Ordered New York steak and prime rib and Joe our waiter is nice, courteous and friendly. Spinach salad is out of this world. Our 2nd time here. Go check it out. Ambiance is cozy.
(5)
Andrew K.
This would probably be the fanciest restaurant in Topeka. The menu is outdated. The sirloin steak was tough/not well cooked (but portion was huge for the price) and they never brought me my second glass of wine, though they tried to charge me for it. Meh!!!
(2)
Bhanie C.
Came here cause I heard their prim rib was good. Eh, it was ok. I didn't really get much flavor and it was light weight cold when it came out. The au jus sauce didn't help it. Sad. I have been here for their hh and the food was actually good. I'll come back for hh but no for their prim rib.
(3)
Megan T.
Was here for a luncheon and (huge mistake) chose the veggie option. It sounded good and the steak plate had a crab component, I'm allergic to seafood so this seemed like a safe plan. The veggie meal was changed to be vegan. It was a Sweet Pea risotto, which turned out to be under cooked rice. It was cooked about 1/3 of the time it should have been, and had a single sprig of Sweet Pea? laying across the top. I was starving, hadn't eaten all day, and could only crunch my way thru 2 bites. I could look around the room and see all the other risotto plates untouched when plates were being cleared. Thank God for dessert...never so happy to see chocolate cake in my life.
Went here last night for my boyfriend's birthday. We were able to call and get a reservation. Upon arriving we were seated promptly. Decor was nice. Service was friendly. We got our drinks and ordered our appetizers. Then they came back and got our dinner orders. After a while the appetizers came out, then a basket with bread and spread, which was kinda strange. I would think that the bread and spread should come out before the appetizers following the beverages. We got the greens plate and grilled asparagus. Asparagus didn't have much "meaty". Our waiter came back a couple times to let us know that our food would be coming out shortly. I got the prime rib with garlic scented fries. Prime rib was ok... garlic scented fries tasted like they had been sitting out. Really didn't have any garlic on them. The description says it has garlic, but I guess it is "scented"? If they want to elevate their restaurant, they need to work on the customer service and most definitely the food.
(3)
Kali D.
Sadly I have to lower my review back down to the original 2 Stars. After my last visit to Chops for HH I think I have pretty much decided I will not be returning. A few weeks ago, a group of us met for HH prior to an outdoor concert. We arrived staggered, not all at the same time. The 1st who had arrived warned me about the waitress; she is slow and speaks too low to be heard. So when she finally walked over I was prepared. . .LOL she spoke very low and she was VERY slow in getting the drinks. More of our party arrived, and the slowness continued. Actually it became unbearable. she was not paying attention to our group, she didn't come over to get new orders, she took forever to make the drinks. . .how long does it take to pour wine? We are not stomping grapes here! Two ladies with us just sat at the bar; their drinks were made in a timely manner and food came out before others! This bad service continued until the last set of folks arrived. Our waitress had already given us our checks but I advised her to please add my Husband's drinks then re-close me out. My $16 check was returned and had jumped to $42???? How much was his drink? After a closer look she had now added my girlfriend's food and drinks (which she had ALREADY paid for) to my tab! No apologies, just a soft spoken, " Let me fix that." We paid we left! To top it off the food sucked! My girlfriends $8 chopped salad was a side salad. . . and my favorite Stuffed Mushrooms were gritty and not tasty at all. . . . Peace Out Chops!
(2)
Carol P.
Was meeting some friends for HH, and since I was the first one there, snagged the booths along the back wall in the bar area. I failed to mention in my previous review of Chops that they seriously need to reupholster those bench seats! Not only are they worn out, but the material is flaking and the whole thing stuck to my dress when I stood up. Not a good look for a fine dining establishment. Similar to my last visit for HH, it took awhile to be acknowledged by the server. She was very soft-spoken, so it was difficult to hear anything she said with loud conversations around us. Unfortunately, she was the only server working the entire bar area at the time. Service was slow. This time I ordered the Chops salad, which is surprisingly, the most expensive HH menu item at $8. I thought it would be a nice-sized portion, with plenty of bacon, egg, mushrooms, and avocado. It was a small bowl, served on a large plate, with plenty of chopped romaine lettuce drenched in dressing. All the other ingredients were finely chopped and covered with ranch. It was a tasty salad, but not worth $8. I'll stick with the $6 calamari and the $5 spinach stuffed shrooms. I take back the last comment in my previous review. It's seriously NOT one of the best HH in Sacramento!
(3)
Jeanice S.
I don't think I will be returning unless its for happy hour. Dined here on a Friday night for happy hour and then dinner. Food: happy hour is until 8pm which is great! Their white wine for $5 was good. The red was okay. The fries were crispy, but the one we ordered was on the appetizer menu, not HH, but the spices on it made it taste delicious. Oysters were expensive, size was okay. So main purpose of the visit was for the Dine in Downtown deal. I ordered the steak with mashed potatoes. For a MEDIUM steak, the meat was really not cooked in the middle at all. Both tables beside me ordered the steak deal and they too questioned why it was so red! No red juice leaking but I couldn't eat the middle. The seasoning was okay. Mashed potato was good. The half chicken my friend ordered only had flavor outside, inside was just regular flavor chicken meat. The mashed potatoes with her plate was really strong. It was like a mustard mashed potato or something. Price: we went for the $31 deal... With a salad and a small dessert, I say it was safe to try. Unfortunately due to the let down of the food, the price doesn't match the quality. Service: waiter came around to check reasonably but there was a moment when we needed her but couldn't find her. Overall, I would come back for HH only since they have a late HH.
(3)
Jim A.
OK for happy hour with 2.5 food and spotty service, Chops can feel a little empty after work. I came in on a Thursday after work with a friend to try their happy hour. We were greeted by a very tired hostess, but friendly nonetheless. We grabbed a seat along the wall behind the bar (there is a limit to the happy hour area). It was comfortable with clean, modern decor. There were a couple people at the bar and another few tables, but this place was seriously empty (yet couldn't get our waitress when we were done). I had a half a grilled artichoke that was way over peppered. I kinda gagged on the spice, but it was well grilled otherwise. My fries were pretty standard but very hot and fresh. My friend had the calamari and potato skins. She wasn't a big fan of either. She also had a nice glass of house red wine. Service was spotty, great up front with attentive, polite service that dropped off after check-in. While we only had a $25 bill with tip for all that food and the drink, it seemed overpriced for the quality. Head over to Chops for a happy hour on the patio for a nice, slowed-down view of the capitol, but food and service don't match up.
(3)
Amanda H.
This was such a great find for date night! I'm not sure how we have never been here over the past seven years. The outdoor seating area is fabulous on spring and summer evenings. We ended up choosing a table right next to the owners, which was fabulous to meet them! The service team was fantastic and on point. Their veggie appetizer was a great start. The veggies were grilled perfectly. For dinner my partner ordered the prime rib and I ordered the salmon. The owner actually traded the original cut of meat for my partner for an even better cut (when does that ever happen)! He enjoyed his meal and was very satisfied. My salmon was cooked perfectly and nicely seasoned. We cannot wait to go back when we are back in town next month. Looks like we have a new favorite restaurant!
(5)
Joe P.
It had been forever since the last time I was here. When I used to work downtown about 5 years ago, going here was a real treat - a fancy thing to do! Now I feel like it is a bit outdated. The place needs a bit of sprucing up and to modernize. The restaurant smelled like cigars. I don't know if that was because of smoking meat or what, but it was pretty bad. Could have possibly been from legislators smoking cigars - except it was lunch time... a little early to be smoking cigars! The service was fine and the sandwhich I ordered was tasty - but I think the prices are a bit high considering the competition in the area... you see, even 5 years ago (but especially 10 years ago), there was VERY little competition downtown around the Capitol. Now there are a bunch of places... which could be why Chops was surprisingly "dead" during the lunch hour. In the past, this place was cracking every day. All in all, this place is enjoyable and I'd go again. I'd like to see it "reinvented" - that, I believe, would bring back the enjoyment I recall having here.
(3)
Denise S.
1/6/15-awesome happy hour!! 3-8pm at the bar (duh). Always great food, drinks & usually lots of suits :) Stop in & relax for an hour...or two!!
(5)
Erica M.
I have very mixed feelings about my experience here, some things were really good and others were really bad. I started off my meal with a cesar salad which was really good, however I thought it took way to long for them to actually bring the salad. Another thing that was interesting was they put the salad in a cold bowl and then the cold bowl in a warm plate....interesting. I ordered a steak and it took forever for them to bring it out, I started to get sleepy. The waiter did come out and say they were backed up in the kitchen and that it would take a little longer but I thought the wait was unacceptable. I had the sirloin and it was just ok. I don't think they seasoned it at all. They severed the steak with mashed potatoes with mustard seeds which was not very appetizing. When I think of mashed potatoes, I think of light and fluffy. These potatoes were so over powered by the mustard seed, that was all I could taste. I ordered the Apple crisp with ice cream for desert. It was the second best thing I had. The Apple crisp was warm, sweet and tart. I thought they were a little skimpy with the ice cream though. The wait staff was very fast and efficient which was nice. The manager even came around and introduced himself which was a nice touch.I had a waiter that was responsible for taking my food and drink order and there were other waiters who where like floaters who would come by and clear plates and refill drinks. I thought it was decorated very well, however the lighting was way too low. When I first sat down to eat I thought the lighting was pretty low, but then they turned out down even more to the point where it was almost dark. This place was pretty pricey, especially considering the portions and the quality wasn't the best either.
(3)
Issi G.
Has a nasty smell as ur being walked to ur table and walls are decorated to look dirty. Plain food plain service. Was expecting better for the overpriced food we payed :-/ for. They offer that free cold salty bread with some yellow butter. No thank u
(1)
Brandi N.
Had a 'date night' with my husband here a few nights ago - it was a great choice! Loved the decor when we walked in, and we were greeted promptly by the host. Had a drink at the bar and wonderful banter with the bartender Bryan. A great member of Chops' team - he was informative, funny, and makes a great martini. We dined outside with the view of the Capital and ordered the Chop Salad - delightful flavors and nice salad to have before dinner. The main course: the porterhouse - which we shared - and it was still too much food for the both of us to finish. The steak was cooked to perfection - we ordered medium and it was cooked medium. The steak delicious and brought rave reviews from each of us. The carrots are a nice touch, a little sweet for me, but my husband loved them. The whole experience; food and service was fantastic. We will be back!
(4)
Brian G.
Great happy hour prices and nice little patio area right in the heart of the capital. The service is extremely slow and it's not even that busy!! 10 mins to get a beer.
(2)
Cindy W.
Right in front of the state Capitol... Great night view from the patio seating... Beautiful street scene...
(5)
Joe Y.
This was our third visit to Chops. We had a reservation and were seated promptly when we arrived. We were immediately served glasses of ice water and bread and butter. Then, our waitperson, Chris, greeted us and asked us if we would like any drinks from the bar. He explained the special of the day and left us to decide. I ordered the Roast Prime Rib of Beef, 10 oz. size and my wife ordered the Salmon Oscar. Both of us were delighted with our choices. The Prime Rib was very tender and tasted excellent. My wife gave her approval of the Salmon Oscar. One way to see if she likes her entree is for me to ask her if she would order it again next time and she agreed yes. The ambience and decor of Chops is very warm and comtemporary. Chris, our server, was the best! He was there for us all through the meal and was very attentive and pleasant. We enjoyed our dining experience and definitely will return again.
(5)
PhilDong F.
One of the best steakhouse restaurant, but make sure what you want to order. It's will be medium rare when you order medium. The lamp is excellent if you love the strong taste. The service is excellent. Our waiter was Colin. He is super nice and knowledge.
(4)
Kathleen R.
Great service! Great food! The manager or owner was very personable. My son didn't like the sauce on his steak so the manager sat next to him and asked what he liked and made him a new steak
(5)
Daniel T.
Visits: 1st Rating: 3* Service: excellent Dishes: Dungeness Crab Cakes; Jumbo Shrimp Scampi; New York Steak; Chocolate Lava Cake The dessert was probably the best part of dinner but even that wasn't anything to shout about. Unfortunately, a barely average dinner. ¤Dungeness Crab Cakes (2.5*). Too much filling, not enough crab flavor. Had better...pretty much everywhere else. ¤Jumbo Shrimp Scampi (2.5*). Super creamy & too thick for me. Boy that sauce was thick. A very thick, cheesy, creamy sauce. There will be those that like it (cheese lovers perhaps) but not I. I can't remember anything else about the flavor but the thick cheesy sauce. ¤New York Steak (3*). Cooked to order medium-rare. But that's it. We were expecting more since it was so close to the Capitol building. Not much in flavor. But good enough to finish. ¤Chocolate Lava Cake (4*). Great ending to an average dinner. Super chocolatey & gooey in the middle. Chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, always a perfect match.
(3)
Betty B.
Best Dinner ever, but I visit it yearly for a group event. We are always seated in the basement. It is dark, gloomy and stinks of cigarette smoke!! What a dump. The food is good, but the rats running across our feet kept us from enjoying the food. The rat ran across the floor and right into the kitchen. Really? I know it is all old there, but to charge what they charge, you would think they could do a little more to make it nicer for the diners. Fresh paint, lights and exterminator is not asking too much. Oh yea, some room freshener too!
(1)
Keely M.
My love and I went to Chops to celebrate Valentine's Day. We ordered the Valentine's Day special, four course meal dessert included, for $125. We started with the delicious bread and what we believed was sundried tomato butter...that was wonderful. Then our appetizer arrived...stuffed mushrooms...they were to die for! I ordered the filet mignon with mash potatoes and cauliflower. I can't even describe how wonderful the cauliflower was...I was I shock, it was off the charts. The filet was a great size and cooked perfectly, but that cauliflower....dang! Our dessert was good but I really was full by then. The whole dinner 3 drinks included with tip was $200 not too bad totally worth the experience!
(5)
Amye N.
Nice place, great food! I had the steak and lobster meal ($62) and my husband had the prime rib ($55) for our five year anniversary yesterday. Before that we had the pulled pork garlic scented fries ($8), a Brandy Daisy and a Side Car (each $13), and for dessert we had the American Beauty ($12) and a bottle of the Argentine Malbec ($30). I'm only listing prices because I couldn't find them for Morton's, got scared and went to Chops instead. Glad we did! Classy, quiet dining! The server (Joe, excellent) and water boy came around frequently, but infrequently enough for my husband and I to have inappropriate conversations without getting interrupted or embarrassed. Some parts of the restaurant kinda smelled like a hotel or cruise ship, a mix of cleaners and food smells. We didn't notice it for long. I ordered my steak rare, and it came back more rare that I'd even seen outside of a butcher's refrigerator case. So I asked if it could be medium rare, like the 16oz steak my husband had. No problem! Joe grabbed it and returned quickly with a delectable medium rare fine cut of steak, with a brandy demi-glace. The buttered lobster was melt in your mouth, along with the garlic mashed potatoes, yum! I do sometimes wonder if lobster is just a delivery device for butter, much like pancakes are for syrup....mmmm. The Malbec went really well with the insanely chocolaty American Beauty. Left overs were boxed and bagged and our Lyft was waiting as we stumbled out, tipsy and full...
(5)
Karen K.
Just came back from taking out the HB for a early bday lunch here. I had a voucher from Amazon and was able to use it with no problem. My husband had the top sirloin which he liked even though it was covered with blue cheese and onions. I had the filet mignon with carrots and fried onion rings. The carrots were very buttery and the filet mignon was very tender plus cooked to my taste...rare! We both had diet sodas which were refilled as fast as we were drinking it. Overall I thought service and food were excellent. We didn't have dessert and I forgot to tell our server it was my hubby's birthday. We parked in the parking structure right across the street. Chops server gave us 5 dollars parking card to cover the parking fee which ours was 4.50. He even instructed us how to pay it in the parking garage where you place your parking ticket first and then the 5.00 parking card. That was most helpful! I'd say dine here with confidence:) We would have sat outside which I normally like to do but we walked around the Capitol earlier and it was warm & breezy outside. Maybe next time as they have a nice outdoor area to dine.
(5)
Anthony H.
I went there for lunch with two friends few days ago. We choose a table on the terasse with a great view on the Capitol. The experience was really great. I had a lemonade, with chicken club sandwich with a mix green salad. The sandwich was perfect, with real chicken and everything was fresh and well prepared. The best of the best was the Homemade ranch sauce that I asked on the side. Absolutely delicious. The waiter was really nice. He did a really good job and was really cautious about the refills ! We never had to ask for water or other drinks. And the best was at the end of the meal, we asked if we was able to smoke on the terasse. The waiter said "yes" and even brought us an ashtray. Really pleasant. The price are also good for the location and the quality of the food. I will come back soon !
(5)
Nicole B.
Hubby bought a Living Social deal that sadly expired so we were left with a $30 "credit" We knew it wouldn't help much for a nice dinner so we settled on their happy hour as we knew it was quite extensive and great hours until 8pm. Plenty of seating which often isnt the case for many happy hours especially at higher end restaurants. We both order beers on draft as only HH wine selection was a dry oaky type Chardonay. Next up were potato skins, cheese burgers, ( one with bacon for $1.50 extra) onion rings ( $1.50 ). The potato skins were delicious! Full size potatoes loaded with cheese, bacon, black olives, tons of chopped tomatoes, and served with their off the chain home made ranch dressing. I can usually pass up on ranch due to the extremely high calorie and fat content. Not this ranch, I wanted to drown my food in it! The skins were incredible, I gobbled down the entire one, hubby on the other hand wasn't so enthusastic. He said his was too crispy. He normally doesn't eat the skin of a potato, ( to me it's my favorite part when baked , strange I know, but least I am getting my nutrients with probably some missed dirt! ) Burgers arrived more on the well side versus the med well we always request our red meat to be cooked. Wasn't the greatest burger , but not bad. Just not a lot of flavor, Hubby was again dissapointed that the bacon was very crispy, and dried out. Waiteress was spot on and took both the skins back as well as the bacon and returned with full order of skins, and comped the bacon for us. They even offered to comp us another round of drinks but considering we both had to work the next day and I had to get home to study we passed. The best part of the experience was the excellent service recovery from our super friendly, attentive waitress,ranch dressing and of course the hidden manger who allowed her to provide us with make up orders and comps. We will continue to use Chops for HH but would probably spend our big bucks for a steak dinner at Ruth Cris or Banderas.
(4)
Jane V.
Three stars for this downtown long time eatery that caters to politico types and the business crowd. Went on a week day evening--it was quiet and u crowded and the wait staff was a bit too hovering. Had a simple light meal and it was just meh. We had soup and sandwich (clam chowder and crab and artichoke sandwich) and it neither wowed nor disappointed. Chops just seems like a nice safe place where deals are probably hashed out with a pretty extensive bar. Lots of other way more interesting possibilities within a short walk of Chops.
(3)
KeiKei B.
Food was mediocre at best. And the prices were out of this world for what you get. The service was wonderful and the brussell sprouts were awesome. But the portion size was a joke and kid sized. I mean for $10 we got 12 brussell sprouts, I counted! My steak was just ok. It was not seasoned and seemed to just be thrown on the flat top and cooked cold. Steaks should be brought to room temp before cooking. My table mate had veggies and he was unimpressed as well. The salad and bread were filling but for the $150 we spent we should've have listened to our first reaction when we got there to just sit at the bar. But we were on our way somewhere else and realized they were closed on Monday's. Chops was near and open. We should've know better when it was empty.
This is a review on the restaurant, not quality of food. One of the greatest deals in town, used to be the Chops birthday club. Basically if you celebrated your birthday with them, your birthday was on the house. I always found this to be a brilliant idea because people would go out of their way to spend their birthday at Chops, get a great dinner for free, and Chops would get a group of people that otherwise might be spending there money elsewhere. Last year my party of 8 spent over $500 after dinner and drinks. It was definitely a win-win. Well, no more! Chops has taken away that treat and unfortunately lost a customer in the process. I am the first to understand that it was a benefit and they have no requirement to keep it going, but it was just one of those special things that made them unique and added a certain level of old-world class that one doesn't find much of these days. I may still go in after work for a happy hour drink or small bite, but I truly think that birthday club was part of their charm and I don't see myself dining there for dinner any longer. Nor will I bring my out of town guests or clients to the establishment. On the flip side, if you are okay with a free dessert for your birthday, like you can get at any chain restaurant, they will now be providing that.
(1)
Jim S.
Try the WAGYU steak...its the best.. Food was great, service very good and central location. Will go here again.
(4)
Olivia v.
Went here for lunch and had a veggie burger. It was fresh and tasty. The side salad came lightly dressed, to my taste. I can definitely recommend this option to a hungry vegetarian (but I think it's the only non-salad veggie option).
(4)
Micki M.
I was really excited to try this place after hearing rave reviews from family and friends. Much to my dismay, I didn't have that great experience. We started off the dinner with a couple of cocktails in the classy bar here. The bartender Manny, was quite friendly and pleasant. He made our order of a Long Island Ice Tea and a Bloody Mary for me, The Long Island was refreshingly unique and tasty, I think he may have put in passion fruit juice??? The Bloody Mary......although, it was garnished with an olive and pickled green bean, it was just OK. Tasted too watered down, not enough tomato juice. We took a few sips and went to our table with drinks in hand. I ordered the steak and lobster ($62), and hubby had the filet mignon ($35). Our server brought over a basket of warm rosemary focaccia bread with sun dried tomato butter. Delicious! So we sat eating our bread while waiting for our entrees. We waited, and waited, and waited! About 30 minutes later the bread was gone, our server brought out more and after waiting for an agonizing 40 minutes, our food was here! Waaallaaahhh!! Our entrees looked Amazing! Hubby ordered his steak medium well. I ordered mine, medium. Recommended by our server for me to order it medium if I like my steak to be pink throughout. Hubby cut into his steak and it was great. (Later , we found out that his steak had rare portions, but didn't mention it to staff) I cut into my steak and......it was red!! Bloody red! I had to tell my server because I knew I wouldn't be able to take any bites. So, he sends it back, the manager comes over and asks what the problem was. I explain how I like my steak, and what my server suggested, he agreed that it was cooked wrong. He leaves and about ten minutes later, the manager comes back with my steak. The first cut was good, second cut, bright red just like before! Ugh! I send it back with the manager, and I suggest that they cook it medium well. He goes back, by this time, I'm pretty much done with the "tiny for a 6 ounce lobster tail" ( I tried to savor every bite, as long as I could, too!)and my mashed potatoes and asparagus. The manager asks if I want another cocktail while I wait. I didn't want to, but I figured since it was on the house, I ordered a vodka cranberry. Our server brings my steak back and after cutting it again and it was still not right, I asked for a doggy bag. ( No sign of the manager) I ate around the edges but the middle was still bright red. We were very disappointed. Sigh! Our bill came to be $140, not including gratuity, it was a costly mistake. For a fine steakhouse, the mishaps with my steak is downright, inexcusable. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this place. Ridiculous, for a diner to have to send a steak back twice and not come out right! Maybe it was an off night, but we arrived here early (5:30), to make sure that the staff wouldn't be tired and burn out. But still, no excuse!
(2)
Keith R.
HAVE AGAIN: Buttermilk mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, macaroni and cheese and water were good. Service was good. NOT HAVE AGAIN: The prime rib was not very good - too fatty and cooked medium rare when I asked for medium well. The Brussel sprouts were too plain. I was surprised to see a "Special New Year's Eve" menu which did not have the entrees I'd planned to order from checking their menu a few days earlier. This was my first visit to Chops and based on this experience, I will not be going back.
(2)
Craig W.
What a find this was. Chops is located literally in the shadow of the Capitol building and a mere stone's throw from a stunningly beautiful Cathedral. Politics on the one side, salvation on the other, and steaks and martinis in the middle. You pick your poison. The Happy Hour food selections and prices are tremendous and I can strongly vouch for the burger and fries (yes, a happy hour deal). My meal was delicious. It is a cozy but very modern and sleek looking spot. I found it interesting that many diners were seriously dressed down. Whatever. The service was warm and attentive at the bar. I haven't sampled the main dining menu but you can bet you will find me fighting for the last stool at the bar come Happy Hour.
(5)
Travis L.
My birthday! We took the train to Sacramento, mainly for Old Town, but wanted a nice steak and chops place within walking distance from our hotel. I found a Amazon Local deal on with Chops. I looked up their menu and decided they had what we were wanting. I called and made reservations the day before. We walked there later and arrived ahead of time, but no problem. We were seated in a booth immediately. The place was intimate, rich and soothing in atmosphere. TOP NOTCH in every way! Our waiter, Jose, was attentive and fulfilled our every order request. We started with some wonderful focaccia bread with a tomato herb aioli and split a caesar salad. Then we both ordered the Grilled Top Sirloin with creamy gorgonzola, caramelized carrots, and buttermilk mashed potatoes. We both like our meat with NO pink, much less red, so Jose said they would butterfly it for us. It was still moist and EXCELLENT!!! I pride myself on my caramelized carrots... these were BETTER! We finished with the American Beauty: three layered dark chocolate cake with milk chocolate mouse, dark chocolate chips and a raspberry port reduction....HEAVEN! We are guys and LOVE our meat, and we both still could not finish our meal. I reckon that should tell you about the portion sizes, no? Also, their wine list was very reasonable. The general manager, Brian, came by and we let him know how perfect it all was. To me, it was even better than the 3 main steakhouses I have been to in the city,(SF). and 1/2 the price, even without the coupon. If we lived in Sacramento..... this would be our steakhouse restaurant always. OH... and by the way.... we were treated like royalty, and this was even with our Amazon Local $60.00 for $30.00 coupon... so as for the other reviews... maybe it has to do with how y'all's attitudes were... just saying'.
(5)
Cristin C.
Okay. Everything started off fantastic, I cannot remember our waiters name but he was amazing the entire time!! Very attentive and great personality! We got there last night for Valentine's Day dinner. Had reservations at 730. We were seated after only waiting for a few minutes. Unfortunately we could not find a sitter so we brought our kids and they were very accommodating. We had water almost immediately as well as bread that was delicious! When we ordered the server let me know that since I wanted my steak medium well it would take about 25 minutes. I am not a fan or bloody meat so I needed to wait in order to get what I wanted. The house salad was great! Got our food about 25 to 30 minutes later, just as stated. Here was my problem. I cute open my steak I ordered and it was literally bleeding throughout. Server came back and looked at it, immediately agreed it was no where near medium well. He took it back, and brought me out a fresh plate of everything. Yet still, when I cut through the steak it was bloody. At this point I had been waiting to eat for about 45 minutes, and my steak still wasn't how I ordered it, and the rest of my family was done eating. I have a 7 month old daughter, so you can imagine she was getting a bit whiney, so I told them just to forget it, the baby was started to fuss, so we needed to go. The manager then came out and spoke with me. He was very nice, but there was one thing he said that totally rubbed me the wrong way. He apologized for the inconvenience, but then proceeded to tell me not to blame it on my baby. Are you serious? I'm not blaming anything on my daughter, I'm blaming your cook in the back for not being able to cook a medium well steak at a damn steak house! That really upset me. He then told us that he was going to take the steak off the bill, and pack it up, Cooked properly for me to take home and enjoy, which I thought was very nice of him. Maybe I took what he said wrong as far as my daughter went, but even in all the madness, their customer service and our waiter was enough to make me want to give this place a second chance. Everything that I ate was amazing! It was just the steak issue that kind of messed up our valentines night. My son and husband enjoyed their food, no complaints from them at all! The only advice I would give this place is to maybe retrain their kitchen staff on what a medium well steak should look like. I'm sure im not the only one coming in there asking for that! Also the hostesses were a bit snobby. We walked in and I smiled at them, and they just stared me up and down. Not sure what that was all about but they should really put a smile on their face, when we as customers are coming in, and they are the first people we see. Doesn't really look to great on their end! Especially when their prices are anywhere from 16 to 80 bucks a plate. All in all, I think it was our waiter who will bring me to want to try this place in the future, he was one of the best waiters I have ever encountered, so thumbs up for having such a great asset to your company! He deserves a raise! And he is the reason I gave you guys 3 stars, or it would have been more like 1 or 2
(3)
Yvonne N.
I wanted to like this place, but we came right when they were closing, I think.... the service was really not up to par either way. I got The California chicken salad and it was just ok. No bread. Maybe dinner is best? Wait staff not very attentive, but it really could've been due to us just making it for lunch. Either way, not going back to check. Anytime soon. I was not impressed.
(2)
California G.
I don't think we're returning to this spot anymore. The food is over rated here. And the service was horrible. I brought my husband here for dinner and was dissapointed. He didn't enjoy he's steak.
(1)
Julie D.
Everything was excellent! We had reservations for 6 but showed up with 9. They were so accommodating on such a busy night, we were impressed at how they handled it and took care of us while they reset up our table. Our service and food was excellent. My Filet was outstanding!!
(5)
Forrest G.
I took my wife, sister, son, and brother in law here for a nice dinner to celebrate a birthday. We had a Living Social coupon: $30.00 dollars for $60.00 certificate. No amount of savings would ever bring us back to his pit. The service was horrible, the food was raw, and the kitchen was running 1.5 hours behind schedule. We hardly saw our waitress; I'm not sure if she quit halfway through her shift or what. We asked for separate checks; yes, they gave us one bill. We couldn't get out of there fast enough.
(1)
Tony K.
We were a party of 10 that was looking for a nice place to eat after a day full of travel and meetings. Chops was recommended to us so we decided to give it a try. When we walked in, there was a refrigerator with aged meat, which was very impressive because I enjoy high grade aged meat. The service was great and the food was good but the price point was a little high. It took a whole for the food to come, but again, it may have been due to the fact that we were a larger party. Overall a great experience with good food.
(4)
Angelika L.
Our first time here the food was excellent did the place was nice our waiter was outstanding it we definitive we will go back next Valentine's Day !!
(5)
Erica C.
If it weren't the for $100 gift card I received to Chops, I probably wouldn't have went to Chops after reading the other reviews. It's all true what they say! The meat they serve lacks a lot of flavor and for the price per plate they charge, it should definitely taste a lot better. Came in on Christmas Eve around 7:30pm. It wasn't too packed as there were a lot of open tables still. We got sat at a table in the corner and it didn't have a table cloth over it like the others. No biggie, but still, if one table has a table cloth then all tables should have table cloth as well. For food, I had the steak and lobster. The meat was seriously bland and a bit cold. I expected a lot more for paying $44 a plate. The lobster was probably the best thing on the plate. It was tender and moist. I tried some of my boyfriend's prime rib and it was dry and also bland. The horseradish sauce didn't have enough kick to it either. The food was seriously disappointing, especially after a 40 min wait! Service was slow, food came out EXTREMELY slow and our waiter sucked. He could have at least kept us updated on the status of our food if it was going to take over 40 mins. He also never checked on our table and only refilled our water once because we asked him to. I guess he was also in a hurry to leave work since we were his last table and he was just standing and starring at us a few feet away from our table. Don't waste your money and take your business to Morton's or Ruth Chris!
(2)
James B.
Incredible service! Incredible food! You will not be disappointed in either. We go several times a year for the past six years and not once have we regret it. This time we took our 11 yo. He loved it and the staff even explained to him Joe they prepare the meat etc. He said, Brian and then were awesome! Great place for family dinners.
(5)
Rose M.
THE BEST porterhouse steak I've ever had...and that's saying something! Marvelous food
(5)
Stacey B.
On Friday, April 26th, my husband, 8 yr old daughter and I went into the Sacramento Chop's to use our living social deal. Being a regular there for lunch, I expected nothing but good service and excellent food. However, what we received was the complete opposite, in both areas - enough to make me never want to return. In summary, here's what we experienced: - we had 6 o'clock reservations and walked into at approximately 5:58 pm. There was one group waiting to be seated and it appeared they had been waiting a while. There was no one at the hostess desk for approx. 10 minutes. We stood there without any acknowledgement. Finally, the General Manager (GM) appeared, told the group ahead they are just waiting to locate menus. He did not acknowledge us waiting, only the group ahead. The hostess appeared at approximately 6:10 with a stack of menus. The GM took a few menus and seated the group ahead then returned. A prom group arrived right after he took the first group to their table and they nicely lined up against the wall (at this time it was crowded in front of the hostess area). The GM came back while the hostess was getting sorted and told her to seat the prom group first. Again, not even acknowledging us. My hubby said "we are here too and first." The hostess noticed this and apologized and seated us first. - we were seated at approx 6:15. - we got drinks ordered at approx 6:30 - we ordered immediately once the drinks were served at about 6:40. I ordered the filet (med), hubby ordered the t-bone and our daughter, the Mac and cheese. - 45 mins later...no food. I asked if they could at least bring out my daughters...we got that about 15 mins later. - 20 mins later, our food comes out and my filet is cooked well done. It's about 7:45 now. The waiter apologized and took it back. - 30 mins later, after my hubby and daughter are both finished, the GM comes over and say "how is everything?" I said, " honestly?", he turned to me with a stern look and said "no!". My hubby was furious and said "it honestly didn't start off well when you ignored us up front." The GM begins to argue with my hubby saying he didn't ignore us. They engage in a back and forth. I interrupted and said, "no matter what your opinion is, I'm pretty sure the GM isn't supposed to argue with customers!" He said I was right and asked if there's anything else I needed. I said no, but to package my food to go because I didn't want to be there any longer (I still hadn't received my dinner at this point...it's now 8:30). - at 8:45, we finally received our food. Paid with our living social (worth $80) and left! 2 hrs and 45 mins passed our reservation time! The GM was a complete jerk and because of him, I don't wish to return to Chop's! Chop's, or any restaurant, should make sure the staff they employ, especially a GM, represents their business in the best light possible...no matter what the situation.
(1)
Julie T.
Review is just for happy hour. We got wine, beer, burger and salad. Burger was okay. Salad had too many ingredients. It would have been fine without like five of the ingredients. Our buddy got calamari, and he wasn't impressed. Our server must have been new or something because she often forgot about us or an item. We'll have to try the dinner next time.
(3)
Sarah K.
The first time I went there it was pretty good. But the second time I went there I was extremely disappointed. Steaks were cold and tasteless. The cocktails were mediocre and the chains had rips in them. For the price you would expect more.
(2)
Mike G.
