Sacramento Music Hotspots with the Eats to Match the Beats
Three local music venues that have as much excitement on their menus as they do on stage.
The music business isn’t the cash cow that the general public believes it to be. High ticket sales may mean dollar signs for musicians, promoters and a tour staff, but music venues can often be left out in the cold when it comes to ticket revenue.
It’d be easy to think that these establishments would make up for it with an array of drink options and a full, diverse menu to keep their patrons’ stomachs full and wallets empty. Finding a good drink at a venue isn’t all that tough, but coming upon a good dish is another story entirely. Music lovers have to often settle for stale fries, lackluster tater tots and other bland forms of fried potatoes that’ll make anyone miss that basket of free pretzels at dive bars that no healthy person should ever touch.
However, some venues in the Sacramento area have the right idea when it comes to offering a cuisine that is more than tolerable. Some of these establishments even have dishes that can beat out full-fledged restaurants. California’s capitol is lucky enough to have a multitude of venues that have some delectable eats to go with the beats.
In the spirit of this issue of Riverfront Magazine, here are three of the many spots in town where you can catch a show and grab a delicious bite to eat all for $20 or less.
Café Colonial
Sacramento is a punk town and has been for decades. It comes with the territory of being a capital city. The city’s most established punk venue, Café Colonial, is one-third of the legendary Colonial Complex on Stockton Blvd. between 14th Avenue and Broadway and is the best place in Colonial Heights to grab a bite to eat or see a small, underground show. It has an expansive menu with more vegan options than some restaurants.
“Café (Colonial) has really top-tier food for a bar,” says local music promoter and regular at the venue Christian Burnett. “They have really good consistency of quality and they have never forgotten an order of mine, even on the crazy nights.”
Aside from the service, Café Colonial is a proponent of going against the mainstream — just like the music being played. Their vegan food is the highlight. Café is doling out the vegan Daiya cheese on pretty much any entree that’ll take it. Their quarter-pound veggie burger comes with a vegan aioli that has a tang that accompanies the sandwich well.
There’s plenty of options for meat eaters as well. The pizza fries, marinara and mozzarella on top a bed of fries, might be their best non-vegan option. Chicken can be also added to satiate any carnivore at the club. If that’s not your speed, they offer plenty of burger options as well.
Café Colonial is split into two rooms with a bar, seating and video games in the front and an open space for bands to play in the back. So, it is possible to stop by without paying for a show. However, entry fees are dirt cheap in true punk fashion. Don’t be surprised if you get in for no more than $5, leaving you with plenty left to grab a beer and some surprisingly delectable food.
3520 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95820 (916)718–7055 www.facebook.com/cafecolonialsacramento
Old Ironsides
Old Ironsides, which sits on 10th Street on the edge of Downtown, is a Sacramento staple. It was the first business in the county to obtain a liquor license after prohibition ended and was required to serve food thanks to the law at the time, according to current Old I General Manager and Co-Owner Sam Kanelos Jr. So, they have been serving food since 1934.
Live music became a part of the business in the early ’90s when co-owner Kim Kanelos started booking bands and has since become a popular spot for local acts to get their chops for playing in front of an audience.
Old I also shakes up their menu every Monday, and has for 15 years, by having a guest chef take over their kitchen to make one dish and offer it to customers for $5 along with a weekly local music showcase starring folk musician Heath Williamson.
“It’s become a really popular night.People get into this competition over whose (dinner) is better,” says Kim.
What started as a temporary concept to hold during Monday Night Football turned into one of the venue’s most popular nights. “Initially I thought ‘I don’t want to ruin a good thing,’” says Sam about their guest chef Monday event. “If you’ve got something going on a Monday night, in the bar business, you’re doing good.”
However, the two gave the guest chef night a shot once football season was over and they’ve had the weekly event ever since.
The rest of the week, Old I serves up family-style Mediterranean food with daily lunch specials, a Greek-style lamb shank served every Wednesday and an Italian-style breaded calamari steak served every Friday. The average entree at Old I is about $9 and most live music events are local meaning they are rarely more expensive than $7. So, it’s easy to catch dinner and a show for under $20.
When music became a part of the Old Ironsides business model, they would only have it on the weekends. It became so popular that the building was remodeled to make a proper space for bands to play. Kim says the original space was so cramped, the only space for bands to play was in front of the original hallway to the bathroom, that the staff joked about customers having to ask the lead singer for the bathroom key.
Now, live music can be heard almost every night of the week. Shows in the building have the ability to bring out supporters of local music in droves. It doesn’t hurt that hearty, family-style Italian and Greek food can be enjoyed all at the same time.
1901 10th Street, Sacramento, CA 95811 (916)443–9751 www.theoldironsides.com
Pizza Cult
Pizza Cult may be new, but it’s already making plenty of people loyal followers. However, the place is technically not a music venue. It is its own establishment on the bottom floor of the city’s newest live music hangout, Holy Diver.
Just like Café Colonial, it’s entirely possible to only enjoy a bite to eat and not see a show since all the live music happens upstairs, but there’s no fun in that. Some of the ticket prices can get higher since the venue hosts plenty of national touring acts, but local shows rarely go over $10.
Time could be spent talking about this place’s particular aesthetic — their logo is two skeletons kneeling and praying before a slice of pizza with the words “join us” just below the name Pizza Cult — but this food is what will really get you to drink the proverbial Kool-Aid.
You could go for a slice and be completely satisfied, but throwing down $7 for one of their coveted pizza pockets is the right choice to make. Especially since you can get one that is made with au’ jus cream cheese, jalapenos, chicken and bacon. The au’ jus cream cheese is all the proof pizza cult needs to show that its menu is more than just your average bar food.
Pizza may be the bulk of the menu, but Pizza Cult offers other options that are just as delectable like fried pickle chips served with a lemon aioli.
Holy Diver, the music venue that hosts Pizza Cult, is for the youth. Their calendar since opening has been filled with Soundcloud rappers like Wifisfuneral, touring punk bands like Iron Chic and metalcore favorites like Oceans Ate Alaska. It’s no surprise that it’s all ages all the time. However, the menu that Pizza Cult is serving up is good enough for everyone.
1517 21st Street, Sacramento, CA 95811 (916)880–8167 www.facebook.com/pizzacult916
