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Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Vegetarian, Sandwiches
1518 BroadwayMon-Thu. 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
"A ice cream parlor! This one is great. We visited a Sat afternoon before a basketball game for a quick lunch. Tuna on wheat toast cut into…" read more »
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Good meal, service was cool. On a Saturday night just before 8, it's busy but not unbearably crowded. One of the specials that night was Prik King Talay, BIG prawns and scallops, deep fried in tempura and covered with a sweet, spicy red sauce with chili paste as its primary feature. This stuff seemed to be stir-fried with fresh green beans and bell peppers of many colors, and served with two scoops of rice.
The wife had the jerk chicken . . . a 1/2 chicken served on the bone with a fresh veggie mix and potatoes (rice comes with the dish, but the wife asked for mashed potatoes. $.95 extra). A bowl of jerk sauce served on the side had a tangy, spicy, fruity flavor, and went well with the chicken. The wife, who really doesn't eat chicken on the bone, enjoyed this dish anyhow, which impressed the hell outta me. A glass of chardonnay and a sangria, plus the entrees, set us back about $60. I've been here for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They're all pretty good. The desserts are excellent, too. This is another good spot to bring out-of-towners. The decor will keep you talking the entire meal.
Try their Yin Yang cheesecake! Heavenly!
Soups are always good. The wait for a table can be long on Sundays.
My latest experience there was in a way a first. The waitress recommended me and my guest to go and look at the desserts. We both brought our purses and then spent about 2 minutes contemplating which desserts to choose. Upon returning to the table we found two new guests had been seated at our nice window table. We were then placed at a small table by the entrance for two minutes..... then moved to another small table. The waitress charged me full price for a new Arnold Palmer! It would have been nice to get coffee and dessert or something. Unbelievable!
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I came to Tower around 10:40am and was hoping to get some of the delishious brunch I've been hearing about. Looks like a nice find, but i don't think so!
I arrived at the Tower Cafe at 10:30am. They had less than half a sheet of people ahead of me and told me it would take 30 minutes for a table of 2. I went inside as it was cold outside and stood in line to order a coffee and hopefully get a table in the meanwhile. The line for the coffee/espresso's etc.. was long, and took over 30 minutes until I arrived to order the drink. I ordered a cappuccino and walked back to the host outside to ask how much time it would be.. 7 tables inside were vacant and dressed for breakfast) she (the hostess) pulled out all of the sheets in front of her to find my name- SHE HAD MIXED UP THE PAPERS!.. and there were now 3 sheets of paper filled and again was told that it would be AT LEAST 30 minutes.. meanwhile another guest who had an elderly person 83yoa came to the host and begged for a chair to sit as she had arthritis and couldn't stand for much longer they had been waiting for over an hour.. again, there are tables inside some for 2 seats some for 4 and 5 persons etc.. and yet they are vacant.. I didn't even dare to count the ones outside..
I go back inside and have to wait a bit longer for my cappicino.. OKAY.. by the time it arrives it has been 45 minutes since I came to the Tower Cafe to get brunch.. I find the sugar which is around the side of the bar and put it in the cappicino. After I drink the cappicino I look at this buzzer that is in my hand and is not buzzing.. I couldn't wait any longer. My guest and I leave and give the buzzer back to the host.
The cafe looks great, and might have great food.. the real problem is if they will get to you before your stomach eats you up.. Not a good place for me! Trendy perhaps but not worth the 1 hour ++ wait!
1 star.
I've been going to Tower Cafe for years and have had many good meals here. Sometimes they have an issue with consistency - or lack of consistency.
They have an amazing breakfast menu, but several times their french toast dipped in custard has been undercooked resulting in a gooey mess. I stopped ordering it and now go to the chorizo burrito which is to die for. (Not exactly the most healthy thing, but oh so good!)
For lunch, I usually stick to the Malaysian Chicken sandwich which is grilled with pineapple and has mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion and grated jicama. (I always ask for no onion and no mayo and then only eat half the bun.) Different yet very tasty!