So I actually enjoyed my meal at Chops quite a bit, the reason I only gave it two stars was because the steak was really really mediocre. The appetizers were really good though. We split the oysters and the crab dip, both of which were really good. For sides we had the macaroni & cheese, which was really cheesy and surprisingly bland, and the grilled asparagus, which was.... well..... grilled asparagus. So on to the main course. I was hungry and I was hungry for steak. I hadn't had a good steak in a long time, so I was excited by the opportunity. I wasn't pleased with the variety, they had all of the standard cuts but there was no choice in size. So for me to get a porterhouse, my favorite cut, I had only one choice, to get there 32 oz. cut. So thats exactly what I did. Now all of the steaks at Chops are house dry aged, a 27 day process, which ensures a juicy steak, and indeed my steak was juicy. Unfortunately, it was also cooked much closer to medium, which isn't good considering I ordered it medium rare. And while I appreciate the taste of steak just about as much as anyone can, I actually appreciate the taste of steak that has been seasoned. Again, mine, unfortunately, was not. So when the big juicy 32 oz. porterhouse came out and I took the first bite, I thought to myself (and this is where we go full circle back to the beginning of my review), "Wow, this steak is really really mediocre". I will give Chops this much though, they made a mean side of carrots. They were really good, and the use of maple syrup in there preparation was really something special. For the cost, I think I would rather go somewhere else.... because there wasn't anything special enough at Chops for me to want to come back.
(2)
P C.
My filet mignon was amazing! The carmalized carrots that came along with it are delicious. Be prepared to pay about $100 for two people, but it is well worth it.
(5)
Alistair L.
Nothing wrong with the food, and its a nice restaurant, but nothing I couldn't have gotten somewhere else for significantly less. Not overwhelming, or underwhelming. Just whelming.
(3)
cory b.
I really like this place. We have eaten here 4 times and I like it every time. I never feel ripped off, and I don't like to spend a ton on food. Steaks are always good, I love the Jim Beam Apple drinks, and my wife likes all the sides. Appetizers are excellent. I don't know why this place gets overlooked so much when compared to other downtown restaurants. I have never had anything to complain about when eating here.
(4)
Jean K.
I was looking forward to dining at chops for a while. I've never been and have always wanted to go but living out in Folsom, it's just been difficult. We'd get to downtown and end up with the usual restaurants we go to or try ones with good reviews in the paper, magazines, etc. With the Dine Downtown going on, I decided to check it out with my friends. I ordered their 6 oz Fillet Mignon and I really wasn't impressed. My meat was juicy and cooked right but way over salted. I thought it was just me or perhaps just my Fillet so I asked both of my friends who ordered the same and got the same answer, too salty! I took a look at their steak that was suppose to be Medium Well and I thought I was looking at a dried up well done steak. The salad was plain, very typical and the chocolate cake was just another cake. I can't say anything else since I didn't try the appetizer. I would like to go back one more time to give it another try. Service was great and the people were friendly. Nothing really wowed me that I'd drive 40 min. to eat there again. Glad i only paid $30! :)
My boyfriend and I visited the Folsom location a few weeks ago and loved the place. We sat at the bar and ordered two drinks each and food. I had the salmon which was cooked to perfection. My boyfriend had the fish tacos which he said were tasty. Nothing completely out of this world amazing but also better than average. What really made our time there great was our super friendly bartender. So we decided to visit the Sacramento location since we were impressed with the Folsom location. Sadly, we had a terrible experience. We arrived at the bar hoping we'd make it in time for the Happy Hour. HH ends at 8pm and we arrived roughly 10 minutes till. Yes, I understand how that could be annoying to arrive 10 minutes before HH ends but 10 minutes is 10 minutes and hey! If we are there getting a deal on food, we usually ALWAYS put it towards the tip. My boyfriend and I are extra particular when it comes to customer service and unfortunately we experienced the worst. I'm not sure why the bartender was so rude but he was beyond the most stuck up person to ever greet and serve us. We asked for the HH menu and he looked at as with what literally looked like a pissed off, "are you serious?" look on his face. He said that HH was over. My boyfriend took out his iPhone and checked the time. 7:55pm. So technically HH isn't over. My boyfriend showed him the time and the bartender went on a rant about how the computers are set to a different time and that the restaurant goes by the time on the computers. We looked at each other and said that we were unaware that the restaurant went by a different time otherwise we wouldn't have stepped foot in there in the first place. Again, I understand how ordering 5 minutes till HH is over could bug him but the way he talked down to us and lectured us was unbelievably unacceptable and unnecessary and made us feel beyond uncomfortable. He then proceeded to say exactly this, "Look. I don't care what your time is. We go by our way and how things are ran here." He then walked off to help someone else. So does this guy not understand that we are supposedly at a STEAK house in a very nice location in Sacramento? A classy place! We may look young but we know the importance of customer service and we know how important it is to talk to people you are serving with some manners and respect. He made us feel stupid, awkward, and upset. So we got up and asked the hostess for a manager. We explained to the manager what had happened and how we really wanted to enjoy a nice HH meal along with some drinks but just felt beyond uncomfortable. We were polite and let him know that we loved the location in Folsom and guess what? We noticed that the manager was the bartender we had at our experience in Folsom! He was the most nicest, professional, and extraordinary manager we have ever met. He understood our reason for being upset and told us to stay and that he would wait on us. He also told us that he would honor the Happy Hour menu for us since we were there before 8pm. He made us feel like he really genuinely cares about our feelings and experience as customers. He was what saved us from not ever coming back there again. We shook his hand and thanked him for his amazing service and boy did he really make us feel great. Unfortunately my boyfriend and I didn't stay even after he sat us down and repeatably apologized. We just felt too awkward with the rude bartender there and just decided to go next door. I wish I could tell the manager how great he was and how we really did appreciate his good heart. A super genuinely nice person. Overall, the food is great but go to the Folsom spot. A much better location and much better experience.
(3)
Lauren M.
I went there on a living social deal and I will never be going back. Quick tips: expensive, bad portions, mediocre/cold food, and slow service. For starters the hostess on Saturday night (6/14/2014) was really snobby. My boyfriend bought the living social deal so we could try this place out with a reasonable deal. We arrived around 7:30 pm and the place wasn't busy to my surprise. We told the hostess that we didn't make reservations. Immediately I could tell that would become an issue by the look on her face. She proceeded to seat us in the bar area. I asked her if we could in the back in a booth and she said those were for reservations only because they were busy and that we had to sit in the bar area. I was once a hostess at a nice restaurant, I know what that means sweetie....it was incredibly rude. So we sat in the half booths by the bar by the kitchen....so romantic. Love that our special night doesn't mean a thing to them. But, my boyfriend and I didn't let it bother us THAT MUCH even though we were dressed nice and were really trying to make this a special night for ourselves. As the night went on, the place got LESS busy and I couldn't see why we wouldn't be allowed to sit in the more secluded part of the restaurant. Our waiter was the bartender which is why I am even giving this place one star. He was really nice and attentive given how busy he was, not to mention a good bartender. Keep him chops. At least you have that going for you. The restaurant didn't adhere to the living social deal which comes with a specific menu. Our waiter said they change it up with the living social deal, which I didn't really buy that given I haven't seen this restaurant on living social; I just don't think they were really prepared. Anyway, my boyfriend's pasta was extremely mediocre and came out lukewarm. My steak came out raw and along with my carrots, came out cold. Our waiter fixed the issue with my meal and was hilarious about it but it still bothered me that the $24 8 oz steak was about 30% fat, cooked wrong, and cold. Also the portions of the sides were ridiculous given the price of everything. We won't be going back and will definitely spread the word to our associates in Sacramento. A note to restaurants: if you're going to put a deal on living social, treat your guests like they are high rollers..that makes them come back meaning your living social deal was a success!! We went to Blackbird in Sacramento on a deal and absolutely loved it. We continue to go back and pay full price. In the words of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, "BIG MISTAKE. HUGE."
(1)
becky g.
Just a review on the food and menu. The wait staff was very friendly and responsive. We went for NYE at 8:15. It did not appear to be overly busy, several empty tables and only 4 people in the bar. The oysters had run out already(a fav of our group). The crab cakes were all seasoning, two bites and my girlfriend got sick(physically). The Mac and cheese was however Delish. No complaints on the steaks, which is good because it was a steakhouse. This is really a lame complaint, but the menu showed broccolini, my favorite vegetable...it was only $6 extra (no substituting) but I was disappointed to receive broccoli. Definitely not the same as broccolini. I'm sure they ran out but come on. The drinks were pretty good but overall I don't think I would eat there again. Was not impressed for the well over $1000 we spend with a party of 9.
(2)
Frank H.
Wow....total disappointment. Ordered 16 oz. New York steak. It was not good. I've gotten better NY steaks at Costco. The meat was very chewy and full of fat. There were nine of us in our party and no one at the table was happy with their meal. Next time in Sac we will try something else...
(1)
Jun R.
You really can't go wrong if you're looking for a great steak and seafood place. We were a group of 7 and ordered pretty much everything on the menu. If you're a couple, I'd really suggest getting the Porterhouse for two which comes with crab cake appetizers. Our table also had the prime rib, twin lobster tails, pork loin, and rack of lamb and everything was a hit. Service is very friendly and reliable. If you're visiting Sacramento, this is a good place to go for dinner but remember that it is in downtown right across the Capitol which means it is pretty dead in that area at night. You need to go up 4 or 5 blocks up towards midtown if you're looking to be among the locals. Still a great place for dinner.
(4)
Brandon G.
Very impressed! Great atmosphere. I was there with a friend for lunch and we chose to sit outside. Amazing view of the Capitol. Service was prompt and very courteous. The waitress even brought my service dog a bowl of water without being asked. Food was beyond good. Price was good as well great food great value. I was also impressed with the eclectic choices on the menu. I would eat there again when in the area. They were also smoker friendly so if you smoke cigars it's a nice place to have a great meal and enjoy a fine cigar afterwards.
(4)
Lisa M.
Ok let me start by saying I hate writing bad reviews, but I'm still so disappointed with our dining experience at chops. We had reservations for 6 since we were seeing a show at 8. This should have been plenty of time for a nice relaxed dinner. I even told our waitress we needed to be out in time for the show. She promised to take care of us then promptly disappeared for over 15 minutes. Once we got our orders in the food was even slower to show up, three of us ordered the fillet and it was just ok, and the steak knife I was given was terrible and didn't cut well. We just got through quickly eating our dinners in time to make it to the show- we didn't even have time for dessert!! At the prices you pay for a meal at chops the last thing you want is to rush through a meal. I don't think we will be trying this place again
(2)
James C.
I visit the Chop and found the service is good because only six tables had customer. I order the the NY steak and 1/2 lbs of Alaska King crab legs as a add-on. The steak was okay and the King crab legs were small and was not fresh and the drawing butter was cold. The salad was old and nasty. Pass on this place, but recommend to a foe.
(2)
Gabriel H.
For being a steakhouse, you would think that Chops would know how to properly cook a steak. That was not the case. My wife and I typically go to Bandera or Ruth's Chris but we decided to try Chops as it was downtown. We both ordered the filet and it was not that good. I asked for medium rare and it came out purple and cold in the middle - definitely not medium rare. I was fine with it, it happens. They took the steak back and I got what appeared to be a new one. The cook or manager, I was not sure who, asked me to cut into it and it was still purple. This was not medium rare. The guy was pissed that I said it was purple and exclaimed okay so you want it medium - no i wanted medium rare red and pink in the middle not purple. He took it back, reheated it, and it came out well down. Whatever, I was over it so I said it was fine. We also ordered a bottle of wine and they charged us for the wrong one. All in all we spent 200 dollars for an okay meal. We should never have gone somewhere other than Bandera or Ruth's Chris for our steak.
(2)
Becky N.
This comment goes out to the bar tender Manny! He is the reason we will be back over and over again. THANK YOU MANNY for making Chops a great experience! We went there with a group of people, and he made us feel like we were the only ones there. We sat at his bar at first and then moved outside to the patio. He told us it was no problem, and he would be more than happy to serve us out there-- even though he was SUPER BUSY! My husband's steak was a little over cooked, and Manny did what it took to make that steak perfect for him (the Manager did too, so he gets props). My husband is a steak connoisseur and it has to be just right. Manny served my husband some clam chowder while he waited for his steak. Manny is always smiling and has a way with making everyone at the table laugh. He always kept the most positive attitude. He is also very good a recommending delicious dishes and wines. I cannot say enough about him. We were so happy with his services, that I promised him I would Yelp him and say great things about his excellent customer service. SEE MANNY, I am a woman of my word! =) THANKS AGAIN, MANNY! We will be back! Oh, and I must say, Chops has the best happy hour, and I LOVE IT!! I am updating my review, the more I go to Chops the more I love it and the people. I must give a should out to MISTY!!! She is also the bar tender there. She is ALWAYS friendly, and ALWAYS attentive tot he details of our meal. I try to eat healthy, so I'm always ordering this and that on the side. Now, I don't even have to ask. She knows my "usual" order. THANKS MISTY for paying attention to detail and for always serving me and my friends with a smile. It means a lot and it keeps us coming back. Becky
(5)
Henry L.
Eat here every time I'm am in Sac. Misty the bartender is great likes bourbon and handles the bar with a smile. Got the Ribeye special and in usual fashion didn't disappoint. Cooked and seasoned to perfection. Some of the best lemon sorbet I've had anywhere. Close to the Capitol and get the Government crowed after work for cocktails. Outdoor patio is great for a smoke and people watching.
(4)
TRACY R.
Melt in your mouth Pulled Pork Crispy Calamari Roasted Artichoke with aioli Washed down with 2 glasses of the House White Wine You know what it is: HAPPY HOUR!! Happy Hour + Happy Birthday = Happy Friends!! LOVED this place! The outside porch made a nice setting for another one of those warm Sacramento nights. AND Happy Hour ends at 8pm!!! I appreciate restaurants that have a long happy hour. I was able to go home, feed the dog, do what I needed to do before coming out to celebrate a beautiful friend's birthday. Of course I have to talk food: 1. Pulled pork: Hands down the BEST I've ever had! Warm, toasted Hawaiian Bread, with melt in your mouth pulled pork. The sauce was sweet, but not overwhelming and I'm pretty sure there were crispy shoe string fries and a some crisp veggies in there. First bite as absolutely divine! I'd come back just for this dish cause it was so tasty!! 2. Crispy Calamari: Really good quality served with two different sauces (marinara and ranch?). Definitely yummy! 3. Artichoke: I've never had artichoke before, so this was my first time. Interesting taste, interesting experience. I think I have to try it again to decide whether or not I like it. I've had lunch and dinner here before and I'm always impressed by the quality of their food and the presentation! Hats off to the chef! Service isn't bad either!
Had an outstanding dinner here last night. The food was awesome and the service by Mannie was wonderful. We will definately return!
(5)
Ernest B.
Came here with the wife for n.y.e. dinner. Walked in and sat right down. No wait at all. Food came out PROMT and hot. I got the prime rib and it was great! She got the surf and turf and also enjoyed. Server was Chris and was very helpful and attentive. We will be back.
(4)
David D.
Service was friendly and attentive for the most part, my wife was happy with her scallop fettuccini and my son with his lamb, but my New York was tough and bland. Even needed to ask for a sharper steak knife. Sizzler has better meat and it certainly wouldn't cost $38. Neighboring table also had a complaint over the steak. And this place specializes in that? Too many other places to go for steak, so with this being the second time I was disappointed, out of two times there, I don't see myself going back.
(3)
Harrison L.
Great staff. Ho hum food. With the presentation, the aging process etc. etc. I was expecting a bit more than the featured entree (filet). It should have been more flavorful (somewhat dry), a bit more tender, and not placed on top of mashed potatoes. I'll be back, though. With a Groupon.
(3)
Erin R.
One word : YUM My boyfriend & I went here because I bought a deal from Living Social. He got a prime rib, which he loved and I got the roast beef dip which was honestly the best sandwich I have ever had! It had a lot of meat on it & was cooked perfectly. Yes, it was pricey but boy was it worth it! We will definitely be going back.
(5)
Melissa B.
I went here for my fiances birthday and we could not have been happier with the food and service! First off, chicken is the only meat that I will occasionally eat and being a steak restaurant, they did not have a huge variety of vegetarian options. But when I asked our server, he was SO accomidating and was willing to make me anything that i could think of, be it pasta or a chicken sandwich. I wasn't too hungry so i settled for a potato which was absolutely delicious! My fiance got their 14 oz ribeye steak and was in meat heaven! The waiter was INCREDIBLE! he was so nice, prompt, and professional. the ambiance was beautiful and i really liked their seating.. Because it was his birthday they presented a beautifully decorated chocolate cake slice with ice cream. Of course, their prices are a bit steep because of the food they are providing but it is worth it and we cannot wait to go back. A++++
(5)
Aly W.
I was very torn between giving this restaurant a 3 or a 4 due to the end of our dining experience. I decided to focus on the food and service and give them a 4. See the end of my review for why I debated giving them a 3. My Husband and found this place randomly on the night of his birthday. (We like to walk around downtown Sacramento at dinner time without a plan and just see where we end up!) We were very pleasantly surprised with Chops. We caught their happy hour menu because it goes until 8 pm. Seriously, I wish more restaurants would do that! Who can get off work, make it to a happy hour, and actually have time to enjoy it by 5 or 6pm? Our food was delicious and the service was excellent! My only complaint is that shortly after we were seated, I snuck off on the pretenses of needing to wash my hands so I could talk to the floor manager. I told her it was my husbands 30th birthday and asked if they could do something special for him. They said that they don't sing to customers, it's a classier establishment than that, but that she would let our server know and they would bring him out a free dessert and wish him a happy birthday. Unfortunately that never happened. They forgot about it. I wish now that I would have said something but it would have embarrassed my husband to say "ugh, where's his free dessert?!" I told him what I did and that I was sorry that they forgot. We had a lovely dinner and then it just ended awkwardly. The real kicker is that he was feeling down about his birthday and I was trying to do something special for him. Them forgetting about him didn't help. Had it not been his birthday it would have been a perfect evening.
(4)
David L.
Had dinner at Chops again to use their birthday offer. The service was fine but the steak was overcooked. When I asked for some steak sauce (as the meat was pretty dry), the server came back with BBQ sauce as they were out of steak sauce. A steak house out of steak sauce?? Wow, just wow.
(2)
Jennifer M.
I would give them 0 stars if I could. My husband took me here for my birthday along with some of our other family. I must say, it was the worst service I have ever experienced in my life. It took 1.5 hours to receive our food, and was raw. Took another half an hour to get the raw food replaced. They never asked us for beverage refills. I had to ask them 4 times for a booster seat for my son. They gave my son his food LITERALLY right after it came out of the oven Come on, a 2 year old couldn't even eat it at that temp. Had to wait another 20 min. We asked for separate checks, and received 1 bill instead. The restaurant wasn't even busy given the fact it was a Saturday and Father's Day weekend. Unexceptable service. Will never go back
(1)
Jackie T.
The only time I've been to Chops was when I had to use an expiring Groupon (thanks Wendy Y.) not that long ago (last week to be exact). I came during my lunch hour from work and without a reservation (huge mistake), so the hostess informed us that our wait was about 15 mins. Normally, I would have just left and came back another day, but since the Groupon deal was about to expire, I decided to stay. After about a 10 minute wait, we were finally seated, but we didn't know who our server was because he/she never really came by to introduce themselves. Eventually, a lady that seemed like she was either a manager or the hostess, took our order as she poured us our ice water. After about 30-35 minutes later after initially placing our order and our lunch time coming closer and closer to an end, we decided that we can't wait no more and asked one of the servers working the dining room if we could just box it to go. The server was really understanding, and he accommodated our request. So the lesson learned: do not come to Chops for lunch if you have a short time frame to spare, and to ALWAYS make a reservation! The burger I ordered that I didn't get to eat at the restaurant was decent. The burger was pretty flavorful and juicy. My only complaint was the burger wasn't big enough for my appetite. I was left searching for more food after I cleared my to-go box of fries and burger.
(3)
Karen M.
I had a birthday dinner here on Friday with close family. The restaurant was beautiful and it seemed very promising until we received our first course- our side Caesar salad. All 3 of our salads were partially frozen, wilted, and horrible. I couldn't even finish my salad! The other people in my party were fine with eating their frozen salad, but I wasn't! You'd hope that a nice restaurant like Chops would check the quality of their produce. The steak we had was extremely tough. Barely half of it was eaten. My pasta was obviously overcooked- the noodles fell apart every time it tried to pick it up. The ribs was fine and polenta was tasty.
(2)
Abigail L.
I went here with some friends after watching a show at the Sacramento Community Theater. I shared the prime rib with a friend and had the meal special for 2 people. The prime rib it self wasn't that great considering how much it cost. I didn't care about the crab cakes since they were just crazy salty. THe medallion pieces on the prime rib were great but I wish I had more. I sides of fries and onion rings werent anything special. I did try some of my friend aged balsamic steak and that was delicious that I wish i ordered that instead. I probably wouldnt come back here for food, too costly considering there are plenty of other good options in the area.
(3)
Aubrey D.
Pricey for this man from Albuquerque NM, but very good burger and excellent potato skins.
(4)
Cindy W.
I dont like to write long reviews i just like to get to the point and let my opinion be known, everything from start to finish sucked. Nasty bread, soggy "garlic scented fries", no ice in the iced tea ( it was hot like it was just made) horrible service and attitudes from employees and way way way too expensive for what you get. Better off going somewhere else. Period.
(1)
King L.
Chops was a superb venue for my wife's 60th Birthday party. Michelli, Chop's special events coordinator and McKenzie, her assistant, made my wife's surprise birthday dinner a night to remember. They helped me with all the details and planning early on, so on the night of the event, our 25 guests had a wonderful time. Chops has a private dining room in the basement that was reserved for us for the ENTIRE evening. It is equipped with audio and video equipment, so we were able to show a video my kids made of their mom to celebrate her special evening. Brian, the restaurant manager, allowed us to come in early to set up the balloons and floral decorations. The food was incredible and service was flawless. I would not hesitate to recommend Chops Downtown for your special event.
(5)
S C.
We went here with friends after a day of exploring Old Town, per our friends suggestion this being their favorite place in Sacramento. The food was good and freshly prepared. The servers were very attentive and friendly. We enjoyed everything that we ordered from the menu. I only had one issue and I was too nice to say anything about it. I ordered the classic sundae for dessert which said that it came with hot fudge, it came out with caramel. I am not a big fan and would not have ordered it to begin with had I known. the bathroom was incredibly nice, I know that sounds strange. But the condition of the bathroom in my opinion says a lot about the establishment. The view of the State Capitol at night was a nice surprise.
(3)
Lance B.
Had the special rib eye! Wow first time in my life I sent it back!! The whole steak was gristle!! Tried to eat what I could but my wife nearly had to do the hymlick on me. Very disappointing for a birthday dinner.
(1)
Cindy S.
Its been almost a year since our first time at Chops and this time was just as delightful as the first. Upon arrival we were seated at a large booth and surprised to find out Happy Hour was still going on (3:00pm-8:00pm M-F). Service was pretty quick and attentive but the restaurant wasn't busy either. While all of the specials sounded good my boyfriend and I ordered a Spinach Salad ($8) and the dinner for two which included a 28oz Porter House Steak hand carved for two in sauce with veal demi-glace, two dungeness crab cakes, caramelized carrots and your choice of another side ($57). Our server brought out our bread, salad and crab cakes first. The bread was served with a creamy garlic, buttery, herb spread which tasted really good. We were trying to hold back but had to have a second serving. The crab cakes were thick and heavily constructed with fresh crab and lightly breaded. They were served on a really good sauce and well worth trying. I'm not much of a spinach person but with all the stuff they put in the salad- mushrooms, bacon, almonds, egg and cheese with honey mustard vinaigrette I couldn't help but have more than a couple bites. I wanted it all, but I had to share. The Porter House Steak with the sauce was mouthwatering. It had a really good grilled flavor, was tender and sauce was tantalizing. If you haven't had this sauce, you are seriously missing out. I think I'm beginning to salivate as I have flashbacks writing this. I'm not really a carrot person but I actually really enjoyed them and didn't send them over to my boyfriend's plate. While he had mashed potatoes I opted for the garlic scented fries. Don't be fooled- these aren't just garlic fries, they are garlic, Parmesan, chilli flake chive fries! We tried to save room for pumpkin ice cream but were too full to make the attempt. Maybe next time. If your not already making a reservation for tonight i hope your drooling because everything I had the other night was delicious! Chops is definitely staying on my list of classy places for a night out in Sactown.
(5)
Nancy H.
Absolutely wonderful service and the food was great. Unfortunately, I have an extreme aversion to pickles. Apparently, these are a regular garnish. If it's not on the menu, it shouldn't be on my plate. The waitress was very accomodating, but I dislike being in situations where I could piss off the cook and have even more items added to my food that aren't on the menu.
(3)
Terry P.
Great menu, attentive staff (thanks Trisha) - we keep going back
(4)
Rachael A.
I was expecting more. The food took forever and wasn't the best, I really believe it wasn't worth the price.
(2)
Michael M.
Terrible service. My friend asked for a medium well steak that came back rare and another friend that was served cold Brussels sprouts. The service was mediocre at best. Food was a disappointment after waiting an hour and half. The majority of the menu was not available, and a non-existent selection of chicken. Would not accommodate our request for substitutions despite our willingness to pay extra. A request for salad served prior to a meal was apparently not going to happen because the "chef" refused to plate his over cooked meal any other way than what his small mind knew how to do. Overall a poor experience and would not recommend this establishment to my friends or enemies.
(1)
Devo S.
Mmmmmm...steak! I had a great experience here with the Hubby and a couple of good friends. My ribeye was delish; the calamari was great; the stuffed mushrooms were AWESOME; Hubby filet mignon was remarkable; my friends' dishes were both cooked to perfection; the key lime martini was yummy, and the staff (server Manny and host Fred) were super. I like supporting local restaurants, and I like going someplace nice with good food. Chops fulfilled both needs! It is a little pricey, but then what quality steak house isn't? Seriously, if you want "less expensive" then go to Outback, people!
(5)
Sean W.
Upon walking in you will immediately notice one of my favorite parts of this restaurant for I love the aesthetic of the bar. Lots of glass and I'm partial to glass. I've never had anything less than excellent service here and I do so like to come in here for a happy hour before dinner. What can I say, the place is convenient and very easy to get to, especially for those of us who live and work downtown. We had a lovely dinner here with excellent service. The food was amazing except that the chicken was overcooked and dry. Not by much, but enough to notice. The filet mignon was perfect. 'nuf said. The dessert was a cheesecake that was insanely good. Our waiter was extremely attentive and knowledgeable of the food. He was able to describe each dish in detail and give recommendations. He was also very good conversation and entertaining at that. The only real negative I found here was that I thought the decor in the back room a little stale and not up to par with what I would expect right across the street from the Capitol. That is the only reason why I dropped a four star instead of a five.
(4)
Chris D.
Total failure. Shame on me for not seeing the reflags in a high end restaurant pushing discounted gift certificates through Costco. Price is about what you would expect for a nice restaurant. Their happy hour drink specials were appealing but they are only offered at the bar. The bartender was friendly and attentive. The service was poor. Our waitress asked once at the beginning of dinner if we wanted drinks (which seemed out of place because we arrived with full drinks from the bar) She understood this to mean that we wanted no other drinks over the course of our meal. We also spent the majority of our meal with empty water glasses. Aside from the food was brought out we didn't see her until she offered dessert and brought the check. The food was mediocre at best. We were celebrating our anniversary and we wanted to try something new. I had the prime rib medium rare. It wasn't tender like you would expect prime rib to be and it tasted like it hadn't been seasoned at all. The sides were equally unremarkable. My meal was the better of the two and only a half-step ahead of what you could find at a $12 buffet. I felt awful for my girlfriend who had ordered the lamb. She was so excited until it arrived. She ordered it medium-rare which was brought out well done with a cold center. To add insult to injury the lamb hadn't been trimmed well which left a very small amount of well done meet that was edible. The flavor of the meet was very gamey, may I suggest a renaming to mutton. We opted to cut our losses and skipped dessert to search elsewhere. In total we were left with a $140 bill for a meal that very disappointing. We won't be back and I'll be sure to point friends elsewhere in the future.
(1)
Mia C.
For our anniversary dinner today, we went to Chops. We had a nice romantic evening with good food and wine. Although we had made reservations ahead of time, it was not really necessary because this restaurant was almost empty, maybe because it was a Monday. Our server was Daniel, who turned out to be a friendly guy. We ordered Cabernet and the tiger prawn quesadilla to start off. The quesadilla was ok, nothing special. But they served cheese crusted bread and some kind of flavored butter initially which was really yummy. For main course, I had the Grilled Salmon Oscar and my husband had the Prime Rib [10 oz one]. They were both good, but plating was terrible considering we are paying 30+ for each dish. I have seen better plating even in inexpensive restaurants. But overall, no major complaints!
(4)
Jamie T.
Went to Chops for the first time last night. It was a lovely experience. Tasty food, good drinks, great service, and nice ambience... It's nice to have a moderately priced steakhouse in Downtown Sacramento... I have no complaints, but seems some people do.. But then again, some people are just never happy. I highly recommend.
(5)
Nathan O.
Went there for a Vday dinner with my wife (mostly because our first choices were all booked up already) and was a little nervous reading the reviews after I made the reservations. I decided to give it a chance anyway because I'm not real snobby with my food and I like to give local businesses a chance. It started out pretty well, good service and they let us sit early since we got there pretty early. The bread was good and our server (Jose) was nice. Then came the real reason we came, the FOOD. We got the Ahi Poke appetizer. Way too simplistic, there was the protein on top of a bed of flavorless cabbage. There wasn't even cilantro on it as advertised. Definitely a weak start. We also ordered a caesar salad, that our server was nice enough to offer to split onto two plates, but not nice enough to tell us he would charge us $2 extra. The steaks came in decent time. My wife got the filet mignon and it was super dry. She ordered it medium rare, and it did look medium rare, so I can't explain why it would be dry. I got the New York Strip, also medium rare, and it looked like it was cooked ok, but half of it was super chewy. It's not even that it was real fatty, I would just take a bite and chew, but half of the meat wouldn't breakdown. Very disappointing that I would rather go to Texas Roadhouse for 1/3 of the cost and better food. 1 star for the potatoes and 1 star for our server.
(2)
Sean H.
we try to get in here at least 1 time a month. we r ALWAYS very happy with the food,service and the need to come back. And price almost makes me feel guilty.....lol every person I have sent here said the same. this a must try. u will love it....
(5)
Nel R.
Location? Good. Ambiance and comfort? Depends where you sit. Tables are good, booths are uncomfortable. Food? Not spectacular, especially for the price. Veggies were bland. Glazed carrots were overlooked. Filet Minon and NY strip were undercooked. Staff? Inconsistent. Some were good. Others you would think it was their first day in a restaurant. Bar? Good. Overall- won't go out of my way to go back.
(3)
Alexis C.
I love this place it's my favorite place to get "happy" after a long days work. The owner, bartenders and all the staff are great. Misty and Bryan always greet me with a smile and take care of me! My glass doesn't stay empty for long if at all before I'm offered another. So the service is great! The food has always been awesome - I've never had a bad meal here. The prices are reasonable and the ambiance is great. They have a great patio for people watching and the interior is low lit and relaxing. It's definitely a place to come and unwind. It has a friendly welcoming vibe in a nice elegant setting. I haven't ever tried the dessert so that's next on my bucket list. I almost forgot they have a great bday deal and will send you a $35 coupon on your birthday. For happy hour I recommend the mushrooms, sliders, calamari (all around $5-$6) and wash it down with a $2 draft or $4 house wine. Oh and don't forget its 3-8 pm - definitely one of the best and most generous happy hours in town. For lunch I highly recommend the beef barley soup - it's great. Salads are good size and generous portions too. The ahi poke is fabulous as well. I've been to other "high end" steak houses in the area and dropped $$$ I'd rather come here any day.
(5)
Stella G.
I was so excited to go to Chops. That lasted about five minutes. It is really like a glorified Denny's, with nicer booths. Our waiter was great. The food....awful. The pulled pork sandwich was lukewarm with what tasted like bottled bbq sauce and it came on a bun that looked like it came from Save Mart. My friend ordered the Chopped Steak salad, and it was tasteless, and limp...and very very small portion, which was fine since he only took a few bites Way overpriced. Also, we were at a quiet booth, and then a HUGE party came in and sat next to us at a table for 12 or so and they were so loud I could not hear my friend right across the table. The table with that much seating should not be in the middle of the dining area. Save your money and get a meal anywhere but here.
(1)
Mary N.
Went here for "Dine Downtown" and ended up ordering off the traditional menu instead. Overall, I would have to say this is one of the better Steakhouses in Sac. I recently ate at Morton's, and this was way better tasting food, less pricey, and less pretentious. I split the "Steak for Two" meal. Basically you get a LARGE T-bone steak that they cut up for you to share, two crab cakes and two side items. The t-bone was cooked perfectly as ordered (medium). The filet portion was tender and juicy. The Strip Steak portion was rich with deep beef flavor. The crab cakes were good in flavor but I like them a little crispier than what we were served. I choose the buttermilk mash potatoes as my side; they were smooth and buttery, true to the name. My friend has the garlic "scented" fries. Also true to the name, you can definitely smell the garlic yet when you actually eat the fries, there was only a mild hint of garlic taste. Not overpowering like what you get at a ball game. Our table ordered a couple of desserts to share. The raspberry cheese cake had a very nice presentation. The cake was mild in flavor and very light and fluffy. The creme brule (which is usually my favorite dessert) was not good at all. The texture was completely off. It was the runniest creme brule I've ever had. But overall, it was a great dinner experience. Nicely decorated restaurant with very friendly staff. Key work is "friendly" as opposed to pretentious. You can park your car in the parking structure right across from the Restaurant and they will validate up to $5.00 work of parking fees. My parking fee was exactly $5.00.
(4)
Jacob C.
Good job spencer! Representing yourself as the head chef. More like head douche with a chip on your shoulder. Bad food and bad cook. Yeah cook!
(1)
Christine R.
Service was great, vibrant bar area with a soothing lounge. They have their fresh cuts of meats displayed in the refrigerator right behind the hostess stand. The pork chop was tender and juicy - superb! Fresh clam chowder, decent selection of desserts with a delicious NY cheesecake...a must have. Waitstaff are friendly and patient with answering questions. Huge wine selection and a variety of cocktails, we chose a bottle of LaCrema of course. A great place to take clients. If you're craving a burger, this would also be the place to go.
