Author: Photography by Jeremy Sykes

The Chu Mai dining room with a set of portraits showing the mother of chef Billy Ngo

In the Name of the Mother

With Chu Mai, James Beard Award-nominated chef Billy Ngo honors his mom and the dishes he grew up loving, while putting his own spin on Vietnamese and Chinese classics. The result is a noteworthy new restaurant whose dishes taste both comfortingly familiar and excitingly fresh.
Carla Meyer, Photography by Jeremy Sykes,

Garden Party

A new design-forward beer garden in East Sacramento offers dozens of craft brews on tap and craveable mix-and-match dishes from 10 different purveyors. At Garden at the Line, you can have your fresh Kru sashimi and eat your hot Nash & Proper fries too.
Carla Meyer, Photography by Jeremy Sykes,

Mother of Reinvention

Talk about many happy returns: The team behind Mother—which closed in 2020—relaunches the celebrated vegetarian restaurant with an "evolved, grown-up version" in a bigger, splashier space, while bringing back fan favorites like its signature chile verde and nostalgic carrot nut burger.
Carla Meyer, Photography by Jeremy Sykes,

Love Shack

The Urban Roots team brings new life to a beloved East Sacramento hangout, retaining its unique flavor while reimagining it with a Mexican comfort menu. Cervecería at The Shack, welcome to the neighborhood.
Carla Meyer, Photography by Jeremy Sykes,

Eat Drink Play Love

If you think you know Napa and Sonoma, think again. We’ve got the skinny on the region’s newest hot spots (and updates on a few old favorites), just in time to celebrate the harvest season. Discover the movie mogul’s swimming pool where you can make a splash, the glampground where you can sleep in a yurt, the fried chicken shack where you can sample a Michelin-starred chef’s finger-lickin’ fare and, of course, the coolest watering holes, from a bike-themed tasting room to an organic cider house that rules. Scroll down, and get ready to wine and unwind.
Hillary Louise Johnson, Leilani Marie Labong, Photography by Jeremy Sykes,

Hot New Hoods

It’s no secret that Sacramento is at a tipping point. Amidst all the construction dust, however, there are a few areas, such as R Street, Oak Park and West Sacramento, that are ready for their close-ups right now, and they are where you should be heading this weekend if you want a taste or a sip of the buzziest neighborhoods in the region (a flaming Sex Panther cocktail, anyone?). Consider the next 18 pages your insider’s guide to these hot hubs, where new restaurants, bars, boutiques and one-of-a-kind urban experiences await your arrival. Ready, set, go out!
Elise Craig, Hillary Louise Johnson, Kate Washington, Photography by Jeremy Sykes,

Sactown’s Best BBQ

Sweet, savory, spicy, smoky… There’s no flavor that doesn’t come through in the magical realms of barbecue. And there’s no better time than these warm-weather days to bite into the meaty marvels grilled up by 10 of our region’s best barbecue wizards. Whether you prefer tender ribs straight out of Cajun country or Texas-tinged pulled pork smoked for 18 hours—or a heaping helping of both with three-alarm sauces and five-star side dishes—we’ve got your ’cue cravings covered. Dig in!
Tori Masucci Cummins, Jennifer Resnicke, Jessica Rine, Stu VanAirsdale, Photos by Ryan Donahue, Photos by Max Whittaker, Photography by Jeremy Sykes,