Their corn chowder is perfect on a cold day but sometimes needs just a touch of salt. I also like their thai steak salad that when they do it right, is awesome. Again, it's a consistency thing with this salad.
Now as much as I love dessert, I always fill up before I get to that course, so I can't comment on desserts except to say my dining partners rave about them. You can peruse them in a glass display case and they look heavenly. I believe they make all their own desserts on site.
The service is always good and the atmosphere is eclectic bohemian with a note of Latin inspiration. Outdoor seating is available and is always full on nice days.
The menu overall has something for everyone and if you go here, you won't be disappointed!
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I have had great experiences here and I have had bad experiences here. What always keeps me coming back is the layed back atmosphere and gorgeous outdoor seating that has heaters in the winter time. I have never had a good lunch here; it must be a different chef than the dinner chef. I think the night really depends on the server you get. Some of the servers are wonderful and make the evening great, and some are condescending and lacking in customer service. But I will keep taking the risk because I love the NY cheesecake and pomme frittes!
I have eaten at the Tower for years, mostly with good results. The food has always been good to very good, but in recent years the service has gone completely down the drain. Too often the servers are indifferent or have an "I am soooo cool" attitude that is downright annoying.
The last time we were there was for dessert. We tried to order from the counter and were told, after a lengthy wait for the person who was there when we arrived to return from the back, that we had to order from a table. Even though this was exactly the opposite of what we had always been told to do there, we did it...and were promptly told we needed to order from the counter. Both staffers were rude and hurried, even though the place was not remotely full. I had almost written Tower off due to similarly crappy service the time before, when we were seated at an outside table and then waited 20 minutes for a waitress that never arrived. We left without ordering that time.
In short, although I admit that I really like the breakfasts and desserts, there are simply far too many good restaurants in Sac these days to put up with service this bad. Try 33rd Street Bistro, or Fox & Goose, or Danielle's or, well, you get the idea. Anywhere but the Tower Cafe.
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I was looking forward to eating here again it had been a few months. I was disappointed to see the prices had risen significantly, the food quality not as high, and the service was a bit lacking. I can get past the service issue but the food quality and pricing will make me rethink eating here.
We took a table outside since it was still warm and once it started to cool they turned on the heat lamps which kept us very cozy. The outside area is so nice with all the trees and foliage you certainly never feel like you are sitting outside on Broadway or Land Park Drive! Plus is seems more private than sitting inside or near the windows outside.
We were promptly greeted by our server who brought us water and our drinks. We perused the menu to notice it was a bit different and the prices were significantly higher $3.00 on most entrees. I can see bumping your prices a dollar but three seems excessive. Our total bill with drinks and one desert was $50 with tip $60.00. We use to eat here and get out with around $50 including tip.
We both ordered one of the specials of the day, stew, which use to be on the regular menu but is now only offered as a special. The food came out pretty quick and our server returned to be sure we were doing ok. Unfortunately the stew was not the same recipe as before and not quite as tasty. It was pretty good, but not $15.95 good. Mashed potatoes were a good addition since the yam mash with the old recipe stew was too sweet for my taste. We were disappointed that the stew was not the same recipe as before and the meat had some fatty, uneatable portions. Not what I expect for the price.
Our waiter brought one drink refill and that's all we saw. For the price of the meal our drinks should have been full at all times without having to ask, and when someone asks for a refill they probably will want more.
Sat outside on a somewhat warm and sunny day and finally had a burger. The burger was cooked to… Read more »
It's just so easy to meet up with friends at the Tower Cafe. It's central, with parking, and has an awesome outdoor seating area. The food is good, not great. The decor? I like the painting of the uni-brow lady with monkeys.
I was visiting town for a day and wanted good, interesting food without high price. Tower fit the bill perfectly.