(5)
Steak c.
I was in town for work and was dying for a good steak. I was there working with a groups of about 8 of us so I convinced them all to join me for a nice meal. I made reservations online for us and that went smoothly. We arrived right on time and were greatest by a friendly host who had a good sense of humor. We were seated way in the back, which worked out perfectly. The wait staff and manager were a good hunch of people and jokes around with us. This was also good because once we started having some drinks we go really loud and had a great time. On to the food. I can only speak for what I had. I didn't see my favorite cut, ribeye so i had to find another steak that I would like. I like a well marbled steak and nothing I. The menu was going to satisfy me completely. So I went with a porterhouse. I ordered it med-rare. I ordered a baked potato with it. The steak came out and was cooked perfectly. It was also very hot coming out of the kitchen. The filet side was so tender and had really good flavor, which I usually never find. I usually have a flavorless filet, so I was happy about that. The strip side had a reasonable amount of marbling which was nice. The flavoring and temp on that side was also perfect. The baked potato was good. Overall it was a great dining experience and excellent food. I gave it 4 stars only because it had a slightly limited selections of steak and my steak had a little more gristle than I would have liked. Outside of that it was a great dining experience and I would definitely go back. Due to our loud and obnoxious behavior we gave a great tip!
(4)
Jim K.
Prime Rib!!! Prime Rib!!!! Prime Rib!!!! Save room for deserts. Any of them. Bourbon drinkers, they carry Whistle Pig. Did I mention the Prime Rib?!?!
(5)
Travis K.
My partner & I went to Chop's for dinner recently when I was craving a good steak... I can't point to anything that was necessarily bad nor can I say anything was that good. The service was average or below, my steak was overlooked when I had ordered it medium-rare & I thought it was pricey for the quality of the meal. For a little bit more money I could have had a much better steak at Ruth's Chris.
(2)
Mike H.
We were walking around looking for a quiet place to eat on a Saturday night. Walked right in and were seated right away. Good food, good enviornment, good service. Lava cake didn't deliver, but the rest of the food was great!
(4)
Sean C.
When dining out, I generally don't ask for much. Some semblance of ambiance and cleanliness are, however, towards the top of my list (especially when eating at a "nice" steakhouse). In this vein, Chops fails in such incomprehensible ways. When I'm paying $30-$50 for a steak, I prefer not to eat off of Formica lunch room grade tables. Why not throw down some standard white table cloths? I also prefer not to see my waiter exit the STALL of the restroom (think #2), and leave WITHOUT WASHING HIS HANDS. In fairness, Chops didn't have the ubiquitous "Employees Must Wash Hands Before Returning to Work" sign that always drives me crazy (do people actually need to be reminded to wash their hands?!), so I suppose this rube could have thought that hot water and soap were luxuries not afforded to the staff. Nevertheless, this sight was inexcusable. I had already finished my otherwise forgettable meal, so I didn't call out the offending party. Needless to say, however, I will not be eating at Chops anytime in the near future.
(1)
Lori F.
We were in Sacramento for a business trip so we met with our daughter for dinner. Chops came with mixed recommendations, and now I can see why. Our dinner there had some good food and some very poor selections. We had good wait service, but the kitchen can really use some work! We started out on the wrong foot with the calamari appetizer, which was very bland, chewy, and overcooked - basically inedible - and the sauce and aioli couldn't save it. In addition, the wine we selected, which was enthusiastically promoted by our waiter, was unavailable. The two dinner selections were also a mixed bag. My husband had the steak and lobster, which he enjoyed. The filet was a little undercooked for his taste (he ordered medium and it was closer to rare) but he proclaimed the lobster juicy, sweet, and delicious. I shared their "dinner for two" with my daughter. The porterhouse steak we ordered was way over-cooked (we ordered medium rare and it came out medium well). It was sad to see what would have been a fine steak handled this way! The crab cakes were very good, mostly crab, very fresh and well seasoned, with a nice crisp crust, but they appeared about 10 minutes after the rest of the meal. All of the accompanying veggies, mashed potatoes, carrots, fries, and asparagus were done very nicely - too bad they weren't the main course. We also ordered two desserts, creme brule and the fresh fruit sorbet (raspberry). The sorbet was wonderful but the creme brule, although tasty, was a bit gritty and the top only partially caramelized. The waiter and manager made up for this failing by removing the cost of the appetizer and desserts. We appreciated the gesture, but it would have been gladly paid for if everything was good in the first place. Can't recommend this restaurant which comes with too high prices for this mixed experience.
(2)
Jess C.
I had a surprise birthday party here in the room down stairs and had such a great experience. The food was amazing and the staff was great. When we went I thought we just wanted to stay for drinks. I love the bar and how you can sit outside and see the State capital. The Surf & Turf is AMAZING! The twice baked potato was AMAZING. The calamari was alright but I wouldn't order again. Chris, Executive Chef is a breath of fresh air. He came up to us and shook my hand and thanked us for coming in. He does a great job and his cooking skills are up there with the Iron Chef! Shout out to Chops Sacramento for making my Birthday amazing and keeping it such a surprise and shout out to Misty for the wonderful service over and over at the bar!
(5)
Luke K.
Their filet mignon is really good. A nice generous and thick cut. I ordered it medium rare, and it came out perfect out if the kitchen. Paired it with a Lagunitas IPA. It was a meal worth coming back for. The staff were prompt and courteous. Great upscale dining experience.
(5)
Dave P.
Good food and some great service. Thank you
(4)
Jennifer P.
I've been to Chops Folsom many times. Rib eye as you need to call ahead to see if they will be serving during their dinner service is devine. Their happy hours is great too. Saw a groupon deal and purchased it immediately. . Long story short, this down town location really disappointed me. We came in at 630p or so and was welcomed by a "Did you have a reaervation? We are not welcoming walk ins" was it because we were in a suit and tie? We had to ask if we can seat ourselves at the bar with a return response "go ahead attitude" none the less we were out of pocket 30 bucks for the groupon anyway, so we seated ourselves. Ordered the rib eye with blue chees crumbles and bacon crust, absolutely perfect! Also ordered the worst prime rib ive ever had in my life. I dont know if it was just bad timing or what, the PR was bland, no texture, and soaked in au jus from a packet. Ordered medium, came out bloody rare. Sent it back to be seared and it came out like it was blanched in hot water. Aside from waiting 1.5 hour for dinner to come out, at least the women who I believe was the manager we able to crack a few jokes, my husband had said they shoildnt put olives on the potatoe skins, she over heard and said joking we'll make you a whole new one but all joking aside she seemed intoxicated. Of it werent for the rib eye, I wouldve given ZERO stars. We didnt touch the prime rib all through our dinner, with prices comparing to Mortons and Broiler you would think to ask if something was wrong, I wanted to tell our server to take a bite and tell me what you think but since they couldnt put the pieces together, I figured a 42$ 16oz PR would go to a good cause, dinner for my wonderful black lab, at least someone was happy.
(2)
Anna S.
I really wanted to like this place. I made reservations here for a birthday dinner because one of my friends recommended this place and loved their steak. She raved about it when she went for their Mother Day's brunch. When we walked in, the place looked pretty empty...There were only a few tables filled. Ordered my steak (medium!) and it was ehhh....very bland. Lacking flavor and wasn't very juicy. I hate to ask for A1 sauce for my steak (which I never do), but my steak really needed it. My friend that suggested this place didn't like her steak either. I don't know if it was an off day for them, but based on my experience, I would not recommend this place for steak. My other friend had one of their pasta dishes and really liked it. 2 stars for the server being great and friendly.
(2)
Brittany W.
TERRIBLE...ordered a medium filet, it came RARE...literally still COLD in the middle! I had to send it back, it came back to me burnt on the outside...and still raw on the inside! Such a bummer...the waiter forgot about us, didn't refill our drinks, forgot to bring bread...just a hot mess.
(1)
Josh B.
Admittedly my experience here is limited to just a steak salad, but i will say that the amount of steak was very poor/small, and the salad was under-seasoned and under-dressed.
(2)
Sacramento R.
Pretty awful. Meat was ok. Service was rushed and inexperienced. The creme brule was basically vanilla pudding with whipped cream FROM A CAN. Yes, gross canned spray out of a can whipped cream. Never going back. Yucko.
(1)
jen k.
With all the high praise this place seems to get, I was less then impressed. Ambiance and service gives this place the extra star, because the food would have earned them a two. Don't get me wrong- I love me some meat (insert pervy comments here), but there was something definitely missing here. Maybe it is because we came during Dine Downtown, and they cut corners, but I don't think that was it. The place wasn't all that busy, which surprised me, so it wasn't like the kitchen was just rushing to keep up. The potatoes were awesome! Very tasty, seasoned, and cooked to perfection! The veggies were good too. I just felt like for the price on the (regular) menu, they left a lot to be desired. I've had better steaks for much less coin. Would I come here again? Probably not. Sorry Chops.
(3)
Dusty L.
We went as a party of four and sat on the patio. Drinks were strong and i had the New York Steak with baked potato. The service was absolutely excellent. Manny was by far the best bartender/waiter we have had in a while. Prices were as expected but you definitely get what you pay for here. Highly reccommended.
(4)
Keith M.
I had a damn good steak for lunch.
(4)
Amy R.
I love steak and I wanted to love this place, but felt that something was lacking. Well, they lost a star because I asked for my steak to be medium well and it was closer to medium rare. If I want to eat the thing burned and covered in ketchup, bring it to me. I'm paying for it. Aside from the steak peeve, the service was good. The ambiance was inviting, but the patrons were a little random. It seemed like there was a few people from the capitol hobnobbing, but I also saw a few people who seemed to have confusedly wandered in off the street. The nice thing? After 5PM they validate your parking at the capitol garage right across from the restaurant.
(3)
Don G.
..
(5)
Carrie G.
The food was bland as a 1200 calorie a week diet coupled with a bartender that made the worst Mojito EVER. Will not be going back...
(1)
Douglas Y.
Traditional Steakhouse interior along with traditional high prices. Took my wife here for her birthday but we wont be back. Average at best.
(2)
Michelle B.
Came in on a slow Sunday evening and the staff was so friendly and welcoming I was glad we stopped by. Great location right by the Capitol.
(4)
Lillian Y.
First time here for dinner, ordered medium rare filet and it came out prefect and very tender. Husband had a grilled salmon blt and a bowl of chowder which he really liked but he didn't finish the chowder because he felt that it was a little on the heavy side, maybe too much cream? Overall the service was stellar and the restaurant is pretty. After dinner we strolled over to catch an IMAX movie at esquire. Perfect date night. On a side note everyone should go see The Hobbit Desolation of Smaug!
(4)
Eric M.
This was one of the most memorable experiences we have ever had. I took my wife here for her birthday and the service and the food were both top notch. You know those times when you get your drinks, you order your food and then get dessert and it all rocked!! Because they all come at the right time with no unexplained waiting. Then you are like if we can just get the check right now this night would be awesome and then it comes and you pay it and you walked out sooo satisfied!!! Food and service A+!!
(5)
Catherine B.
My friends and I went here for New Year's Eve this year and it did not disappoint! We ordered off of the Prix Fixe menu, which was 4 courses for $50something bucks. What a deal! My friends got the filet with shrimp scampi, which alone would be $30something. The prices for the meal were amazing. Our server was attentive, filling up our wine glasses whenever they got low. The food was well paced and hot when it came out. All in all an incredibly enjoyable meal. I'm glad I chose to come here to celebrate the new year! A delicious meal to end 2012 with.
(5)
Ann N.
My rating is based on the service. I came here around 3:15 and actually just finished eating with my friend for lunch and we got seated quickly and our orders were taken in a timely manner. However it took about 45 minutes for our food to come out even though we were the only ones in the restaurant at the time. Shortly after our orders were taken, two men came in and it seemed like they were regulars and were given such better service than us. Their drinks were refilled, their food came out before ours and it just seemed like me and my friend were being ignored. Matter of fact I don't even know who our server is that's how neglected we were. Our food finally came and it was delicious but our service was terrible.... I don't know if it's because we look young or because I'm asian? I'm actually a server myself and I came in my work uniform even. I don't know why we weren't treated respectfully until we has or personally get up and ask for our server and for boxes. Knowing that I'm a paying customer and am treated like this is one of the reasons why I'm not coming back. Sorry Chops. This will be my first and last time there. I can be treated better elsewhere.
(1)
Kim T.
Yum yum yum! I love Chops! It was my husband's first time and he loved it! He even mentioned to me during dinner that he liked it more than Mortons Steakhouse! The prices are reasonable. I purchased a gift certificate on restaurant.com a while back and finally decided to come here on our anniversary. I didn't realize how reasonable the prices were (compared to Mortons) so I had purchased the $75 one = we had to order $150 worth of food! Oh-my-God. Here is a breakdown of what we ordered (out of 5 stars): Calamari $11.95 - generous amount but I've had better - 3 stars Crab Cake (2pcs) $15.95 - delicious - 5 stars Clam Chowder Bowl $7.95 - def not Splash Cafe but good I like it to be more creamier - 4 stars Caesar Salad $7.95 - not enough dressing for my taste - 3 stars Porterhouse $49.95 - my husband said it was very good - 4 stars ADD Lobster Tail $21.95 - not overcooked, pretty good veggies too - 4 stars Steak & Lobster $34.95 - cooked perfectly to medium how I want it - 5 stars The only thing that sucked about our experience was the loud and obnoxious people we were sitting next to. The guy was talking like we wanted to hear his conversation...dude, that's what the bar area is for! My husband and I had our son sitting at the table with us. The two guys sitting at the table beside us obviously had too much to drink, the loud one kept cursing and just plain being a JERK! Our waiter was super duper friendly and always came by to check on us not to the point where it was creepy or annoying which was perfect. Also the kind gentleman that was refilling our water glasses was super duper cool and refilled our glasses constantly, he even apologized for the obnoxious guy next to us. We will def be coming here again. I've heard good things about the happy hour so I must come and try that out one of these days!
(5)
Amy T.
Let me start with saying that this is the best steak house I have ever been to. The steaks are said to be aged and cooked differently compared to a typical steak house. You can definitely taste the difference! I had the fillet mignon and my boyfriend had the prime rib, both of which were devoured! I think our conversation at dinner included "mmmm" and "ahhhh". Our amazing sides: twice baked potato, caramelized carrots, and asparagus. All the sides were a perfect compliment to our meal. The price you pay here is definitely worth it.
(5)
Melissa H.
I went there to celebrate my engagement and was not impressed. First off we stood at the hostess stand for 5 minutes before anyone acknowledged we were there. The table was really small for us and there were no linens which seems strange for the prices on the menu. The service was good besides the bartender talking super loud about the basketball game while we are trying to enjoy a nice dinner. My dad ordered the pork chop and the entire piece of meat was bone. The manager apologized and said he would replace it immediately then a couple minutes later the waitress came back to let him know it would be 15-20 minutes and would he like something different. Understandable that it would take awhile to cook but odd the manager did not say that originally. Then they still charged us and made a point to say they charged him for the pork chop that he didn't get but oh wait it was less than the second meal he had to order. Great thanks for saving us $5 on the meal he didn't order! I definitely would not go again.
(1)
Kristin T.
I haven't been to CHOPS in years. The BF and I came here for a company dinner last Friday. His company reserved the lower level. I think its a great space, great location, great ambiance... but the food was just mediocre at best... I honestly felt my BF could have cooked these dishes better at home. We had the following: "Mixed Greens (Blue Cheese Herb Vinaigrette) - this was good! "Filet Mignon Sauce Bearnaise" - he had that and it was totally bloody and undercooked. "Pan Roasted Stuffed Chicken Breast with corn & roasted red bell peppers, jack cheese with a roasted shallot demi-glace" - I had this and it was decent, except the chicken was super dry and chewy. I'm guessing the regular menu upstairs is much better and this was only because they were "pre-fix" and were serving a party of 30-50 people. The best part by far was the raspberry cheesecake (see photo)! Trust me - it's just as yummy, creamy and delicious as it looks! I would have given only 2 stars because of the food, but the private room was nice so I'm giving it another star for that! I do want to come back soon to try their happy hour (3-7pm M-F) drink & $5 appetizer specials.
(3)
Jared W.
I have been to Chops a few times. The first was for steaks and their dry aging is something different that any other place in town. Delicious flavor, tender steak and fantastic service. It has a great intimate atmosphere for that special date or you can sit at the bar area and go for a more casual eating experience. Most of the time I head to Chops is for the hidden gem of Sacramento, the bacon cheeseburger. Its the best burger in town. Absolutely the best. I kinda wish they served some more varieties to entice more locals to enjoy this fantastic restaurant. Its a real gem. I typically sit on the patio, smoking a cigar with a view of the capital, a cocktail and the fantastic burger. Its a great place to be in the evening, nice breeze across the tree shaded patio.
(5)
Stefanie S.
First time here. Stopped by for drinks with some friends. Pretty empty for a Friday evening. I tried their Tequila Cooler. It was very good, but for the price ($9) i thought the serving size was very small. The drink didn't last long so I ordered another one... Service was friendly and efficient. I would like to come back for lunch or dinner.
(4)
Dale S.
Horrible service. We were here for lunch on April 24. Table of 8. The order took forever and three of the dishes were the wrong items! It took so long we ate what they gave us for fear we would have to wait another 45 minutes. What added to the anxiety was that our diners were important clients that were in town for a major event with the Governor's office, to be followed with drop-ins at various legislative offices. The poor lunch did not make it a good day at all.
(1)
Kris V.
Came to Chops for our work holiday party. Pros: Intimate, dressy, great for groups. Cons: Not-so-delicious steaks. Trust me that when I walked in and saw the wall O'Ribeyes and prime rib in the refrigerator that I started salivating. I wanted to skip the appetizers and get right down to the nitty-gritty. I LOVE STEAK. Ordered drinks from the bar. Nice bartender, not to poorly priced either. I did learn later however that it was Happy Hour when we arrived and the bartender didn't even mention it. Would have been nice to know or else what is the point of having it? The server brought us bread which was divine. We shared the calamari appetizer. Calamari is the one appetizer that I get no matter what restaurant I am at so that I can find the best in the area. This is the Best Non-Crispy Calamari around, folks! I order the Ribeye with a bacon and bleu cheese crust. It came with delish carrots and potatoes. The steak, however, was chewy. Not to mention my "crust" which was a pathetic sight. The cheese wasn't melted and coupled with the bacon continued to crumble off of the steak. At the end all of the "crust" was left on the plate. I must say that I was very disappointed. For a steakhouse this place needs some work!
(3)
Monica M.
Double charged my card. Waiting for resolution....
(2)
Cheryl L.
Went to Chops on 4th July weekend, 7/5/14 to celebrate my daughter's college graduation. Overall such a disappointment. I'd give the food 3 stars but the server (Amber) is not a good fit for this upscale restaurant. We expected professional and got nothing of the sort. Yes, the food came out rather quick, however the server just made the experience BLAH! I called the restaurant earlier in the day to ask about BYO wine/ corkage fee and the guy who answered my question actually hung up on me before I finished the conversation. That should have been a sign. Half way through our dinner, they sat a large loud party right next to us and the entire restuarant was empty. Was that necessary!!!!!! Maybe this was an off day?? One last thought, the manager came by early in our meal to ask how everything was......totally robotic as if he was troubled to have to come check on us. We absolutely have no intention on visiting Chops again!
Come prepared to hunt for parking! The food is worth the effort! Love this place for business meetings over dinner and entertaining out town guest! Not a date place!
(4)
Yvonne S.
I am so happy I do not take all the bad Yelps literally. I was very happy with my experience at Chops. We went to celebrate my Son's graduation and it was great! Aaron was our server and he was very professional and polite, he told us the specials and got our drinks promptly. We had grilled artichokes, crab cakes that melted in our mouths and the porter house for two (which could easily be for three, but that is not a complaint! I could not even make it to my sea salted baked potato. We ended the meal sharing a hot apple crisp with vanilla ice cream and a triple chocolate cake with a raspberry sauce. It was a special dinner with my kids and Aaron made it even better.
(4)
Caroline B.
Possibly the best lobster I've ever tried! Very big portions for the twin lobster tails, extra meaty & delicious! Their carrot cake was just perfect! My BF got the Prime Rib which actually came out too bloody, but he says it was okay. Minus one star for the private room being a little too stuffy & the waitress making my BF wait too long for his soda. I would love to wine & dine here again!
(4)
Gianna M.
Five of us went to Chops on Saturday night. The restaurant was more than half empty, yet the wait for our food was over 45 minutes. It's a steak house, so we were expecting excellent meat. The 6 oz. filet was the smallest I've ever seen, about the size of a silver dollar. It was comical. The prime rib which was listed on the menu as "slow cooked - prime cut" - was the toughest piece of meat I've eaten in a very long time. The other entrees; pork chop, salmon and burger, were all just fair. All of the meals were served luke warm. Over $200 spent, and very diappointing. I don't mind paying for a good meal - this was not a good meal. Skip it!
(2)
Chris B.
Chops is good...but not great. Probably the best dry aged beef you can find in the Downtown area without having to drive out to Folsom's Sutter Street Steakhouse (see reviews) but I was disappointed in how it was cooked. The waitress went around the table and pretty much talked everyone, except me, out of ordering their steaks medium rare telling them it would be quite bloody and that medium would be better. Unfortunately mine came out cooked medium well. The taste was good, although it was a little tough because of how well done the steak was cooked through. I chose the mashed potatoes as my side to go with the carrots and while good, I was disappointed with the portion. Overall it was good, but next time I will probably drive out to Folsom when I've got a craving for some steak.
(3)
Vincent V.
Chops is located in front of the State Capital Building. I went for happy hour and was pleasantly surprised that it lasted until 8pm (yep) AND I could sit outside. Service and food are ok, happy hour prices are pretty good, and this is a good spot for happy hour.
(4)
Annie S.
I still love this place for their steaks but why in God's name would you take a ribeye off your menu??!!! Had the New York special of the night instead, but it was just alright. Undercooked, actually. I asked for medium but they decide I needed to eat a medium rare steak instead. The jumbo shrimp that it came with was slightly over cooked and bordering tough.
(3)
Victoria C.
This review is for both the catering aspect of this restaurant, as well as our dinner experience. First off, the owner is great. Very nice and welcoming. She really catered to our every need. The food for our event however, was average. The chicken cordon bleu bites were dry, the sliders were too sweet and the mushroom thingies were way too spicy. I wasn't impressed with the food at all. I suppose that is to be expected of buffet style appetizers. I will say that the fruits and veggies were very fresh. It didn't diminish our dinner experience and I was willing to start fresh because the restaurant itself is very nice. Our dinner experience was much better. I didn't like the bread. It was too salty and the spread stuff it came with was bland, but the appetizers were fantastic! We had potato skins, mac and cheese and fries. Highly recommend the potato skins and the fries. My salmon was cooked perfectly and the asparagus was perfectly seasoned. I especially liked the brown sugar carrots it came with. Carrots lightly dipped in a brown sugar sauce. It was almost a dessert but perfectly paired with my main dish. Good service, decent food and a nice atmosphere. I'll go back.
(3)
El L.
I can't say enough about Michelli and Brian's service, support and comfort they gave me when I came to them to help me plan my wedding reception nine days before my date. The party was great, the food was good and the ambiance was perfect. You both made it everything the other place refused to.
(5)
JH W.
Chops - a haiku For an upscale joint Tables should have tablecloths Ambiance was blah
(3)
Kim N.
An old school place that seems to need a bit of updating. I do like the choices, there just seems to be some need for contemporary makeover. Clam chowder and crab cakes were a good start. Solid NY steak with twice baked potato. Lobster and filet was also pretty good. Fruit crisp to finish the dinner off. They do an interesting thing where they both wet and dry age the steak. Im not sure I could really tell the difference but I did finish the steak. Service is very friendly, maybe too attentive. Still a decent option when you want traditional steak house option..
(4)
Art C.
Went to Chops this past Saturday evening, party of 9. 5 of us were ready to order the Porterhouse steak only to be told they did not have any, it was 7:00 pm, this is supposed to be a steak house. Three stars because of excellent service, steaks were under seasoned and lobster a bit over cooked, if not for the service I would have rated as 2 stars.
(3)
R R.
My boyfriend and I went here for our birthday dinner and it was good. It is not the best but I would go here again. The clam chowder was delish the rest was a cross between good and okay. Our waiter was very nice but my boyfriend ordered wine with his meal and never got it we even asked when he was going to bring it and he said that he will bring it right out and nothing. But he brought it out after we were already done with our meals and said he was wondering why it was sitting on the bar.......DERRRR. anyway...it is nice...I don't totally dislike it.
(3)
Nancy E.
We had a special evening planned and were very disappointed with the food. $240 for 4 and 2 meals needed to be sent back because the meat was raw inside. The manager and waiter were nice but waiting for the two meals to be redone while the other plates get cold sort of ruins the evening. I will not come back. I also thought the steak and prime rib were nothing special for the price and the big display of roasts in the front waiting area. I was thinking it was going to be like Morton's. They did comp us for two glasses of wine
(1)
Stacci R.
I took my mom here for Mother's Day. No restaurant meal has ever made her happier. She had the prime rib and told everyone who would listen this was the best she had ever had. For dessert, she ordered the creme brule and a decaf latte. Mom downed the latte as if it was water. She then took her spoon and consumed the froth as if it were ice cream. Then she started on the creme brule. We decided to come back in 14 days for her birthday. I made the reservations as soon as I got home. Per mom's request, I made sure to ask for Amber to be our server. It is all set up and the count down is on! Oh, yea. I had a great dinner too. :-D
(5)
Sara S.
By far, the best dining experience I have had in a long time !! It was one of those... I want to have a really nice nights with my boyfriend kind of nights, and Chops delivered BIG TIME. The service was impeccable, very attentive waiter. The General Manager walked from table to table welcoming everyone and introducing himself. The food was absolutely amazing !! The king Crab ( my boyfriend had), was a HUGE portion and cooked to perfection. I had filet and lobster was absolutely AMAZING. It was a bit on the pricey side, but for the entire experience.... WELL WORTH IT !!
(5)
Genae S.
Went to lunch here, I sat on patio and had a beauty view. The staff was friendly and fast. The food was great, I had the hot dog and onion rings. Prices were very good as well.
(5)
David W.
I had dinner here with some people I met at a conference. I really like the location... Lots of things to see and down in the downtown area. One thing I noticed was our waitress knew the menu and knew her cuts of meat very well. That is always a good sign! I had a veal chop that was cooked to perfection and was delicious. If you are looking for a classic steakhouse in Sacramento, give Chops a try.
(4)
Darina H.
We came here for Happy Hour after a long week of work. It was Friday and we were hungry! I looked up their menu on-line and was impressed with their "small plates" menu and their drinks. I ordered the house chardonnay and had multiple small plates including the Thai Beef Skewers with peanut sauce and cabbage, Calamari, Garlic Scented Fries and Spinach stuffed mushrooms. I must admit, the Thai Beef Skewers were DELICIOUS. I don't eat too much red meat but I would sacrifice my reservations for beef if I could eat this regularly. The beef was just perfectly cooked, tender, and wonderfully glazed with light sauce. The cabbage added such a compliment to the beef skewers and the spicy peanut sauce to add was perfection in my mouth! The other items (calamari, garlic fries and stuffed mushrooms) were average, maybe above average to be fair. The bar area was pretty busy after 6 PM, if you get there at around 5:30 PM, you will find lots of table and bar space. Otherwise, the Capitol crowd begins to arrive at 6 PM (an hour before happy hour ends) and there will be wait at the front door. I love the lighting and decor of this restaurant. I especially like the chunks of meat in the front displayed in their freezer. Very impressive. The bathrooms are very original as well, large wooden doors separately each stall and I appreciated the cleanliness. Overall, good experience here. We loved our bartender, "Misty" who was very attentive and friendly!
(4)
Rick W.
Service was good but the $40.00 Prime Rib was dry and very bland. On top of that the medium rare I ordered was closer to medium well. Don't mind paying the price but it should be at least better than Sizzler...
(2)
John K.
I went with friends to Chops last night. Our bill was $170 with tip. I had a $50 gift certificate which chops sold through restaurant.com . I gave Them the gift certificate and credit card to pay the balance. The owner came out and said because some of our items were ordered off of the happy hour menu they would not honor the gift certificate. No place on the certificate or menu did it say anything about restrictions on what menu items I could buy. The owner was not discrete, rude and embarrassed me in front of my guests. I'd expect better from a cheap burger joint.
(1)
Milton V.
Mediocre at best, not sure if it was because I ordered the NYE prefixed menu. The prime rib was the worst I've ever had at a steakhouse, I took it home and fed it to my dog, i'm not sure if he even liked it. Mashed potatoes were bland, beef skeweres salty like hell, crabcake were ok, salad was not good (how do you mess up a salad?) and i've tasted better cheesecake from ampm. The service was excellent though. For the price I paid I could've went to Bandera or Ruth Chris and left satisfied.
(1)
Austin W.
As many of the reviews note, Chops is a nice, intimate location great for groups or small parties to dress up and go out to. The food is no where near the quality is should be for the prices they charge. Definitely a good place to go if you work for the Leg and want to run into some one, but otherwise not really worth it in my opinion.
(2)
Christine T.
This place is OK. It has a better rep that it should. I heard rave things about this place so we decided to check this place out for a birthday. Normally we head to Ruth Chris but my dad heard great things about Chops. The fam and I went this week. We noticed a large...bug...or roach crawling across the floor as we were being seated. Kinda had my feet up all night. And then saw it again... The server was okay...I would have expected someone a little more friendly in a nice place like Chops. Even Outback has nicer servers. The clam chowder was luke warm :( The steak and lobster plate was okay. The steak and lobster were okay. Prefer Ruth Chris over this place. I don't know where they got such a good rep because the service lacked and the food didn't wow. And the roach or bug...that was scary.
(2)
Christian F.
Had to wait forever and was brought the wrong meal , then some more waiting. Nice location and outside patio. Food mediocre. Not coming back to this place
(2)
Erin W.
Woohoo! As good as it gets! The total opposite of Downtown 24 hour fitness Unfortunately I did not get to meet any influential lobbyists or assembly counsel that would advance my career but I did sit next to NBA former star kenyon martin
(5)
Ben B.
This is a GOOD restaurant, but its not GREAT, as it pretends to be. One of us ordered a salad and the pork chop. The salad was good, but it was drowned in dressing. To be fair, they took this off the bill when we told them this. The pork chop was overdone and tough, so this was taken off the bill along with its prime rib replacement. I ordered the steak and lobster combo. The lobster was great, the steak left a lot to be desired. They claim to have the best steak in the area, but Ruth's Chris, who also claims this, has far better steak. A good steak, which I've had at many places including, but not limited to RC, tastes good on its own, and doesn't need sauce or extra flavoring. This steak was rather bland, and definitely needed sauce. The rest of the family felt this way too. In total, before the tip, it cost $250 for a family of 4, even after one person's entire meal was taken off. It was about on par with other places I've eaten, where the price is around $150. All in all, not worth it. If you're looking for a fine dining experience in Sac, this isn't it. I highly recommend Grange and Ella, which have been fabulous every time we've gone.
(2)
Winston L.
First bad is going to be on me. We went to this steakhouse and didn't really order steak. That being said, me and my two friends went for lunch and had the steak salad, sliders, and the Capitol Burger. These are all items that I feel any well established restaurant should be able to nail. Unfortunately, Chops could not. My steak salad had so many things wrong with it. The major problems are stated here: - Instead of steak strips, I had little nubs of steak (like diced leftovers). Some pieces were so chewy and tough that I left the restaurant feeling like I had a pound of connective tissue stuck in my teeth (of course no floss in sight). - There was part of an eggshell in the salad. - The onion strings on top was an under-fried soggy mess. I have never seen an onion string I didn't like, so this was a first. The burger came out past well done even though a medium was ordered. The sliders did not look appetizing at all. What saved this meal from being a total disaster was the crab cakes. A good bit of real crab meat plus good flavor and sauce. Would I come back again? If it was on someone else's dime, I'd come back and get a steak. Otherwise, no.
(2)
Brandon R.
Would have given 5 stars but for the 3-4 TV's mounted all around the restaurant. That was the only detractor. My wife and I ate there New Year's Eve. We were thankful to get a 6:15pm reservation with only a few days notice. I think it was a glitch with Open Table, but we were grateful because a screen refresh after that showed all booked until 9pm! We started with the crab cakes. The sauce was a kind of refried bean. Different, but delicious! My wife had the lobster bisque, I had a chopped salad. Both portions were good sized, and the bisque was especially rich and tasty (not a ton of lobster bits, but still good). For dinner, my wife had the lobster tail, I had the New York steak. Her lobster tail was HUGE and she made "OMG" looks more than once during her meal. My NY was also huge and cooked medium rare perfectly (pink, warm center) and seasoned well. Mine also came with a twice-baked potato that had a really good, smoked flavor to the cheese. She was able to substitute her potato for risotto and said it was good. Our waiter and the service were excellent; very friendly and never missed. By the food and service, I would put this place on par with Henry's at Red Hawk Casino (my favorite steakhouse in the area). We ended with the carrot cake which was equally excellent. ~$200 for the both of us (including two martinis). Made for a very nice, special occasion as we were staying close by at the Hyatt.
(4)
Sunny C.
Walked in here after exploring Sacramento on a blazing hot day. It was just around 5pm and this place is right across from the Capitol Building. I walked into a semi empty bar/restaurant which quickly filled up with lobbyists and city officials. Guessing this is the hangout! Overall a pretty decent place for a drink and they do make them strong. I sampled the beef skewer satay and it was served with slaw and peanut sauce. the beef was a nice medium rare with a good char and well seasoned. The slaw complimented the dish well. This place is all about steaks so next time I'll try a porter house, but this place was A-OK!
(3)
Elle K.
I had a wonderful experience working with the Chops staff to book a private dining event for 12 in their downstairs room. I am not an event coordinator, but my CEO asked me to coordinate a dinner with VIPs in a quite place where the conversation could flow freely. The banquet manager was flexible, and offered the best terms for upscale dinning near the State Capitol -- $500.00 minimum, compared to $1000 elsewhere. She suggested that we pre-order appetizers, wine, and salads, which made it easy on their kitchen and our guests. She also let all the guests order directly from the regular menu instead of limiting our choices -- which was wonderful since Chops has so much to offer. On the day of the event, the we had a dedicated server that was attentive and attuned to the flow of the conversation. The food was, of course, remarkable. The clients had a great time, too. My CEO was thrilled, the out-of-towners, were impressed, and the dinner was a success. Thank you, Chops!
