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Amenities and More
About the Business
Strings Urban Kitchen strives to change the face of the traditional dining scene by bringing exceptional traditional Italian cuisine with a few creative menu twists. We are proudly located in downtown Sacramento on the ground-floor of the Capitol Towers building at 7th and O streets. SUK's casual contemporary atmosphere is accompanied by artwork and custom furniture from Sacramento artist Steve Hamm. Michael Chandler, partner and local sommelier, is here daily to oversee our retail wine shop inside Strings Urban Kitchen. Our mission statement is very simple; one word...EXPERIENCE! We want our employees and our guests to have an experience that makes both want to come back again and again!
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Recommended Reviews
Overall rating
214 reviews
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1 star
- Mar 11, 2017
Came here twice for an early lunch and have enjoyed both visits. Strings Urban Kitchen (SUK) is located in between apartment buildings, so parking may be difficult. I'm usually in the area when I have a meeting to attend at CalPERS, which is walking distance away.
SUK is super chic with nice wooden tables of assorted sizes on the patio to accompany parties of different sizes.
On my first visit, I tried the Pasta Sienna and the Tomato Bisque soup. I *loved* both! The Pasta Sienna was very unique with the curry flavors and the Tomato Bisque had the perfect amount of creaminess.
On my most recent visit, I tried the Pasta Al Forno and the Minestrone soup. I was pretty surprised by the portion of the $2 side of soup because it looked like the same size as the Tomato Bisque, which cost around $7. The Minestrone soup with very flavorful with a great mixture of veggies and some pasta. The Pasta Al Forno was very heavy and filling despite the portion looking small. It unfortunately wasn't my favorite dish due to how salty it tasted with all the pepperoni.
Overall, I would highly recommend visiting this restaurant! There was a sign on the front door that said there's no public restroom, so be careful with your liquids. Eep! And it *does* get quite busy during lunch, but otherwise, great service!
Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0 - Aug 8, 2017
Stopped by for lunch and was disappointed that they ran out of eggplant and lasagna. I ended up trying the chicken sandwich which was pretty tasty. A little on the greasy side but the bread is good and the Alfredo sauce goes well with it. Also a side of penne pasta is included.
Prices are fair and service is average. Might be back again to try the eggplant parm!
Food: 4/5
Value: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5
Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Aug 28, 2016
Tried this place and felt it was mediocre at best.....
The location is pretty good.... In busy downtown close to an apartment complex.....
It's a small place with outdoor seating.... Has a bar area area for people to sit and enjoy a beer!
Happy hour is between 3-6 and we ordered the garlic fries and the cheesy bread. The garlic fries was only average.... Fries were cut thick and was slightly too oily...
I didn't even try the cheesy bread... Next time....
For entree, I ordered a pizza with mushrooms, bacon and truffle oil....i barely tasted the truffle oil which was the part I was looking forward to the most. Also, the pizza came in different sizes and I wasn't asked so they brought me a small... Which was only 4 slices.... BUT they were kind enough to make me another one.... The pizza was just average... Just tasted like an ordinary pizza... If they added more truffle oil, it would have made a huge difference!
My lady ordered a pasta but it was overloaded with veggies.... It dominates the dish... She would have enjoyed more noodles and shrimp!
The service was pretty good.... Nice and friendly staff.... But the food has to step up!
Helpful 7Thanks 0Love this 6Oh no 0 - Oct 14, 2016
Had lunch. Fruita di mare, $14, after 15% tip = $17. Seafood with noodles. Delicious. Was light on the parmigiana reggiano, but asking for more, I got more!
I liked the patio. I sat at a huge wooden square table that probably seats 12 with a lot of room in the middle for plates and drinks! The patio was nice for the rainy day. Inside was a bit loud/echos quite a bit.
Crisp, clean ice water self serve. Pay and order at counter, with card, they have a smart computer that you can select the tip amount. While it is pay at the counter and the service isn't wait staff, you can at least tip 15% and it's a very good experience.
