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Cafe Marika
Category: Restaurants Hungarian Hungarian [Edit]
2011 J StSte A
Sacramento, CA 95814
Neighborhood: Midtown
(916) 442-0405
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
41 reviews for Cafe Marika
Review Highlights
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"The apple strudel was super fresh and delicious too." In 12 reviews -
"I had chicken paprikash with spetzle; the boys both had..." In 6 reviews -
"This place makes awesome goulash." In 17 reviews
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41 reviews in English
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Review from Katie J.
Sacramento, CA
5/26/2012
This cozy little place is a hidden gem on J Street. Their chicken paprikash is as delicious as it looks (it's quite beautiful, I must say).
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Review from Summer M.
2/2/2012
MMMM spaetzle, I love you. This is the kind of European comfort food you could get in your grandma's kitchen... actually you could probably fit this tiny cafe into your grandma's kitchen ;)
We walked by this place many times and there was never space to sit. Finally on a random Tuesday night we were walking down J Street and it started to rain. We ran past Cafe Marika, suddenly realized that we were hungry and there was a table open, so we ducked in. (My husband had to run back into the rain to find an ATM when he realized it was cash-only, but I digress..)
I loved how comfy cozy this cafe was. The quaint decor reminds me of a grandmother's house... and much like a grandmother's house, you get a TON of food. He got the chicken paprikash and I got the pan fried porkschnitzel (both served on a delicious bed of spaetzle). My two pieces of schnitzel were SO big they were hanging off the side of the plate! We both enjoyed our food very much. Their desserts also looked good but we were both way too full to enjoy any. -
Review from A O.
Yuba City, CA
5/24/2012
DE-licious! Simple food but tastes amazing. Their home made noodles are like tiny dumplings. The paprika sauce/gravy is mild tasting and REALLY makes the meal. So glad we tried it.
Heads up: it's a small place with a sit down bar and about 5-6 small round tables. -
Review from L S.
Rancho Cordova, CA
4/30/2012
Bring CASH. Husband and wife team, small place but yummy food! Goulash is the best!
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Review from Mali T.
Sacramento, CA
10/18/2011
Oh yes a 5 star.....I love this place! It's small, but the food is fantastic! Price just right and they have nice selections.
My favorite are the Hungarian Goulash. Stuffed cabbage is also one of my favorites. I mean everything else on the their menu are also delicious.
Came here with some co-workers a few years ago and been a regular customer since.
I recommend this place if anyone wants some great Hungarian food!
Thank you Cafe Marika for great food. -
Review from Amy J.
This tiny spot is such a charmer! If you're looking for solid, unpretentious comfort food, you'll love it! I'm surprised that it seems to be flying a little low on the Yelp radar, although I selfishly was happy to have my pick of the 5 cute little tables.
One other jovial customer was sitting at the bar when I went in shortly after they opened. Obviously a regular, he was ordering takeout for his office meeting and enjoying a little lunch at the bar while the owner/chef/husband cracked wise in the kitchen.
Lunch menu is very compact and I was disappointed to learn they don't serve soup until dinner. Their prices are very reasonable and portion sizes were generous. Thought it was great that they do a goulash/paprikash combo. Not only does it give you the chance to sample their chicken and pork, you also get a taste of the light and dark gravy. That gravy is something else...silky, savory goodness atop melt-in-your-mouth tender pork chunks or boneless chicken thigh. So simple yet so good!
The wife does waitress/bartender duty keeping the husband in check as he playfully jokes with regulars as they come in. When I ordered an apple strudel to go I was given directions on how to re-heat it (better in the oven than microwave she said in the cutest eastern European accent).
The prices are just as reasonable at dinner. Can't wait to get back to try the soup! -
Review from Jeremy M.
Sacramento, CA
11/11/2010
I love this place. It is one of my favorite places in Sacramento. You walk into Marika's and it's like you entered a small little cafe in eastern Europe. The place is small and cozy. There are five table and a counter. There will be classical music playing very softly in the background and other patron will be talking in hushed tones.
Not that the place is fancy or uptight, but it does lend itself to a formal tone... even if you show up in shorts.
The Food.
Amazing. I love the goulash, but everything on the menu is delicious. One recommendation: Always get the soup. You will be offered a a choice of soup or salad. And while the salad is not bad, the soups are made fresh everyday and are a must. even if you think lentils are horrible, if Marika's makes it...it will rock.