(5)
Kevin S.
Thanksgiving dinner @ Chops. First, it was GREAT they were open on Thanksgiving! Second, they offered a "traditional" Thanksgiving dinner for a very reasonable $26/plate. Considering their usual prices, this was a really nice thing!! The food? It was VERY good. As expected, considering the reviews and the style of place. Good portions. Started with the Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms. Not bad. The bread they serve was good, and the apple cinnamon butter was nice. The meal came with a couple large slices of white turkey meat. Along with sweet potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Very nicely done. This is a "a la carte" style place, so if you want other sides, they cost extra, similar to Ruth's Chris Steak House. The service? I will admit, seemed like they ignored us for a little while, and they were NOT busy....so that's what cost them the 5 star rating. It was ok. Street parking around the place is 1st come 1st served and meter controlled during the day. Suggest you use the parking garage on 10th st. Cheaper than a ticket! The place itself? Looks like a decent steakhouse should. Dark tones around the restaurant, lighting was plenty, but not in your face. Bar at the center of the restaurant. Overall, very pleased with the choice and I will be back.
(4)
MR. F.
Just okay. I expected a great steak and it was mediocre. The mac and cheese had no flavor. The noise level is odd. Seated in a booth between two other booths, I was overwhelmed by the crossfire of conversation. Would go there for drinks but not for a great meal.
(2)
Samantha C.
Some of my friends and I host an annual party and this was our 10th anniversary so we decided to go big. We decided to host our event at Chops because it was a beautiful private venue (we rented out the Barbelo) and they were very accommodating with some special menu requests (specifically, our event is called Turducken Day and so we wanted to serve turducken). Michelli, the Special Events Coordinator, was amazing. She was so helpful and ensured that our event went better than I could have imagined. She managed to keep me calm after some last minute additions and we had plenty of food. Both bartenders were great and very fast. No one ever had to wait long for a drink. The chef even checked in on us to make sure we liked everything. All of our guests were raving about the event and kept asking if we were going to do this again next year. I really can't say enough about Michelli and the staff at Chops, they really went above and beyond to make our New Year's Eve perfect. If you are looking for a venue to host a special event, I would recommend Chops without any reservation.
(5)
Sara W.
AMAZING!!!! Start to finish! We arrived later in the evening and the owner, Denise pretty much forced us to sit down (we were apprehensive because we knew they were closing). THE FOOD WAS AMAZING. I had the scallops and my husband had the filet. PERFECTION. Our server Misty was FABULOUS! Knowledgable about the food and wine. She was so personable and made our night! It's tough to really, REALLY make me happy at a restaurant (I've been a server for 17 years), but this place is the BEST! I wish I lived up here so I could visit more often. GO TO THIS RESTAURANT!!!!!!
(5)
Rory H.
Little too pricey for above par food.i ate smoked salmon linguini and believe I could make the same at home for and save 15 bucks. Service was better than average. Ps crab 56 bucks for 1.5 lbs?
(3)
Ellen H.
Went to Chops on Jan. 11 for dinner, and had the Porterhouse for Two ($58). It includes two large crab cakes, a huge Porterhouse steak (both tenderloin and strip were cooked medium perfectly), and two sides of your choice, as well as glazed carrots. The food was very delicious, portions were generous, and service was attentive and professional.
(4)
P B.
Chops is an average restaurant buoyed by its location. If I want great food, this isn't where I go. If I want a steakhouse meal for lunch, I'll end up here. The menu is typical of any steakhouse across America - filet, lobster, prime rib, cobb and ceaser salads, cheesecake. Nothing is really bad about the food in my opinion, but nothing is really good about it either. In many ways it seems like a restaurant going through the motions, coming up with a predictable menu with food that is passable for most who come to Sacramento. If you need a business lunch, this is a safe bet, though don't expect to be wowed by the food.
(2)
Skyler W.
This is a great restaurant to go grab a drink at after a long day of work at the capitol. You will find that most of the people eating/drinking here are probably political folks. I haven't ordered a whole lot of food here, but i have tried the calamari and the crab cakes, the crab cakes were really good and the calamari was so-so. My favorite part of Chops is that they serve Pliny The Elder on tap!!! YUM..YUM... I have been here many times for work outings, they have a basement area that is great for meetings or small events. The service is always great and the restaurant is super clean. This is a place that you can count on for some tasty food and good drinks, especially right after work.
(4)
Linda P.
My BF and I came here January 16th, 2011 after going ice skating at the downtown ice rink. My BF had the ribeye and I had salmon. I wasn't impressed. The service was great but food was mediocre for me. It also kinda sucked that they first sat us at this tiny little table at the end. We requested to move to another table with more room. I'm wondering, if that table was available, why didn't they move us there in the first place?
(3)
Leah B.
I'm really torn about how to rate this place. On the one hand, I've had some really nice happy hour experiences out on the patio. On the other hand, whenever I've had a full on dinner in the dining room, it just hasn't been that great. With that said, my last dinner here was a huge disappointment. I had the Lobster Risotto--mmmm, how I love risotto. I order it whenever I get the chance since it's not something I ever make at home. You can imagine my let down when I took my first bite and realized it was undercooked. *gasp* For shame! (I totally stole that saying from Darrell Y.) Undercooked risotto should never leave the kitchen in a restaurant like Chops. Yeah, I could have sent it back, but I never send food back for the following reasons: (1) It's super awkward waiting for your new food while your dining partner is politely trying not to eat. Deep down you know all they can think about is how crappy it is that their food is getting cold while they wait for your fresh food to be cooked. Then, to make matters worse, you get into this stupid ass battle about whether or not they should wait for you: "Go ahead and eat," "No, I'll wait for you," "Oh, don't be silly." On and on until your dining partner starts eating. Bottom line is that the end result sucks for everyone involved. You both have to eat alone. You both have to watch the other person eat. What kinda shit is that? Not my kinda shit I tell you. (2) I don't know what some angry chef might do to it. I have an impressive imagination and a natural distrust of strangers, so let's not even go there. (3) I shouldn't have to. Here's a thought, if you can't cook risotto then take it off the god damn menu. (Wow, that felt surprisingly good.) Overall, couple my unfortunate risotto experience with the lackluster decor and that puts Chops at 2 stars. I'm throwing in the extra star for good times from a bygone era and the delicious hunk of meat they fed my lover. On another note, if you're looking for a deal, I bought a $25 gift certificate for Chops from restaurant.com for only $2. Bam!
(3)
B B.
granted this is your typical steak place. They do make nice steaks and prime rib. However it is truely all about the location as influential state politicans go there a lot. So it's a good place to hang out with important people at lunchtime.
(3)
Eric K.
This review is only for happy hour. The only thing I got was the chili steak fries which are absolutely amazing!!!! If this is the only thing you get you will be full if you order it just for yourself $8 will fill ya up good.
(4)
Lyn T.
Great service! Food was great, but wasn't happy with their Ahi appetizer. Overall, was a wonderful experience for a night out!
(4)
Sean C.
Excellent drinks, very professional. Complementary atmosphere to a business meeting or special night out.
Yummy!!!! We stopped in for dinner tonight on the way to get our taxes done (anticipating a fat refund....Chops is a bit pricey). I had the lobster risotto and my husband had the prime rib. As I have previously blustered and ranted in other reviews, my ass knows lobster - it's in my heritage. So props to Chops (hey that rhymes) because they actually used REAL lobster meat in their risotto. Okay so it was really overcooked but whatever. I don't hold that against em because I don't expect Californians to know how to cook them critters properly anyway. So yay on the risotto. My husband LOVED the prime rib (he was making an O-Face actually) and his twice-baked potato. Our server, Casey, was really great as well. Oh and the bathrooms are awesome! Ok this review is turning into a blabbering stream of consciousness....probably due to Chops' really good wine list....so I'll quit while I'm ahead.
(4)
Violet W.
WARNING: I'm biased when it comes to Chop's. I've only been here for my sorority formal...so this review is based on those few times. Chop's is a great place if you want to have a reunion, formal, business event or family gathering...they are extremely detailed and helpful when you want a big even planned! I've been to Chop's a total of three times for my formals and each time has been memorable! The first time that we held our formal here, they were attentive and knowledgeable. Since we were smaller then, the seating was spatious and the entrees were catered to our needs. We had two different kinds: the chicken and the filet mignon. I had the filet mignon and it was just perfect! The meat was of grade-A choice (or it felt like it) and the dessert was scrumptious (I had a mixed berry cup and my sisters had cheesecake---they said the cheesecake was melt-in-your-mouth good). The next two times, we had a larger group so they made the venue suitable to our needs. The bartenders were extremely nice and made sure that we were having a great time! I also love how Chop's is really chose to the capitol (like a street over) so it made formal extra nice and fancy! SO if you want to do a large event, know that Chop's is a great choice!
(4)
Paul M.
Decent place. Good food but bad service for the price.
(3)
Sandra A.
This place sucks. The service and the staff were beyond unprofessional and made me and my party of 14 feel beyond uncomfortable with their rude gestures making us all feel like we didn't belong in that type of environment. As if we weren't good enough. UNREAL. The food wasn't worth the price either. Only reason this place gets 1 star is because zero stars aren't offered. I will NEVER go back here let alone recommend it to any of my friends or family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Â!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! double thumbs down.
(1)
Christy M.
This could have easily been a four to five star review. The porterhouse meal for two could have fed three-four people. The steak was absolutely delicious, and the twice baked potato was pure happiness. The shrimp cocktail appetizer was tasty. And, the alcohol (split of champagne, pint of Stella) was quite reasonably priced. Why didn't I select four or five stars, you ask? Well, it was nearly impossible to enjoy the great meal and company because of the location they chose for us - right next to a couple of noisy tables with a 1:2 kid to adult ratio. The most money ($175) we've ever spent in a daycare....
(3)
K W.
I love this place. My boyfriend and I went here to celebrate him ending the semester. He wanted a steak, so i went on line and checked out Chops Menu. I wanted a Vegan friendly steak house. Which is exactly what we got. My boyfriend loved his prime rib and I got the Linguini with sauteed vegetables and olive oil, made special for me. The server was really knowledgeable and the atmosphere was super mellow and classy. My boyfriend told me he just got a free birthday dinner card from Chops, We just signed up for it when we went there last weekend and his birthday was over a month ago. How awesome is that? We will definetly be going back and not just because of the free birthday entree :)
(4)
Kristina G.
OMG is all I can say. The most awesome food I have ever had. DELICIOUS. If I could just find someone to take me here everyweek?? I had the stuffed mushroom appetizer and the seafood skewers. My partner had the lamb chops. They looked pretty effen tasty.
(5)
Jason H.
First off, a group of seven of us called ten minutes before closing. The staff was kind enough not to turn us away. This was my second time here, the first being seven or so years ago. The ambiance and decor are what you would expect from an upscale steakhouse. I ordered the ribeye steak (not the special but the regular menu item) and was very satisfied with my order. The steak was a bit sinew-like but lacked a lot of fat that ribeyes contain. I asked for rare and was very pleased that it was cooked exactly to my liking. It came with glazed carrots and my side choice was a loaded baked potato. With two drinks, my total was $60, which included tax and tip. The wait staff was very courteous and not overbearing. We all appreciated that they stayed later than they probably would have since we came in so late. Definitely a place to go for a special occasion.
(4)
Jenae A.
I recently went here for a chemotherapy medication presentation, so being that the meal was free, it tasted a wee bit better (well, that and the chardonnay). So I can't comment on the prices, obviously. We were in the downstairs area and I thought for being considered an upscaley steakhouse the decor was a little rundown. The filet was delicious, but I've had the same quality at other steakhouses in the area. For dessert I chose the chocolate torte cake and it was mediocre. I do have to say that they know how to cook their steaks though; they cooked it nice and medium, rare without me having to ask. The staff was extremely friendly and on top of everything.
(3)
Diane H.
Food was okay. With huge hunks of beef prominently displaced upon entry, it conjures visions of Mortons or Ruth Christ. Sadly, for a speciality steak house, nothing special. Front of restaurant is beautiful and outside seating has good view of street and capital building; yet majority of dinner seating is in the back with low ceilings, no windows, small 4-seat dinner tables, booths and loud kitchen noises. Won't be returning. Note to owners: keep people toward the front of restaurant. Views/ambiance MUCH better.
(2)
Heather W.
I went there Saturday night to take advantage of the Dine Downtown special. I had the blackened salmon with mashed potatoes, Cesar salad, and raspberry cheesecake. I thought all were very good. The salmon was well prepared and flavorful. The potatoes were really good. the cheesecake was good, but not amazing, and could have used more raspberry flavor. I also tried my boyfriend's Filet Mignon, which was very soft and buttery! It was a really good steak. I am not a steak connoisseur by any means, but I thought it was tasty. More about the food: we also ordered the prawn cocktail, which was good but I probably wouldn't get it again - it cost a little too much for what you get (and it had a lot of lettuce in it). Drinks - my bf ordered the "James Bond Martini" - of course! He said it was a good martini. I had the Cosmo Bellini, which was an A+. The service - the waiter was great. He was attentive and not snobby. Just overall a nice and pleasant guy. By the way, your water will never even be half-empty (or half-full) because they fill it up so often. Now onto the hostess: I am not saying she was snobby, but we arrived about 45 minutes before our reservation (the movie let out early), and I asked if we could eat earlier. She acted kind of weird and was like "You want to eat earlier?" Is it weird to ask if they have any open tables? If she said "no" I would have waited, but she seemed a little confused that someone would show up early. I didn't take it personally or anything...just thought it was a bit odd. So...I would go again, and try some steak this time. The dress code is not so dressy; many customers were in jeans. It is a pretty quiet place, just an fyi if you want a louder dining experience.
(4)
Jacqueline W.
Besides sitting on the pleasant shaded patio, in order to be seen by all the right mucky mucks at the Capitol and feel like you're one of the important people, why on earth would you eat lunch here? There are some people who enjoy feeling important so much that they don't care that they are spending $25 on a mediocre lunch - and as an underpaid and underappreciated Capitol staffer, I get that. We all have our indulgences... for some it's the strip club, others like aromatherapy massage crap, and some of us need to sit where deals seem to be happening. But, except for that, why would you EAT here? The food is fine, but nothing exceptional, and it's fabulously expensive! The beef stroganoff is fine, the various sandiwches are fine, the salmon salad is fine, but nothing is GOOD. The desserts are all fine. But for $25... go to Kru and at least eat something interesting. And if you need to feel a part of the goold ole boys club, and i get that, too, go to the Broiler. That place is at least pretty good.
(2)
Steve S.
Place stole my wife's coat and cell phone on the night I proposed! The hostess apparently had a similar jacket, even though the coat with my wife's cell phone was never returned. The owner, Geoff, dodged our calls for over 3 weeks till we finnaly got a check for the coat.. only the coat....... not the cell phone or a gift certificate or even an apology. I would have taken this matter further but it's a big account for SWS so I had to leave it alone. The best part is that they gave my wife another mens coat and said to keep it cause it belonged to a state representative. Chops represents the corruption that is ruining this country. There are many other places in the area worth dining at..... go there!
(1)
Catherine F.
We celebrated my husband's birthday tonight at Chops, and it was magical. I had made reservations asking for a romantic table. We were seated by the fireplace looking out at the plaza, perfect for a chilly April evening. Started out with a delicious veggie appetizer consisting of an artichoke, brussel sprouts, and asparagus with a dressing on the side. We each had the filet oh so tasty. The mashed and baked potatoes are so wonderful and the glazed carrots remind me of my dad's and that's a good thing. It was a busy evening and our favorite server, Kaitlin, checked in on us at appropriate intervals making sure we had what we needed. Michelli, hostess with the most-ess stopped by and "Marilyned" my guy in her beautiful singing voice to his delight. We shared a decadent dark chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream. I guess it's magical because it feels like being in Paris and being with family. Sophisticated and down to earth. As I stated in my earlier review, it's a warm and welcoming place dedicated to providing a memorable dining experience.
(5)
Alex K.
Good steak salad. It wasn't fantastic, and it seemed just a tiny bit more effort might make it really darn good, but I enjoyed it enough. I'd probably try their steak before judging them unkindly, but the steak salad was 3 stars, no more, no less.
(3)
Min S.
The in-laws were visiting and we wanted to treat them to a lovely restaurant that isn't back in the Midwest. We decided to hit Chops and enjoy the view of the Capitol. We walk-in with a group of four on a Saturday evening and were seated much faster than expected. We got a lovely seat on the patio and enjoyed the delicious foccacia bread... my favorite! When it was time for Entrees, I was a little disappointed, the steak was much chewier than I anticipated, the broccoli slightly undercooked, and I believe the onion rings were the cheap frozen kind. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their entrees however. The lava cake was spectacular! The real reason for the review is applaud their customer service. We had just finished the phenomenal lava cake, and I am looking for my card, when I hear a "Thunk" on the table, followed by chortles by my husband and mother-in-law. I look over and see some feathers on the table and continue searching for my card. Then the laughs continue, and my husband gets up from the table... so I decide I better look again. Upon further review, I realize that there is a portion of the bird still attached to these feathers sitting on our table... His standing draws the waitress out to see if we need anything, chuckling while we ask her to remove it, she is horrified. She immediately removes it and moments later the Manager is out making sure we are all right and asking if there is anything he can do. We are hysterically laughing at this point and tell him it is fine. We all decided to head in and enjoy the ambiance and warm up in the bar. As we paid they brought out a gift card to make up for this partial bird falling on our table!!! As we thought the whole debacle was amusing, it was icing on the cake to have them treat us so well! I will definitely come back... but I will try a different meal!
(5)
Hannah A.
My friends and I made reservations with Chops for prom, my Father raved about the food, so we decided we should give it a try. We had a large group, around 20+ people, so they sat us outside. Everything was going smooth until the trees above us started dropping water and leaves/sticks into our drink, and on our plates. When the waiter noticed the leaves in our water cups, he proceeded to dump the water on the floor and pour us more water into the same dirty cup. EW. I got the "dinner for two" with my date which includes a porterhouse carved for two, and two crab cakes. When our food arrived, i was sad to see my steak was overcooked, dry, and cold. While the waitress served the rest of our table, she spilled ketchup all over my friends nude prom dress. Obviously my friend was livid, so the waitress brought seltzer water and began to clean her up. As she cleaned my friends dress, she jokingly said "at least it's not your wedding dress". After that mess was cleaned up, the girl asked for a salad since her food. The salad was drenched in dressing, so she asked for onion rings instead. The onion rings were cold, so my friend decided not to eat. The waiter and waitress were extremely condescending and rude the whole meal. To top it off, after we left, i found out that we never even received our crab cakes. The following week, my friends' mother(the one who got ketchup on her) went to the restaurant and asked to meet with the managers and the servers. The servers and managers fought my friends mother about paying for dry cleaning, and even had the audacity to say that we under-paid. We counted the bill out six times, including gratuity (which they didn't deserve), there was no way we could have made an error. ' So, If you ever got to Chops, i don't recommend going in a large party, or the "dinner for two". I will surely never go back.
(1)
Eric G.
Good place to catch up with all the State Politicos. I'm checking out their new lunch menu.... much better.
(4)
Helena W.
I have only been to Chops once and it was almost a year ago but I remember every moment of it. I took my boyfriend here for our anniversary and the hostess was very polite and helped us right away. She did give us a little tour and explained to us about the aging facility that Chops puts their meat in for a dry aging process for up to 28 days. After she brought us to our table it was a great little corner booth, very romantically set up for my boyfriend and I. We ordered the 32oz Porterhouse Steak and Crab Cake dinner for two. I must say that the portions were HUMONGOUS! The steaks is accompanied with a choice of sauces and we chose the Cabernet Mushroom demi-glace and the French Peppercorn demi-glace. I like my steak medium rare but my boyfriend is more of a medium well person so we compromised on ordering medium, which came out medium rare so it worked out great for me. Our meal was served with caramelized carrots and I believe a choice of potato and we picked the mashed potatoes. Everything was piping hot and fresh from the grill and our server (forgive me, I forgot her name) but she was so sweet and did everything to make sure our anniversary was special, down to the free dessert which was so unexpecting and nice of Chops. The only reason why I did not give Chops five stars is because of the decor. Some of the paintings and furniture remind me of my dentist's office. I feel for the service and price the restaurant can spend a little on updating the look of the restaurant. Also, some patrons think that Chops is a chain because of the name but it is not. It's owned by a local Sacramento merchant, so support your local business and go to Chops, you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Raleigh S.
Some of the best steak I ever had. Found a table outside with a view of the State Capital, ordered the special Filet with scallops, which was perfectly cooked. Yum!
(5)
Adam K.
A wonderful treat when I am visiting Sactown. Just about everything they do here is excellent, but you have to come for the steaks. They are presently doing a Prix Fixe menu that give you three courses with attending wine with each course, I have to say it is an wondrous feast of delectable delights. Seriously, sell your grandmother if you have to, but come and try Chops
(5)
Lea M.
My boyfriend suggested this place for lunch since he frequented this place while he worked for the state capitol. Arrived before the lunch crowed and was seated as soon as we walked into the door. I had no problems with the lights, as it was a bit dim but I think the atmosphere was trying to target a smooth and relaxing setting. We had the calamari as our appetizer and for the meal I had the prim rib dip with au jus on the side along with a variety salad. My boyfriend had the capitol burger with garlic fries. As soon as our meal started a ton of people were starting to get seated for the lunch rush. Apparently we had only one waitress in our section, as I witnessed her speed walking to and from. Despite her multitasking, the only con that I observed was the slow check and our food getting boxed. I had a full salad and half of my sandwich to go since I was nearly full from the Calamari. When I got my doggy bag, I realized that my salad was missing and there wasn't any au jus packed away. Other than that, I really liked our meal.
(4)
christopher c.
I've been wondering about this place forever, and finally had the chance to go tonight for my girlfriend's mom's birthday. Our server and the runners were all friendly and on top of things. We had a vegan and two picky eaters at the table, and they didn't seem annoyed at making substitutions and such. It took a really long time to get our food, and the place was pretty dead...That sucked. I got the pesto-crusted halibut. Pretty good, cooked very well, but the thicker part of the fillet was not very flavorful. The baked potato was delicious, albeit incredibly rich. The carrots on the side were like candy, which was nice because I didn't need to order dessert! Oh, and I don't even like cooked carrots, but I am craving more of those ones already. I also tried a bite of the blackened salmon. It was a bit bland by itself, but the hollandaise sauce on it was delicious! Overall, it was good, but not really worth the pricing, in my opinion. Good to go once and try it, though!
(3)
Angelique H.
Food was just okay, and the service was terrible. Our waiter chatted with the table next to us for a long time and completely forgot about part of our order.
(2)
Wendy W.
Went to a movie and stopped in for lunch with my mom. It was really difficult to make a selection because everything sounded so good. We started with the poke appetizer, which I have had many times before, and it is literally the best poke in town! Served under a bed of sliced cabbage with wonton chips - phenomenal taste. My mom was amazed at how much tuna was on the plate for the price. Great value. We ended up splitting the fish and chips. I wanted onion rings, mom wanted fries and they offered to split the plate for us so we both got the sides we wanted. The portions were huge! Fish was haddock and I'm used to cod, but I actually found I preferred the haddock which came w/ 3 different sauce choices. Mom thought the fries were so tasty and I had to agree. Our server, Ryan, was awesome. I've been in for a romantic dinner in the past with the hubbie and steak, fixings, salmon everything was perfection. Service has always been exceptional when I've been there. The owners take great pride in their establishment and everyone is so friendly and accommodating. I've had them personally stop by the table to check on our service and ensure we have enjoyed our meal. Parking is convenient in the Capitol Garage (entrance on 10th, elevator takes you straight down in front of Chops on 11th) and they give you a $5 parking voucher to cover the cost of parking. Cannot say enough about this restaurant and wonderful staff. What a gem, and with a beautiful view of the Capitol to boot!!
(5)
Milena C.
Went for a retirement lunch for a co-worker here. Probably ~16 of us. Had the steak sandwich; I liked the red peppers and mushrooms, too much cheese on it for me; when the cheese is really gloppy and stretches out the sides, I don't like that. Had a side of spicy chopped potatoes which were good but a little too hot for some. Didn't have any drinks but the guest of honour had five lemon drops and seemed alright. Pretty pricey, probably wouldn't go here again on my own.
(3)
Pia V.
Sat in one of their very romantic booth. The server was great and checked up on us all the time. Our tables were kept very clean of dirty dishes and our drink glasses never went empty. Their loaded mashed potatoes are pre-made with bacon, which my boyfriend doesn't eat, so they went ahead and made a special batch just for him with no bacon.
(5)
Eric M.
Simply put, the friendly staff could not compensate for the bland, poorly prepared food. The dining room was uncomfortably warm and kind of "grungy." There are many better restaurants within walking distance. Just walk on by!
(2)
Ricky P.
Best steak in town. Service was outstanding. Great wine selection. Can't wait to return.
(5)
Tocher K.
Listed on Cowtowneats.com , Chops looked like a great option for Happy Hour amongst all the numerous places in midtown/downtown to go for a Friday release of stress. Some of the best happy hours in town are indeed chop houses, for their food is highly admirable and drink specials are keen to enjoy as well, saving much coin from the regular dinner menu. Upon walking in the door i chuckled at the huge hunks of beef staring back at you in their walk in glass walled meat locker. There was a cool little casual cocktail seating section with little tables or the choice of sitting at the bar for Happy Hour. Warmer weather i'm sure the best choice would be on the patio looking up K street or down to L and Capitol park. We sat at the bar and immediately had service attention to get us our every need. The HH menu was longer than i thought with custom cocktails, house wines, tap beers and not to forget the food choices. Granted some of the choices it seems every restaurant in town does so they aren't anything to write home about (fries of some sort, calamari etc) The best choices to accompany my Eye of the Hawk Ale were the spinach stuffed mushrooms, and best of all the Thai Beef Skewers. Far above and beyond anything else the Beef Skewers were perfectly cooked, tender, juicy, succulent, bursting with skewerlicious envy. Dip them in peanut sauce, top it with a sweet cabbage mixture and BAM, it's a party with each bite. I believe i could have ordered 1 or 2 more plates and had a full dinner on just those. You get a lot of skewers so they will fill you up. The place gets busy right around the last hour of happy hour (6-7pm) so if you show up during the early parts of happy hour (4:30-5) you'll have your lay of the land for the best seat and service. Come early, come hungry, leave happy and Chopped! And there is an awesome historical picture of the Capitol framed outside the bathroom doors that looks like it's from the early 1900's before any of the city was built up too much around the Capitol itself.
(4)
Derek L.
It was my birthday and I wanted to have a nice dinner with my family. I chose Chops Steakhouse thinking it would be classy a bit up scale but nice. They gave away my reservation when I arrived made me wait 45 minutes then shorted me my dessert to go. Never going back. RUDE RUDE RUDE PEOPLE!!!! BEWARE!!!
(1)
Lena C.
I ordered the filet mignon with buttermilk mash and a side of broccoli with hollandaise. The mashed potatoes and broccoli are what to be expected so I won't be reviewing them. Now onto the steak. I did not have a problem with the meat itself but the way it was prepared. I like my steak medium rare, what I got was a medium to medium well. Huge disappointment to a steak lover. Not only was my meat overcooked but it was also drenched in sauce. How am I supposed to taste my steak when it's swimming in a pool of mediocre bbq sauce? Don't waste your time, go to Mortons.
(3)
Kristina M.
We had a group of 8 that went to celebrate New Year's Eve at this restaurant, and there was enough of us to guarantee a tip for the staff The food was really, really good, and I recommend the lobster bisque! If you're a vegetarian, I would not recommend this place since my friend sadly ended up eating a small dinner salad. Granted it was a holiday, the service was very, very slow. We waited 45 minutes between the time we ordered until the time we received our food, which I can overlook due to them probably wanting to serve us all at the same time. We also had a birthday cake, and after we sang for our friend, it took them at least 10 minutes to bring it back to serve. It would have been no big deal if we were provided plates and sliced it ourselves, but they wanted to charge us a cake slicing fee (which was kindly waived later). After the cake it, it literally took another 45 minutes before we finally got our checks after asking several different wait staff if we could get it, to include asking our server several times. The place was not packed, but it had enough people there. It was disappointing to see the table of 6 next to us get way faster service than we did. For what we paid, I was really disappointed with the service, and this will probably be my only trip to this restaurant. My personal feeling was there wasn't much of an incentive for us to be served as quickly as other groups due to a guaranteed tip, and it wasn't like we had a party of 20.
(3)
Susan B.
ordered two cheese burgers --- mine did not have the "sauce" and the container had pieces of bacon with the pickle -- WTF????
(3)
Roscoe R.
Great food, a well-stocked bar, professional service and Misty makes the very best martini in Sacramento! What's not to like?
(5)
LuvFood S.
Calamari - Yummy...lightly battered and crispy. Skip the creamy white dip that comes with it. Goes well with the slightly spicy marinara sauce. Prime Rib, 16 oz. - Huge slab of meat. Asked for it medium rare and that's exactly what I got. Au jus was beefy and went well with the meat. Dish came with carrots...in the past they were oven roasted and had a slight glaze from the roasting. This time they tastes boiled and then tossed in butter...not so great. Buttermilk mashed potatoes were already and probably would've been better if it was actually hot when it got to our table. Grilled Prime Rib, 16 oz. - Grilled to BF's specification of medium. Had a nice grill flavor. French fries tasted like standard fried. Onion rings were lightly battered but kind of fell apart and separated from the batter...didn't hold up very well. Bread - Not so great. Sort of focaccia like. The butter was seasoned and tinted red as though sun dried tomatoes were added to it. Neither tasted great nor complimented each other. Chocolate Decadence Cake - Tasted good, but not impressive. Not to heavy or rich, which I like...but it was lacking something I can't quite pin point. Service - Water glass was constantly filled. So was the glass of coke. Waitress was nice. If taking any left over food home, be sure to specify you want the dipping sauces and left over side dishes. I had carrots, au jus, and marinara sauce left over which I assumed would be packed for us....not. Got home and was let down...all the leftovers did not taste right without the dips/au jus. I would come back...as long as I have one of those restaurant.com certificates you buy for dirt cheap.
(3)
Cat L.
Our first meal at the state capital was had here at Chops and let me just say, it not only set the bar for the remainder of our trip's dining experiences but it left us with an unqualified comprehension of how we should expect our steaks prepared forever... When you walk through the door, you'll immediately notice two things: The fully-stocked bar (woot!) and slabs upon slabs of glass-encased dry-aged steaks. Add some recessed lighting fixtures and you could showcase that as art. It really is THAT beautiful (tear)! The interior is chic and dimly lit in the evening. I love that the tall booths and table candles add privacy and romantic flair. Even with the large party of about 20 people nearby, our booth made for a cozy escape and my partner was actually audible during conversation despite the exploding chatter a few feet away. Alright, enough of that. Let's talk FOOD. We are admitted crab and artichoke dip snobs so naturally, we started with their Baked Crab and Artichoke Dip and the Porterhouse Steak and Crab Cake Dinner for Two as our main entree. The dip wasn't the creamy kind we're used to seeing but still delicious! Definitely the most crab I had ever seen in a dip of this caliber. Same goes for the crab cakes. Great crostini to complement and tasty starter bread with fresh garlic butter. Something was added to the butter that attributed a light pinkish/reddish color, maybe sundried tomato? I don't know, but GOOD. Obviously, the steak was the star of the show. We asked for "medium rare" and I was a bit worried it wouldn't be as bloody as I liked but have no fear, our steak was bloodier than a couple of emo kids locked in a bathroom with razor blades. I almost wished it were a tad more done but like chocolate chip cookies, better underdone than over. The meat was so tender and delicious and dripping with au jus it was pheno-MOO-nal. ;) Wonderful paired with the caramelized carrots and garlic spinach mashed potatoes (special that day) that came with our meal. I should note that we each got a choice of starch and I would definitely recommend the mashed stuff over the twice baked with cheese and bacon. Twice baked sounded amazing but its dry texture and blandness were disappointing. They should call that one "Parched Potato" or better yet, take it off the menu as it detracts from the glory of everything else they have to offer. Even the service was excellent. Our waitress was on top of everything, made great conversation, and even snuck our orders in before the nearby party of 20 so we wouldn't have to wait long. I appreciated that she made it a point to make eye contact and acknowledge every single "Thank you," which happened A LOT. Very charming place and plenty of great food. I could see ourselves coming here at least a couple of times a year for special occasions and splurgey suppers if we lived nearby. ;)
(5)
Andrew Z.
I've been here for drinks far more times than I can recall; it's the most popular spot for Legislators, staff, & lobbyists to grab an afternoon or happy-hour drink...so if schmoozing with that crowd is your bag (I know, it's not) then you should definitely come here. I had amazingly never eaten here though, until a recent lunch. I had the Capitol burger, a 1/2 lb of ground sirloin and filet mignon & a side salad. At $10+, you expect quality, and it is...I could barely put it down between bites. Chops has a classy atmosphere and friendly staff - it's a steakhouse so it's not cheap, but I can at least say the burger is worth the price!
(4)
Steven L.
I've only been here to DJ for sorority events down in the basement. I did get to eat, however. The steak was really good, I liked it a lot. No complaints. Drinks - I didnt have anything but water. Venue - place is nice, upscale. Theres a bar on the main floor. In the basement where I DJed, its nice and private. I heard it was supposed to be a club thats why they have speakers everywhere, as well as some lights. The space to dance is small, so made it kinda hard to set up. One issue I had was with the lady in charged of events that night. Nobody told me I was going to hook up to their sound system. So this other employee says he can go get the rca cable that I needed [I don't carry this cable to gigs because I don't need it] The lady says to me, "You're lucky he has the cable and can go get it". I'm like wth? I didn't ask for it, I don't need it. I have my own speakers. Don't talk to me like I don't know how to do my job and come unprepared. Crazy
(4)
Clasina V.
