Taste: Culinerdy Kitchen brings its over-the-top menu to downtown, plus more dining news for July 5

Popular food truck Culinerdy Cruzer has permanently parked itself downtown, so to speak, with husband-wife owners Keith and Amy Breedlove opening their first brick-and-mortar location, dubbed Culinerdy Kitchen, near 12th and F streets on June 12. Housed in a 19th-century building, the new immobile eatery celebrates pop culture with its dining room studded with references to everything from Superman to Star Trek and Monty Python, and expands on the truck's rotating menu of crazily dressed burgers and sides. Pair mac and cheese, fries or the famous “dirty” Brussels sprouts—flash-fried with fried onions, cotija cheese and garlic—with a hefty burger such as the “Bruschetta 'Bout It” (which features a quarter-pound patty smothered in basil pesto, melted garlic mozzarella and slaw) or a plant-based sandwich stuffed with Southern-fried tofu. Morning people can drop by in the a.m. for the Breedloves' pancake breakfast menu, which boasts 32 varieties, from classics like blueberry and butter pecan to outside-the-batter-box variations like mac and cheese and Fruity Pebbles. 524 12th St. 916-594-7911. culinerdykitchen.com

In other news

The left-handed co-owners of Nevada City's Lefty's Grill, John Cammack and Chris Duncan, launched a sister restaurant in Grass Valley in May. Inhabiting a modern 1,300-square-foot space, Lefty’s Fryhouse serves up staples from the original locale, including its signature “almost famous” fish and chips, along with menu newcomers—think house-made clam chowder and naan sandwiches with your choice of proteins like falafel, calamari steak strips and beer-battered wild-caught Argentine red prawns. Wrap up with desserts like the “Hill Billy Beignets” tossed in powdered sugar and served with either chocolate or mint chardonnay strawberry sauce. 840 E. Main St. Grass Valley. 530-446-6742. leftysfryhouse.com

After a road trip to Austin, Texas, pitmasters and childhood friends Tony Nguyen and Ryan Metzger were inspired to open Post Oak Barbecue in 2016, a bright orange food truck specializing in Texas-style barbecue. This past June, the pair put down roots in Arden-Arcade with a space adorned with horizontal wood paneling and, in true Texas style, multiple longhorns dotting the walls. On the menu: smoked meats—think 16-hour Niman Ranch brisket, 12-hour pulled-to-order pork, and massive beef and pork ribs—with classic sides like fries, salads and macaroni and cheese. 3200 Fulton Ave. 916-544-8823. postoakbarbecue.net

The team behind Identity Coffees and West Sacramento’s Westside is offering another stop for coffee-crazy Sacramentans to add to their coffee crawl: Simpleton, which opened in Boulevard Park on June 17. In a hurry? Grab a café au lait or chai latte to go, but if you’ve got the time, slide into a cozy wooden booth for full table service (available until 1 p.m.) and order from the breakfast and lunch lineup, which includes avocado toast with tomato, hard-boiled egg, bacon and pickled red onions; breakfast burritos with your choice of ham, soyrizo or bacon; and crispy vegan chocolate-hazelnut waffles—all the while the in-house record player spins music curated by cafe staff. 701 19th St. Follow Simpleton on Instagram

What started as a one-time offering for Thanksgiving last year has become a permanent fixture at downtown's South as of mid-May: Brunch is now served every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The menu draws inspiration from the family breakfasts New Orleans native N’Gina Kavookjian—who owns the eatery with her husband Ian—ate growing up, and includes items like a fried chicken breakfast sandwich topped with bacon, a fried egg and sausage gravy; and the chicken and waffles, which comes drizzled in a Fresno chili syrup. 2005 11th St. 916-382-9722. weheartfriedchicken.com

Small Bites

Temple Coffee Roasters announced that it will open a sixth location across from Fremont Park in mid-July, taking over a space that previously held Insight Coffee Roasters (1615 16th St. templecoffee.com). Meanwhile, at both its Arden and Downtown Commons locations, Estelle Bakery & Pâtisserie introduced three light toast options to its menu in early May—the ricotta spread with fig preserves and crumbled pistachios; an almond butter spread topped with sliced bananas and strawberries; and one topped with avocado, sprouts, cherry tomatoes and feta cheese (estellebakery.com).

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