Remember cash only. -
Review from Denise B.
Sacramento, CA
5/2/2011
As a HUNGARIAN who brought their Hungarian family here for an authentic meal I have to say I was not real impressed with the fact the owners were not Hungarian,(its just 2 ppl.) the menu is a Germanic/Hungarian/Chezc hybrid. And I could have made the same food at home since my grandma taught me how to make all that. They DONT have authentic goulash and that breaks my heart. Goulash is a fantastic full bodied, spicy beef stew with potatoes and other vegies served with bread.
HOWEVER, I love the tiny place and the service is very nice. In that aspect it is VERY authentic
The prices are high but you know what?This is their livelihood. We can go t a mass market place or we can go to mom and pop places, get treated like a guest and leave with a full belly and a smile. -
Review from Dave R.
Rancho Cordova, CA
3/15/2011
First - 2 stars = "Meh. I've experienced better". Which is a good way to describe this place, it was really neither good nor bad, average to slightly below average for a Sacramento midtown lunch meal.
I was looking forward to it based on all the 5 star reviews. 5 stars is supposed to mean "As good as it gets!", and I honestly cannot see rating my meal anywhere near that.
Service was prompt, but we were the only 2 people in there when we were first being attended to (lunchtime on a Tuesday). The place is VERY SMALL, and they take cash only, no credit cards of any kind. It is the most cozy atmosphere I've ever experienced, everything from the dining room, the hallway to the bathroom, and the bathroom itself is small. From the mens room, I could hear the cook (husband) through a covered window in the kitchen. While we dined, the owners were chatting with some people at the counter.. and the counter is like 2 feet from the tables. I think with a cozy atmosphere, quiet is better, but it was anything but quiet in there with all the talking.
On to the food. I ordered the Chicken Paprikash lunch at $7.25. It consisted of 3 small skinless (but not boneless) chicken thigh sections (no drumsticks), over a bed of spetzels (sp?), with a kind of soupy, salty but bland red sauce over it, and some carrots and peas. Very "meh". It reminded me of something I can easily make at home by baking some chicken thighs (though I probably would spring for boneless/skinless thighs at home), making some bowtie pasta, and putting a diluted marinara sauce over it with some extra paprika. Another Yelper suggested that the portions were big (referring to lunch). They are not big at all.
Maybe I expected too much based on all the 5 star reviews, and based on that I was underwhelmed as was at least one other Yelper. Not "bad" certainly, but given the choices of lunch joints in Midtown.. I'd prefer to spend $5.25 for a big Chinese lunch @ Tea Cup cafe, or $8-9 dollars for a big delicious sandwich at Magpie catering, for what I consider to be much tastier food (and relatively larger portions to boot). -
Review from Eduardo C.
Sacramento, CA
6/19/2010
When I ate the spetzel at Cafe Marika I very nearly wept. The maternal side of my family makes a mysterious pasta of which we never really knew the origins. We just made it and ate it particularly during the winter when we made chicken soup. The last time I was in St. Louis with the maternal side of the family it was winter and we made a fire in the snow-covered backyard of an uncle's house, and while we were standing circled around the fire we drank beer and ate chicken soup with the mysterious home-made pasta that I've never had anywhere else. When I ate at Cafe Marika for lunch I ordered the combo meal which included the pork goulash and chicken with spetzels. When I saw the spetzels I recoiled in shock because they looked just like my family's mysterious pasta. Then I tasted them. They tasted just like my family's mysterious pasta.
Everything about the mysterious pasta then made sense to me: my maternal great grandmother made the pasta and while she was alive she was referred to as a "bohunk" by the community where she resided in the St. Louis area. I looked up "bohunk" and it's a derogatory term for people from Hungary. She never really talked much or explained things such as what were the origins of the food she was making because she tended to be a secretive person - which made sense since during Prohibition she was married to a rum runner nicknamed The Bull of the Bloody Fifth. Also, people used ethnic slurs against her and so she probably tried to keep things on the hush and hush. But now the mystery pasta is solved - all this time my family has been eating Hungarian pasta. My great grandmother came from Hungary and the mysterious pasta she made was spetzel.