Have not been out to dinner in a while but it was my husband's birthday a week ago and wanted to take hime somewhere nice. We are new to Sacramento and have been using Restaurant.com coupons to get to know restaurants. I got one for Chops, spend $100 on food and get $ 50 off. I checked with Yelp and saw the reviews were divided. Went and tried it out anyway. What a wonderful experience. Our waiter was Kelsey, courteous and informative. We had Osters Rockefeller and the Filet Mignon Oscar, with the loaded potato ( added $ 2.95 but worth it). For desert the lava cake. We loved the whole dinner and the service, not one complaint. We will go back for a special occcasion-this place is a little too much money for a casual Saturday night meal but will go back for a celebration for sure.
(5)
Paul M.
This was my 3rd visit to Chops. I've tried the prime rib and the rib eye. They're good steaks, but the meat has been getting tougher with each visit. This last time I had to cut off several pieces of the prime rib I knew I wouldn't be able to chew. I usually don't have to leave any meat behind so this was disappointing. Interestingly enough, I've been given the same table, and server, all three times I've been here. The service has always been professional, friendly, and fast. I like the fact that there was no wait for dinner, weekday or weekend. Is this place a lunch spot? I noticed all the men were wearing ties except for me. Were they overachievers or did I miss the memo? Maybe they were all from the same company. There was definitely some kind of company function going on last night. Anyway, I like the atmosphere (high end restaurant look but nearly empty dining room), but the price is quite steep, about $50+ per person. I'll probably give this place one more try. However, if the meat doesn't improve, I'll have to cross this restaurant off my list for good.
(3)
Theresia D.
Went here again for another club night! Had a great time, if you have never been to this place as a club then you need to try it out! Good music, great bartenders and good promoters!!!
(4)
Ben P.
What do you do when you've drug (dragged? driggen?) your betrothed 100 miles to Sacto on the pretense of turning a boring work trip into a "vacation" that actually spans only Friday evening and a Saturday that you have somehow, miraculously, gotten off from working? Why, you drag her to your favorite restaurant in the city, of course! For a vacation that's all about you. But with us. But mostly me. Because I'm thorough (and depressed, and overworked, and stressed to the gills, and a borderline alchy), we checked out both the bar AND the restaurant. The bar was good: Pyrat rum in stock, they make a decent martini, and onion rings were a tasty drinking snack. While I know this is Sacto, and I know Chops is kinda a power brokerage, they really shouldn't let people smoke cigars on the bar terrace. It is my opinion that most people smoke cigars not because they like them, but because they enjoy inflicting themselves on others. But that's just one man's opinion. The restaurant side was excellent as well. Old Fashioned was served well, by this old fashioned place. Decent bottle of Provenance Cab for a reasonable price. Wifey and I shared the "so you drug your understanding wife all the way up here, you selfish bastard" special: the 32 oz. porterhouse with crabcakes. Porterhouse was excellent. In a rare non-me-centric concession, the steak was cooked medium. This is going to sound weird, but the crab cakes were too crabby for me. I like a little cake with my crab cake, and Chops appears to be focused on delivering a pretty much 100% solid chunks of crab crabcake. Which most people probably like. Just not me. For dessert, I had the mildly debilitating coronary. Oh, wait: that was the main course. And my almost-certain future. We didn't have any room for dessert. Probably due to the fully-loaded baked potato I had with my steak slab. Or the mac-and-cheese appetizer. Or the pound of meat I had just eaten. Probably one of those. Or all, collectively. Either way.
(5)
Jayne W.
I really, really like how they do the steaks here. I have had the ribeye 2 of the 3 times I've been here. I don't know exactly where a ribeye is on a cow, but they should make more of them. Steaks are huge, well-aged, cooked properly, and tender. The veggies are nicely done too - not just steamed blandness but some imagination and flavor. I love the brussels sprouts with parmesan. Wines by the glass are nice but not spectacular - I had a Rodney Strong pinot noir and a Red Diamond Zin. One star off for the desserts - not bad, just dull - and a bit of a wait for our party of seven to get our food. Chocolate decadance cake is good, chocolatey, but not pastry-chef good. Apple crisp, not very crisp. Raspberry sorbet was about the best of the bunch. I've also tasted the porterhouse, the prime rib, the lobster risotto, and the southern fried chicken (my friends and family are the sharing type). All very appealing. Come here if you want to dive headfirst into a food coma while lightening your wallet fairly significantly.
(4)
Ron M.
We are lucky in Sacramento to have some great locally owned and operated steakhouses - The Broiler and Sutter Street Steakhouse in Folsom are my 2 favorite go-to places. I will now be adding Chops to my personal rotation. My wife and I were guests of two LA attorneys up for the day, so the location, with a great view of the Capitol across the street, provided an appropriate setting for the visitors. We had an efficient and personable bartender. We were seated at our table when we were ready, and not pushed to our table at the precise time of the reservation. That was a good sign, as there were at least 2 large private parties there, and it was crowded for a week night. Our server Manny was great, striking the right balance between being efficient and knowledgeable about the menu, without rushing us at any step. The only service glitch was a bit of a delay in service of our 2nd bottle of wine, which we probably could have done without in any event. His apology for the delay was not prompted and sincere. It was red meat all around the table. One of our hosts was a UC Davis grad, and went locavore with a Dixon-sourced rack of lamb which he praised. My rib eye was wonderfully marbled and flavorful on its' own (no stinking sauce for me). My wife's filet with Hollandaise was equally perfect. I did not hear raves about the prime rib order of our other host, but I have a theory about prime rib. If you are not at the House of Prime Rib in the City or Lawry's in LA, steer clear ordering it, even in the best of restaurant. I also appreciate a steakhouse where there is a potato choice and very good caramelized carrots included in the price with each meal. The one traditional steak house side we did order, creamed spinach, was served with a unique twist, with smoky bacon and a finish in a salamander or under a broiler. Near the end of our meal, we were visited at our table by Trisha, one of the proprietors who we first met at the host station on arrival. If she has any more energy I think she will explode, but she is passionate about her business and of the experience of her customers. You just cannot get that level of caring from the GM of the national steak houses in the area that charge an arm and leg, and act like you should be thankful that you are allowed to eat at their establishment. I understand they are opening a outpost in Folsom, which is close by to home, and we will try it out. But, I will be more inclined to head downtown for my next visit to Chops. Well done, sirs and madams!
(5)
Trish M.
My husband and I had dinner here during a recent trip to Sacramento. We stumbled upon this gem while looking for a nice place to dine. My swordfish was cooked to perfection as was my husband's T-bone steak. The service was excellent as well. Nice place to dine, or share a bottle of wine, and relax with a view of the capitol.
(5)
Marek W.
My sister recommended this place to me and it was delish! Best steak salad (not healthiest) I've ever had! There ahi poki appetizer was pretty tasty as well. There server was friendly, but a little slow, especially because it wasn't particularly busy. The only bad part was sitting right under the air conditioner, which was much too cold for a cool day!
(4)
Martin V.
Overall, pleased with ambiance, food & service. Had reservation for 8 PM, but arrived almost 30 min early, on 12/24. We were seated immediately in the bar area, which turned out to be the quieter area that evening. Fine by us. Friend ordered the prix fixe 3-course meal. Mine was arugula & mushroom salad & NY strip steak with pepper & brandy sauce. Meats were cooked as requested, though mine came out without requested sauce. Had to return dish to kitchen, but sauced in minutes. Unfortunately, sauce was on the sweet side; only negative about the food. Service was attentive & available when needed. Will return without any hesitation.
(4)
Louisa T.
Took my husband there for his birthday. He wanted a good steak. I did research on yelp and was deciding between Ruths Chris and McCormick and Schmicks and Chops. Reading the reviews, I chose Chops. I wish I hadn't. We were both disappointed all around. He ordered some large cut of meat and he said it was "ok". For fifty bucks, I want to hear it was amazing. The sides were good, but we didnt pay $150. for caramelized carrots....We wanted atmosphere, good food and good wine...we were shoved in a corner in the back of the building and I had a wall to stare at all night. I ordered the fish plate...VERY SALTY...the best part of the night was the cocktail I ordered. We saw our waiter when he took our order and brought our drink and our food. Service was terrible at best and it wasn't like they were busy. We were 1 of 4 couples in the place on a Saturday night.
(1)
V M.
I came here today to have lunch with my boss and co-workers. I ordered the Fish n Chips since we only had one hour of lunch. My day was swamped with meetings with legislative staff at the state capitol so I wanted to order something I could eat really quick and go back to work. I should've ordered the Classic California Chicken salad...it looked REALLY good on the menu. LoL... The portions here are large so there's no need to order any appetizers. It was kind of dark with not much lighting so it was kind of hard to see. It was pretty busy at lunch time as well since it's right across the street from the capitol. There is a parking lot across the street so you don't have to worry about looking for parking. The waiter took a while to get our food to us...I can understand that it was lunch time but does it really take that long to throw together some salads? I don't think so.... I had a good experience...but my food was kind of salty and I didn't finish it. I would come back if I were ever in Sacramento again.
(3)
Emily A.
First, let me start by steering you right over to restaurant.com , to pick up one of their famous bargains to help you enjoy this dinner even more! It's always more fun to spend less and get more, right? If you go for dinner, parking at the garage across the street is validated ($5 off which = about 1 3/4 hour). We could have parked on the street for our early meal, but why wander around? Parking ended up costing us $2.50 after validation credit. Onto the meal: My husband and I went here for a preheated meal. We had reservations, but the place was pretty empty. We were seated in one of their giant booths, which was comfy and felt pretty private until they seated a large party (10+) across from us. They weren't too loud though, but I wondered why they sat them there as the other side of the restaurant was empty?? Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, offering to tell us about the aging process (which we are familiar with, so didn't need to know). I asked about grass fed beef, as their menu's proudly state "corn fed beef", which seems so 15+ years ago, haven't these steak places figured out yet that we want our $50 piece of meat without e. coli, salmonella, and antibiotics?. Seems it wouldn't be too hard to offer grass feed beef options, especially at $50/steak. But I digress, back to the food. We started by splitting a Cesar salad. I wanted to order an appetizer, but none won us over, either meaty (obviously we would be ordering that later), seafood (we aren't fans), or fried potato skins (our steaks come with potato option). The one appetizer that I would have ordered, stuffed mushrooms, my husband wouldn't have eaten any. My impression of the appetizer menu was that it was a bit lazy, do people really order steak or rib appetizers right before a giant steak meal?? Back to the salad, they were happy to split it, but I should have asked to dressing on the side, as I am a VERY light dresser, and Chops is definitely not (like most restaurant's, which seem to believe that the customer wants each piece of lettuce completely coated in dressing). I like to taste the vegetable, weird, I know. I did like the fresh Parmesan on top, but only ate a few bites of the salad and had my husband eat more. I did not send it back, as it was my own fault for not asking for dressing on the side, do I will not count this against them, but be warned :) Oh, I forgot about the bread and butter brought to us by the stealthy bread and water waiter. I love these guys; you take a sip from your water and next time you look over the thing is full again, like super-water-man. This is a great waiter, one who anticipates every need before I even know it and does it without interruption. I actually had to ask him to stop refilling my tea, as I didn't want more. Onto the next course, I ordered the 10oz prime rib, my husband had a huge rib-eye (enough for three) and we ordered the brussel sprouts (in brown butter with fresh parmesan). First off, 5 stars for the brussel sprouts. I am a lover of these little cabbages, but so many chefs over cook them, not these guys (or gals). They were a wonderful tender crisp with a bit of browning and a gentle layer of parm added at the end to lightly melt but not turn them into over-cheesed veggies. I ate most of the plate myself! My prime rib was good, not amazing, but I enjoyed it. I really like the au jus that accompanied the meat. The carrots that came with the dish were cooked just right, but I did not care for the sweet glaze on them, so they were cast aside (sorry lovely carrots). I ordered buttermilk mashed potatoes as my choice for the potato side. I opted for the upgraded "loaded" option, which I regretted once it came. I guess in my mind I thought they would have put the "loaded" on top, but it came all mixed together, which looked like it had been done earlier in the day. The bacon was chewy and there was entirely too much cheese for my taste. Since it was all one big premix mess, I couldn't pick out (I think the lesson here for me is that I obviously am a less is more gal, and Chops is a more is more place, so either get things plain or on the side if you're like me). My husband ordered his steak rare, he was impressed that the steak was seared beautifully on the outside but completely rare on the inside all the way to the edge. Well done steak chef! We had the chocolate lava cake with ice cream for dessert. The best part for me was the fresh berries. It was good, not great, my guess is it comes in premade and they just finish it. Hire a pastry chef and I'll order dessert again, otherwise I'll go elsewhere after the theater for dessert. Why three stars? Good steakhouse, lots of competition here and I can' t say I'd choose Chops over some of the others. Excellent service, added to stars. Food seemed over-seasoned, I think a high end restaurant should not need to hide top ingredients. Economy is tough, standards are higher for $150 meal.
(3)
Stephanie R.
Hey Soos!! this place is good. I had the Ribeye with Blue Cheese and Bacon... Muffin had the Prime Rib. We started with the crab cakes and sauteed brussell sprouts. He had a scotch and i had the best dang Whisky and Ginger on earth! complete with a splash of bitters! For dessert. Apple crisp with real vanilla bean ice cream. I'll admit i had a few bites... ok.. so i've listed our Nom's. But more importantly, we had great service! it was pricey for a regular old Sunday night dinner. But something we will try and do at least once a month. Fantastic!!
snore. buy a drink or club soda and sit and admire the beautiful capitol people, but that's all. i don't eat meat, but i've heard it's not that good. it looks good, nice decor, nice place to hang out. the service is friendly, but probably overworked and can't get to tables well enough, fast enough. this is just a schmoozy expensive pretty place for politicians and those who want to talk to them and about them.
(3)
Bill P.
If I could name my favorite thing about Sacramento other than fat-assed women in Big Dog clothing, it would have to be the abundance of patio seating everywhere! I mean, Los Angeles and San Francisco, for all their hating on this fair little city, could learn a thing or two about making me happy from this place! So, went to Chops with my Dad and another smart-ass. They got olde tyme Sacramento male food - roast beef sandwiches with onion rings. They looked good as hell, but I couldnt really take a bite, cause of the situation. I ordered the Salmon BLT, which was A+, though a little heavy, what with bacon, avocado and salmon all up in my grill, plus the bread was buttery herbed focaccia. Entrees will run you like 15-20 here. Appetizers 5-10. Yeah, so this place is not diet friendly, but its good, across from the capital and it has a super nice patio. I dont know if I would come here if I wasnt with old-school prosecutor types, at least not for food, but for what it was, it was very good. They also have a drink menu, which was fairly priced ($8 Martini). It would be a great after work feeling old spot if I lived in Sacramento and had friends that did as well. DING DING DONG.
(4)
Rick C.
We arrive this weekend in Sacramento for a Convention. I arrive late and am told that we are going to have a steak dinner. I am excited of course because we all look fantastic and are ready for a great night. Chops certainly did not disappoint. We arrive looking fantastic and hungry (hey, what do you expect, most of us are guys!) to a quite beautiful restaurant. Our table ordered the scampi, the salmon, the prime rib, and many, many steaks. The salad and the soups were a bit of a disappoint but thankfully the steak well made up for it! We cannot complain. The server was very helpful and very mindful of our group throughout the night. She didn't even seem to be a bit annoyed that we were all just having an extravagantly, loud time. Oh and I'm most definitely sure she heard us. Good times! Although it was definitely pricey, it was well worth it for the ambiance, the food, and the time with all my great friends.
(4)
Margaret G.
My husband and I came here to celebrate Thanksgiving since we didn't have a chance to visit family or cook at home. We were surprised to see that a good amount of people had chosen Chops as their Thanksgiving restaurant of choice. Bottom line is that though the service left much to be desired - our server never even introduced herself by name - the food was excellent. We had the New York Steak with mashed potatoes and the lamb chops with mashed sweet potatoes. Though a little bit pricey, the meal was delicious. Still on the fence about whether we will come back here again (largely because of the bad service) but it is a great one time (at least) experience.
(3)
Bruce P.
I had a fantastic steak at Chops. The stuffed mushrooms and well made drinks justified the prices. Excellent meal.
(5)
Jeff F.
Went to Chops to celebrate a birthday. There were 7 of us. All had a great meal and a great time! Terek, our server was attentive, knowledgeable, engaging and entertaining. He definately added to the total dining experience. For all diners, the food was fantastic. I had the short ribs over polenta and they were perfect. My wife's scampi was also excellent. The others had steaks in various forms and all were top notch. I generally don't order steaks in restaurants because few can compete with my own grill. Not true here. Chops is not a nouveau foo foo type of place. They serve basic American food that is spot on and prepared perfectly. I would recommend it to anyone that is looking for a great meal and a good time in a nice place.
(5)
Jessica S.
Me and my husband stumbled in here by accident. Its a little hard to find as the sign is small. 1st time my husband had the filet mignon and lobster and I had prime rib. The portions were excellent and the lobster is the best we've had since Lorenzillo's in Cancun (pre-hurricane circa 2008). I get prime rib everywhere and it was fantastic. 3rd time there my husband got swordfish and I got the blackened salmon. Needless to say both excellent. Bar was great also I am kind of cheap but there Mojitos are so good I don't mind paying a little more here. The service was excellent when we ate at a table we had 4 people waiting on us constantly. When my husband and I went for a drink the bartender and waiter were fabulous. I reccomend this place to everyone.
(5)
Angela C.
I've been here many times and have tried virtually everything on the menu, but the steaks are the best thing! I've been to several different steakhouses, and the steaks here beat them all. The dry-aging process makes them just melt in your mouth. The caramelized carrots, loaded mashed potatoes and blue cheese crumble add to the fabulousness. Top it off with great ambiance, convenient location, and exceptional service makes this restaurant ideal for a romantic dinner for two or a large party (I used them for my rehearsal dinner). If I could give them more stars I would!
(5)
Ben W.
As the name would suggest they do have some quality meat. The prime rib is really tasty and the portions are huge. They have a full bar and a pretty good lounge area. I really like the patio seating for the summertime.
(3)
A. B.
First time here was a quite Thursday night while govn't session was out. Place was dead. Sat at the bar for drinks and steaks. Bartender was great and so was the ribeye. We had a mix of drinks, like 7-8 each prolly. Bill came out to like $100 each. I would go back though.
(4)
Nathan W.
Thought I'd give it a try based on yelp reviews, however for the money this place sucks. Go to any other steak place in town! My salt encrusted potato didn't even have salt!
(1)
Sandy N.
We made reservations and we were quickly seated at a booth that we requested. There wasn't a line at all on Wednesday night. It was not as quiet and romantic as I was hoping for but it was decent. We had snacked on some focaccia bread while we looked at the menu. We started off with the Oysters Rockerfeller they were delicious! The spinach was a little bitter for me, but they were still good all together with the oysters, toasted bread crumbs, bacon, and hollandaise sauce. I ordered the Chops Ribeye and he ordered the 14oz Prime Rib. Oh my... the rib eye was soooo juicy and tender, it was one of the best rib eyes I ever tasted. My bf's prime rib was ehh.. but he liked it. I was so stuffed halfway through my rib eye steak... oooh and the mac and cheese we ordered was so tasty! We got a free dessert of choice for our anniversary, so we ordered the sundae which was topped off with whip cream, toasted almonds, blue berries, rasberries, and blackberries and chocolate sauce. It was good. The service was friendly, but not as attentative as we wanted. Overall it was a good experience and our wallets were empty!
(3)
Chris T.
Final update to original review. My wife and I went back to Chops last week, $100 gift card from Chops ownership in hand. What a completely different experience - and more like my first visit. Manny was our waiter and he was excellent. Fred, the General Manager, came by to introduce himself and check-in on us, without being obtrusive. I ordered the Rib Eye special (signature rib-eye with a tasty mushroom sauce) and my wife had the filet and lobster tail. Both our meals were cooked to perfection. I hope this experience was not due to any special treatment, and is merely a testament to what you can generally expect at Chops. We'll definitely return again and hope this level of service and food quality becomes a trend.
(3)
Floyd P.
Bummer, I would have expected this place to be more upscale in terms of service, but it fell way short. The stuffed mushroom app was just ok, the steaks were good, but again were way slow to come out. Inexperienced service and mgmt for sure.
(3)
The Truth T.
Went here to celebrate a birthday. The restaurant itself was ok. I liked the bar ambiance better than the dining area. The service seemed a little slow. The waiter unpolished - more of like a chili waiter - however he was nice. I had a ribeye with a side of mac and cheese and my partner had a new york. We both had the twice baked potatoes. I dont eat much, so I did take more than 1/2 home. However when I got the steak out the fridge to make steak and eggs the next day I was horrified at the amount of fat on it! Since it was my bday we selected the lava cake off the menu AND THEY CHARGED ME NEARLY $10 FOR IT! Since when do fine dining establishments charge for bday cake or whatever? I just dropped $150 for 2 steaks! Felt like CHOPS was wishing me a very merry UNbirthday. Needless to say, we wont be back. Gave you a chance and you blew it baby.
(1)
Josh R.
Went here for dinner with the in laws for their anniversary. Service was very solid. Not overly present, which I hate, but there to check on us as we needed, answer some questions, and be friendly. The food was solid as expected. There were a couple filets, a prime rib, and a halibut special around the table. All of which were cleaned off the plates, licking them clean in the process. All of this with a nice bottle of pinot. I suggest everyone find a GC on restaurant.com for a substantial discount. Made the evening that much better. I would give the 5th star if this was a world class steak, but it wasn't quite to that level. Everything was great, but not in that special class of amazing.
(4)
Joshua F.
Horrible in a word. Took my family 2 hours to get our entrees. We had a 3 year old too which would tip-off a good server that we didn't have all the time in the world. After 2 hours our $40 steaks were cooked incorrectly and they were cold while the sides were hot. We were so tired at that point we just wanted to pay and get back to our room. They did comp the steaks but we didn't eat them anyway so what's the point?
(1)
Mary D.
This was our first visit and chose Chops based on reviews and it's close proximity to City Center Theater. FOOD WAS FABULOUS. We had a large party and ordered a variety of food; entree salads, pasta, steak and the awesome short ribs. Everyone loved the food. This could easily be a 5 STAR restaurant IF THEY IMPROVE THEIR SERVICE. We saw much more of the busboy filling our water than we did of our server. She wasn't very friendly, never really came to see if we even like our meals, was slow to pick up our plates or box up our leftovers and took too long to see if we wanted dessert or coffee and even longer to bring our check. This particular evening we went to a play before dinner; had we done it the other way around, we would have been late for our play because of the SLOW SERVICE. We don't mind paying good $$$ for fine food, it's just a little disappointing that they DIDN'T HAVE THE SERVICE TO GO WITH IT. And, because we were a large party the gratuity was automatically added to the check; sorry to say SHE DIDN'T EARN IT. We will try this restaurant again sometime but if the service doesn't improve we will unlikely not come back.
(4)
Crissy G.
I like their food. I went here for lunch today and the salad and sandwiches were very good! It's a very nice place to come with friends and just chill and eat! The service was great, too!
(4)
Gail A.
My husband and I came here with our son to celebrate his H.S. graduation. We all ordered steaks, and also oysters for an appetizer.. After some time our waiter returned and apoligized for not having the oysters out sooner, and explained they had "just found them in the basement." We were reassured they were fresh, and they would be out soon. The waiter asked if we wanted the steaks first. We declined and asked to have the steaks soon after the appetizer. The oysters were served and they were good. The steaks did not come soon after, and when they came the food was not warm. I was disappointed in the time delay for everything, the food not being warm, and the lack of finesse on the waiters part. I am not interested in returning to Chops.
(2)
Ashley N.
I have been going to Chops for years now and the food is spectacular. However, service can be very hit or miss. Went in last night for dinner and sat in the lounge (Duke vs. Butler, couldn't miss) and started off with a couple cocktails. I had the Cosmo Bellini, a nice peachy-twist on a Cosmo....a little too sweet for my taste, but at only $8, easy on the wallet for a specialty drink at a steakhouse. Next, ordered a bottle of Renwood Barbera (yes, my boyfriend and I are Barbera freaks) and a caesar salad. Chops's caesar dressing is delicious, I always prefer a nice creamy one. Would've been even better if our server (who was also the bartender) had offered us some fresh cracked pepper to go on top. Seems maybe she was a bit annoyed we were sitting at a table and she would now have to walk back and forth from the bar. The stuffed mushrooms are also a great way to start, but we passed this time. Next we split the 12oz filet Oscar style (topped with crab, asparagus and bernaise sauce)....absolutely delicious! The meat was very tender and juicy and the crab was generous. The meat was a bit charred on the outside, but last night was the only time it's ever been like that so I'll let it slide and it was still cooked to a perfect medium rare. The entrees came with their candied carrots (I normally hate carrots, but looove these!) and a potato. We split the entree so we each got a potato which was nice. We also had a side order of the creamed spinach with bacon and parmesean crust, which was also delectable. The dessert list is a bit disappointing so we had our server wrap up our leftovers. I had quite a bit of crab left from my filet but she did not box up any of it which was also disappointing, although of course I didn't realize until it was too late. All in all, Chops food is definitely worth the price. Next time I will remember to sit in the dining area though, as the bartender was pretty bland and not very friendly....and would walk away as I was still talking to her.
(4)
Sophia S.
I had a gift card for chops, even though it wasn't the most logical choice for a vegetarian, we wanted to use the card. There were enough appetizers and small plates to make a meal. We ordered artichoke, brussel sprouts, mac & cheese. The food was OK, there are much better places in town. It was a Saturday night and they were DEAD inside. The service was good, we enjoyed talking to our server (the bartender) for a while after our meal over cocktails. We sat on the patio, which was cool, it's a pretty decent size.
(3)
L S.
I am really torn about how to rate Chops, and I'm not usually indecisive about this kind of thing. So, 3 stars is where I landed. The price point was far too high for the food quality. The menu proudly stated that the steaks were from corn fed beef. Really? That's not exactly something to brag about and I would have expected grass fed for the price. We found the food mediocre. Crab cake appetizer was good, shrimp cocktail was good (much spicier than I expected, but good). We both had filet with the twice baked potato for dinner. The twice baked was on the server's recommendation - neither of us was impressed with it. Now to talk about the steak. The reason you go to a place like Chops. Now, I knew going in the door I was going to have to sacrifice and not get a perfect steak, not because of the restaurant, but because I'm pregnant. A perfect steak can't be cooked any more than medium - and I knew I had to have mine medium well. So, I was prepared to make the sacrifice, and that doesn't figure into my 3 star rating. I ordered my medium well filet and it arrived rare...well, maybe medium rare. More rare than I would normally eat. They apologized, and cooked it some more and returned it. Still too raw....just about medium that time. The server let me know that the temperature was coming out right for medium well, but the steak was deep red all the way through - not medium well. But, they took it back and cooked it some more. Third time was the charm - and it came back medium well. I couldn't help but think that they should have known that you have to butterfly a thick filet to cook it that well done.... I mean, Outback knows that. Morton's knows that. Ruths Chris knows that... That being said, they were very apologetic and kept working on it until they got it right. They did everything possible to make it disrupt our dinner as little as possible. Then to compensate, they offered both of us a free dessert. So, the service was excellent. I appreciated that very much. So, I was very torn about the whole experience. I feel like they should be able to cook steak better. And they are a little overpriced for the quality. But the service was great and the people nice. So, 3 stars. i doubt we will go back because I didn't feel like I got appropriate value for the dollar - but it's not a bad place at all.
(3)
Jasmine H.
The service was great here but you kind of figure that since it's a nice restaurant. The food was yummy. Me and my Boyfriend had the Dinner for 2. It includes a 32 oz porterhouse, potatoes, crab cake, and vegetables. The Porterhouse was great and it was very tender and juicy. The potatoes was delicious and there was a lot of different selection for just potatoes. I didn't care for the Crab Cake too much because i didn't like the flavor but overall the food was good and the service is great. I will definitely be back for more of their yummy food.
(5)
Frank B.
I was taken here by an old high school friend who is equaled as a carnivore only by certain now-extinct upright dinosaurs. I myself never eat beef at home so when he suggested the 16-oz top sirloin I was skeptical that I could eat that much meat. When it arrived at our table I was sure I could not eat it. I ate it with no problem. It was the best steak I have ever had. OK, now back to the tofu.
(5)
Yoshiko M.
Before it was Chop's, it was the Lobby (location by the State Capitol explains that name), and before that, it was Brannan's. I didn't like it in any of its iterations. The menu was too predictable, and none of the menu standards were done exceptionally well. So that left the proximity to the Capitol pretty much its only draw. In fact, as a non-meat eater, I thought the Chop's version would mean the end of a long, unsatisfying relationship. Thanks to one of my favorite lobbyists, I discovered a different side of Chop's. G said, "always order the specials, honey, and you'll never be disappointed." And as usual, G was right. Since I don't eat red meat, I order the seafood lunch special. The first time, G and I ordered filets of a light white fish with a name that neither one of us recognized. The fish was lightly breaded and perfectly fried to leave the exterior crispy and the interior tender and moist. The asparagus was well cooked, leaving just the right amount of bite, and the mashed potatoes were creamy and hearty. Okay, they passed test #1. But to make sure my experience wasn't enhanced by being with a valued regular, I tried Chop's again. When R dropped into town before flying off to Tanzania, we ordered the mahi-mahi special, served with rice and a medley of veggies and once again the fish was fresh and prepared by someone who understands seafood. Seasoning fish is tricky -- a lot of cooks make it too salty or leave it too bland -- the Chef at Chop's always manages to use a blend of different herbs, breading and seasoning to bring out the best of the fish of the day. I follow G's lead, and never order off the regular menu, and am always happy. The phenom may be because the special du jour enables the chef to work what is the best from the market for that day. Part of eating at Chop's is to see and be seen, and I am a fan of al fresco anyway, so outdoor "patio" seating is a natural choice (and you avoid the cow aquarium). Staff is used to accommodating a hectic schedule, and will work to get your food hurried if need be. I suppose it is silly to write about seafood at a steakhouse, but ya gotta give credit when it is due. G says that the non-seafood specials are equally good. I give it a Sac-town 4.
(4)
Rebecca B.
A Monday nite waste of time and money! If you have a lot of money to waste, here is the place to go. For the 3rd time, we went here for great steak and got...YUCK! M/R COLD filet, cold baked potato, poor service and outrageous dinner charges ($270 for 3 and we brought our own bottle of wine)...and a creme brulee that had SALT on the top (I don't care what the chef said....I sampled both!) Seriously...a complete waste of money, unless of course you are on an expense account...still...I wouldn't go here with clients. A real disappointment. A good thing...the cocktails were good...overpriced, but good. Pick another steakhouse...there are tons with better food.
(1)
April G.
Wow. This place is spendy. And it was packed on a Thursday night. I want to be a lobbyist when I grow up. All that meat in the entry is kind of fun, isn't it? Due to some special circumstances, my boyfriend and I ate here the other night. Everything was perfectly done, and the service was great. I love the brown-sugar-roasted carrots that came with our entrees. My boyfriend had the prime rib, and I had the salmon. The salmon had a great flavor and was perfectly done. The only problem was the chocolate lava cake we shared for dessert. I wasn't impressed. It was very...one note I guess. It had vanilla ice cream on top, which looked homemade but tasted like store brand ice milk. The cake itself was just really sweet, with a little chocolateyness , but not very much richness or depth. It was disappointing after such a nice dinner. Overall, the food was good and I enjoyed myself, but it seemed overpriced for what it was.
(3)
dana h.
If you like eating at restaurants where the owners take the tip you left for your wait staff, you'll love Chops. Do not have have your banquets there! The 20% gratuity goes to the owners NOT the staff (waiters, bussers, bartenders all SPLIT %8) and if you leave anything extra the owners keep that too!!
(1)
Brian G.
Waiter was attentive and the food was pretty good, but overall service was very slow, and it wasn't too crowded. Atmosphere is quiet and dark.
(2)
Red G.
If I could give 3.5 stars I would. The cheesecake was outstanding. It was probably the best I've ever had. It was caramel, chocolate, nuts and more chocolate. I couldn't believe they made it in house. Truly delicious. As for the food, I was not overly impressed, nor was I sorely disappointed. I ordered a steak which was more chewy then I think it should have been. My dining partner had a grilled salmon that was moist, tender and delicious, until you tasted carbon. The crowd was generally pretty good, if you like louder politicos as your dining compatriots. They didn't have a booth ready for us, so we sat in a half-booth which worked out fine, except that a solo dining portly gentleman sat near us and kept belching and grunting, and then argued with the waiter after the meal. And oh, the waiter. He was surprised by the crowd which showed up. I swear he looked like he was related to Matt Damon. Nice guy, but forgot my dining partner had ordered a beverage and asked her twice what she wanted to drink. Still, for Sacramento it's a nice place and I'd go back if I was rolling in the play-dough. This place was kind of pricey !
(4)
DJ L.
My wife and I went to Chops for our Valentines dinner off a reccomendation I received from a friend for an intimate dinner downtown. My expectations were set high by the reviews on Yelp and other sites and my wife and I love steaks. The setting was nice and predictable for a steakhouse. The wait staff ws very friendly and helpful which made the occassion nice. The food however - ehh. The side dishes were bland and possibly reheated, the wine selection was predictable, but most disappointing the meat was good but not great. Maybe it was a one time let down but I would not go back.
(2)
ericka L.
I only had drinks and an appetizer, so my rating is no reflection on the steaks. I came here for happy hour drinks with a Capitol staffer and started off with an Absolut Mandarin vodka tonic while waiting for him to show. The female bartenders make nice, strong drinks and are polite, efficient, and friendly. (As well as hot, always a bonus.) I ended up having three vodka tonics and two beers, including a "Trumor" (may be wrong name, as this is what was on receipt but not in my memory) in lieu of Stella, of which there is apparently some sort of worldwide shortage. We also shared the calamari, which was pretty damn good, crispy and light but also somehow a little greasy. The garlicky dipping sauce rocked, the other one not so much. Overall, calamari, three Absolut Mandarin vodka tonics, and five beers came to $58 pre-tip. Not bad. I can recommend this place if you're a chick who's into political dudes, 'cause the place is a total sausage party.
(3)
Lacey K.
