McCormick & Schmick's
1111 J St.
Sacramento, CA
(916) 442-8200
mccormickandschmicks.com
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editorial profile:
Throw a dime in midtown or downtown Sacramento, and you’re apt to hit a hip, modern eating establishment. In it you’ll find a young, fashionably dressed crowd, sipping creative cocktails and attempting conversation through a dense, auditory jungle of chattering patrons and overly loud music. And while such an experience can be energizing at times, it’s also nice to slip into something a bit more genteel and grounded. Such is the case with McCormick and Schmick’s, a gorgeously appointed restaurant that offers Sacramentans a refreshing dose of old-world elegance—and a laser focus on all things seafood. Yep, it’s a chain, but we don’t care—the ornately carved, massive wood bar makes you feel like you’re in 1940s San Francisco, and the dining area’s lofty ceilings, brick walls and delicious, wood-lined, private booths (with curtains!) are guaranteed to enhance any romantic evening you may have planned. Curious Art Deco-style stained glass lamps dangle from the ceiling like colorful, inverted birthday cakes, and the tables are lit by tiny lamps that give the dining room an old fashioned supper club glow. If you’re a seafood lover, this is your place—the restaurant prides itself on offering ultra-fresh selections, and prints up a menu twice daily: one for lunch, one for dinner. Dishes range from the Quilcene oysters and Mexican white sea bass to Delta crayfish and Day Boat sea scallops; the list can be quite overwhelming. The seafood might be grilled, baked, deep-fried or blackened, and many entrees come with elaborate sauces and accompaniments, such as the mascarpone polenta and boysenberry-peach compote served with the sea scallops. Don’t miss the delicious Parmesan and panko-crusted Petrale sole, one of our favorite dishes at McCormick and Schmick’s, or the tender, fragrant Canadian black mussels, immersed in a lip-smacking coconut red curry sauce. Also recommended is the seafood fettuccine alfredo, a creamy pasta with a bright tang of fresh lemon juice, dotted with tiny scallops and pink bay shrimp. And if you have a red meat eater at your table, there’s a nice selection of steaks from which to choose (try the “pan-bronzed” ribeye steak, with a bourbon-mushroom demi glace); and there’s even a few sandwiches for the truly timid. Desserts are massive, so plan to share—we liked the perplexing but tasty upside-down apple pie, showered with walnuts and caramel sauce. — Kira O'Donnell
Insider tip: McCormick & Schmick’s happy hour (Monday–Friday 4–6 p.m.) offers up an eye-popping selection of very low-priced menu items: a salmon burger and a spicy chicken quesadilla, for example, are only $1.95; a barbecue beef sandwich is $3.95.
Reservations: Recommended
Payment methods: AmEx, Diners’ Club, Discover Card, MasterCard, Visa
Alcohol: Full bar
Corkage fee: $15
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reader reviews:
Very Disappointing--Not All M&S are Created Equally posted on 2008-01-10 00:11:32
taste |
3 |
décor |
8 |
service |
7 |
atmosphere |
6 |
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" In a nutshell, took family to dine in on 1/8, for my wife's B-day dinner. Waiter was the only upside, the food took toooo long to arrive, seated at 7:30p & food didn't arrive until appox. 8:45 & restaurant wasn't so crowded. My wife's steak was too touch and my meal was skimpy and the "greens" as advertised on the menu appeared to be more of a garnish. Compared to M & S in LA, there's no comparison. Very Disappointing. "
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