And now to the review proper. I came to Cafe Marika with friends for lunch. We had beer and wine. One of my friends ordered the lentil soup and it tasted like there was a lot of cardamom in it with a dash of ginger and honey. I liked it. The spetzel at Cafe Marika tasted just like what my great grandmother [and mother] made, and my great grandmother was bona fide because she looked like a dark skinned babuska and she spent her time quilting by hand. The goulash was pretty good, and so was the chicken. Cafe Marika was a splendid little Hungarian diner where all the lunches were each less than $8.00.
Cash only.Listed in: Sacramento Standards, Lunch it up, Comfort food
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Review from T P.
Sacramento, CA
2/19/2012
What a wonderful little restaurant. The couple who runs it were really nice and funny in their own weird way. The food was delicious and the apple strudel was also really good. The soup was a bit plain though. I had a great dining experience here and I would recommend it to everybody.
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Review from Dmitriy S.
San Diego, CA
It's not every day that I come to Sacramento, so this time I decided to look something up outside the realm of your typical Thai, Chinese, Italian, etc. Hoping that Sacramento would provide me with that unique restaurant I've been looking for, I found Care Marika.
This place is pretty tiny, so don't bring more than 4 people to dinner, unless you call in advance and ask. We were greeted by the waitress, who is the wife in this wife and husband operation. She seemed pretty grumpy the whole time, but I brushed it off. As long as the service is fast and the food is good. I'm completely fine.
FOOD: The great thing about Cafe Marika is that for less than $15, you get your entree, a soup or salad, and dessert. Doesn't get much better than that! (Unless it was cheaper)
- Soup: Honestly, I forgot the name of this soup, but it was REALLY good. Think of Chicken noodle, but not as salty and a lot creamier.
- Pork Roll-Ups in Brown Gravy: Quite a smart invention stuffed with egg, pickle, bacon, sausage, and onions all stuffed into pork rolls. Although the texture was perfect, I felt like this dish was a bit too bland. It needed some more spices to bring out the flavor of the pork. The spatzle was also kind of strange; not the long thick pieces you would usually get at a German restaurant, but short and soft.
- Pork Schnitzel: Very well cooked and comes in a HUGE portion. Schnitzel is schnitzel though. Kind of hard to get it wrong, but this one was exceptionally good. Not too much breading and a good amount of meat.
- Stuffed Cabbage: I HATE cabbage. I've always hated cabbage. That's why when I tried this dish I made sure to get just the meat and the sour cream on top, and leave the cabbage for my brother. The meat is pretty well cooked like it should be. The sour cream adds a different taste to it, and is common in most Eastern European dishes.
- Apple Strudel: Mmmm this was one heck of a dessert. The apple tastes very fresh and you can tell it's all made by hand. No better way to top off the meal.
Overall, Cafe Marika is pretty great if you want something out of the norm. Classic Hungarian and German dishes served just like they are back in Europe. I just wish they would put a bit more tang into their dishes.
OH YEA...Bring cash!!! Credit cards are not welcome here :-( -
Review from Chris B.
2/24/2008 3 photos
There's enough cross-pollination between the cuisine from Hungary, Czech Republic, and Germany that I was able to satisfy my craving for some of the homestyle cooking I remember from my childhood in Germany. This is a little mom-n-pop type operation that offers great value and a cozy atmosphere. Hours for dinner are limited (Thurs, Fri, and Saturday only, 5-9 p.m.), the restaurant only has a few tables, and they don't take credit cards, so you need to plan accordingly. But that need not detract from the dining experience you'll enjoy here.
My dining partner and I both felt like having the Hungarian Goulash, but we decided we should both order different dishes so we could get a better sampling of the menu. I had the pan-fried porkschnitzel with spaetzle, which was cooked perfectly and wasn't the least bit greasy. I'm such a fan of spaetzle (sometimes described as noodles, othertimes as dumplings) that I bought my very own spaetzle grater. These were wonderful... slightly chewy and fluffy at the same time. Real comfort food.
I loved the homecooking, the smallness of the place, the attentive service and the reasonable prices. I will return sometime to sample one of their paprika-laden dishes. They keep a shaker of hot paprika on the table for a reason, and I intend to self-administer a decent dose.Listed in: Deutschland über Yelp
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Review from Karla F.