My husband and I went to Chops for our anniversary. I made reservations, and told them it was our anniversary and I would like a table off by itself so we could get lost each other, the hostess said no problem we will have a romantic table waiting for you. We lucked out and got great parking as we arrived at Chops, we were greeted and welcomed. As we were taken to our seats, the hostess sat us behind a party of 7 yes 7 people, to get in and out of our booth we had to squeeze without bumping. I was not excited about where they sat us, the both it self was very nice but the location sucked! We were served seasoned bread with garlic butter and water immediately that was great. We ordered potato skins for an appetizer, which was awesome. I stayed with water for dinner, and he ordered a Coors light, in that type of restaurant you would think it would come in a glass? NOPE not this place. Normally a bottle or can would be fine it was just the fact that this was our anniversary dinner and it is supposed to be special. My husband order the prime rib with garlic mashed potatoes, and I ordered the beef stroganoff. The prime rib was great one of the best, but the mashed potatoes were bland, the stroganoff was just how I remembered when my mom used to make it. We would have stayed for dessert, but I could not take much more of the party of 7 in front of us, how can you expect 7 people to be quite, I know when I got out with a bunch of people we are not quite. It is totally the restaurants fault for the location placement of the guests. We most likely will not go back.
(3)
Rafael L.
What can I say about Chops? It's a steakhouse? It's steak? I don't get it. Well I get steak, I just don't get Chops. We did have a good time and the service was great. We were on our way to see Jerry Seinfeld at the Sac Civic Center, so we thought this would be a great start to the evening, but it was nothing special. I'm still trying to figure out the whole steak house thing. Aging and all that too. I'm not a big fan of meat that sits around and rots for a month. Not yet anyway. Kill the damn thing and serve it to me raw! Don't let it sit around for a month! I want the fresh stuff!
(3)
Jesse D.
Chops is one of the downtown locations that may be expensive for dinner, but a great place to get a bang for your buck during lunch hours. Dinner and drinks are a little pricey, but the quality of food is solid. My recommendation is to go during lunch hours and get a cheeseburger. I also highly recommend the clam chowder.
(4)
Melisa E.
went there for dinner on a Friday, 8pm . There were 4 other people at the bar, no one else eating. I had a mojito which was decent bf had a glass of wine. To start I had an excellent cup of clam chowder - however, my problem is size and price. It was about 5 bites and it was $7.00 it was good but it wasnt THAT good. I had blackened salmon with a ginormous baked potatoe and bf had the $50 32oz porterhouse. Blackened salmon was dry, potatoe was ok. The filet part of the porterhouse was incredible the other part was dry and chewy. Service was good but then again we were the only table in there. I think its overpriced for what it is bill was $125 probably would not go back - maybe if we had a coupon or something.
(3)
Jamie E.
We ate at Chop's recently (on a Saturday night, 1/21) and the steak was the best we ever had. It was a Saturday night and we almost did not go in because the restaurant was not very crowded. Luckily, we decided to try it and found out that most of the crowd is from the State Capitol during the week and Saturdays are not that busy provided no events are happening. We started with the House Chop Salad which was yummy followed by Filet Mignon with Baked Potato. The steak was the most tender and tastey that we have ever had. Bryan was our waiter and provided excellent service. It was a great place to eat and we will be back!
(5)
Theresa M.
Chops is pricey but very well worth it! The food is great, the atmosphere is not too quiet yet not loud either. The Gonzales family had a very enjoyable Christmas Eve dinner. Our waiter "Manny" provided excellent , old-fashioned down to earth service. He made us feel very comfortable and that really makes a difference when your dining in an expensive restaurant. We are looking forward to going back for our Bdays, hopefully Manny is still working there!
(4)
Brian B.
This place was pretty awesome,excellet steak great wine selection. I really liked the carrots aswell and the servers made me feel right at home.
(5)
Leo G.
Stopped in there for a late lunch. Trish one of the owners greeted us and was generally fantastic throughout the entire lunch. She and the waitress did a good job checking on us. They went completely above and beyond for us after they brought out our food one person in our party had to take an important call for about 20 minutes. Trish came outside and took the plate inside to keep it warm and on top of that dumped the fries and cooked new ones for him. Food was great, had the prime rib dip sammy, was very tasty. The onion rings were pretty good, but not great, same with the fried calamari app. Overall I would eat there again and recommend it for the service and the meat, so good! Thanks!
(5)
J. R.
I chose Chops based on yelp reviews. Thank you for helping me choose a great place! We started with the Crab and Artichoke Dip which was amazing! I just began liking seafood and it was not an overwhelming taste. It was served with bread and the portion is plenty for 2 people. We had this at the bar before our reservation time. Their portions are a really good size, so it was good to have time to let that food settle a bit before being seated. For dinner I had filet and lobster with asparagus and mashed potatoes. I love filet, but this was not even close to the best one I have ever had. There was nothing wrong with it, I just think it could have had more taste. The lobster was a good size and tasted great, though. The asparagus was good, and the mash potatoes were standard. My boyfriend had the steak salad (with ranch, not bleu cheese) and a half order of crab legs. The salad was delicious, and he seemed to be very happy with the crab legs too. We each had 2 glasses of their Meridian Cabernet, which was also very good. I wouldn't say the ambiance was anything special, but the level of noise stayed low, which was nice for keeping the focus on the table I was at instead of everywhere else. The service was not anything superb, but I have no complaints. I give chops a solid 4 stars, and I would definitely go back if I ever have the chance.
(4)
char c.
I tried the fillet Mignon steak, and it was okay. Something I could have cooked at home myself. We were the only ones there on a Sunday night a party of 5. It took the waiter probably 20 minutes to come and take our order than another 60 minutes to serve us our food. There was a new waiter that was there assisting our main waiter and it was his first time at least it appeared to serving, but I liked him because he seemed like he actually wanted to give us good service, where as our actual waiter well he didn't seem to be too excited to be there. The location I think is a good location during the week when all of the state workers are there, but weekend it was dead. I've always walked by this place and well I never knew that there was anything here, because out front the windows are tinted so you cannot see in and the patio furniture is always stacked into the corner of the patio. Overall the experience here for a supposedly high end restaurant in Sacramento there are other better places for the price.
(3)
Faith C.
Ok, so the meat cellar freaks me out a tiny bit. Did they really have to stick massive pieces of cold cow right in front of the reception area? And I'm a total meat whore, don't get me wrong! But beside that, I love this place. Whether you're in the market for simply a salad, or want to enjoy a nice slab of what you got to view while waiting to be seated, they do it right at Chops. The outside seating is perfect, with a nice view of the Capitol and K Street and then you can sit and laugh at all of the people who only get to go to La Bou and Ambrosia. Their desserts are killer!
(4)
Christine L.
This is my second and last visit to Chops. Sad to say everything is too overpriced for what you get. Sacramento has other good and great steakhouses that are better and less expensive. Save your money.
(1)
Mrs P.
Good Lord, What a terrible place. This place was such a huge disapointment for me, I took my fiance here for this birthday with high hopes.. and ICK. To begin with.. It was only 5:30 on a Friday so the restaurant was not full, they were a handful of people at the bar and a handful of tables full in the restuarant, the service was bad because the food took so incredibly long. We waited 45 minutes to get one filet and one appetizer when they weren't even busy! My Fiance's filet was poorly cooked, he asked for Medium-Rare and got an unevenly cooked piece of meat comprised of Dry, Stringy flesh. What a disapointment.. You'd think for a 39$ steak you could get a decent piece of meat. My appetizer was unedible because of giantic pieces of artichoke that were so plasticy, I couldnt chew them well enough to swallow. Needless to say I sent mine back, Although I hate to, but It really was terrible. Yet another disapointment on top of the long wait for the food, crappy food was that the food was left under heat lamps which I'm sure accounted for how dry the steak was. I'm not sure why a steak would sit under heat lamps while an appetizer was made... The final Ucky thing about this place was that the Manager lurked around going in and out on the patio smelling of Smoke. While we were there at least 3 employees walked by us to exit the restaurant and smoke not accounting for the manager.. He smoked the most! It was completely rediculous, I mean honestly... You are the staff here and you are really using our seating area as a hallway for your smoke break? There were more than enough exits from the building for them to be skipping our seating area. Such a Disapointment... Stick with the Classic Steakhouses guys!
(1)
Kris A.
My girlfriend and I went to Chops for "date night". We usually pick a place that we haven't been to before so we swung by Chops Steakhouse in Downtown Sac. Without hesitation WE WILL NOT BE GOING BACK. The steak was way overcooked, the seats(booth) stick to your pants like velcro, and the manager was not friendly at all. The 1-star was for our server who kept my water glass full and was very personable. Don't waste your time.
(1)
Greg M.
I took my wife to Chops for her birthday, My sister in law and brother in law joined us. We dine out frequently around town and always enjoy a great steak. Our normal place we enjoy is Ruth's Chris and are never disappointed. We decided to get out of the suburbs and head downtown. When we arrived the place was like a ghost town. Saturday night and there were 3 other tables seated ion the whole place. There was not one patron in the bar. We convinced ourselves that since the location is a little tucked away and across from the Capital that it must be swamped on the week days and not so much on the weekends. I think it was empty because of the quality of food and service. I had made a reservation on their recorded message and no one over called back. It did not matter because there was plenty of room. Our server took quite some time to get over to the table and when she did she never introduced herself. After taking out orders our salads arrived 20 minutes later. She walked by at one point and said under her breath "oh yeah..salads". Our entrees arrived about an hour and fifteen minutes after sitting down. I had the filet as well as my wife. My cut was tough and very chewy. My wife ordered her medallions medium and they came out rare. It did not do much to complain because our waitress only came by the table 3 times the entire evening and never once asked us if we wanted anything more to drink. All in all a very bad experience. The food was below average and the staff that assisted us should find another line of work or put some effort into her job. I will never recommend this place to anyone and will never return.
(1)
Layla R.
You need to go here during lunch or dinner on weekdays when the Legislature is in session. You'll see somethings you never wish you had but you'll have a great steak. It's a swanky joint. If someone needs something from you, they take you to dinner in the dining room in back. If you are with your peers, you sit near the bar and order drinks and appetizers. (If you're the governor, you get to drive up to the front door, even though no cars are allowed on 11th, and go straight downstairs to some special dining room for all the steaks you can eat, because this place ties with Esquire Grill for the governor's favorite restaurant to frequent). If it's a late night when they're still in session, it's a great place to see all the action. The TV at the bar gets the capitol channels, so you can get drunk while they lift the calls at 10pm and watch the fate of your bills unfold (it's what I imagine it must be like for guys who go to bars to watch sports). The patio out front is a whole 'nother scene. People sit there to see and be seen. (it's situated perfectly on 11th so you see all the comings and goings of the Capitol). On certain special occasions, say during the final evenings of sessions, there will be music on the outside patio and you can watch a bunch of dorky, uncoordinated people act like college kids in suits. Once I saw a certain Senator who shall go unmentioned getting her boogy on, and I am still recovering from the experience.
(4)
Reina M.
i thought chops was supposed to be one of the better steak houses in sacto? yet, it was virtually empty on a friday night. too bad, really, because the service was friendly and attentive, and the food was great. (although one thing that puzzled me was that as we were lead to a big round table in the corner of the restaurant's front area, i asked if any booths were available and the hostess said they were all reserved. granted, i couldn't see into the back area where the booths are, but going by the fact that the front of the restaurant only had 3 other parties in there lead me to doubt her...but i digress.) all of the appetizers and side plates sounded delish, so we decided to get a bunch of that. the ahi poke was ok, but i'm strict when it comes to poke. the fish was fresh, but it was cut into really small cubes and it was a tad bit overflavored with shoyu and sesame oil. also, there were more vegetables than ahi (cabbage, radish, cukes - who puts all these veggies in a poke??? just marinate the fish, throw in some ogo, and maybe lay it on a bed of cabbage, but it's not supposed to be a salad w/ ahi...) i definitely miss the simple poke i had back in hawaii, but this was not a bad haole-fied version of it, flavor-wise. ther appetizers and sides we got - flash fried calamari, thai beef skewers, mac & cheese, steamed broccoli w/ a type of bernaise/hollandaise sauce, brussel sprouts, and mushrooms sauteed in white wine & parsley. all good. since we were in chops, i had to get a meat, so based on our server's recommendation, i got the prime rib, rare with fresh horshradish. yum. nice herb and salt crust, perfectly cooked and the au jus was flavorful but not over the top. the salt crusted baked potato was a hit as well. all that food, with about 6 drinks, came out to about $160. people need to start re-visiting this place. it's a forgotten gem.
(4)
Dee B.
OMG my sister in law used this place for her birthday celebration and it was extremely extremely nice the food was great...i would mos def do this again
(4)
Nicholas R.
I've only eaten here once with a friend who works as a server. So bear in mind my meal was 35% off and I am slightly biased. Bomb doesn't even begin to describe their hot sandwiches. I tried both the prime rib sandwich and the artichoke/crab sandwich and I nearly wet myself from the taste explosion. High class atmosphere but not so much that it feels opressive. I really enjoyed this place. Hot hostesses are also always a plus.The garlic fries were a lot more boring then I thought they would be, but the onion rings are pretty good. The prices are pretty ridiculous for everything, but that's how it should be at a nice restaurant like Chops, keeps the riff-raff out.
(4)
RW G.
Service made it a Three... As a fan of the Steak Frite - you really need to make your own fries - it is not that difficult in a restaurant kitchen. No need for frozen Fries with a $40 steak. Oh and the Family stule carrots were delicious - but should not have been served on the same plate. the glaze ran under my steak. And the bread and butter was aweEsomE. thansk to Chris the Bartender/manager to pull it together
(3)
Jenny P.
My husband took our family there for dinner. My son really wanted his steak at on of the top restuarant.. We had lobster and steak. The lobster was really good and juicy.. The steak is not the quality that we had before. look like they change the quality of there steak. The sevices was excelent. The food is okay. We don't know if they change the chief or quality of steak... my husband been here many times, before the quality was much better of their food.
(4)
Lisa L.
My husband and I celebrated our anniversary here. It was delich! We started with soup and salad and both were enjoyable, the prime rib I had was quite flavorful and the potato side dish (stuffed) was wonderful. My husband's steak was very tender and cooked perfectly. I tried a raspberry lemondrop and it was so tasty. Overall a very relaxing, romantic, delicious experience.
(4)
phortitude u.
Another Sunday, another mistake venturing into a restaurant that I expected more from. Don't get me wrong, I didn't realize it was a mistake until I got my food. The decor is fantastic, the booths regal, and the service overall was quite excellent. I and my dining companion ordered the prawn cocktail, which as shrimp cocktails go was ok. However, we ordered the porterhouse for two (nicely carved for two accompanied by two crab cakes). If one looks at the menu there is a nice explanation of the grades of "doneness", with the following proviso that they only guarantee the steak to medium. My companion prefers her steaks cooked medium-well to well done, which is what we ordered. The steak came to us as a rare to medium rare. Although we could've sent it back, she decided to try it. It was cold. At that point, I figured that they didn't "refire" the steak long enough or the cooking staff got lazy. Additionally, the crab cakes were very similar in appearance to the crab cakes that one gets in an area unfamiliar with crab cakes. It wasn't lump meat, it was stringy and far more similar to a lower grade of crabmeat suffocated in breading and some filler-egg/mayo/or both. We both figured that the desserts should be better than the meal; however, once we saw them, I promptly ordered an irish coffee and the bill. They looked like desserts that I've seen at other mid-tier restaurants, perhaps premade by Sysco (pure speculation- not to overly criticize Sysco). Although my dogs were happy with the remnants of my dinner, they don't have access to my yelp account. To reiterate- the service was good, the dining environment was good, the food... not so much. A further note- I actually do like that Chops has a viewable meat locker for the beef; however, truly aged beef looks far more rotten than that, and I suspect they keep and move the "further along" beef to a meat locker less accessible to the public eye.
(2)
Pippi L.
Seriously, if you want to drop your paycheck on a good steak, go here. They have a meat cellar. You can see it from the lobby and reception area. You can see the meat aging perfectly. They also have an incredible wine selection, as to be expected. This is where the lobbiests take clients. This is where the lobbiests like to eat. If you see some dorky guy with a half grown beard and a suit and a straw hat, he's a lobbiest. That's practically their uniform unless they are witnessing at a hearing. Anyway. The salads and steaks are primo. You can't miss here. Unless you are poor or can't find someone to treat you.
(5)
Samantha B.
First I want to say that the rating would be four stars for just the food but got bumped to three stars for how long it took to get the food. We ordered the crab cakes ($16) as a starter and the arrived promptly - They were all crab and a little chewy but quite tasty - We ate them with the focaccia bread and aoli that came with it. Then we waited. There weren't many people there, it was Thursday and it seemed like almost everyone already had eaten but we waited some more. About 45 minutes later our entrees arrived. They were delicious, albeit a little long in coming. I had the 12 ounce Filet Mignon with baked potato ($35) and the Hubby had the pork chop with buttermilk mashed potatoes ($23). The filet was perfectly cooked (medium well) and tender, the baked potato was tasty, the carrots amazing (a little sweet). The pork chop came with onion rings and carmelized apples on top of it - Yummy!! The potatoes were good also. All in all, the food was pretty darn good - Solid four stars.
(3)
Bob R.
Had an engagement dinner at Chops Sat evening, the service was terrific, no delays, they were on the spot at all times. The food was awesome, the steak Porterhouse aged for 28 days, a really good sign plus it was really good. Had the house special for two with mushrooms, a salad, one bottle of wine and two chocolate desserts, one of those being the hot lava cake, I wish the lava cake was a bit hotter, but over all this was a 9.5 out of 10. Plus they picked up my parking for the evening as well. I'm picky and this experience was terrific, hands off to Chops.
(5)
Marc J.
OVERRATED if you're a political wannabe then go there. lots of capital folks there. food sucks, the service is average. not to be verbose but avoid this place.
(1)
Carol S.
Tonight, my girl friend from out of town, and I just ate dinner at this great restaurant. The Porterhouse Special was divine! After eating this meal, I can say that Chops is now my new favorite steak house! I will come back some day to eat some of the seafood. The portions were huge! The steaks were tender and tasty. Medium, was really more medium rare. The mashed potatoes were scrumptious, as was the bread and the tomato herb butter. The carrots with glaze was delicious. The waiters were polite and understanding as they had to address the needs of my friend who has sugar allergies. They helped to put her at ease when she informed them about her allergies. They were quite accommodating in efforts to meet her needs. I saw there was a fireplace inside, but unfortunately was not burning. I love fireplaces in restaurants. Makes for an intimate, warm environment. I noticed the outdoor patio too. A nice warm day or evening would be a great time to come back to enjoy this patio.
(5)
Lysa S.
Went with friends for a nice holiday meal and were NOT let down. I had the New York strip and it was huge! Very tasty as well, everyone else had specials and were equally pleased. We got the side macaroni and cheese and we all loved it! Will be going back!
(4)
Linsey F.
Went here on a Friday night...this place was dead. At 9 PM my friends and I were the only customers in the whole place. That meant that the servers basically decided to ignore us while they smoked and talked on their cell phones. The food was OK- I had a good steak. But for the price, I expected better service. Its probably a much better place to eat during lunch or after work.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Maria C.
Ordered New York steak and prime rib and Joe our waiter is nice, courteous and friendly. Spinach salad is out of this world. Our 2nd time here. Go check it out. Ambiance is cozy.
(5)Andrew K.
This would probably be the fanciest restaurant in Topeka. The menu is outdated. The sirloin steak was tough/not well cooked (but portion was huge for the price) and they never brought me my second glass of wine, though they tried to charge me for it. Meh!!!
(2)Bhanie C.
Came here cause I heard their prim rib was good. Eh, it was ok. I didn't really get much flavor and it was light weight cold when it came out. The au jus sauce didn't help it. Sad. I have been here for their hh and the food was actually good. I'll come back for hh but no for their prim rib.
(3)Megan T.
Was here for a luncheon and (huge mistake) chose the veggie option. It sounded good and the steak plate had a crab component, I'm allergic to seafood so this seemed like a safe plan. The veggie meal was changed to be vegan. It was a Sweet Pea risotto, which turned out to be under cooked rice. It was cooked about 1/3 of the time it should have been, and had a single sprig of Sweet Pea? laying across the top. I was starving, hadn't eaten all day, and could only crunch my way thru 2 bites. I could look around the room and see all the other risotto plates untouched when plates were being cleared. Thank God for dessert...never so happy to see chocolate cake in my life.
(2)Jackie F.
Can only comment on their HH but so far, not bad. My fiancé and I each ordered one cocktail, I had a gin martini and him, a rusty nail. We also shared the HH burger with garlic fries and the 1/2 grilled artichoke. The burger was pretty tasty, but the meat wasn't as flavorful one would expect from a steakhouse. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare at least. Garlic fries were delicious, and even more wonderful dipped in the aioli that comes with the artichoke. The artichoke was good, but it's not impressive. There's another dish on the HH that comes with that along with grilled asparagus for a dollar more, which seems like a better deal in retrospect. Service was decent, not overtly attentive but we didn't feel ignored. Food arrived in a timely manner. Will have to go back and check it out again.
(4)Christine N.
Went here last night for my boyfriend's birthday. We were able to call and get a reservation. Upon arriving we were seated promptly. Decor was nice. Service was friendly. We got our drinks and ordered our appetizers. Then they came back and got our dinner orders. After a while the appetizers came out, then a basket with bread and spread, which was kinda strange. I would think that the bread and spread should come out before the appetizers following the beverages. We got the greens plate and grilled asparagus. Asparagus didn't have much "meaty". Our waiter came back a couple times to let us know that our food would be coming out shortly. I got the prime rib with garlic scented fries. Prime rib was ok... garlic scented fries tasted like they had been sitting out. Really didn't have any garlic on them. The description says it has garlic, but I guess it is "scented"? If they want to elevate their restaurant, they need to work on the customer service and most definitely the food.
(3)Kali D.
Sadly I have to lower my review back down to the original 2 Stars. After my last visit to Chops for HH I think I have pretty much decided I will not be returning. A few weeks ago, a group of us met for HH prior to an outdoor concert. We arrived staggered, not all at the same time. The 1st who had arrived warned me about the waitress; she is slow and speaks too low to be heard. So when she finally walked over I was prepared. . .LOL she spoke very low and she was VERY slow in getting the drinks. More of our party arrived, and the slowness continued. Actually it became unbearable. she was not paying attention to our group, she didn't come over to get new orders, she took forever to make the drinks. . .how long does it take to pour wine? We are not stomping grapes here! Two ladies with us just sat at the bar; their drinks were made in a timely manner and food came out before others! This bad service continued until the last set of folks arrived. Our waitress had already given us our checks but I advised her to please add my Husband's drinks then re-close me out. My $16 check was returned and had jumped to $42???? How much was his drink? After a closer look she had now added my girlfriend's food and drinks (which she had ALREADY paid for) to my tab! No apologies, just a soft spoken, " Let me fix that." We paid we left! To top it off the food sucked! My girlfriends $8 chopped salad was a side salad. . . and my favorite Stuffed Mushrooms were gritty and not tasty at all. . . . Peace Out Chops!
(2)Carol P.
Was meeting some friends for HH, and since I was the first one there, snagged the booths along the back wall in the bar area. I failed to mention in my previous review of Chops that they seriously need to reupholster those bench seats! Not only are they worn out, but the material is flaking and the whole thing stuck to my dress when I stood up. Not a good look for a fine dining establishment. Similar to my last visit for HH, it took awhile to be acknowledged by the server. She was very soft-spoken, so it was difficult to hear anything she said with loud conversations around us. Unfortunately, she was the only server working the entire bar area at the time. Service was slow. This time I ordered the Chops salad, which is surprisingly, the most expensive HH menu item at $8. I thought it would be a nice-sized portion, with plenty of bacon, egg, mushrooms, and avocado. It was a small bowl, served on a large plate, with plenty of chopped romaine lettuce drenched in dressing. All the other ingredients were finely chopped and covered with ranch. It was a tasty salad, but not worth $8. I'll stick with the $6 calamari and the $5 spinach stuffed shrooms. I take back the last comment in my previous review. It's seriously NOT one of the best HH in Sacramento!
(3)Jeanice S.
I don't think I will be returning unless its for happy hour. Dined here on a Friday night for happy hour and then dinner. Food: happy hour is until 8pm which is great! Their white wine for $5 was good. The red was okay. The fries were crispy, but the one we ordered was on the appetizer menu, not HH, but the spices on it made it taste delicious. Oysters were expensive, size was okay. So main purpose of the visit was for the Dine in Downtown deal. I ordered the steak with mashed potatoes. For a MEDIUM steak, the meat was really not cooked in the middle at all. Both tables beside me ordered the steak deal and they too questioned why it was so red! No red juice leaking but I couldn't eat the middle. The seasoning was okay. Mashed potato was good. The half chicken my friend ordered only had flavor outside, inside was just regular flavor chicken meat. The mashed potatoes with her plate was really strong. It was like a mustard mashed potato or something. Price: we went for the $31 deal... With a salad and a small dessert, I say it was safe to try. Unfortunately due to the let down of the food, the price doesn't match the quality. Service: waiter came around to check reasonably but there was a moment when we needed her but couldn't find her. Overall, I would come back for HH only since they have a late HH.
(3)Jim A.
OK for happy hour with 2.5 food and spotty service, Chops can feel a little empty after work. I came in on a Thursday after work with a friend to try their happy hour. We were greeted by a very tired hostess, but friendly nonetheless. We grabbed a seat along the wall behind the bar (there is a limit to the happy hour area). It was comfortable with clean, modern decor. There were a couple people at the bar and another few tables, but this place was seriously empty (yet couldn't get our waitress when we were done). I had a half a grilled artichoke that was way over peppered. I kinda gagged on the spice, but it was well grilled otherwise. My fries were pretty standard but very hot and fresh. My friend had the calamari and potato skins. She wasn't a big fan of either. She also had a nice glass of house red wine. Service was spotty, great up front with attentive, polite service that dropped off after check-in. While we only had a $25 bill with tip for all that food and the drink, it seemed overpriced for the quality. Head over to Chops for a happy hour on the patio for a nice, slowed-down view of the capitol, but food and service don't match up.
(3)Amanda H.
This was such a great find for date night! I'm not sure how we have never been here over the past seven years. The outdoor seating area is fabulous on spring and summer evenings. We ended up choosing a table right next to the owners, which was fabulous to meet them! The service team was fantastic and on point. Their veggie appetizer was a great start. The veggies were grilled perfectly. For dinner my partner ordered the prime rib and I ordered the salmon. The owner actually traded the original cut of meat for my partner for an even better cut (when does that ever happen)! He enjoyed his meal and was very satisfied. My salmon was cooked perfectly and nicely seasoned. We cannot wait to go back when we are back in town next month. Looks like we have a new favorite restaurant!
(5)Joe P.
It had been forever since the last time I was here. When I used to work downtown about 5 years ago, going here was a real treat - a fancy thing to do! Now I feel like it is a bit outdated. The place needs a bit of sprucing up and to modernize. The restaurant smelled like cigars. I don't know if that was because of smoking meat or what, but it was pretty bad. Could have possibly been from legislators smoking cigars - except it was lunch time... a little early to be smoking cigars! The service was fine and the sandwhich I ordered was tasty - but I think the prices are a bit high considering the competition in the area... you see, even 5 years ago (but especially 10 years ago), there was VERY little competition downtown around the Capitol. Now there are a bunch of places... which could be why Chops was surprisingly "dead" during the lunch hour. In the past, this place was cracking every day. All in all, this place is enjoyable and I'd go again. I'd like to see it "reinvented" - that, I believe, would bring back the enjoyment I recall having here.
(3)Denise S.
1/6/15-awesome happy hour!! 3-8pm at the bar (duh). Always great food, drinks & usually lots of suits :) Stop in & relax for an hour...or two!!
(5)Erica M.
I have very mixed feelings about my experience here, some things were really good and others were really bad. I started off my meal with a cesar salad which was really good, however I thought it took way to long for them to actually bring the salad. Another thing that was interesting was they put the salad in a cold bowl and then the cold bowl in a warm plate....interesting. I ordered a steak and it took forever for them to bring it out, I started to get sleepy. The waiter did come out and say they were backed up in the kitchen and that it would take a little longer but I thought the wait was unacceptable. I had the sirloin and it was just ok. I don't think they seasoned it at all. They severed the steak with mashed potatoes with mustard seeds which was not very appetizing. When I think of mashed potatoes, I think of light and fluffy. These potatoes were so over powered by the mustard seed, that was all I could taste. I ordered the Apple crisp with ice cream for desert. It was the second best thing I had. The Apple crisp was warm, sweet and tart. I thought they were a little skimpy with the ice cream though. The wait staff was very fast and efficient which was nice. The manager even came around and introduced himself which was a nice touch.I had a waiter that was responsible for taking my food and drink order and there were other waiters who where like floaters who would come by and clear plates and refill drinks. I thought it was decorated very well, however the lighting was way too low. When I first sat down to eat I thought the lighting was pretty low, but then they turned out down even more to the point where it was almost dark. This place was pretty pricey, especially considering the portions and the quality wasn't the best either.
(3)Issi G.
Has a nasty smell as ur being walked to ur table and walls are decorated to look dirty. Plain food plain service. Was expecting better for the overpriced food we payed :-/ for. They offer that free cold salty bread with some yellow butter. No thank u
(1)Brandi N.
Had a 'date night' with my husband here a few nights ago - it was a great choice! Loved the decor when we walked in, and we were greeted promptly by the host. Had a drink at the bar and wonderful banter with the bartender Bryan. A great member of Chops' team - he was informative, funny, and makes a great martini. We dined outside with the view of the Capital and ordered the Chop Salad - delightful flavors and nice salad to have before dinner. The main course: the porterhouse - which we shared - and it was still too much food for the both of us to finish. The steak was cooked to perfection - we ordered medium and it was cooked medium. The steak delicious and brought rave reviews from each of us. The carrots are a nice touch, a little sweet for me, but my husband loved them. The whole experience; food and service was fantastic. We will be back!
(4)Brian G.
Great happy hour prices and nice little patio area right in the heart of the capital. The service is extremely slow and it's not even that busy!! 10 mins to get a beer.
(2)Cindy W.
Right in front of the state Capitol... Great night view from the patio seating... Beautiful street scene...
(5)Joe Y.
This was our third visit to Chops. We had a reservation and were seated promptly when we arrived. We were immediately served glasses of ice water and bread and butter. Then, our waitperson, Chris, greeted us and asked us if we would like any drinks from the bar. He explained the special of the day and left us to decide. I ordered the Roast Prime Rib of Beef, 10 oz. size and my wife ordered the Salmon Oscar. Both of us were delighted with our choices. The Prime Rib was very tender and tasted excellent. My wife gave her approval of the Salmon Oscar. One way to see if she likes her entree is for me to ask her if she would order it again next time and she agreed yes. The ambience and decor of Chops is very warm and comtemporary. Chris, our server, was the best! He was there for us all through the meal and was very attentive and pleasant. We enjoyed our dining experience and definitely will return again.
(5)PhilDong F.
One of the best steakhouse restaurant, but make sure what you want to order. It's will be medium rare when you order medium. The lamp is excellent if you love the strong taste. The service is excellent. Our waiter was Colin. He is super nice and knowledge.
(4)Kathleen R.
Great service! Great food! The manager or owner was very personable. My son didn't like the sauce on his steak so the manager sat next to him and asked what he liked and made him a new steak
(5)Daniel T.
Visits: 1st Rating: 3* Service: excellent Dishes: Dungeness Crab Cakes; Jumbo Shrimp Scampi; New York Steak; Chocolate Lava Cake The dessert was probably the best part of dinner but even that wasn't anything to shout about. Unfortunately, a barely average dinner. ¤Dungeness Crab Cakes (2.5*). Too much filling, not enough crab flavor. Had better...pretty much everywhere else. ¤Jumbo Shrimp Scampi (2.5*). Super creamy & too thick for me. Boy that sauce was thick. A very thick, cheesy, creamy sauce. There will be those that like it (cheese lovers perhaps) but not I. I can't remember anything else about the flavor but the thick cheesy sauce. ¤New York Steak (3*). Cooked to order medium-rare. But that's it. We were expecting more since it was so close to the Capitol building. Not much in flavor. But good enough to finish. ¤Chocolate Lava Cake (4*). Great ending to an average dinner. Super chocolatey & gooey in the middle. Chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, always a perfect match.
(3)Betty B.
Best Dinner ever, but I visit it yearly for a group event. We are always seated in the basement. It is dark, gloomy and stinks of cigarette smoke!! What a dump. The food is good, but the rats running across our feet kept us from enjoying the food. The rat ran across the floor and right into the kitchen. Really? I know it is all old there, but to charge what they charge, you would think they could do a little more to make it nicer for the diners. Fresh paint, lights and exterminator is not asking too much. Oh yea, some room freshener too!
(1)Keely M.
My love and I went to Chops to celebrate Valentine's Day. We ordered the Valentine's Day special, four course meal dessert included, for $125. We started with the delicious bread and what we believed was sundried tomato butter...that was wonderful. Then our appetizer arrived...stuffed mushrooms...they were to die for! I ordered the filet mignon with mash potatoes and cauliflower. I can't even describe how wonderful the cauliflower was...I was I shock, it was off the charts. The filet was a great size and cooked perfectly, but that cauliflower....dang! Our dessert was good but I really was full by then. The whole dinner 3 drinks included with tip was $200 not too bad totally worth the experience!
(5)Amye N.
Nice place, great food! I had the steak and lobster meal ($62) and my husband had the prime rib ($55) for our five year anniversary yesterday. Before that we had the pulled pork garlic scented fries ($8), a Brandy Daisy and a Side Car (each $13), and for dessert we had the American Beauty ($12) and a bottle of the Argentine Malbec ($30). I'm only listing prices because I couldn't find them for Morton's, got scared and went to Chops instead. Glad we did! Classy, quiet dining! The server (Joe, excellent) and water boy came around frequently, but infrequently enough for my husband and I to have inappropriate conversations without getting interrupted or embarrassed. Some parts of the restaurant kinda smelled like a hotel or cruise ship, a mix of cleaners and food smells. We didn't notice it for long. I ordered my steak rare, and it came back more rare that I'd even seen outside of a butcher's refrigerator case. So I asked if it could be medium rare, like the 16oz steak my husband had. No problem! Joe grabbed it and returned quickly with a delectable medium rare fine cut of steak, with a brandy demi-glace. The buttered lobster was melt in your mouth, along with the garlic mashed potatoes, yum! I do sometimes wonder if lobster is just a delivery device for butter, much like pancakes are for syrup....mmmm. The Malbec went really well with the insanely chocolaty American Beauty. Left overs were boxed and bagged and our Lyft was waiting as we stumbled out, tipsy and full...