Although it seemed strange to find a restaurant in an apartment complex, I get it, I like it, it didn't feel like I was staring in on someone showering... :)
I'd recommend it. I was third in line when I arrived and the order taker was accurate, about 15 minutes for food. By the time I left the counter there was a couple of small groups, so the wait could get long. So keep that in mind and you should be happy. I won't go frequently because I can't justify spending so much for lunch too often if it's not sushi, but it's worthy of a visit here and there.
Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0 
2733312284881Dec 29, 2015Updated reviewGreat Lunch Redux With Delicious Seasonal Dishes!
SITREP
My work-team had an opportunity to revisit Strings Urban Kitchen (SUK) and we enjoyed some great festive, seasonal dishes in an environment full of charm.
SUK is just a couple blocks away from our office campus, so it is well worth the effort to break away from the work-grind for some nice downtime with great food.
THE SETUP
Every now and then, a place may experience some hiccups in service and food selection, but it's always nice to be able to come back when things are great again.
What is significantly cost-effective about this set-up is that you order at the register first, pay your bill, and get your number and then grab an empty table. The prices are no doubt lower because of this business metric, but this is a very classy place in any event.
LE MENU
This time around we tried some favorites, but also explored some new culinary territory:
A. Eggplant Parmesan Panino ($8) - as always, this sandwich has recently become a favorite go-to for me, and it comes with a delicious side pasta salad. I've also had the Eggplant Parmesan as an entrée itself which is just as yummy. Suffice it to say, you can't go wrong with the Eggplant dishes here and they are excellent deals.
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/strings-urban-kitchen-sacramento?select=25wV9oh_y7P_pBW8po7qTg
B. Meatball Panino ($8) - a great meaty sandwich if you are looking for something just as yummy - but different - from the Eggplant Panino.
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/strings-urban-kitchen-sacramento?select=1o1GUC_qjITm8jRghqU0aA
C. Caprese Salad ($7.50) - with Heirloom grape tomatoes, mozzarella balls, micro basil, EVOO & balsamic glaze. My boss and another colleague decided to try this tasty, festive offering, and my boss in particular was a huge fan of this salad over the Butter Lettuce experience she had last time we here. [She ate the entire salad.]
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/strings-urban-kitchen-sacramento?select=Dk_SEHdS8UQXwxvz9uILtg
BEVERAGES!
I always love the automated soda fountain here since you can pretty much create the "perfect soda to order" with this amazing machine. First you choose the foundational soda you want - I choose Coke Zero. Then next you can to choose a *flavoring* if you so choose - I love the Raspberry, so that's what I add! Mmmm. Mmmm! Makes for a truly awesome soda!
THE ART
SUK has some great tasteful art throughout it's establishment provides a very warm, elegant vibe to the dining room environment.
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/strings-urban-kitchen-sacramento?select=F5R4nzxAlrOFXKcmbKMbhg
THE PATIO
Not so much during these colder months, but the revamped patio is a great place to congregate and makes for some pretty spectacular wine tastings that SUK conducts on many occasions (be sure to check out their calendar of events for these get-togethers!)
THE LOWDOWN
It is always nice to have a great local restaurant establishment to enjoy that is very close to work during the lunch hour, as well as a great place to escape to for brunch on the weekends when downtown.Helpful 30Thanks 0Love this 32Oh no 0Business owner information
Michael C.
Dec 23, 2015
Thank you for visiting Strings Urban Kitchen and for posting your review. We appreciate all feedback and were pleased to see you again. Unfortunately, our hood system went down on Monday right before lunch and per Cal OSHA we were not allowed to cook anything under the hood. In the process of trying to fix the hood ASAP, our service and kitchen were impacted. The first salad may have accidentally had bacon but rest assure that the second salad did not. Please also note that the salad that you referred to has crumbled walnuts that can appear to look like bacon- We have spoken to the staff and chef and they have assured us that the second salad did not include bacon. However, we will further discuss yesterday's situation with our staff and work with them to improve communication during these unusual situations and in general. We apologize for the inconvenience and the service you experienced.
