local publications, so I am just adding to the allure, but seriously, they are awesome. So far my favorite is the kaffir lime avocado, which is surprisingly creamy and refreshing, and does not at all taste like guacamole, which wouldn’t be that bad, anyway. These are grown-up popsicles for serious people, and they are seriously delicious.- The people. Ok, this is definitely a fave local for the hipster types in Midtown. You will see some interesting wardrobe choices here, but eh, who cares. You’re sitting in a thrift store, what do you expect. The people, from my experience, have been really nice and laid back. Even the one or two children I have seen at this place have been well-behaved, and not terrible. (Not normally a fan of children.)
Anyways, it shows real commitment to Fat Face that I am sharing this information with the masses, as I don’t like crowds and I expect everyone will be lining up to check out this patio, but I think we could all use a little pick-me-up after the numerous restaurants/cafes/bars have closed in Sacramento.
Bon appétit!