(5)Karen K.
Just came back from taking out the HB for a early bday lunch here. I had a voucher from Amazon and was able to use it with no problem. My husband had the top sirloin which he liked even though it was covered with blue cheese and onions. I had the filet mignon with carrots and fried onion rings. The carrots were very buttery and the filet mignon was very tender plus cooked to my taste...rare! We both had diet sodas which were refilled as fast as we were drinking it. Overall I thought service and food were excellent. We didn't have dessert and I forgot to tell our server it was my hubby's birthday. We parked in the parking structure right across the street. Chops server gave us 5 dollars parking card to cover the parking fee which ours was 4.50. He even instructed us how to pay it in the parking garage where you place your parking ticket first and then the 5.00 parking card. That was most helpful! I'd say dine here with confidence:) We would have sat outside which I normally like to do but we walked around the Capitol earlier and it was warm & breezy outside. Maybe next time as they have a nice outdoor area to dine.
(5)Anthony H.
I went there for lunch with two friends few days ago. We choose a table on the terasse with a great view on the Capitol. The experience was really great. I had a lemonade, with chicken club sandwich with a mix green salad. The sandwich was perfect, with real chicken and everything was fresh and well prepared. The best of the best was the Homemade ranch sauce that I asked on the side. Absolutely delicious. The waiter was really nice. He did a really good job and was really cautious about the refills ! We never had to ask for water or other drinks. And the best was at the end of the meal, we asked if we was able to smoke on the terasse. The waiter said "yes" and even brought us an ashtray. Really pleasant. The price are also good for the location and the quality of the food. I will come back soon !
(5)Nicole B.
Hubby bought a Living Social deal that sadly expired so we were left with a $30 "credit" We knew it wouldn't help much for a nice dinner so we settled on their happy hour as we knew it was quite extensive and great hours until 8pm. Plenty of seating which often isnt the case for many happy hours especially at higher end restaurants. We both order beers on draft as only HH wine selection was a dry oaky type Chardonay. Next up were potato skins, cheese burgers, ( one with bacon for $1.50 extra) onion rings ( $1.50 ). The potato skins were delicious! Full size potatoes loaded with cheese, bacon, black olives, tons of chopped tomatoes, and served with their off the chain home made ranch dressing. I can usually pass up on ranch due to the extremely high calorie and fat content. Not this ranch, I wanted to drown my food in it! The skins were incredible, I gobbled down the entire one, hubby on the other hand wasn't so enthusastic. He said his was too crispy. He normally doesn't eat the skin of a potato, ( to me it's my favorite part when baked , strange I know, but least I am getting my nutrients with probably some missed dirt! ) Burgers arrived more on the well side versus the med well we always request our red meat to be cooked. Wasn't the greatest burger , but not bad. Just not a lot of flavor, Hubby was again dissapointed that the bacon was very crispy, and dried out. Waiteress was spot on and took both the skins back as well as the bacon and returned with full order of skins, and comped the bacon for us. They even offered to comp us another round of drinks but considering we both had to work the next day and I had to get home to study we passed. The best part of the experience was the excellent service recovery from our super friendly, attentive waitress,ranch dressing and of course the hidden manger who allowed her to provide us with make up orders and comps. We will continue to use Chops for HH but would probably spend our big bucks for a steak dinner at Ruth Cris or Banderas.
(4)Jane V.
Three stars for this downtown long time eatery that caters to politico types and the business crowd. Went on a week day evening--it was quiet and u crowded and the wait staff was a bit too hovering. Had a simple light meal and it was just meh. We had soup and sandwich (clam chowder and crab and artichoke sandwich) and it neither wowed nor disappointed. Chops just seems like a nice safe place where deals are probably hashed out with a pretty extensive bar. Lots of other way more interesting possibilities within a short walk of Chops.
(3)KeiKei B.
Food was mediocre at best. And the prices were out of this world for what you get. The service was wonderful and the brussell sprouts were awesome. But the portion size was a joke and kid sized. I mean for $10 we got 12 brussell sprouts, I counted! My steak was just ok. It was not seasoned and seemed to just be thrown on the flat top and cooked cold. Steaks should be brought to room temp before cooking. My table mate had veggies and he was unimpressed as well. The salad and bread were filling but for the $150 we spent we should've have listened to our first reaction when we got there to just sit at the bar. But we were on our way somewhere else and realized they were closed on Monday's. Chops was near and open. We should've know better when it was empty.
(2)rosalinda f.
Overcooked albacore. Lobster just barely overcooked. The kid "loved the Mac n cheese" and cheesy focaccia (tasted like cheese-its). Delicious meat. Duh. The best bits by far here are the veggies and potato dishes. They know how to make carrots, brussel sprouts, and asparagus sing. Can't go wrong with buttery potatoes. They redid the albacore for us but it was still overcooked although it was a lovely piece if fish (before they ruined it) Great service. Great cocktails. Been here a few times for happy hour and the place is hopping! For dinner, it's a ghost town. Kinda pricey, but the service stands. Love creme brûlée so that's why I come. Good when they are offering fixed price menus like during dine downtown. I could do better for the money off the regular menu.
(4)Marshall H.
This is a review on the restaurant, not quality of food. One of the greatest deals in town, used to be the Chops birthday club. Basically if you celebrated your birthday with them, your birthday was on the house. I always found this to be a brilliant idea because people would go out of their way to spend their birthday at Chops, get a great dinner for free, and Chops would get a group of people that otherwise might be spending there money elsewhere. Last year my party of 8 spent over $500 after dinner and drinks. It was definitely a win-win. Well, no more! Chops has taken away that treat and unfortunately lost a customer in the process. I am the first to understand that it was a benefit and they have no requirement to keep it going, but it was just one of those special things that made them unique and added a certain level of old-world class that one doesn't find much of these days. I may still go in after work for a happy hour drink or small bite, but I truly think that birthday club was part of their charm and I don't see myself dining there for dinner any longer. Nor will I bring my out of town guests or clients to the establishment. On the flip side, if you are okay with a free dessert for your birthday, like you can get at any chain restaurant, they will now be providing that.
(1)Jim S.
Try the WAGYU steak...its the best.. Food was great, service very good and central location. Will go here again.
(4)Olivia v.
Went here for lunch and had a veggie burger. It was fresh and tasty. The side salad came lightly dressed, to my taste. I can definitely recommend this option to a hungry vegetarian (but I think it's the only non-salad veggie option).
(4)Micki M.
I was really excited to try this place after hearing rave reviews from family and friends. Much to my dismay, I didn't have that great experience. We started off the dinner with a couple of cocktails in the classy bar here. The bartender Manny, was quite friendly and pleasant. He made our order of a Long Island Ice Tea and a Bloody Mary for me, The Long Island was refreshingly unique and tasty, I think he may have put in passion fruit juice??? The Bloody Mary......although, it was garnished with an olive and pickled green bean, it was just OK. Tasted too watered down, not enough tomato juice. We took a few sips and went to our table with drinks in hand. I ordered the steak and lobster ($62), and hubby had the filet mignon ($35). Our server brought over a basket of warm rosemary focaccia bread with sun dried tomato butter. Delicious! So we sat eating our bread while waiting for our entrees. We waited, and waited, and waited! About 30 minutes later the bread was gone, our server brought out more and after waiting for an agonizing 40 minutes, our food was here! Waaallaaahhh!! Our entrees looked Amazing! Hubby ordered his steak medium well. I ordered mine, medium. Recommended by our server for me to order it medium if I like my steak to be pink throughout. Hubby cut into his steak and it was great. (Later , we found out that his steak had rare portions, but didn't mention it to staff) I cut into my steak and......it was red!! Bloody red! I had to tell my server because I knew I wouldn't be able to take any bites. So, he sends it back, the manager comes over and asks what the problem was. I explain how I like my steak, and what my server suggested, he agreed that it was cooked wrong. He leaves and about ten minutes later, the manager comes back with my steak. The first cut was good, second cut, bright red just like before! Ugh! I send it back with the manager, and I suggest that they cook it medium well. He goes back, by this time, I'm pretty much done with the "tiny for a 6 ounce lobster tail" ( I tried to savor every bite, as long as I could, too!)and my mashed potatoes and asparagus. The manager asks if I want another cocktail while I wait. I didn't want to, but I figured since it was on the house, I ordered a vodka cranberry. Our server brings my steak back and after cutting it again and it was still not right, I asked for a doggy bag. ( No sign of the manager) I ate around the edges but the middle was still bright red. We were very disappointed. Sigh! Our bill came to be $140, not including gratuity, it was a costly mistake. For a fine steakhouse, the mishaps with my steak is downright, inexcusable. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this place. Ridiculous, for a diner to have to send a steak back twice and not come out right! Maybe it was an off night, but we arrived here early (5:30), to make sure that the staff wouldn't be tired and burn out. But still, no excuse!
(2)Keith R.
HAVE AGAIN: Buttermilk mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, macaroni and cheese and water were good. Service was good. NOT HAVE AGAIN: The prime rib was not very good - too fatty and cooked medium rare when I asked for medium well. The Brussel sprouts were too plain. I was surprised to see a "Special New Year's Eve" menu which did not have the entrees I'd planned to order from checking their menu a few days earlier. This was my first visit to Chops and based on this experience, I will not be going back.
(2)Craig W.
What a find this was. Chops is located literally in the shadow of the Capitol building and a mere stone's throw from a stunningly beautiful Cathedral. Politics on the one side, salvation on the other, and steaks and martinis in the middle. You pick your poison. The Happy Hour food selections and prices are tremendous and I can strongly vouch for the burger and fries (yes, a happy hour deal). My meal was delicious. It is a cozy but very modern and sleek looking spot. I found it interesting that many diners were seriously dressed down. Whatever. The service was warm and attentive at the bar. I haven't sampled the main dining menu but you can bet you will find me fighting for the last stool at the bar come Happy Hour.
(5)Travis L.
My birthday! We took the train to Sacramento, mainly for Old Town, but wanted a nice steak and chops place within walking distance from our hotel. I found a Amazon Local deal on with Chops. I looked up their menu and decided they had what we were wanting. I called and made reservations the day before. We walked there later and arrived ahead of time, but no problem. We were seated in a booth immediately. The place was intimate, rich and soothing in atmosphere. TOP NOTCH in every way! Our waiter, Jose, was attentive and fulfilled our every order request. We started with some wonderful focaccia bread with a tomato herb aioli and split a caesar salad. Then we both ordered the Grilled Top Sirloin with creamy gorgonzola, caramelized carrots, and buttermilk mashed potatoes. We both like our meat with NO pink, much less red, so Jose said they would butterfly it for us. It was still moist and EXCELLENT!!! I pride myself on my caramelized carrots... these were BETTER! We finished with the American Beauty: three layered dark chocolate cake with milk chocolate mouse, dark chocolate chips and a raspberry port reduction....HEAVEN! We are guys and LOVE our meat, and we both still could not finish our meal. I reckon that should tell you about the portion sizes, no? Also, their wine list was very reasonable. The general manager, Brian, came by and we let him know how perfect it all was. To me, it was even better than the 3 main steakhouses I have been to in the city,(SF). and 1/2 the price, even without the coupon. If we lived in Sacramento..... this would be our steakhouse restaurant always. OH... and by the way.... we were treated like royalty, and this was even with our Amazon Local $60.00 for $30.00 coupon... so as for the other reviews... maybe it has to do with how y'all's attitudes were... just saying'.
(5)Cristin C.
Okay. Everything started off fantastic, I cannot remember our waiters name but he was amazing the entire time!! Very attentive and great personality! We got there last night for Valentine's Day dinner. Had reservations at 730. We were seated after only waiting for a few minutes. Unfortunately we could not find a sitter so we brought our kids and they were very accommodating. We had water almost immediately as well as bread that was delicious! When we ordered the server let me know that since I wanted my steak medium well it would take about 25 minutes. I am not a fan or bloody meat so I needed to wait in order to get what I wanted. The house salad was great! Got our food about 25 to 30 minutes later, just as stated. Here was my problem. I cute open my steak I ordered and it was literally bleeding throughout. Server came back and looked at it, immediately agreed it was no where near medium well. He took it back, and brought me out a fresh plate of everything. Yet still, when I cut through the steak it was bloody. At this point I had been waiting to eat for about 45 minutes, and my steak still wasn't how I ordered it, and the rest of my family was done eating. I have a 7 month old daughter, so you can imagine she was getting a bit whiney, so I told them just to forget it, the baby was started to fuss, so we needed to go. The manager then came out and spoke with me. He was very nice, but there was one thing he said that totally rubbed me the wrong way. He apologized for the inconvenience, but then proceeded to tell me not to blame it on my baby. Are you serious? I'm not blaming anything on my daughter, I'm blaming your cook in the back for not being able to cook a medium well steak at a damn steak house! That really upset me. He then told us that he was going to take the steak off the bill, and pack it up, Cooked properly for me to take home and enjoy, which I thought was very nice of him. Maybe I took what he said wrong as far as my daughter went, but even in all the madness, their customer service and our waiter was enough to make me want to give this place a second chance. Everything that I ate was amazing! It was just the steak issue that kind of messed up our valentines night. My son and husband enjoyed their food, no complaints from them at all! The only advice I would give this place is to maybe retrain their kitchen staff on what a medium well steak should look like. I'm sure im not the only one coming in there asking for that! Also the hostesses were a bit snobby. We walked in and I smiled at them, and they just stared me up and down. Not sure what that was all about but they should really put a smile on their face, when we as customers are coming in, and they are the first people we see. Doesn't really look to great on their end! Especially when their prices are anywhere from 16 to 80 bucks a plate. All in all, I think it was our waiter who will bring me to want to try this place in the future, he was one of the best waiters I have ever encountered, so thumbs up for having such a great asset to your company! He deserves a raise! And he is the reason I gave you guys 3 stars, or it would have been more like 1 or 2
(3)Yvonne N.
I wanted to like this place, but we came right when they were closing, I think.... the service was really not up to par either way. I got The California chicken salad and it was just ok. No bread. Maybe dinner is best? Wait staff not very attentive, but it really could've been due to us just making it for lunch. Either way, not going back to check. Anytime soon. I was not impressed.
(2)California G.
I don't think we're returning to this spot anymore. The food is over rated here. And the service was horrible. I brought my husband here for dinner and was dissapointed. He didn't enjoy he's steak.
(1)Julie D.
Everything was excellent! We had reservations for 6 but showed up with 9. They were so accommodating on such a busy night, we were impressed at how they handled it and took care of us while they reset up our table. Our service and food was excellent. My Filet was outstanding!!
(5)Forrest G.
I took my wife, sister, son, and brother in law here for a nice dinner to celebrate a birthday. We had a Living Social coupon: $30.00 dollars for $60.00 certificate. No amount of savings would ever bring us back to his pit. The service was horrible, the food was raw, and the kitchen was running 1.5 hours behind schedule. We hardly saw our waitress; I'm not sure if she quit halfway through her shift or what. We asked for separate checks; yes, they gave us one bill. We couldn't get out of there fast enough.
(1)Tony K.
We were a party of 10 that was looking for a nice place to eat after a day full of travel and meetings. Chops was recommended to us so we decided to give it a try. When we walked in, there was a refrigerator with aged meat, which was very impressive because I enjoy high grade aged meat. The service was great and the food was good but the price point was a little high. It took a whole for the food to come, but again, it may have been due to the fact that we were a larger party. Overall a great experience with good food.
(4)Angelika L.
Our first time here the food was excellent did the place was nice our waiter was outstanding it we definitive we will go back next Valentine's Day !!
(5)Erica C.
If it weren't the for $100 gift card I received to Chops, I probably wouldn't have went to Chops after reading the other reviews. It's all true what they say! The meat they serve lacks a lot of flavor and for the price per plate they charge, it should definitely taste a lot better. Came in on Christmas Eve around 7:30pm. It wasn't too packed as there were a lot of open tables still. We got sat at a table in the corner and it didn't have a table cloth over it like the others. No biggie, but still, if one table has a table cloth then all tables should have table cloth as well. For food, I had the steak and lobster. The meat was seriously bland and a bit cold. I expected a lot more for paying $44 a plate. The lobster was probably the best thing on the plate. It was tender and moist. I tried some of my boyfriend's prime rib and it was dry and also bland. The horseradish sauce didn't have enough kick to it either. The food was seriously disappointing, especially after a 40 min wait! Service was slow, food came out EXTREMELY slow and our waiter sucked. He could have at least kept us updated on the status of our food if it was going to take over 40 mins. He also never checked on our table and only refilled our water once because we asked him to. I guess he was also in a hurry to leave work since we were his last table and he was just standing and starring at us a few feet away from our table. Don't waste your money and take your business to Morton's or Ruth Chris!
(2)James B.
Incredible service! Incredible food! You will not be disappointed in either. We go several times a year for the past six years and not once have we regret it. This time we took our 11 yo. He loved it and the staff even explained to him Joe they prepare the meat etc. He said, Brian and then were awesome! Great place for family dinners.
(5)Rose M.
THE BEST porterhouse steak I've ever had...and that's saying something! Marvelous food
(5)Stacey B.
On Friday, April 26th, my husband, 8 yr old daughter and I went into the Sacramento Chop's to use our living social deal. Being a regular there for lunch, I expected nothing but good service and excellent food. However, what we received was the complete opposite, in both areas - enough to make me never want to return. In summary, here's what we experienced: - we had 6 o'clock reservations and walked into at approximately 5:58 pm. There was one group waiting to be seated and it appeared they had been waiting a while. There was no one at the hostess desk for approx. 10 minutes. We stood there without any acknowledgement. Finally, the General Manager (GM) appeared, told the group ahead they are just waiting to locate menus. He did not acknowledge us waiting, only the group ahead. The hostess appeared at approximately 6:10 with a stack of menus. The GM took a few menus and seated the group ahead then returned. A prom group arrived right after he took the first group to their table and they nicely lined up against the wall (at this time it was crowded in front of the hostess area). The GM came back while the hostess was getting sorted and told her to seat the prom group first. Again, not even acknowledging us. My hubby said "we are here too and first." The hostess noticed this and apologized and seated us first. - we were seated at approx 6:15. - we got drinks ordered at approx 6:30 - we ordered immediately once the drinks were served at about 6:40. I ordered the filet (med), hubby ordered the t-bone and our daughter, the Mac and cheese. - 45 mins later...no food. I asked if they could at least bring out my daughters...we got that about 15 mins later. - 20 mins later, our food comes out and my filet is cooked well done. It's about 7:45 now. The waiter apologized and took it back. - 30 mins later, after my hubby and daughter are both finished, the GM comes over and say "how is everything?" I said, " honestly?", he turned to me with a stern look and said "no!". My hubby was furious and said "it honestly didn't start off well when you ignored us up front." The GM begins to argue with my hubby saying he didn't ignore us. They engage in a back and forth. I interrupted and said, "no matter what your opinion is, I'm pretty sure the GM isn't supposed to argue with customers!" He said I was right and asked if there's anything else I needed. I said no, but to package my food to go because I didn't want to be there any longer (I still hadn't received my dinner at this point...it's now 8:30). - at 8:45, we finally received our food. Paid with our living social (worth $80) and left! 2 hrs and 45 mins passed our reservation time! The GM was a complete jerk and because of him, I don't wish to return to Chop's! Chop's, or any restaurant, should make sure the staff they employ, especially a GM, represents their business in the best light possible...no matter what the situation.
(1)Julie T.
Review is just for happy hour. We got wine, beer, burger and salad. Burger was okay. Salad had too many ingredients. It would have been fine without like five of the ingredients. Our buddy got calamari, and he wasn't impressed. Our server must have been new or something because she often forgot about us or an item. We'll have to try the dinner next time.
(3)Sarah K.
The first time I went there it was pretty good. But the second time I went there I was extremely disappointed. Steaks were cold and tasteless. The cocktails were mediocre and the chains had rips in them. For the price you would expect more.
(2)Mike G.
So I actually enjoyed my meal at Chops quite a bit, the reason I only gave it two stars was because the steak was really really mediocre. The appetizers were really good though. We split the oysters and the crab dip, both of which were really good. For sides we had the macaroni & cheese, which was really cheesy and surprisingly bland, and the grilled asparagus, which was.... well..... grilled asparagus. So on to the main course. I was hungry and I was hungry for steak. I hadn't had a good steak in a long time, so I was excited by the opportunity. I wasn't pleased with the variety, they had all of the standard cuts but there was no choice in size. So for me to get a porterhouse, my favorite cut, I had only one choice, to get there 32 oz. cut. So thats exactly what I did. Now all of the steaks at Chops are house dry aged, a 27 day process, which ensures a juicy steak, and indeed my steak was juicy. Unfortunately, it was also cooked much closer to medium, which isn't good considering I ordered it medium rare. And while I appreciate the taste of steak just about as much as anyone can, I actually appreciate the taste of steak that has been seasoned. Again, mine, unfortunately, was not. So when the big juicy 32 oz. porterhouse came out and I took the first bite, I thought to myself (and this is where we go full circle back to the beginning of my review), "Wow, this steak is really really mediocre". I will give Chops this much though, they made a mean side of carrots. They were really good, and the use of maple syrup in there preparation was really something special. For the cost, I think I would rather go somewhere else.... because there wasn't anything special enough at Chops for me to want to come back.
(2)P C.
My filet mignon was amazing! The carmalized carrots that came along with it are delicious. Be prepared to pay about $100 for two people, but it is well worth it.
(5)Alistair L.
Nothing wrong with the food, and its a nice restaurant, but nothing I couldn't have gotten somewhere else for significantly less. Not overwhelming, or underwhelming. Just whelming.
(3)cory b.
I really like this place. We have eaten here 4 times and I like it every time. I never feel ripped off, and I don't like to spend a ton on food. Steaks are always good, I love the Jim Beam Apple drinks, and my wife likes all the sides. Appetizers are excellent. I don't know why this place gets overlooked so much when compared to other downtown restaurants. I have never had anything to complain about when eating here.
(4)Jean K.
I was looking forward to dining at chops for a while. I've never been and have always wanted to go but living out in Folsom, it's just been difficult. We'd get to downtown and end up with the usual restaurants we go to or try ones with good reviews in the paper, magazines, etc. With the Dine Downtown going on, I decided to check it out with my friends. I ordered their 6 oz Fillet Mignon and I really wasn't impressed. My meat was juicy and cooked right but way over salted. I thought it was just me or perhaps just my Fillet so I asked both of my friends who ordered the same and got the same answer, too salty! I took a look at their steak that was suppose to be Medium Well and I thought I was looking at a dried up well done steak. The salad was plain, very typical and the chocolate cake was just another cake. I can't say anything else since I didn't try the appetizer. I would like to go back one more time to give it another try. Service was great and the people were friendly. Nothing really wowed me that I'd drive 40 min. to eat there again. Glad i only paid $30! :)
(2)Rachel Z.
I have to admit that my dining expectations for Chops was...so so. My colleague had recommended it when I was looking for spots to celebrate my dad's retirement party. She did say that the place gets a little lonely, as the dining room was not even half full. What a shame too, because we had such a great experience. My fiancé and I enjoyed the porterhouse for two, giving us both a side, 2 spicy crabcakes and perfectly cooked porterhouse. Melt in your mouth worthy cuts! Unfortunately, my dad didn't get the same firing of taste buds with his order. He got the prime rib, but it was just about to 'moo' off of his plate. The server was gracious enough to have it cooked a bit longer, but...the result was over cooked, sinewy meat. Again, my dad was not happy! But, the reason Chops gets a 4 star review is the way they handled the situation. Instead of treating my dad poorly, after sending the prime rib back again, we received a visit from the manager. He apologized that his new retirement was not off to the right start and insisted that he get a filet mignon. Oh, and they comped us the filet, our espressos and our desserts! Excellent service and great food (for the most part). What more could you ask for? Oh, you want a happy hour until 8pm...well, I guess Chops has it all.
(4)Carolyn T.
My boyfriend and I visited the Folsom location a few weeks ago and loved the place. We sat at the bar and ordered two drinks each and food. I had the salmon which was cooked to perfection. My boyfriend had the fish tacos which he said were tasty. Nothing completely out of this world amazing but also better than average. What really made our time there great was our super friendly bartender. So we decided to visit the Sacramento location since we were impressed with the Folsom location. Sadly, we had a terrible experience. We arrived at the bar hoping we'd make it in time for the Happy Hour. HH ends at 8pm and we arrived roughly 10 minutes till. Yes, I understand how that could be annoying to arrive 10 minutes before HH ends but 10 minutes is 10 minutes and hey! If we are there getting a deal on food, we usually ALWAYS put it towards the tip. My boyfriend and I are extra particular when it comes to customer service and unfortunately we experienced the worst. I'm not sure why the bartender was so rude but he was beyond the most stuck up person to ever greet and serve us. We asked for the HH menu and he looked at as with what literally looked like a pissed off, "are you serious?" look on his face. He said that HH was over. My boyfriend took out his iPhone and checked the time. 7:55pm. So technically HH isn't over. My boyfriend showed him the time and the bartender went on a rant about how the computers are set to a different time and that the restaurant goes by the time on the computers. We looked at each other and said that we were unaware that the restaurant went by a different time otherwise we wouldn't have stepped foot in there in the first place. Again, I understand how ordering 5 minutes till HH is over could bug him but the way he talked down to us and lectured us was unbelievably unacceptable and unnecessary and made us feel beyond uncomfortable. He then proceeded to say exactly this, "Look. I don't care what your time is. We go by our way and how things are ran here." He then walked off to help someone else. So does this guy not understand that we are supposedly at a STEAK house in a very nice location in Sacramento? A classy place! We may look young but we know the importance of customer service and we know how important it is to talk to people you are serving with some manners and respect. He made us feel stupid, awkward, and upset. So we got up and asked the hostess for a manager. We explained to the manager what had happened and how we really wanted to enjoy a nice HH meal along with some drinks but just felt beyond uncomfortable. We were polite and let him know that we loved the location in Folsom and guess what? We noticed that the manager was the bartender we had at our experience in Folsom! He was the most nicest, professional, and extraordinary manager we have ever met. He understood our reason for being upset and told us to stay and that he would wait on us. He also told us that he would honor the Happy Hour menu for us since we were there before 8pm. He made us feel like he really genuinely cares about our feelings and experience as customers. He was what saved us from not ever coming back there again. We shook his hand and thanked him for his amazing service and boy did he really make us feel great. Unfortunately my boyfriend and I didn't stay even after he sat us down and repeatably apologized. We just felt too awkward with the rude bartender there and just decided to go next door. I wish I could tell the manager how great he was and how we really did appreciate his good heart. A super genuinely nice person. Overall, the food is great but go to the Folsom spot. A much better location and much better experience.
(3)Lauren M.
I went there on a living social deal and I will never be going back. Quick tips: expensive, bad portions, mediocre/cold food, and slow service. For starters the hostess on Saturday night (6/14/2014) was really snobby. My boyfriend bought the living social deal so we could try this place out with a reasonable deal. We arrived around 7:30 pm and the place wasn't busy to my surprise. We told the hostess that we didn't make reservations. Immediately I could tell that would become an issue by the look on her face. She proceeded to seat us in the bar area. I asked her if we could in the back in a booth and she said those were for reservations only because they were busy and that we had to sit in the bar area. I was once a hostess at a nice restaurant, I know what that means sweetie....it was incredibly rude. So we sat in the half booths by the bar by the kitchen....so romantic. Love that our special night doesn't mean a thing to them. But, my boyfriend and I didn't let it bother us THAT MUCH even though we were dressed nice and were really trying to make this a special night for ourselves. As the night went on, the place got LESS busy and I couldn't see why we wouldn't be allowed to sit in the more secluded part of the restaurant. Our waiter was the bartender which is why I am even giving this place one star. He was really nice and attentive given how busy he was, not to mention a good bartender. Keep him chops. At least you have that going for you. The restaurant didn't adhere to the living social deal which comes with a specific menu. Our waiter said they change it up with the living social deal, which I didn't really buy that given I haven't seen this restaurant on living social; I just don't think they were really prepared. Anyway, my boyfriend's pasta was extremely mediocre and came out lukewarm. My steak came out raw and along with my carrots, came out cold. Our waiter fixed the issue with my meal and was hilarious about it but it still bothered me that the $24 8 oz steak was about 30% fat, cooked wrong, and cold. Also the portions of the sides were ridiculous given the price of everything. We won't be going back and will definitely spread the word to our associates in Sacramento. A note to restaurants: if you're going to put a deal on living social, treat your guests like they are high rollers..that makes them come back meaning your living social deal was a success!! We went to Blackbird in Sacramento on a deal and absolutely loved it. We continue to go back and pay full price. In the words of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, "BIG MISTAKE. HUGE."
(1)becky g.
Just a review on the food and menu. The wait staff was very friendly and responsive. We went for NYE at 8:15. It did not appear to be overly busy, several empty tables and only 4 people in the bar. The oysters had run out already(a fav of our group). The crab cakes were all seasoning, two bites and my girlfriend got sick(physically). The Mac and cheese was however Delish. No complaints on the steaks, which is good because it was a steakhouse. This is really a lame complaint, but the menu showed broccolini, my favorite vegetable...it was only $6 extra (no substituting) but I was disappointed to receive broccoli. Definitely not the same as broccolini. I'm sure they ran out but come on. The drinks were pretty good but overall I don't think I would eat there again. Was not impressed for the well over $1000 we spend with a party of 9.
(2)Frank H.
Wow....total disappointment. Ordered 16 oz. New York steak. It was not good. I've gotten better NY steaks at Costco. The meat was very chewy and full of fat. There were nine of us in our party and no one at the table was happy with their meal. Next time in Sac we will try something else...
(1)Jun R.
You really can't go wrong if you're looking for a great steak and seafood place. We were a group of 7 and ordered pretty much everything on the menu. If you're a couple, I'd really suggest getting the Porterhouse for two which comes with crab cake appetizers. Our table also had the prime rib, twin lobster tails, pork loin, and rack of lamb and everything was a hit. Service is very friendly and reliable. If you're visiting Sacramento, this is a good place to go for dinner but remember that it is in downtown right across the Capitol which means it is pretty dead in that area at night. You need to go up 4 or 5 blocks up towards midtown if you're looking to be among the locals. Still a great place for dinner.
(4)Brandon G.
Very impressed! Great atmosphere. I was there with a friend for lunch and we chose to sit outside. Amazing view of the Capitol. Service was prompt and very courteous. The waitress even brought my service dog a bowl of water without being asked. Food was beyond good. Price was good as well great food great value. I was also impressed with the eclectic choices on the menu. I would eat there again when in the area. They were also smoker friendly so if you smoke cigars it's a nice place to have a great meal and enjoy a fine cigar afterwards.
(4)Lisa M.
Ok let me start by saying I hate writing bad reviews, but I'm still so disappointed with our dining experience at chops. We had reservations for 6 since we were seeing a show at 8. This should have been plenty of time for a nice relaxed dinner. I even told our waitress we needed to be out in time for the show. She promised to take care of us then promptly disappeared for over 15 minutes. Once we got our orders in the food was even slower to show up, three of us ordered the fillet and it was just ok, and the steak knife I was given was terrible and didn't cut well. We just got through quickly eating our dinners in time to make it to the show- we didn't even have time for dessert!! At the prices you pay for a meal at chops the last thing you want is to rush through a meal. I don't think we will be trying this place again
(2)James C.
I visit the Chop and found the service is good because only six tables had customer. I order the the NY steak and 1/2 lbs of Alaska King crab legs as a add-on. The steak was okay and the King crab legs were small and was not fresh and the drawing butter was cold. The salad was old and nasty. Pass on this place, but recommend to a foe.
(2)Gabriel H.
For being a steakhouse, you would think that Chops would know how to properly cook a steak. That was not the case. My wife and I typically go to Bandera or Ruth's Chris but we decided to try Chops as it was downtown. We both ordered the filet and it was not that good. I asked for medium rare and it came out purple and cold in the middle - definitely not medium rare. I was fine with it, it happens. They took the steak back and I got what appeared to be a new one. The cook or manager, I was not sure who, asked me to cut into it and it was still purple. This was not medium rare. The guy was pissed that I said it was purple and exclaimed okay so you want it medium - no i wanted medium rare red and pink in the middle not purple. He took it back, reheated it, and it came out well down. Whatever, I was over it so I said it was fine. We also ordered a bottle of wine and they charged us for the wrong one. All in all we spent 200 dollars for an okay meal. We should never have gone somewhere other than Bandera or Ruth's Chris for our steak.
(2)Becky N.
This comment goes out to the bar tender Manny! He is the reason we will be back over and over again. THANK YOU MANNY for making Chops a great experience! We went there with a group of people, and he made us feel like we were the only ones there. We sat at his bar at first and then moved outside to the patio. He told us it was no problem, and he would be more than happy to serve us out there-- even though he was SUPER BUSY! My husband's steak was a little over cooked, and Manny did what it took to make that steak perfect for him (the Manager did too, so he gets props). My husband is a steak connoisseur and it has to be just right. Manny served my husband some clam chowder while he waited for his steak. Manny is always smiling and has a way with making everyone at the table laugh. He always kept the most positive attitude. He is also very good a recommending delicious dishes and wines. I cannot say enough about him. We were so happy with his services, that I promised him I would Yelp him and say great things about his excellent customer service. SEE MANNY, I am a woman of my word! =) THANKS AGAIN, MANNY! We will be back! Oh, and I must say, Chops has the best happy hour, and I LOVE IT!! I am updating my review, the more I go to Chops the more I love it and the people. I must give a should out to MISTY!!! She is also the bar tender there. She is ALWAYS friendly, and ALWAYS attentive tot he details of our meal. I try to eat healthy, so I'm always ordering this and that on the side. Now, I don't even have to ask. She knows my "usual" order. THANKS MISTY for paying attention to detail and for always serving me and my friends with a smile. It means a lot and it keeps us coming back. Becky
(5)Henry L.
Eat here every time I'm am in Sac. Misty the bartender is great likes bourbon and handles the bar with a smile. Got the Ribeye special and in usual fashion didn't disappoint. Cooked and seasoned to perfection. Some of the best lemon sorbet I've had anywhere. Close to the Capitol and get the Government crowed after work for cocktails. Outdoor patio is great for a smoke and people watching.