If Sac weather permits sit in the lovely garden outside. I'm not a scenery person but this was very pretty and really stands out from the rest of the places nearby. The seating is casual. A pillow or two wouldn't hurt. This isn't the place to bring a date to impress. It is great, fusion style food.
The menu is large and unusual. So unusual I don't think I can even describe it. If you are adventuresome or like fusion, you'll be happy with the myraid of choices.
Of particular note is the sangria (unusual fruit) and the ice tea (free refills; tastes similar to Hobbee's only much better).
Leave room for the dessert. You'll be sent inside to look at them. Allow 10 minutes for oogling. Yes there are that many and they are amazing. Fusion follows on to the desserts which combine the normal with unique options. And worth every calorie.
The service was friendly and prompt. The price was moderate. The portions are large. In all, the worst thing I can complain about is that I wish the seats were a little cushier (they are closer to picnic tables).
I'm going back the next time I visit. Tower, can you create a branch in Silicon Valley because I'd be a regular.
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To put it simply, don't go. Now I understand that a breakfast restaurant is busy on Sunday mornings, and that waiting is to be expected, but the service and wait time we experienced was beyond reasonable. Our party was 3 patient adults all with experience working in the restaurant industry.
We arrived at 10:15 on a Sunday morning for breakfast. We were told "no longer then 35 minutes" and yet had not been seated more then an hour later. I would not have been bothered by the wait if we had been told an accurate estimate and kept up to date. But to constantly be told that we were next to be seated and watch group after group be sat ahead of us was just aggravating. It seams like a thinly veiled ploy to get us to keep waiting instead of try our luck at a different restaurant.
Our waiter "promptly" took our drink order 5 minutes after we sat down, but we had to wait more then 15 minutes for a waiter from a different section to bring them to us. We ordered our breakfast 25 minutes after being seated (a little too long in my mind). The waiter returned to inform us that they were out of the Italian Scramble. After trying to order off the extensive menu from memory, the scatter-brained waiter (his words, not mine) took pity on my father and left in search of a menu. After delivering it he left with a call over his shoulder that he would be back to take his order. Noon arrives and our waiter returned to take the order after we flagged him down with no explanation offered but "I forgot". He came back a few minutes later to clarify what my father had ordered because the hand jesture my father used had confused him.
To be fair, the food was good. Once our order was placed our food came out correctly and quickly. We all agreed that the highlight of the meal was the kitchen, as it ultimately should be.
Bottom line: the gorgeous patio and delicious menu does not compensate for wait and forgetful staff.
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The meal we had was excellent. I ordered the American Burger and fries. The tomato on the burger wasn't your flavorless slice but instead there was two slices of what looked like the expensive organic Heirloom variety. Truly awesome. To drink, I ordered what turned out to be a pretty standard Latte.
My husband ordered the daily special which was a battered fried fish (forgot the name of the dish) and some Mango iced tea. He said the fish was really good and the ice tea was too.
The Tower's menu offers an Interesting variety of choices that will appeal to most everybody.
It was really warm on the day we visited so we didn't sit outside...but we will next time! The patio IS really lovely.
The group sitting at the table next to ours had the mix berry Sangria and said it was great...we'll have to give that a try next visit too. And there will another visit!!!
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5 Reasons I loved my dinner at Tower Cafe the other night.
1) Pomme Frittes w/Mustard Sauce. I'm not sure if I just got lucky with the fryer, but they were perfect. I will definitely go back and get a burger/fries for lunch to see if the oil is always kept this clean. The portion was obscenely huge as well.
2) The Chile Rellenos Tapa is a giant delicious full chile stuffed with a fantastic mix of cheese, pine nuts, currants and cilantro. I'm not sure how traditional this combination is, but I really enjoyed it. Also, you get a small mountain of pico de gallo on the side that practically amounts to a salad.
3) Two dollar draft beer all night Tuesday.
4) They could charge admission just to sit on that beautiful patio at night.
5) The Menu. The menu is is loaded with a wide scope of variety. I would imagine Tower Cafe is great if your party has a diverse group of eaters with different tastes. I can't wait to try the breakfast.