We would like to invite you, and your guests, in for lunch on us. Please contact us at michael@alexisventures.net to set-up.Dec 21, 2015Previous review#SaladFail: TWICE-In-A-Row! At The SAME Lunch!
SITREP
Treated our boss to a Holiday lunch today as we hit Strings Urban Kitchen (SUK), but unfortunately things took a nose dive right from the get-go.
THE SETUP
Usually SUK does a good job on providing a nice lunch:
(1) My Eggplant Parmesan sandwich with side pasta was pretty good
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/strings-urban-kitchen-sacramento?select=x5scFvFWzBbWVZr9dkmTBw
(2) However, my bosses' Special Salad with Arugula had lettuce that had NOT been washed clean from dirt/sand (whatever that harsh gritty texture was created by):
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/strings-urban-kitchen-sacramento?select=VG4CZCS8pDteJ4rDElSTMA
But the indignity did not end there for her:
a. She promptly brought this matter to the staff's attention
b. She mentioned again for a 2nd time - being a vegetarian - to not put bacon in it
c. They said they would get her another salad right away
d. I don't think waiting 15 mins is "right away"
e. We had already finished our meals while she had to go back twice to check on her salad
f. BTW, how long does it take to cook a salad?
g. Her salad finally came out, but.....this one had BACON all over and in it.
h. Is there some kind of communication problem going on with the kitchen?
EXTRA "COLOR" FOR THE OCCASION
In addition, our work team overhead later during the lunch hour while grabbing drink refills & napkins, one of the staff state "We are having kitchen problems" as they shut the front door and turned away two (2) more female patrons (it was 11:55am and the dining areas were not completely full yet, mind you).
I mention this in my "Check-In" to SUK (because you know, my lovelies, I come to you with all my foodie-related problems), and our yelpie Darci K. immediately piped in & mentioned in a comment on the check-in thread that this is an excuse they used when she was there too.
*Crikey* This really amounts to gross negligence on the kitchen's part if this becomes an all too common justification for their kitchen-issues. But that's the power of Yelp they may not fully realize when using a tired excuse over and over again: the fact we have a central place (this site) that we can collate our experiences together, and then "call them out" about their unsatisfactory practices.
RATING
Tough tough decision here. I had rated SUK four (4) or five (5) stars in the past. And on balance, I hope they uptick their preparation metrics in the future again. But TODAY was really bad: (1) Bad enough shoot down a couple stars for serving unwashed lettuce; but then, (2) serving a replacement salad to a vegetarian with bacon in it when my boss had made clear - TWICE - that she was a vegetarian and did not want meat in her salad? The slide in "rating" continues further down the slope to 2 stars.
So this was grossly negligent, and almost borders on the malicious, when a simple dietary instruction is not followed. Thank god it wasn't a nut-allergy we were dealing with and then getting served a salad with nut residue - or chopped nuts - in it.
THE LOWDOWN
Really really really disappointed about lunch today. I wish SUK the best in curing their *kitchen-ills* (because they ARE a local business, after all, since many of us do care about a strong downtown culinary presence), but I can't recommend this spot to a friend anymore, and it will be a long long long time before anyone from our office will venture out to SUK again (and the Vegetarian-Vegan hot-line in this area of state service has already been fully alerted to *AVOID*).Sep 28, 2015Previous reviewExcellent Saturday Brunch Option at SUK
SITREP
It's really gotta...*cough* ... SUK to be a downtown establishment on the weekend when most of your dependable State Worker weekday lunch-traffic is NONexistant. But SUK is steadfast and makes it work as a dependable option.
THE SETUP
This particular Saturday happened to the Farm-To-Fork Festival on the Capitol Mall. But sure enough, after more than an hour of wandering the festival, it was ~HOT~ as hell - and getting hotter - and my companion was not too crazy about the food truck'ish food options, and she really was hoping to find a place to sit down in the shade.