Sacramento, CA
5/14/2008
A girlfriend and I just ate lunch there after walking by many times on our way to other destinations. Today, the hottest day ever, we decided to eat there...outside. The dining room was very small, but so precious (plus, they cranked up the AC so it was nice and cool). We wanted to sit outside though because it was nice and it was all alone.
The table wasn't set outside but when our server came by, she brought out some nice, deep blue place mats with our flatware. She asked if we wanted anything to drink and we started off with some water. She brought us two cute glasses with flowers on them plus an icy cold carafe of water. So easy!
We both decided to go for the special which was a special kind of goulash - I can't spell out the type. It was pork with sauerkraut served with spatzle. Meanwhile, she had brought out little plates of really warm and soft bread and butter. The iced teas came out in big, tall glasses with lemon and an iced tea spoon. The sugar came out in cute little wicker basket!
A few minutes later, our food came out, pipping hot. The pork was tender and just melted in our mouths. The spatzle was tender and not overcooked. I say, reserve the bread to sop up the extra sauce with - it was that good.
For a lunch place, it was incredibly fast which was nice because it didn't seem like were rushed or anything.
The only downside is that they're a cash and check only place which is fine, but just don't forget!
I will be heading back over to them in the near future and perhaps for dinner this time. -
Review from Katie T.
11/14/2007
While the review on the wall gives more stars for food and docks them for atmosphere, I feel quite the opposite about Marika. Marika seems to be the place everyone means to go to. I'd driven past and talked about stopping so many times, that when I finally went last week and found it empty, I wasn't totally surprised. I just don't find myself craving Hungarian food very often.
Regardless, Cafe Marika is adorable. The couple who runs it is quiet, but service was fast and when we realized we needed to pay with cash at the end of the night and I was left alone as collateral, they chatted with me for a few minutes. The decor reminds me a bit of "It's a Small World" or some equally kitschy ode to places not America.
The food, well, there's a lot of it. You get salad (iceburg), bread and butter, your main dish, and an apple strudel as dessert. I had the wrapped cabbage, which I thought was great. The extras like the salad and bread aren't amazing, but it's a nice touch.
While Cafe Marika is easy to pass by for years, once you've gone in it's hard to not want to return. -
Review from Eric B.
Sacramento, CA
8/25/2011
I've been going to Cafe Marika for a good 15 years, maybe longer. I usually only go for lunch, but have had a few dinners there as well. I always get the same thing, for lunch, the breast of turkey aux champignons. Every time it has been as good as can be. Sometimes, i'll top it off with the homemade streudel. Althought the owners are Czech, they make the best Hungarian food i've ever had, either here, or in Hungary.
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Review from Francisco S.
Costa Mesa, CA
12/18/2010 1 Check-in Here
Excellent Hungarian place! The goulash was FANTASTIC!!! What a great discovery!!! I plan to visit soon to try the stuffed cabbage and hopefully the sauerkraut & sausage soup. Very friendly owners, great music and again excellent food at very reasonable prices. The apple strudel was super fresh and delicious too.
Well deserved 5 stars!!! -
Review from Kevin L.
Ann Arbor, MI
12/4/2010
Titanic soundtrack greets you once you walk into this tiny tiny establishment. The music triggers nostalgia as you take a seat at one of 5 tables in the cafe and the smell of the food totally envelops you.
This two sentences alone can only foreshadow the amazingness of the food that is about to come. Even though there are only 4 items on the menu, it is mouthwateringly delicious. Each and every last bite of food that is served to you. The bread and butter is eh, kind of like it's mandatory they serve it. You can tell since it doesn't have the same kind of love put into it like the rest of the meal.
My freind had the pork schnitzel and I had the goulash. Both were outstanding dishes as the meat was so tender and flavorful! These entrees came with soup/salad and dessert. Always, always go with the soup. The soup was a sauerkrat and sausage soup and it was hearty and succulent and a cup of it got me and my freind full. We were thinking oh no, how will we ever finish the rest of the meal? But not to worry, one bite of the entree had us happily munching our way through the rest of it until we remembered that there was dessert. With only half of our entrees eaten, we bagged it to-go with a firm note-to-self to have it as a midnight snack. Dessert was served in the form of apple strudel and OMG it was crazy amazing with such a flaky crust! I was lucky enough that my friend seriously couldn't take another bite, so I got to polish off whatever she couldn't finish.