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Good:
1. Patio seating.
2. Bathroom is clean.
Bad:
1. Food is so so.
2. Long wait for seating (45 min).
3. Long wait for food (30 min).
4. Long wait to get a cookie at the front desk (15 min).
5. Service is slow and unfriendly.
I can not believe this is the best breakfast place in Sacramento.
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Redeemed.
At first I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I received a surprise generous gift certificate (after helping a friend of a friend choose paint colors for her "new" Craftsman bungalow) and decided to give it another try -- despite the problems we've experienced in the past. The restaurant was cleaner, the choices on the menu had expanded (+ a kids' menu, always a welcomed sight) and our server was super nice.
My berry sangria was delicious and the chicken ponzu was tasty. Portion sizes are enormous and I had leftovers for a second meal. A good time was had by all at our table. If you're looking for a spot that serves a variety of different foods, this is a good choice.
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** UPDATE 12.1.07 Well, somehow we wound up here again. Let's just say that the food is about the… Read more »
Best French Toast Ever.
The Tower Cafe and the Tower Movies, great combination. Both Sacramento landmarks. They are here to stay!
Have lived in Sac most of my life but went to Tower Cafe for the first time this weekend for brunch. Really loved the outdoor seating area, so pretty, food was good too. Definitely a great brunch spot! Gets crowded though, be prepared!
Very tasty and didn't leave feeling like I would have a heart attack from all the unhealthyness! We sat outside and although it was a bit humid it was really pleasant. I had Moroccan lamb kabobs special with mango chutney and pita bread. Tasty. The hubby had the jerk chicken. Very very tasty. And the sauce was full of spicy goodness! Yay!! The friends ordered the Green Curry (Tasty and full of veggies) and the Enchiladas (didn't try them but looked tasty). We kept seeing food go by to other tables and being jealous, it all looked really good! For dessert we had lemon tart and raspberry chocolate cake, both tasty. The cake may have been tastier if we didn't find a hair in it but that's how it goes. I will be back!!
Mmmmmmm!! Just had breakfast good company here. First time & let me tell you...LONG wait time. If you can, get there EARLY and put your name in. I hear that they ALWAYS have a long wait time.
Having said that, it made me really curious and eager to see what this establishment has to offer. The waiting area is very nice and full of greenery, so it helped make the wait bearable. When we were finally seated (after waiting for about 45 mins), we sat in th outdoor patio.
The staff and waiters are very friendly and provided quick service. You can SMELL the aroma of their tower potatoes as you're browsing their menu. My friends and I decided to each order a dish and share (great idea if you want to try everything).
We ordered:
1 pitcher of white sangria
crab cake Benedict
famous french toast
breakfast chille relleno
Portabello Tuscany omelette (egg whites only)
the portions served were BIG and plenty to go around. Definitely a great place to share. Sangria was delish, it had pinneapple, oranges, and some sort of berries. It was a great compliment to our meals.
French toast was very good, it was dipped in their homemade custard, so it really made it sweet and savory. Chile relleno dish had a good kick and made me want to eat more of it. Crab cake Benedict was yum yum, the hollindaise sauce and avocado within the Benedict was a great compliment to the overall dish. Finally, the Portabello Tuscany ommelette was light and full of flavor!
If I lived in Sacramento, I think I would come here almost every weekend. Definitely a must visit and MUST TASTE.
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Sacramento has...
Tower Books
Tower Records
Tower Bridge
Tower Theater
Tower pipes and cigars
Just for fun, I put the word "tower" in the Yelp search browser: http://www.yelp.com/se...
It only makes sense that there would be a Tower Cafe.
Go here!
I loved eating in the outdoor garden, sitting underneath trees surrounded by flowers and plants. Not to mention there was a running fountain directly behind me.