As it turns out, I'm glad I remembered that Strings Urban Kitchen (SUK) was a mere block and a half away down 7th Street. So we took a break from the heat and headed to SUK
BRUNCH
I had never had SUK's brunch fare, so this was a rare treat to actually check it out. And you might have a misperception about the offerings here since SUK is categorized as an "Italian" restaurant, but it indeed has mainstream brunching offerings.
The Brunch menu was merely one simple sheet of paper with a handful of items, but there's something to be said about "knowing" what you're about and keeping focused. [Sometimes just because you have a menu that is 75-pages long (yes, I'm looking at YOU, Cheesecake Factory), does NOT mean that's a good thing...]
OMELETS
Right away we saw a few omelet options that we liked, so that made the narrowing down of the selection easier.
We got:
* A Primavera Omelet (grilled veggies):
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/strings-urban-kitchen-sacramento?select=la2noO-thr2wMO1ix1SYrQ
* And a Protein Omelet (options for sausage, bacon or grilled chicken - so I asked for a mix of ALL THREE - and got it!) with a slab of cheddar cheese:
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/strings-urban-kitchen-sacramento?select=puxBTRywExeMuYyKUOiSMw
The omelets each came with country potatoes and lightly toasted sourdough sections and ketchup on the side. Joined by a couple of ice teas, it was a great brunch for about $30 (including tax & tip).
THE LOWDOWN
SUK has a great brunch fare that you should check it out since it doesn't suck, and that's because it's SUK. ;)Jul 29, 2015Previous reviewTotal "Soup-Nazi"-Seinfeld Moment Today @ SUK (But In A GOOD WAY) ;)
SITREP
Our travel-unit manager was taking my colleague (and fellow Yelper) Tammy P. and I out to lunch to SUK to thank us for some work we've been doing on Webinar-Recordings (and turning them into eLearnings) with her travel team.
THE SETUP
We all got something here we hadn't gotten before on prior trips, just to be experimental and stuff:
* Tammy: Eggplant Parmigiana
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/strings-urban-kitchen-sacramento?select=0vg2Z-HPwkyVVX613j2ysg
* Mindy: Chicken Caesar Salad
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/strings-urban-kitchen-sacramento?select=yMtaOWjDmpN1c7M1N42r6w
* Moi: Lasagna & Meatballs (..cause my diet & shit, ya know?)
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/strings-urban-kitchen-sacramento?select=J7kI48dFkl_q4ewlg6r4Yw
BREAD
There was a lot of delicious sauce that came with my order. But this is basically an "A La Carte" sorta place where everything - entrees, soups, salads, AND bread - are separately charged for.
But I forgot about that, and went up to the counter and asked the nice gentlemen for some bread, but then remembered it was not an included item with what I already purchased. HOWEVER, he was kind enough to throw some slices of sourdough my way - no charge! - and I got so giddy with excitement!
"SOUP NAZI"
This short clip from Seinfeld about George Constanza's experience with the "Soup Nazi" pretty much sums up feelings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2lfZg-apSA
THE LOWDOWN
An excellent stop for lunch in Downtown Sacramento!Feb 20, 2015Previous reviewSignature Dishes Keep Me Coming Back
SITREP
Because Strings Urban Kitchen (SUK) is so conveniently close to our work campus, it is a favorite go-to spot to "spread our wings" and get away from the work-cafeteria for a change of scenery.
This "convenience", however, should not be construed to mean that this establishment is necessarily a GREAT place - it may just mean it is "convenient".
THE SETUP
Since SUK first opened up almost a year ago in March 2014, my likes & dislikes have become much more polarized with their menu, and the rating totally depends on what we're talking about:
* PIZZA - 3 STARS
The quality of the pizza has taken a notable drop since I first had their pizza a year ago. It's still good, don't get me wrong. But it's not as great as it was last year - the combination of the ingredients, the cooking prep, the burnt-factor, etc. all seem to be more hit & miss in recent months.