Once home, the smell of my to-go was too strong to resist, so basically, 30 minutes after leaving the cafe, I ate the rest of my food...going to sleep happily. But sadly, that didn't leave me with wonderful leftovers for lunch the next day....
Note: dinner is served Friday/Saturday/Sunday only 5-9, And they take only cash. -
Review from William B.
Sacramento, CA
11/8/2007
Cafe Marika is, for me and apparently others, the place I had always been meaning to go and never got around to, until tonight...and I'm sorry I waited for so long! We were on our way to Taki and realized that not only was Cafe Marika open (they're only open four days a week) but they were almost empty (they have six tables, usually totally full when they're open) so we decided it was the perfect time to finally eat there after more than a decade of walking past and going "Hey, we should go there sometime that it is open/not crowded."
Cafe Marika is very tiny, and very and comfortable, like eating in a friend's exceptionally clean kitchen and dining room. Everything in the place says traditional, from the wallpaper to the music (easy-listening piano melodies) to the service.
Appetizer was a chicken ragout, creamy and comforting. I had the pork roll-ups, tender pork wrapped around a pickle, egg and sausage mixture and served over spaetzle. The pickle gave it a tang that complemented the otherwise subtly spiced pork. My wife had the gypsy cutlet, a more flavorful but not spicy pork preparation, exquisitely tender, also served over spaetzle. Even the red cabbage garnish was delicious. Dessert was an apple strudel, a perfect finisher. Just the right thing on a cool November evening: not a huge amount of food, but so rich that I walked out feeling like I couldn't hold another delicious bite.
Service was personal, attentive and fast. The husband and wife team that run the place have it down to a science, and it's obvious that they love what they do.
So, the next time we're going by there, and they're open, and the place isn't full...I think we'll stop in again. -
Review from W J.
Pacifica, CA
1/9/2009
Comfort food for a chilly day.
Cafe Marika is small place. You'll miss it if don't look for it. I'm glad I didn't. I don't know much about Hungarian food, but I imagine this what Hungarian comfort food is like
I had their Hungarian Goulash dinner. It came with soup, entree and dessert. The soup was some sort of spicy meat soup, very warm very tasty. Perfect for a cold winter day. The Goulash came with pork, home pasta and some pickles. The pork was very tender. homemade pasta was soft. and the pickle is fresh. The entree was simple but very balance in taste. The best for of the dinner was the dessert, homemade apple strudel. When I told the chef how wonderful it is. He pointed his finger to the waitress and said "she made it". It was so tasty I order one to go. The whole meal with an apple strudel was only $15, what a deal!
Another thing, their bathroom is spotless, can't remember another restaurant this clean ever.
I definitely will come back here again .
Make sure to bring cash , they don't take credit card. -
Review from Kai L.
4/2/2011
Goulash was brought to my attention recently by one of the final episodes of Top Chef where one of the contestants was asked to cook the last meal for Wolfgang Puck: goulash and apple strudel. Since then, I've been obsessed with trying goulash.
So on one sunny afternoon, I made my way to Cafe Marika where they promise a home cooked meal and where fellow yelpers have promised me excellent goulash. First off, it has a completely family vibe, like they just happened to be cooking this stuff anyways and are happy to share some with you. I chose to sit outside. All dinner entrees comes with two slices of bread, soup or salad, entree and then dessert. I got a blue cheese salad which was plain but really fresh. The lettuce was crisp. That's a weird comment but it stood out to me how crisp the lettuce was. Seriously crisp. I'm sad to say it but the goulash didn't blow me away. The meat was tender but the sauce had a little too much paprika for me. If someone told me this was good goulash, I'd believe them, but I think maybe goulash just isn't my thing. My dinner partner got the skinless chicken with creamy sauce which I enjoyed more. And I loved that the apple strudel was homemade but it was a touch too sweet for my taste and I actually didn't finish all of it.
While the food was just a little left of perfect for me, the environment was wonderful. I don't know if it was because I was sitting outside on one of the first warm day in weeks, or because I was eating goulash in an unfamiliar part of town, but I felt like I was on vacation. Literally. I felt like I was sitting at a table in another part of the world. And that alone makes this place worth visiting again. -
Review from April G.
Montague, MA
3/19/2008
I finally went here for lunch today. I was surprised to find myself completely underwhelmed.