I ordered cherry Italian soda which they didn't have. They were also out of blackberry which is their most popular flavor. I tried the raspberry one and it tasted like medicine so I exchanged it for an orange one. Finally! It was good but next time I'll try the blackberry.
With so many reviews, I'll skip to the chase. Order the guava, mango mouse cake for dessert.
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We've come here for breakfast twice. The first time we ate outside, and I see what the clamor is about, it's a really nice ambiance. The second time we ate inside and got seated at a table off the corner. Which would've been fine if the ladies sitting 2 feet away from us hadn't downed several mimosas and insisted on having their conversation at a volume that made it impossible to hold a different conversation. It's not really Tower's fault that Mom's want to come here to gossip after their morning walks. But still, a tad annoying.
The food was good, priced higher than the average cafe but worth it for the quality. I avoid this place on weekends because of the wait time. But it's great for a weekday breakfast. I look forward to trying lunch here.
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So here I am, your humble correspondent, taking a whole week of vacation after three years. No really, I had not taken a whole week off in three years. But of course, that's not how it works for me. I get the e-mail, please be in the office on Wed for the HR visit. So much for taking that much needed time off. It's not all bad, Rachel and I started around the same time with the company, and she's a good egg.
So I make the drive from the ranch up to Sacto. And since I know what it's like to be on the road by myself, I suggest to Rachel that we go to dinner and visit for a while. Because that's the kind of guy that I am, a giver. Also, I figure I can get a good meal on someone elses expense account. My buds in the office, Dan and Tom, recommend this place. At first I thought they were setting me up because one of the Yelp reviews mentioned something about vegetarian menus. You know me, and you know that me and vegetarian don't mix.
So we head downtown, and after a bit find the Tower Cafe. What do you know, it's right under the tower on Broadway. Must have been a coincidence. Anyway, since Rachel's from CT, she never eats outside since it snows and rains every day of the year around there.
The Tower Cafe has outside dinning patio, and what luck, there's an empty table. So me and "Little HR" head out to the patio to enjoy dining in the great outdoors. We sit down, and peruse the establishments' menu. I can't believe it. Right there on the appetizer list is my all-time favorite Pomme Frites. You know, French Fries. The best thing about traveling in continental Europe is that you can get Pomme Frites at little stands at every street corner. It makes going to Europe worthwhile.
Mon D'ieu! It's like we've been transferred to a little outdoor French bistro! Anyway, the foods pretty good. I had the Chicken Katsu which was very tasty. I liked it, and my peeps got the leftovers, and they liked it to.
But the best part is dessert. They don't have a menu, you just go up to the dessert counter and take a look at what they have. And they have everything. Especially (for me) Banana Cream Pie. So that's what I get, and Little HR gets the lemon tart. Yum!
And, Little HR picks up the check. Even better. I'm sure her boss will sign off on it (I hope).
Foods good, service okay, outside dining always great. I give this place three Pomme Frites.
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Food wasn't so great (green curry that was dry in places, moist in others), but the service was very good and the ambiance in the patio was awesome.
Definitely worth trying due to:
1. Interesting variety on menu (Asian food, Mexican food, sandwiches)
2. Great service
3. AWESOME patio with misters to keep you cool in the summer
The prices are around $10-16 for an entree and tons of parking in back.
Officially it's a 3.5, but I'm rounding up.
I know that Tower ____ is synonymous with Sacramento, for people who know OF Tower (I didn't know Tower Records started here until my first visit).
So when I found out there was a cafe, I figured we should try it.
It was lunch time, so this is going to be fairly lunch specific - Burgers specifically.
I had the Jerk Burger - Quite tasty! Very good jerk seasoning, and it paired quite well with a nice crisp pils. The service was relatively quick, very nice, and the feel inside was very colorful.
my only... dislike? is the limited parking. I know that parking in general around Sacramento is fairly... not super simplistic, but that parkinglot was rather hard core.
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Every trip to Sacramento includes a visit to this spot - the food is REALLY good!
Everything I've had (breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert) is great. I love the fact that everything is made at the location from scratch...not too many places offer that in Sacramento.