In addition, in recent months, new outfits such as Pieology & Blaze are creating "made-to-order" pizzas, also only for same cost of $8, and with pizzas that are not only better in quality, but also considerably much bigger in size.
If it were just up to Pizza alone, I would not be coming back to SUK.
* SIGNATURE DISHES - 5 STARS
However, what SUK still has going for it are it's signature dishes. Today I had their "Melanzane Alla Parmigiana" (Breaded Eggplant, Italian cheese & Marinara) and it was absolutely fantastic and it is one of the reasons why I'll be back.
I also got to try some of my colleague's Chicken Panini (marinated chicken, spinach, tomato, Italian cheeses & Alfredo sauce). This was amazing as well.
The signature dishes are definitely a draw for lunchtime at SUK.
I like paying at the counter first and then getting my food brought to me - or called when ready. [Sidenote: Am I the only person in a quandry when paying up front why I see a line item to provide for a tip for service not yet or even rendered?]
So taken in concert with each other, the food & restaurant metrics still see an average of 4 Stars.
THE LOWDOWN
You can't go wrong on one of SUK's signature dishes or sandwiches.Apr 1, 2014Previous reviewDelicious Little Pizzas in a Friendly Eatery Environment!
SITREP
My sweet friend Kari and I both work very close by the new Strings Urban Kitchen ("Strings"). This used to be a hot spot with my coworkers when it was the Mexican eatery "Los Patios." But management at the Capitol Towers (the landlords for this space) were moving in a different direction for what they wanted with the food service in this spot.
THE SETUP - ROOM SERVICE
With Strings, they have found a new paradigm of food service - much like the prix fixe offerings of more mobile catering services - that would provide a room service-like availability for the residents of Capitol Towers.
Imagine living in your apartment, but instead of having to fix your own meals - or even travel far to hit a restaurant - you can dial up Strings like you were ordering room service at a hotel.
Very nifty idea, but one that is not entirely unique. The Dime over at 18th & L has also been providing these services for the condo-complex that they are part of. Yet even with these embedded customers, that still is only half the equation for what Strings can achieve.
RESTAURANT METRICS
* This location is surrounded by government agencies and corporate headquarters, so Strings is already dialed into a strong customer base of potential lunch-customers.
* The restaurant physical plant, with tables, dining space - both inside and out on the patio - has space metrics that allow for a large groups of customers.
* The interior décor, art work, lighting all give a very positive vibe, and a place where one can stay and enjoy their meal, then feel like they need to "grab & go" for lack of space.
THE MENU
The choices on the menu are very extensive - salads, sandwiches (paninos), pizzas, pastas and other selected items.
On this occasion:
* My friend Kari got the Pomodoro Mozzarella Pizza; and,
* I got the Italian Sausage pizza.
Both ran about $8 each, were out in about 10-12 minutes, and were a great deal for lunch. We sampled each others and I have to admit I found her Pomodoro to be the superior pizza, mainly because I thought hers was cooked perfectly, whereas mine seemed to a bit overcooked and on the burnt side, though it was still a tasty affair - not sure if that may be because since mine was a meat pizza, it is cooked longer.
FANCY-SCHMANCY!
Along with the pizza, we got an "endless supply of soda" that we were able to get from their very modern soda dispenser.
This is a Coca-Cola soda dispenser and allows for the selection of the base soda - say regular Coke, diet Coke, Coke Zero (MY choice), or Sprite. Then once you select your base soda, you then get a choice of selecting a flavor enhancement - I chose Raspberry. So good!
I am a Pepsi drinker most of the time, but I might just come here so I can get a Raspberry Coke Zero. SO GOOD.
FRIENDLY ATTENTIVE STAFF
I have to give props to the staff of Strings since there were at least 3 to 4 different staff who at different times were checking up on us and making sure our meals were to our liking and that we got everything we needed.