I love the Goulash at the UC Davis Coffee House (which I realize probably isn't authentic), so I was expecting something similar to the thick and savory stew they have there. It was not like that at Cafe Marika. The sauce was surprisingly thin and bland, and tasted strongly of canned broth. The pork was very tender though.
My boyfriend had the Chicken Paprikash, which was also very bland and flavorless. It mostly just tasted like salt.
Someone at the table next to us ordered the special, and it looked delicious. I will definitely give them another try and revise my review accordingly, but right now I have to give them 3 stars. -
Review from Costa A.
Sacramento, CA
3/6/2007
This is a place I never think of going for lunch when I happen to be downtown during the day, but when I do I kick myself for not thinking of it earlier.
This place makes awesome goulash. Great paprika flavor, homemade speztle, and the meat just melts in your mouth. The serving is enough to feed two people.
They make good Apple strudel too, but they don't put any nuts on it which it normally part of the recipe. Minor complant though.
Run by husband and wife team, no other employees. Like Craig M said, the owners weren't very talkative at first as I was waiting to take it out, but when I told them I wanted to buy 4 extra strudel to take home, they opened up a lot more!
I really wish they were open for lunch on weekends.Listed in: Good and Cheap!
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Review from Sarah W.
3/7/2010
I went here Friday night. It was completely empty, the couple was sitting around listening to NPR. I was worried it would be awkward, my dad always refuses to eat at a place when there's no other customers, but as soon as we walked in they turned on some ambiance music that made me feel like I was at Disneyland and were extremely friendly and accommadating. A couple with reservations walked in later so we weren't alone for long.
The food was great. I had the Goulash, boyfriend had the Schnitzel, both were very good and very fresh, you could see them making the food from the kitchen. The soup was sausage and Sauerkraut which sounded iffy to me so I got the salad, but the boyfriend got it and it was actually really good.
It's inexpensive, it was a little over $30 for the two of us, which is a great deal since it includes soup/salad, entree and dessert.
I'll definitely be coming back. -
Review from Johnna P.
1/5/2008
What's the best cure for a rainy, dreary, sniffly-nose kinda day?? Why, hello, Mr. Obvious!
My co-workers escaped from the tower to treat ourselves to some hearty Hungarian food after I remembered a fellow yelper's suggestion to try the schnitzel at Cafe Marika. Unfortunately, the schnitzel is only on the dinner menu.
So... we ordered one of everything on the lunch menu instead. Seriously.
Hot paprika is such a marvelous thing! I can't remember everything we ate... just take a look at the lunch menu and read the first four entrees (including the combo plate). Yep, that's what we ate. I do remember the "spicy" chicken specifically... it was a perfect blend of spice - not too overwhelming, but enough for it to linger for a minute or two. The spetzle was definitely my favorite part of the meal, though. Tiny, puffy, doughy little clouds of heaven blissfully resting in some sort of paprika cream sauce. *sigh*
The apple strudel was good... my coworkers claimed it to be "OMG... this is SO GOOD"... but I'm a bit biased toward the one my BF makes. It was pretty tasty, though.
I loved the atmosphere, as it reminded me of the cafes I frequented in Germany. The music was nice touch, too. Nothing fancy, just cozy.
5th star? Savin' it for the schnitzel...Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Janice B.
Sacramento, CA
6/28/2011
I love this place, my husband brought me here years ago. Great food and service. It's small so I always try to go early to make sure I get a table. Great comfort food.
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Review from Jayne W.
Sacramento, CA
1/23/2010
Tiny place with a bizarre atmosphere - half grandma's living room, half formica diner. Kind of fun in an odd, eastern European sort of way. The menu is sparse but all four entrees (3 the night we were there - they were out of pork roll ups) come with soup or salad and dessert. Again, a very eastern European touch: dessert *is* apple strudel.
I had chicken paprikash with spetzle; the boys both had stuffed cabbage. Both dishes were savory, unusual, and very satisfying. The stuffed cabbage filling had a great smoky, garlicky flavor. The spetzle were awesome - fresh and tender. The chicken was falling off the bone tender. i put some of the hot paprika on it, which was mmmm... hot.
Oh, and the soup was tasty too. Vegetable potato, but full of paprika-y goodness. Paprika, as you may have guessed, figures heavily among the offerings.