Some of my favorite items:
-New Mexico Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes
-French Toast (rich and decadent, the best!)
-Birria Traditional
-All-American Burger
-Roasted Corn Chowder
-El Diablo Chocolate Cake (the best chocolate cake I've ever had!)
-Black Bottom Cupcakes (the perfect balance of cream cheese and chocolate)
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I met a friend here a few weeks ago. They funny thing is, they were from out of town and visiting and they knew about it and suggested it. I, being the pseudo-native didn't even really know it existed even though i've watched a movie at the Tower Theater!
This place is good. I've only been there once but plan to go back. I recommend the pulled pork fajitas. The pork was delicious and the sides were good. The only problem was the fact that they gave me two (two!!!) tortillas that were folded up and hard that accompanied a huge plate of food. I'm just sayin... they should give you more tortillas and maybe have them in a separate moist container so when the customer gets them they aren't hard and break upon trying to open them.
But i have to admit, the overall quality was good and if it weren't for the tortillas i would have given them an extra star. That added to the fact that i felt like the waitress, while nice and attentive, kept trying to push us to get alcohol. I'm not sure the reason but every like 5 minutes she'd come up and ask if we wanted beer. Strange i thought.
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Came here on a Sunday afternoon with my sister, her roommate and my boyfriend. We missed the brunch rush and were seated right away. We sat on the patio because it looked so pretty but about 20 minutes in I realized how crazy I am for thinking a partially shaded patio would protect us from the 100+ temperatures of Sac. Any other day though I'm sure it's delightful. Unfortunately they had stopped serving breakfast so we didn't get a chance to try the "famous" breakfast potatoes. I ordered the mixed berry sangria that had been recommended on yelp, and it was very delicious and saved me a little from the heat.
We all ordered some type of sandwich, mine was the chicken sandwich with pineapple. It was very delicious but it was so hot out that I barely finished half, and I easily could have split with someone. The fries that came with it were also deicious and had a yummy seasoning. I also love any place that serves steak fries.
Our waitress seemed a little abrupt at first, which I would be too if I had to work in that heat, but she warmed up as the meal went on. It was a great place to sit and eat on a hot afternoon in Sac.
What can i say about this place that hasn't been said. My friends took me to this place while I had a few hours to hang in Sacramento before heading back to Irvine.
I loved the food (especially the seasonal french toast - YUM, YUM, YUMM&Y, which we split for the table) and I ordered the Chinese Chicken salad. The service was awesome and loved the ambiance of this place.
Check it out people and get a double order of the french toast. Just work it out tomorrow..=P
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The Famous French Toast is a must-have. Best French Toast EVER. Everything I've tried has been yummy: Gai Satay (appetizer), The All American Burger, and Florentine Ravioli. The salads are terrific. My favorite is the Tower Caesar with prawns. My only complaint is that it's an additional $5.95 to add prawns. The Mixed Berry Sangria is a treat - not too strong (so you can drive home afterwards), perfect for a girl's night out.
I've tried a variety of their desserts and found their cakes/ cupcakes to be a bit on the dry side, but still good. They have a terrific selection. The cheesecakes, apple pie, and carrot cakes are all delicious.
The service has ranged from good to so-so and sometimes there's a bit of a wait for a table but I've never had to wait too long.
This has been a good location to hold meetings, it's not too noisy and the servers don't usually mind if we stay for a few hours. I especially recommend that you go for breakfast!
It was a cold and stormy night....that my friends and I went to Tower Cafe. I think I've passed this place hundreds of times but never thought about going in. I'm glad I did thought because this place is so GOOD! The customer service was what I would want from a restaurant; the food was yummy and it overall had a good feel to the place.
Ah! I almost forgot- the dessert...mmmmm!! I specifically saved room for dinner because the person who first told me about Tower Cafe said the desserts are amazing. If I was in the area and just wanted to grab dessert and coffee, TC is the place to go!
