Looking for the best new steakhouses in Sacramento? One of these recent arrivals might be just what you're seeking. From casual teppanyaki to formal fare, here are the freshest places to check out the next time you're in search of carnivore-friendly cuisine.
Echo & Rig
500 J St., Downtown
Echo & Rig is a New American steakhouse located at 500 J St. inside the Sawyer Hotel. Executive chef Sam Marvin has brought the concept of a steakhouse with an in-house butcher to Sacramento from the original Echo & Rig in Las Vegas, as Sacramento Magazine reports.
Thanks to that in-house butcher, a wider variety of cuts are on offer at Echo & Rig than at a typical steakhouse, including hanger, bavette, skirt, flat iron and tri-tip. And large, shareable steaks like the 42-ounce T-bone are brought raw to the table for inspection before cooking.
Diners can accompany the meal with sides like potato gnocchi with mint-pea pesto or portobello fries with herbed aioli. Echo & Rig is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and serves brunch on weekends.
Echo & Rig's current Yelp rating of four stars out of 105 reviews indicates the newcomer is off to a strong start.
"A wonderful and elegantly executed meal!" wrote Yelper Amber K., who reviewed Echo & Rig on May 29. "The carne asada marrow and fries were both pretty fantastic."
"I am very glad I tried multiple items rather than just one, everything had so much flavor and was tender and perfectly cooked," noted Rachael G., who strongly recommended reservations for customers hoping to come on a weekend or during an event at the Golden 1 Center.
Echo & Rig is open from 7 a.m.–9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.–11 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m.–3 p.m. and 4–11 p.m. on weekends.
The Diplomat Steakhouse
1117 11th St., Downtown
The Diplomat Steakhouse is a formal steakhouse, bar and private venue now open for business at 1117 11th St., in the former location of the Chops steakhouse.
Like its predecessor, the boutique beef joint will likely serve as a hangout for political insiders and be available for fundraising events, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Executive chef Seth Prater is serving up fare like the signature Tomahawk steak, which comes with a large chunk of rib-eye meat still attached to its bone "handle." Not in the mood for steak? Seafood and options like duck breast with goat cheese risotto and cherry sauce are also available.
Sides, which can be served individually or family style, include roasted garlic mashed potatoes and truffled lobster mac and cheese. (You can check out the full menu here.)
At the bar, in addition to an extensive list of wines — mostly reds from California — expect to find signature cocktails like the Freedom of Peach, with peach-infused whiskey, simple syrup, lemon juice and muddled mint; and the Capitol Punishment, with tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, agave nectar and Grand Marnier.
Yelp reviewers are still warming up to The Diplomat, which currently holds 3.5 stars out of 24 reviews on the site.
"Much like the service, the food was good, but not great," wrote Yelper Michelle W., who reviewed The Diplomat on April 29. "Unfortunately, the rack of lamb came out severely undercooked. When it was sent back to up the temperature, it came back charred and overcooked, so that ended up being a miss and nothing was ever done to make up for that."
And Yelper Ashley R. wrote, "This restaurant is beautiful inside with an upscale modern feel. ... However, I feel like there was plenty of room for improvement, especially with such a high price point."
The Diplomat Steakhouse is open from 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.–midnight on Friday, 5 p.m.–midnight on Saturday, and 5–9 p.m. on Sunday.
Super Pan
900 15th St., Mansion Flats
Super Pan is a steakhouse and teppanyaki outfit from San Francisco that recently opened a second location in Sacramento, as we previously reported. Ramen, bubble tea and Korean sides are all on the menu along with its signature table-grilled meat plates in its space at 900 15th St. downtown.
On the menu, expect to find dishes like the beef pepper rice, curry fish balls, and Korean-style fried chicken wings. For a sweet finish, try the strawberry cheesecake shaved ice or snow milk sherbet. (You can check out the full menu here.)
Super Pan currently holds four stars out of 48 reviews on Yelp, indicating positive feedback.
"Parking is sparse but it's worth it," wrote Yelper Rich L., who reviewed the eatery on June 1 and has come back twice. "The rib-eye steak was not only fun to cook on the cast-iron Super Pan but was also delicious, and the pepper sauce it comes with is one of my new faves."
Last M. added, "The katsu was sizzling when it came out. The pan is at 500 degrees. Just mix and pour your sauce on top. Guess that's why they include a splatter shield with the pan."
Super Pan is open from 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and 5–9 p.m. daily.