I was vacillating between 3 and 4 stars for this place. Food was 4 stars except for the strudel, which had leathery pastry and mushy filling. Atmosphere... like I said, hard to put a finger on it. Service was fine, but when I forgot my purse on the way out, the owner came running after me to tell me. Minus a star for lack of variety on menu. I'd go back, if I was craving something with paprika. Which could definitely happen. -
Review from jim K.
Sacramento, CA
1/24/2009
Hit or miss recently.. I've been going here since it opened in the early 90's It used to be amazing...last time i went it was barely edible, i am pretty sure they were leftovers from the day before, thinking i wouldn't notice.... I give it three stars out of mercy and out of fond memories...
The couple running the place are nice folks, but the years have worn them a bit, they used to appear much happier. I think they are married. I think their cooking may have soured like their relationship. I guess you can only take so many years in such a small kitchen. -
Review from John R.
Sacramento, CA
4/12/2010
My wife and I went on a date lunch to Cafe Marika - one of our favorite places for a date lunch.
It's a small mom and pop type place run by a husband and wife team.
We almost always choose the same dish - the COMBO meal - it's Hungarian Goulash and Chicken Paprikash - one hell of a comfort food dish.
The Hungarian Goulash is bite-sized pieces of pork (oh, so tender) and seasoned just right over rice and the Chicken Paprikash is a tender thigh of chicken over home-made spaetzle (YUMMY).
Oh, and we must not forget the red cabbage sauerkraut (OMG, it's so good). And, the meal comes with french bread as well.
Anyhoot, I just had to give this place 5 stars 'cause it's the best of it's kind in the whole area.
Oh, and the husband/wife team provide excellent customer service with a smile as well.
Thanks Cafe Marika for every meal we eat there! -
Review from J. W.
Sacramento, CA
10/13/2011
The fifth star may possibly be for sentimental reasons. Atmospherically, this is one of my very favorite places to be. I love the old-world charm of the tiny dining room, the linens and tableware that remind me of the early half of the last century, and the classical music that plays softly. The owners are welcoming and efficient, if somewhat formal or reserved in a Euro manner. I like their style. Before dinner is even served, I feel relaxed and ready to enjoy a lovely meal and quiet conversation with my companion. The fifth star does not necessarily indicate the cuisine itself is a 3 Michelin star situation, but they are not marketing themselves in the same niche as Noma or whatever the top restaurant is this year. Café Marika's food is delicious, hearty, and prepared in the style of a really great home cook. It does not leave you feeling puffy, pumped with preservatives or highly buttered or salted like many other establishments.
While I've enjoyed every dish I have tried there including chicken paprikash, goulash, schnitzel, and others, I keep coming back to the cabbage rolls. It's a dish I make at home, but I love their rendition of it. I also like how the proprietor brings you a piece of strudel, unbidden, directly following dinner. I feel like I am rolling in high clover when I'm at Café Marika lingering over a coffee and strudel after a nice, satisfying meal. Love it.
In the old-world style-- bring cash, no plastic. -
Review from Lodi G.
Lodi, CA
3/14/2011
Awesome food, friendly service, fun location!
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Review from Elif F.
12/1/2008 1 Check-in Here
I finally made it to this little gem. This place reminded me of the small ethic restaurant my grandmother used to have. A regular dinning companion and I had a wonderful Saturday night dinner here recently. All the tables were taken and so my friend and I found two seats together at the dinner counter.
I spied a man next to me eating what I thought was the Hungarian Gulosh and so that is what I ordered. It turns out he ordered that day's special, Chicken Cacciatore. I was kind of bummed that I didn't get the bright red sauce that was with the Chicken, after all, the menu stated a hearty sauce of paprika (paprika is red, so I assumed a red sauce). But that didn't deter me from scarffing down my meal. The homemade spetzels reminded me of a cross between a gnocchi and egg noodles. Not my favorite but I know many people would like them (I am not a fan of thick doughy things, i.e. gnocchi, thick crust pizza, dumplings). The Goulash had cubes of pork in a very mild sauce. Something I wasn't prepared for, I was thinking it would have a bit more spice and pizzazz to it. It seemed like a very good comfort food for when it's cold outside. My dinning companion had the pan fried porkshnitzle and I stole a bite. It was delicious. The meal came with bread, salad or soup, the main course and a wonderful Apple strudel dessert. I have never had apple strudel before and it was wonderful.