I hear they have the best French Toast on the West Coast...bahahah i rhymed. But really, they've won multiple awards for it. If I can get my butt up early enough for breakfast/brunch I'll come back and try it :)
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What a great fun resturant in sacramento. I've been here several times and never had a bad meal. NIce eclectic menu, of yum-o good morning food, good afternoon food and good nite food! I really enjoy their thai steak salad. Now, granted it's not authentic thai, but it's their special version, and they put all sorts of ripe tasty fruits on just about everything. So good! They have a nice outside patio area that's in high demand in nice weather. They have a fun, eccentric staff, to match their wacky interior decor. Your eyes will have much to see while you are waiting for your food. The only icky thing is, they have some much decorations around their resturant...it gets really dusty. I can always find dust when I go there. I hope their kitchen is in better shape. But I guess it doesn't bother me that much, because I keep going back!
No waiter services...im surpise they notice we came in tho..cuase the place was full packed at 12 with lots of state workers i believe that just came their for lunch..umm..The waiter was friendly and was quick with our orders..soo high tech these days useing PDA's to take customer orders lol...soo i had the jermican jerk chicken! Boy was it nice..The taste was very different..first time i taste it, it was like a explosion in my mouth of like different flavors..sweet sour spicy...it was really good..next time if i come back i needa try their dinner menu...
People thought this was:
Good location, good atmosphere, good food. Has a very unique feel to itself. The outside seating is very nicely done and does a good job of "removing" you from the area while you eat. Inside, the place is oddly (yet still tastefully) decorated.
Now don't get me wrong, I've heard people raving about how this is the best place to eat (french toast, burgers, etc) and I wouldn't go that far. The food is well done and well prepared, and they have some interesting menu items that are typically really tasty. I doubt this will be the best food you've ever eaten, but it's still well done and keeps me coming back.
That being said, I think you're going here as much as for the atmosphere as for the food.
The real downside to this place? The wait. Very typical for me to experience a 30 minute wait when eating here, and the place will be pretty crowded, seating wise.
Other than that, eating at Tower Cafe is really an experience, and one you'll hopefully enjoy.
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I went there today for the first time after hearing rave reviews about this place. My friend and I went there, sat down and were promptly helped. The food was really good. I had the Famous French Toast and my friend had the Mexican Scramble they were both good.
All in all no complaints and the experience was good. I will be going back.
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Saturday: 9:30AM.
Everytime the lady and I have driven past this place, it's been packed with a phatty line out the do.' Locals also rave about Tower Café.
And with good reason. It took 10 minutes for us to be seated (there were four names ahead of us). Our waitress, Katie, was funny and nice. 'Twas a beautiful day with a slight breeze which was terrific because we were seated outside.
Me likey:
1. Delicious food, brought out quick n' appropriately timed.
2. Friendly service.
3. Cool decor!
4. Lotsa' parking in the lot.
Final Call:
To beat the wait for breakfast/brunch, you'll have to get here right when it opens. The verdant plants in the patio with the Bohemian designs in the restaurant amount to a cool environment to grub. Plus the food's legit. In this case, "if some is good, more is better!"
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Munchies:
1. Seasonal french toast
-bread pudding lovers will have an orgasm with this one: firm covering
with custard-esque texture and taste in the inside
-the whipped cream had a cinnamon kick and melted with the toast (I
don't like whipped cream in general but this was good)
-seasonal fruit compote was a combination of wild berries and
peaches: delicious and not too sweet
2. Greek omelet
-a few eggs plopped on top of the cheese (which is scooped) and veggies
-they should scramble the eggs with the veggies and sprinkle it with feta
-their hash browns here is the paragon to how they should be prepared: crispy on the outside without the grease, and soft n' moist in the inside
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A lot of people will disagree when I say, this is NOT one of Sacramento's gem.
This place is seriously overrated with a capital "O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D."