THE LOWDOWN
I am very impressed with Strings and see myself coming back to sample other items from their menu.- Jan 15, 2016
Location:
On 7th street between O Street and P Street. 7th street is one way street, so it will be on your right hand side located in the back of Capitol Towers apartment building.
Ambiance:
Cool, chic, minimilistic bustling little restaurant. Great for Capitol Towers residents and state workers in the area.
Service:
I ordered something to go and they were quick, fast, no non sense - which I appreciate.
Lunch offerings:
Sandwiches and personalized pizzas for about $10. Very reasonable. They do have an extensive menu of other offerings for a higher, but totally reasonable price point (for being a small business and located in the downtown area). I think the highest priced item was $17 for salmon.
Menu Suggestions aka Pregnancy cravings that I'd like to see on special or added to the menu:
Salmon BLT Sandwich... PLEASE!
Helpful 4Thanks 0Love this 5Oh no 0 - Mar 13, 2015
I think I just found my new favorite lunch spot!
My co-worker and I decided to try this new restaurant that is located around the corner from where we work. We came early around 11:30 and there was already a line tailing out the door. (Next time I'll have to show up at 11 when they open to beat the lunch crowd!) This is a nice little cozy spot with a relaxed atmosphere. Noticed they offer a wine tasting event as well! Definitely need to come back for the tasting!
I ordered the Pasta Sienna which came with ample amount of shrimp (cooked just right) along with a few red peppers! The sauce was phenomenal. The garlic flavor really stood out. I would recommend this for others to try.
Service is great. Walked up to the counter and ordered our food and it was ready a lot faster than I expected. The venue is very clean with outdoor seating available. There is street parking but you would have to walk through the apartment complexes to reach this hidden gem.
Helpful 4Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0 
Jace C.Sacramento, CA59102138Jan 13, 2017If I didn't pack food for work, this is my go-to spot for lunch. If you're driving to this spot, it'll be out of sight since it's at the corner of the building, facing inward.
S.U.K. has been around for a couple years now and I'd assume they're not going anywhere. During lunchtime the line is usually out the door, in part to the small design of the front counter and also in part to the office worker crowd. The staff is used to this by now and they can usually get the line down pretty quickly.
I've only been here for lunch and I keep it simple, I stick to the classics. I usually order Fettucine Alfredo with Chicken or Spaghetti Con Polpette with Meatballs. So far, I've never been disappointed with these dishes. Why? Maybe it's the simplicity of the dishes or maybe the lunch kitchen crew is just fast, but these seem to come out pretty quickly. I feel like I've seen my dishes come out more quickly than peoples that were in front of me in line.
As far as taste goes, the fettucine alfredo runs about average to me. It's nothing too special, but it comes out quickly and its just consistently good. The spaghetti with meatballs is definitely more tasty in my opinion. The meatballs are soft enough to break into small pieces but firm enough to not slip through your fork. The dish isn't overly saucy and I'm down with that.
All in all Strings Urban Kitchen gets the job done for me. It's nothing extravagant and honestly, I like it more because of that fact. I might have to forget to pack my lunch more often.
P.S. Don't confuse this Strings with Strings Italian Café, they're totally different.
Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0- Jun 16, 2014
The SO and I decided to walk over here the other day for a Friday night nosh.
I have to say, the service is great and the ambiance is really nice. If I lived in the local apartments, I wouldn't mind coming down for happy hour.
However, their food is not that good. I was so looking forward to it based upon my other Yelper's reviews. They even had a great write up on Sac Town magazine; however the food is not worth it.
We ordered the stuffed mushrooms to start the evening and they were OK. Then, we moved on to the main dishes. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs, and the sauce was VERY watery. I mean, water when you move around the noodles and sauce. No bueno.
The SO ordered the Vegetal de la casa - be warned; it's completely raw. There was nothing that indicated that on the menu and we were not happy. It was basically diced vegetables. By the way, raw egg plant isn't that tasty.
I don't think I would go back because the food was just sub par.
Helpful 3Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0
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