The highlight in the meal for me was being able to watch the waitress and cook work. I was delighted to see this wife and husband team work seamlessly together through out my meal. I saw the husband pound out the pork for my friend's schnitzel. My dinning companion made a comment I feel I have to share here. Instead of saving up for months to go have dinner at "The Kitchen" to get a delicious home cooked meal while watching it being prepared by a chief, you can do all that here at the price of approximately 15 dollars. I thought about it and they were right. I think this is a new favorite of mine. I will come for lunch some time. -
Review from Katee R.
Alameda, CA
4/6/2010
This is a great place to bring a first or second date! The ambiance is a fusion of old European, mom and pop, romantic bistro. The place is very small with maybe 5 tables and some bar seats. I went here with my honey and I ordered a glass of "Bull's Blood" red wine. The service is immediate and the mood is intimate. I think they had the titanic soundtrack on in the background (I'm the King of The World). You can actually have a conversation at this restaurant, so it is a great place to get to know someone, or get to know someone better. An average 3 course dinner includes, bread and butter, soup or salad ( I recommend the soup, yummy!) a HUGE main entree and apple strudel that taste like home made. All for about $11-15 bucks. If you love savory home cooked meals and intimate ambiance bring your honey here and quick! Order the Veal, it's to die for!
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Review from Tom B.
Benicia, CA
12/17/2007
Likely the best Czech food in Sacramento, because though this place is known as Hungarian the owners are Moravian and serve Czech food..the problem was they thought nobody in Sacramento had ever heard of Moravia (and theyre right arent they?) .Run for years by a married couple (from Moravia, remember? ;-) this place serves good hearty food at a decent price..same menu from lunch to dinner, just dinner is a bit more expensive. The space is tiny so be prepared to make friends with the people next to you, but especially be prepared to enjoy your meal!
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Review from leah B.
Sacramento, CA
8/16/2010
Food is GREAT, service is like "you're one of the family", and decor is very old european cafe style. The place is TINY, but cheap and delicious. I will go back again for sure!!
Oh but it is CASH ONLY! That is always good to know before going! -
Review from patrick g.
Sacramento, CA
12/17/2009
Great lunch specials, good food and service (very friendly staff).
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Review from Miguel P.
Sacramento, CA
1/15/2010
I will give Cafe Marika four and a half stars. I was looking for a restaurat that had at least a 4 star rating to take my wife out for her birthday. Looking through the menus I found that Cafe Marika had Stuffed Cabbage and guess what, my wife loves Stuffed Cabbage.
Well lets say that both my wife and I enjoyed our dinner. The entrees came with bread, soup and desert, all very delicious. Our meal came out to about $30. After our meal we started talking to the Cook (Louie) and the Waitress (Eva) which are the owners they are both very nice people and friendly I recommend this restaurat if you want really good food and quiet and clean atmosphere. -
Review from Keri B.
Sacramento, CA
5/23/2008
Cozy little (tiny) spot for a different kind of comfort food. While they're a bit stingy with the bread the portions are decent and the food is tasty.
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Review from David B.
North Hollywood, CA
2/10/2010
Skip the appetizers, unless you enjoy watching threes company with your tv tray in front of you. Other then the appetizers and the bulls blood wine, youre in for a treat.
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Review from Janelle O.
Sacramento, CA
11/17/2010
I have worked in midtown area for half a decade now and have walked or driven by the blue awning for Cafe Marika countless times. I never even thought to check it out until I was taking a shopping lunch break at nearby Denim Spot and the owner suggested I go there and get the Caesar salad. I did just that and could not have been more impressed! It was super fresh and the chicken was drizzled with teriyaki sauce...excellent flavors! Plus, it came with a lovely side of fresh fruit and bread. It was enough food for two lunches. Absolutely one of my all-time favorite salads and favorite lunches for that matter. I have returned several times and each time I am so tempted to order one of the other delicious sounding items from their menu, but can't bring myself to not get the Caesar salad. Sadly, I returned today to find the summer Caesar salad special was no longer available...but that meant I could finally try something else. I went for the lunch combo - half order of Chicken Paprikash and half order of Hungarian Goulash. It was SO GOOD. The sauces had a creaminess to them, but were not too heavy. It's a must-try.