I looked forward to coming to Tower for a nice Sunday Brunch to catch up with my boyfriend. After all, my friends who have lived in Sacramento all of their lives raved about it.
"you have to try their famous french toast."
"you have to try their burgers."
"OMG, you have to try their drinks."
After all the "you have to try", the boyfriend and I journeyed our way over one Sunday morn. We arrived around 11am. Wait was estimated to be 45 mins. Luckily, we did not have to wait that long.
We opted to sit outside- it was gorgeous weather; and the outdoor seating area was just amazing. Trees, flowers, benches, etc.
However, that was when all the gorgeousness ended. We were seated outside. CROWDED. Seating is so close that I felt that I was having brunch with my neighbors/strangers rather I should have just sat on their laps. We were seriously that close. HELLO, where is my elbow room?!
We ordered quickly. He got the Famous French Toast (french toast filled with custard)- full order. I have the Crab Cake Benedict w/ their house potatoes (didn't want to be boring and order the same eggs benedict). Also had the mixed berry Sangria. Very refreshing.
We got our order quicker than it having it taken. Food looked great. Potatoe's were amazing Crunchy and toast. The Crab Cake Benny- eh. Drenched in Sauce. Tip: If you hate a lot of sauce, ask for it on the side or else you're meal will be drenched. Of course, I learned that later. The french toast were huge. I think we would have been fine with a half order.
I can't say I'm a fan of the Crab Cake Benny. The french toast was good, but not amazing. Our waitress told us that people would drive hours for their french toast. Are you kidding me? It was good and worth a 15 min drive from my place, but I would not go out of my way to come here.
One thing that irked me was, my boyfriend spilled water all over our table (he's kind of clumsy in a cute sorta way) - and not one waiters or bussers who walked by bothered to help us. We grabbed napkins over napkins to clean it up ourselves.
Poor service and mediocre food, Can't believe I wasted a good Sunday Brunch on this.
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I may have always purchased my lottery tickets at Pancake Circus, but I got my brunch on at the Tower Cafe.
The winters are long here in Boston and spring just never seems to take hold. On many a cold and/or rainy day, I escape to my happy place: the Tower garden under the late morning sun with my good friends and a steaming cornmeal blueberry pancake.
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Their website and seeing people always waiting outside when I drive by intrigued me to check this place out.
I ordered the salmon with spinach - Excellent. Flavorful and filling without feeling weighted-down 'full'.
My aunt was very pleased with the the salad she ordered and th fresh bread.
The strawberry cheese cake was okay but I don't think for the price.
I saw plates of huge hamburgers, I think I'll order that next time. oh..and sit in the patio.
CONS: We waited around 20-30 mins for our table. It also took awhile to give our order, get our food and handle the bill. This was a Friday afternoon.
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Sacramento Landmark in more than one way. I keep going back but I am well aware that if you order anything that doesn't have to be freshly cooked (carnitas, beef stew, etc) it will come out invariably cold. They will reheat it but since they serve on fiesta ware, the plate heats before the food giving off a steamy illusion of warm food only to have your front teeth try to recoil upon biting into a cold piece of meat. It is just startling. Our waitstaff is always willing to take it back and reheat it which I appreciate. If you go there for brunch, be sure to have someone order the french toast. Again, I will go back.
The French toast...pretty damn good! There is a little Italian place in Huntington Beach called Alessa, where the french toast might be a little bit better. Otherwise I was fat and happy after finishing this meal. Actually I couldn't finish, it was too much food. I should have had the half order and that was even too much. I mucho recomiendo this place.
Oh. my. goodness.
Eat the french toast (with compote) and sit outside. It is lovely :)
(PS I am just reviewing this after not being there for quite a while and it still gives me a wonderful feeling--you should go!)
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Sacramento, CA
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Sacramento, CA
Sacramento, CA
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Sacramento, CA
Category: American (Traditional)
Sacramento, CA
Category: American (New)
Sacramento, CA
Category: Diners
Sacramento, CA
Category: Diners
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