(4)TRACY R.
Melt in your mouth Pulled Pork Crispy Calamari Roasted Artichoke with aioli Washed down with 2 glasses of the House White Wine You know what it is: HAPPY HOUR!! Happy Hour + Happy Birthday = Happy Friends!! LOVED this place! The outside porch made a nice setting for another one of those warm Sacramento nights. AND Happy Hour ends at 8pm!!! I appreciate restaurants that have a long happy hour. I was able to go home, feed the dog, do what I needed to do before coming out to celebrate a beautiful friend's birthday. Of course I have to talk food: 1. Pulled pork: Hands down the BEST I've ever had! Warm, toasted Hawaiian Bread, with melt in your mouth pulled pork. The sauce was sweet, but not overwhelming and I'm pretty sure there were crispy shoe string fries and a some crisp veggies in there. First bite as absolutely divine! I'd come back just for this dish cause it was so tasty!! 2. Crispy Calamari: Really good quality served with two different sauces (marinara and ranch?). Definitely yummy! 3. Artichoke: I've never had artichoke before, so this was my first time. Interesting taste, interesting experience. I think I have to try it again to decide whether or not I like it. I've had lunch and dinner here before and I'm always impressed by the quality of their food and the presentation! Hats off to the chef! Service isn't bad either!
(4)Ashley S.
The service and ambiance was okay but very disappointed in the quality of food. My boyfriends lobster was extremely over cooked and filet mignon was not properly trimmed. Too fatty. It was very upsetting especially considering the cost of each plate. Then we tried the Creme Brûlée which was nothing to write home about. Thought it would be good since it's made in house, but it was totally burnt on top and tasted like instant pudding. Gordon Ramsay would have a lot to say to the cook staff on their performance especially for those prices. Will never be going back.
(2)Jennee D.
Had an outstanding dinner here last night. The food was awesome and the service by Mannie was wonderful. We will definately return!
(5)Ernest B.
Came here with the wife for n.y.e. dinner. Walked in and sat right down. No wait at all. Food came out PROMT and hot. I got the prime rib and it was great! She got the surf and turf and also enjoyed. Server was Chris and was very helpful and attentive. We will be back.
(4)David D.
Service was friendly and attentive for the most part, my wife was happy with her scallop fettuccini and my son with his lamb, but my New York was tough and bland. Even needed to ask for a sharper steak knife. Sizzler has better meat and it certainly wouldn't cost $38. Neighboring table also had a complaint over the steak. And this place specializes in that? Too many other places to go for steak, so with this being the second time I was disappointed, out of two times there, I don't see myself going back.
(3)Harrison L.
Great staff. Ho hum food. With the presentation, the aging process etc. etc. I was expecting a bit more than the featured entree (filet). It should have been more flavorful (somewhat dry), a bit more tender, and not placed on top of mashed potatoes. I'll be back, though. With a Groupon.
(3)Erin R.
One word : YUM My boyfriend & I went here because I bought a deal from Living Social. He got a prime rib, which he loved and I got the roast beef dip which was honestly the best sandwich I have ever had! It had a lot of meat on it & was cooked perfectly. Yes, it was pricey but boy was it worth it! We will definitely be going back.
(5)Melissa B.
I went here for my fiances birthday and we could not have been happier with the food and service! First off, chicken is the only meat that I will occasionally eat and being a steak restaurant, they did not have a huge variety of vegetarian options. But when I asked our server, he was SO accomidating and was willing to make me anything that i could think of, be it pasta or a chicken sandwich. I wasn't too hungry so i settled for a potato which was absolutely delicious! My fiance got their 14 oz ribeye steak and was in meat heaven! The waiter was INCREDIBLE! he was so nice, prompt, and professional. the ambiance was beautiful and i really liked their seating.. Because it was his birthday they presented a beautifully decorated chocolate cake slice with ice cream. Of course, their prices are a bit steep because of the food they are providing but it is worth it and we cannot wait to go back. A++++
(5)Aly W.
I was very torn between giving this restaurant a 3 or a 4 due to the end of our dining experience. I decided to focus on the food and service and give them a 4. See the end of my review for why I debated giving them a 3. My Husband and found this place randomly on the night of his birthday. (We like to walk around downtown Sacramento at dinner time without a plan and just see where we end up!) We were very pleasantly surprised with Chops. We caught their happy hour menu because it goes until 8 pm. Seriously, I wish more restaurants would do that! Who can get off work, make it to a happy hour, and actually have time to enjoy it by 5 or 6pm? Our food was delicious and the service was excellent! My only complaint is that shortly after we were seated, I snuck off on the pretenses of needing to wash my hands so I could talk to the floor manager. I told her it was my husbands 30th birthday and asked if they could do something special for him. They said that they don't sing to customers, it's a classier establishment than that, but that she would let our server know and they would bring him out a free dessert and wish him a happy birthday. Unfortunately that never happened. They forgot about it. I wish now that I would have said something but it would have embarrassed my husband to say "ugh, where's his free dessert?!" I told him what I did and that I was sorry that they forgot. We had a lovely dinner and then it just ended awkwardly. The real kicker is that he was feeling down about his birthday and I was trying to do something special for him. Them forgetting about him didn't help. Had it not been his birthday it would have been a perfect evening.
(4)David L.
Had dinner at Chops again to use their birthday offer. The service was fine but the steak was overcooked. When I asked for some steak sauce (as the meat was pretty dry), the server came back with BBQ sauce as they were out of steak sauce. A steak house out of steak sauce?? Wow, just wow.
(2)Jennifer M.
I would give them 0 stars if I could. My husband took me here for my birthday along with some of our other family. I must say, it was the worst service I have ever experienced in my life. It took 1.5 hours to receive our food, and was raw. Took another half an hour to get the raw food replaced. They never asked us for beverage refills. I had to ask them 4 times for a booster seat for my son. They gave my son his food LITERALLY right after it came out of the oven Come on, a 2 year old couldn't even eat it at that temp. Had to wait another 20 min. We asked for separate checks, and received 1 bill instead. The restaurant wasn't even busy given the fact it was a Saturday and Father's Day weekend. Unexceptable service. Will never go back
(1)Jackie T.
The only time I've been to Chops was when I had to use an expiring Groupon (thanks Wendy Y.) not that long ago (last week to be exact). I came during my lunch hour from work and without a reservation (huge mistake), so the hostess informed us that our wait was about 15 mins. Normally, I would have just left and came back another day, but since the Groupon deal was about to expire, I decided to stay. After about a 10 minute wait, we were finally seated, but we didn't know who our server was because he/she never really came by to introduce themselves. Eventually, a lady that seemed like she was either a manager or the hostess, took our order as she poured us our ice water. After about 30-35 minutes later after initially placing our order and our lunch time coming closer and closer to an end, we decided that we can't wait no more and asked one of the servers working the dining room if we could just box it to go. The server was really understanding, and he accommodated our request. So the lesson learned: do not come to Chops for lunch if you have a short time frame to spare, and to ALWAYS make a reservation! The burger I ordered that I didn't get to eat at the restaurant was decent. The burger was pretty flavorful and juicy. My only complaint was the burger wasn't big enough for my appetite. I was left searching for more food after I cleared my to-go box of fries and burger.
(3)Karen M.
I had a birthday dinner here on Friday with close family. The restaurant was beautiful and it seemed very promising until we received our first course- our side Caesar salad. All 3 of our salads were partially frozen, wilted, and horrible. I couldn't even finish my salad! The other people in my party were fine with eating their frozen salad, but I wasn't! You'd hope that a nice restaurant like Chops would check the quality of their produce. The steak we had was extremely tough. Barely half of it was eaten. My pasta was obviously overcooked- the noodles fell apart every time it tried to pick it up. The ribs was fine and polenta was tasty.
(2)Abigail L.
I went here with some friends after watching a show at the Sacramento Community Theater. I shared the prime rib with a friend and had the meal special for 2 people. The prime rib it self wasn't that great considering how much it cost. I didn't care about the crab cakes since they were just crazy salty. THe medallion pieces on the prime rib were great but I wish I had more. I sides of fries and onion rings werent anything special. I did try some of my friend aged balsamic steak and that was delicious that I wish i ordered that instead. I probably wouldnt come back here for food, too costly considering there are plenty of other good options in the area.
(3)Aubrey D.
Pricey for this man from Albuquerque NM, but very good burger and excellent potato skins.
(4)Cindy W.
I dont like to write long reviews i just like to get to the point and let my opinion be known, everything from start to finish sucked. Nasty bread, soggy "garlic scented fries", no ice in the iced tea ( it was hot like it was just made) horrible service and attitudes from employees and way way way too expensive for what you get. Better off going somewhere else. Period.
(1)King L.
Chops was a superb venue for my wife's 60th Birthday party. Michelli, Chop's special events coordinator and McKenzie, her assistant, made my wife's surprise birthday dinner a night to remember. They helped me with all the details and planning early on, so on the night of the event, our 25 guests had a wonderful time. Chops has a private dining room in the basement that was reserved for us for the ENTIRE evening. It is equipped with audio and video equipment, so we were able to show a video my kids made of their mom to celebrate her special evening. Brian, the restaurant manager, allowed us to come in early to set up the balloons and floral decorations. The food was incredible and service was flawless. I would not hesitate to recommend Chops Downtown for your special event.
(5)S C.
We went here with friends after a day of exploring Old Town, per our friends suggestion this being their favorite place in Sacramento. The food was good and freshly prepared. The servers were very attentive and friendly. We enjoyed everything that we ordered from the menu. I only had one issue and I was too nice to say anything about it. I ordered the classic sundae for dessert which said that it came with hot fudge, it came out with caramel. I am not a big fan and would not have ordered it to begin with had I known. the bathroom was incredibly nice, I know that sounds strange. But the condition of the bathroom in my opinion says a lot about the establishment. The view of the State Capitol at night was a nice surprise.
(3)Lance B.
Had the special rib eye! Wow first time in my life I sent it back!! The whole steak was gristle!! Tried to eat what I could but my wife nearly had to do the hymlick on me. Very disappointing for a birthday dinner.
(1)Cindy S.
Its been almost a year since our first time at Chops and this time was just as delightful as the first. Upon arrival we were seated at a large booth and surprised to find out Happy Hour was still going on (3:00pm-8:00pm M-F). Service was pretty quick and attentive but the restaurant wasn't busy either. While all of the specials sounded good my boyfriend and I ordered a Spinach Salad ($8) and the dinner for two which included a 28oz Porter House Steak hand carved for two in sauce with veal demi-glace, two dungeness crab cakes, caramelized carrots and your choice of another side ($57). Our server brought out our bread, salad and crab cakes first. The bread was served with a creamy garlic, buttery, herb spread which tasted really good. We were trying to hold back but had to have a second serving. The crab cakes were thick and heavily constructed with fresh crab and lightly breaded. They were served on a really good sauce and well worth trying. I'm not much of a spinach person but with all the stuff they put in the salad- mushrooms, bacon, almonds, egg and cheese with honey mustard vinaigrette I couldn't help but have more than a couple bites. I wanted it all, but I had to share. The Porter House Steak with the sauce was mouthwatering. It had a really good grilled flavor, was tender and sauce was tantalizing. If you haven't had this sauce, you are seriously missing out. I think I'm beginning to salivate as I have flashbacks writing this. I'm not really a carrot person but I actually really enjoyed them and didn't send them over to my boyfriend's plate. While he had mashed potatoes I opted for the garlic scented fries. Don't be fooled- these aren't just garlic fries, they are garlic, Parmesan, chilli flake chive fries! We tried to save room for pumpkin ice cream but were too full to make the attempt. Maybe next time. If your not already making a reservation for tonight i hope your drooling because everything I had the other night was delicious! Chops is definitely staying on my list of classy places for a night out in Sactown.
(5)Nancy H.
Absolutely wonderful service and the food was great. Unfortunately, I have an extreme aversion to pickles. Apparently, these are a regular garnish. If it's not on the menu, it shouldn't be on my plate. The waitress was very accomodating, but I dislike being in situations where I could piss off the cook and have even more items added to my food that aren't on the menu.
(3)Terry P.
Great menu, attentive staff (thanks Trisha) - we keep going back
(4)Rachael A.
I was expecting more. The food took forever and wasn't the best, I really believe it wasn't worth the price.
(2)Michael M.
Terrible service. My friend asked for a medium well steak that came back rare and another friend that was served cold Brussels sprouts. The service was mediocre at best. Food was a disappointment after waiting an hour and half. The majority of the menu was not available, and a non-existent selection of chicken. Would not accommodate our request for substitutions despite our willingness to pay extra. A request for salad served prior to a meal was apparently not going to happen because the "chef" refused to plate his over cooked meal any other way than what his small mind knew how to do. Overall a poor experience and would not recommend this establishment to my friends or enemies.
(1)Devo S.
Mmmmmm...steak! I had a great experience here with the Hubby and a couple of good friends. My ribeye was delish; the calamari was great; the stuffed mushrooms were AWESOME; Hubby filet mignon was remarkable; my friends' dishes were both cooked to perfection; the key lime martini was yummy, and the staff (server Manny and host Fred) were super. I like supporting local restaurants, and I like going someplace nice with good food. Chops fulfilled both needs! It is a little pricey, but then what quality steak house isn't? Seriously, if you want "less expensive" then go to Outback, people!
(5)Sean W.
Upon walking in you will immediately notice one of my favorite parts of this restaurant for I love the aesthetic of the bar. Lots of glass and I'm partial to glass. I've never had anything less than excellent service here and I do so like to come in here for a happy hour before dinner. What can I say, the place is convenient and very easy to get to, especially for those of us who live and work downtown. We had a lovely dinner here with excellent service. The food was amazing except that the chicken was overcooked and dry. Not by much, but enough to notice. The filet mignon was perfect. 'nuf said. The dessert was a cheesecake that was insanely good. Our waiter was extremely attentive and knowledgeable of the food. He was able to describe each dish in detail and give recommendations. He was also very good conversation and entertaining at that. The only real negative I found here was that I thought the decor in the back room a little stale and not up to par with what I would expect right across the street from the Capitol. That is the only reason why I dropped a four star instead of a five.
(4)Chris D.
Total failure. Shame on me for not seeing the reflags in a high end restaurant pushing discounted gift certificates through Costco. Price is about what you would expect for a nice restaurant. Their happy hour drink specials were appealing but they are only offered at the bar. The bartender was friendly and attentive. The service was poor. Our waitress asked once at the beginning of dinner if we wanted drinks (which seemed out of place because we arrived with full drinks from the bar) She understood this to mean that we wanted no other drinks over the course of our meal. We also spent the majority of our meal with empty water glasses. Aside from the food was brought out we didn't see her until she offered dessert and brought the check. The food was mediocre at best. We were celebrating our anniversary and we wanted to try something new. I had the prime rib medium rare. It wasn't tender like you would expect prime rib to be and it tasted like it hadn't been seasoned at all. The sides were equally unremarkable. My meal was the better of the two and only a half-step ahead of what you could find at a $12 buffet. I felt awful for my girlfriend who had ordered the lamb. She was so excited until it arrived. She ordered it medium-rare which was brought out well done with a cold center. To add insult to injury the lamb hadn't been trimmed well which left a very small amount of well done meet that was edible. The flavor of the meet was very gamey, may I suggest a renaming to mutton. We opted to cut our losses and skipped dessert to search elsewhere. In total we were left with a $140 bill for a meal that very disappointing. We won't be back and I'll be sure to point friends elsewhere in the future.
(1)Mia C.
For our anniversary dinner today, we went to Chops. We had a nice romantic evening with good food and wine. Although we had made reservations ahead of time, it was not really necessary because this restaurant was almost empty, maybe because it was a Monday. Our server was Daniel, who turned out to be a friendly guy. We ordered Cabernet and the tiger prawn quesadilla to start off. The quesadilla was ok, nothing special. But they served cheese crusted bread and some kind of flavored butter initially which was really yummy. For main course, I had the Grilled Salmon Oscar and my husband had the Prime Rib [10 oz one]. They were both good, but plating was terrible considering we are paying 30+ for each dish. I have seen better plating even in inexpensive restaurants. But overall, no major complaints!
(4)Jamie T.
Went to Chops for the first time last night. It was a lovely experience. Tasty food, good drinks, great service, and nice ambience... It's nice to have a moderately priced steakhouse in Downtown Sacramento... I have no complaints, but seems some people do.. But then again, some people are just never happy. I highly recommend.
(5)Nathan O.
Went there for a Vday dinner with my wife (mostly because our first choices were all booked up already) and was a little nervous reading the reviews after I made the reservations. I decided to give it a chance anyway because I'm not real snobby with my food and I like to give local businesses a chance. It started out pretty well, good service and they let us sit early since we got there pretty early. The bread was good and our server (Jose) was nice. Then came the real reason we came, the FOOD. We got the Ahi Poke appetizer. Way too simplistic, there was the protein on top of a bed of flavorless cabbage. There wasn't even cilantro on it as advertised. Definitely a weak start. We also ordered a caesar salad, that our server was nice enough to offer to split onto two plates, but not nice enough to tell us he would charge us $2 extra. The steaks came in decent time. My wife got the filet mignon and it was super dry. She ordered it medium rare, and it did look medium rare, so I can't explain why it would be dry. I got the New York Strip, also medium rare, and it looked like it was cooked ok, but half of it was super chewy. It's not even that it was real fatty, I would just take a bite and chew, but half of the meat wouldn't breakdown. Very disappointing that I would rather go to Texas Roadhouse for 1/3 of the cost and better food. 1 star for the potatoes and 1 star for our server.
(2)Sean H.
we try to get in here at least 1 time a month. we r ALWAYS very happy with the food,service and the need to come back. And price almost makes me feel guilty.....lol every person I have sent here said the same. this a must try. u will love it....
(5)Nel R.
Location? Good. Ambiance and comfort? Depends where you sit. Tables are good, booths are uncomfortable. Food? Not spectacular, especially for the price. Veggies were bland. Glazed carrots were overlooked. Filet Minon and NY strip were undercooked. Staff? Inconsistent. Some were good. Others you would think it was their first day in a restaurant. Bar? Good. Overall- won't go out of my way to go back.
(3)Alexis C.
I love this place it's my favorite place to get "happy" after a long days work. The owner, bartenders and all the staff are great. Misty and Bryan always greet me with a smile and take care of me! My glass doesn't stay empty for long if at all before I'm offered another. So the service is great! The food has always been awesome - I've never had a bad meal here. The prices are reasonable and the ambiance is great. They have a great patio for people watching and the interior is low lit and relaxing. It's definitely a place to come and unwind. It has a friendly welcoming vibe in a nice elegant setting. I haven't ever tried the dessert so that's next on my bucket list. I almost forgot they have a great bday deal and will send you a $35 coupon on your birthday. For happy hour I recommend the mushrooms, sliders, calamari (all around $5-$6) and wash it down with a $2 draft or $4 house wine. Oh and don't forget its 3-8 pm - definitely one of the best and most generous happy hours in town. For lunch I highly recommend the beef barley soup - it's great. Salads are good size and generous portions too. The ahi poke is fabulous as well. I've been to other "high end" steak houses in the area and dropped $$$ I'd rather come here any day.
(5)Stella G.
I was so excited to go to Chops. That lasted about five minutes. It is really like a glorified Denny's, with nicer booths. Our waiter was great. The food....awful. The pulled pork sandwich was lukewarm with what tasted like bottled bbq sauce and it came on a bun that looked like it came from Save Mart. My friend ordered the Chopped Steak salad, and it was tasteless, and limp...and very very small portion, which was fine since he only took a few bites Way overpriced. Also, we were at a quiet booth, and then a HUGE party came in and sat next to us at a table for 12 or so and they were so loud I could not hear my friend right across the table. The table with that much seating should not be in the middle of the dining area. Save your money and get a meal anywhere but here.
(1)Mary N.
Went here for "Dine Downtown" and ended up ordering off the traditional menu instead. Overall, I would have to say this is one of the better Steakhouses in Sac. I recently ate at Morton's, and this was way better tasting food, less pricey, and less pretentious. I split the "Steak for Two" meal. Basically you get a LARGE T-bone steak that they cut up for you to share, two crab cakes and two side items. The t-bone was cooked perfectly as ordered (medium). The filet portion was tender and juicy. The Strip Steak portion was rich with deep beef flavor. The crab cakes were good in flavor but I like them a little crispier than what we were served. I choose the buttermilk mash potatoes as my side; they were smooth and buttery, true to the name. My friend has the garlic "scented" fries. Also true to the name, you can definitely smell the garlic yet when you actually eat the fries, there was only a mild hint of garlic taste. Not overpowering like what you get at a ball game. Our table ordered a couple of desserts to share. The raspberry cheese cake had a very nice presentation. The cake was mild in flavor and very light and fluffy. The creme brule (which is usually my favorite dessert) was not good at all. The texture was completely off. It was the runniest creme brule I've ever had. But overall, it was a great dinner experience. Nicely decorated restaurant with very friendly staff. Key work is "friendly" as opposed to pretentious. You can park your car in the parking structure right across from the Restaurant and they will validate up to $5.00 work of parking fees. My parking fee was exactly $5.00.
(4)Jacob C.
Good job spencer! Representing yourself as the head chef. More like head douche with a chip on your shoulder. Bad food and bad cook. Yeah cook!
(1)Christine R.
Service was great, vibrant bar area with a soothing lounge. They have their fresh cuts of meats displayed in the refrigerator right behind the hostess stand. The pork chop was tender and juicy - superb! Fresh clam chowder, decent selection of desserts with a delicious NY cheesecake...a must have. Waitstaff are friendly and patient with answering questions. Huge wine selection and a variety of cocktails, we chose a bottle of LaCrema of course. A great place to take clients. If you're craving a burger, this would also be the place to go.
(5)Steak c.
I was in town for work and was dying for a good steak. I was there working with a groups of about 8 of us so I convinced them all to join me for a nice meal. I made reservations online for us and that went smoothly. We arrived right on time and were greatest by a friendly host who had a good sense of humor. We were seated way in the back, which worked out perfectly. The wait staff and manager were a good hunch of people and jokes around with us. This was also good because once we started having some drinks we go really loud and had a great time. On to the food. I can only speak for what I had. I didn't see my favorite cut, ribeye so i had to find another steak that I would like. I like a well marbled steak and nothing I. The menu was going to satisfy me completely. So I went with a porterhouse. I ordered it med-rare. I ordered a baked potato with it. The steak came out and was cooked perfectly. It was also very hot coming out of the kitchen. The filet side was so tender and had really good flavor, which I usually never find. I usually have a flavorless filet, so I was happy about that. The strip side had a reasonable amount of marbling which was nice. The flavoring and temp on that side was also perfect. The baked potato was good. Overall it was a great dining experience and excellent food. I gave it 4 stars only because it had a slightly limited selections of steak and my steak had a little more gristle than I would have liked. Outside of that it was a great dining experience and I would definitely go back. Due to our loud and obnoxious behavior we gave a great tip!
(4)Jim K.
Prime Rib!!! Prime Rib!!!! Prime Rib!!!! Save room for deserts. Any of them. Bourbon drinkers, they carry Whistle Pig. Did I mention the Prime Rib?!?!
(5)Travis K.
My partner & I went to Chop's for dinner recently when I was craving a good steak... I can't point to anything that was necessarily bad nor can I say anything was that good. The service was average or below, my steak was overlooked when I had ordered it medium-rare & I thought it was pricey for the quality of the meal. For a little bit more money I could have had a much better steak at Ruth's Chris.
(2)Mike H.
We were walking around looking for a quiet place to eat on a Saturday night. Walked right in and were seated right away. Good food, good enviornment, good service. Lava cake didn't deliver, but the rest of the food was great!
(4)Sean C.
When dining out, I generally don't ask for much. Some semblance of ambiance and cleanliness are, however, towards the top of my list (especially when eating at a "nice" steakhouse). In this vein, Chops fails in such incomprehensible ways. When I'm paying $30-$50 for a steak, I prefer not to eat off of Formica lunch room grade tables. Why not throw down some standard white table cloths? I also prefer not to see my waiter exit the STALL of the restroom (think #2), and leave WITHOUT WASHING HIS HANDS. In fairness, Chops didn't have the ubiquitous "Employees Must Wash Hands Before Returning to Work" sign that always drives me crazy (do people actually need to be reminded to wash their hands?!), so I suppose this rube could have thought that hot water and soap were luxuries not afforded to the staff. Nevertheless, this sight was inexcusable. I had already finished my otherwise forgettable meal, so I didn't call out the offending party. Needless to say, however, I will not be eating at Chops anytime in the near future.
(1)Lori F.
We were in Sacramento for a business trip so we met with our daughter for dinner. Chops came with mixed recommendations, and now I can see why. Our dinner there had some good food and some very poor selections. We had good wait service, but the kitchen can really use some work! We started out on the wrong foot with the calamari appetizer, which was very bland, chewy, and overcooked - basically inedible - and the sauce and aioli couldn't save it. In addition, the wine we selected, which was enthusiastically promoted by our waiter, was unavailable. The two dinner selections were also a mixed bag. My husband had the steak and lobster, which he enjoyed. The filet was a little undercooked for his taste (he ordered medium and it was closer to rare) but he proclaimed the lobster juicy, sweet, and delicious. I shared their "dinner for two" with my daughter. The porterhouse steak we ordered was way over-cooked (we ordered medium rare and it came out medium well). It was sad to see what would have been a fine steak handled this way! The crab cakes were very good, mostly crab, very fresh and well seasoned, with a nice crisp crust, but they appeared about 10 minutes after the rest of the meal. All of the accompanying veggies, mashed potatoes, carrots, fries, and asparagus were done very nicely - too bad they weren't the main course. We also ordered two desserts, creme brule and the fresh fruit sorbet (raspberry). The sorbet was wonderful but the creme brule, although tasty, was a bit gritty and the top only partially caramelized. The waiter and manager made up for this failing by removing the cost of the appetizer and desserts. We appreciated the gesture, but it would have been gladly paid for if everything was good in the first place. Can't recommend this restaurant which comes with too high prices for this mixed experience.
(2)Jess C.
I had a surprise birthday party here in the room down stairs and had such a great experience. The food was amazing and the staff was great. When we went I thought we just wanted to stay for drinks. I love the bar and how you can sit outside and see the State capital. The Surf & Turf is AMAZING! The twice baked potato was AMAZING. The calamari was alright but I wouldn't order again. Chris, Executive Chef is a breath of fresh air. He came up to us and shook my hand and thanked us for coming in. He does a great job and his cooking skills are up there with the Iron Chef! Shout out to Chops Sacramento for making my Birthday amazing and keeping it such a surprise and shout out to Misty for the wonderful service over and over at the bar!
(5)Luke K.
Their filet mignon is really good. A nice generous and thick cut. I ordered it medium rare, and it came out perfect out if the kitchen. Paired it with a Lagunitas IPA. It was a meal worth coming back for. The staff were prompt and courteous. Great upscale dining experience.
(5)Dave P.
Good food and some great service. Thank you
(4)Jennifer P.
I've been to Chops Folsom many times. Rib eye as you need to call ahead to see if they will be serving during their dinner service is devine. Their happy hours is great too. Saw a groupon deal and purchased it immediately. . Long story short, this down town location really disappointed me. We came in at 630p or so and was welcomed by a "Did you have a reaervation? We are not welcoming walk ins" was it because we were in a suit and tie? We had to ask if we can seat ourselves at the bar with a return response "go ahead attitude" none the less we were out of pocket 30 bucks for the groupon anyway, so we seated ourselves. Ordered the rib eye with blue chees crumbles and bacon crust, absolutely perfect! Also ordered the worst prime rib ive ever had in my life. I dont know if it was just bad timing or what, the PR was bland, no texture, and soaked in au jus from a packet. Ordered medium, came out bloody rare. Sent it back to be seared and it came out like it was blanched in hot water. Aside from waiting 1.5 hour for dinner to come out, at least the women who I believe was the manager we able to crack a few jokes, my husband had said they shoildnt put olives on the potatoe skins, she over heard and said joking we'll make you a whole new one but all joking aside she seemed intoxicated. Of it werent for the rib eye, I wouldve given ZERO stars. We didnt touch the prime rib all through our dinner, with prices comparing to Mortons and Broiler you would think to ask if something was wrong, I wanted to tell our server to take a bite and tell me what you think but since they couldnt put the pieces together, I figured a 42$ 16oz PR would go to a good cause, dinner for my wonderful black lab, at least someone was happy.
(2)Anna S.
I really wanted to like this place. I made reservations here for a birthday dinner because one of my friends recommended this place and loved their steak. She raved about it when she went for their Mother Day's brunch. When we walked in, the place looked pretty empty...There were only a few tables filled. Ordered my steak (medium!) and it was ehhh....very bland. Lacking flavor and wasn't very juicy. I hate to ask for A1 sauce for my steak (which I never do), but my steak really needed it. My friend that suggested this place didn't like her steak either. I don't know if it was an off day for them, but based on my experience, I would not recommend this place for steak. My other friend had one of their pasta dishes and really liked it. 2 stars for the server being great and friendly.
(2)Brittany W.
TERRIBLE...ordered a medium filet, it came RARE...literally still COLD in the middle! I had to send it back, it came back to me burnt on the outside...and still raw on the inside! Such a bummer...the waiter forgot about us, didn't refill our drinks, forgot to bring bread...just a hot mess.
(1)Josh B.
Admittedly my experience here is limited to just a steak salad, but i will say that the amount of steak was very poor/small, and the salad was under-seasoned and under-dressed.
(2)Sacramento R.
Pretty awful. Meat was ok. Service was rushed and inexperienced. The creme brule was basically vanilla pudding with whipped cream FROM A CAN. Yes, gross canned spray out of a can whipped cream. Never going back. Yucko.
(1)jen k.
With all the high praise this place seems to get, I was less then impressed. Ambiance and service gives this place the extra star, because the food would have earned them a two. Don't get me wrong- I love me some meat (insert pervy comments here), but there was something definitely missing here. Maybe it is because we came during Dine Downtown, and they cut corners, but I don't think that was it. The place wasn't all that busy, which surprised me, so it wasn't like the kitchen was just rushing to keep up. The potatoes were awesome! Very tasty, seasoned, and cooked to perfection! The veggies were good too. I just felt like for the price on the (regular) menu, they left a lot to be desired. I've had better steaks for much less coin. Would I come here again? Probably not. Sorry Chops.
(3)Dusty L.
We went as a party of four and sat on the patio. Drinks were strong and i had the New York Steak with baked potato. The service was absolutely excellent. Manny was by far the best bartender/waiter we have had in a while. Prices were as expected but you definitely get what you pay for here. Highly reccommended.
(4)Keith M.
I had a damn good steak for lunch.
(4)Amy R.
I love steak and I wanted to love this place, but felt that something was lacking. Well, they lost a star because I asked for my steak to be medium well and it was closer to medium rare. If I want to eat the thing burned and covered in ketchup, bring it to me. I'm paying for it. Aside from the steak peeve, the service was good. The ambiance was inviting, but the patrons were a little random. It seemed like there was a few people from the capitol hobnobbing, but I also saw a few people who seemed to have confusedly wandered in off the street. The nice thing? After 5PM they validate your parking at the capitol garage right across from the restaurant.
(3)Don G.
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(5)Carrie G.
The food was bland as a 1200 calorie a week diet coupled with a bartender that made the worst Mojito EVER. Will not be going back...
(1)Douglas Y.
Traditional Steakhouse interior along with traditional high prices. Took my wife here for her birthday but we wont be back. Average at best.
(2)Michelle B.
Came in on a slow Sunday evening and the staff was so friendly and welcoming I was glad we stopped by. Great location right by the Capitol.
(4)Lillian Y.
First time here for dinner, ordered medium rare filet and it came out prefect and very tender. Husband had a grilled salmon blt and a bowl of chowder which he really liked but he didn't finish the chowder because he felt that it was a little on the heavy side, maybe too much cream? Overall the service was stellar and the restaurant is pretty. After dinner we strolled over to catch an IMAX movie at esquire. Perfect date night. On a side note everyone should go see The Hobbit Desolation of Smaug!
(4)Eric M.
This was one of the most memorable experiences we have ever had. I took my wife here for her birthday and the service and the food were both top notch. You know those times when you get your drinks, you order your food and then get dessert and it all rocked!! Because they all come at the right time with no unexplained waiting. Then you are like if we can just get the check right now this night would be awesome and then it comes and you pay it and you walked out sooo satisfied!!! Food and service A+!!
(5)Catherine B.
My friends and I went here for New Year's Eve this year and it did not disappoint! We ordered off of the Prix Fixe menu, which was 4 courses for $50something bucks. What a deal! My friends got the filet with shrimp scampi, which alone would be $30something. The prices for the meal were amazing. Our server was attentive, filling up our wine glasses whenever they got low. The food was well paced and hot when it came out. All in all an incredibly enjoyable meal. I'm glad I chose to come here to celebrate the new year! A delicious meal to end 2012 with.
(5)Ann N.
My rating is based on the service. I came here around 3:15 and actually just finished eating with my friend for lunch and we got seated quickly and our orders were taken in a timely manner. However it took about 45 minutes for our food to come out even though we were the only ones in the restaurant at the time. Shortly after our orders were taken, two men came in and it seemed like they were regulars and were given such better service than us. Their drinks were refilled, their food came out before ours and it just seemed like me and my friend were being ignored. Matter of fact I don't even know who our server is that's how neglected we were. Our food finally came and it was delicious but our service was terrible.... I don't know if it's because we look young or because I'm asian? I'm actually a server myself and I came in my work uniform even. I don't know why we weren't treated respectfully until we has or personally get up and ask for our server and for boxes. Knowing that I'm a paying customer and am treated like this is one of the reasons why I'm not coming back. Sorry Chops. This will be my first and last time there. I can be treated better elsewhere.
(1)Kim T.
Yum yum yum! I love Chops! It was my husband's first time and he loved it! He even mentioned to me during dinner that he liked it more than Mortons Steakhouse! The prices are reasonable. I purchased a gift certificate on restaurant.com a while back and finally decided to come here on our anniversary. I didn't realize how reasonable the prices were (compared to Mortons) so I had purchased the $75 one = we had to order $150 worth of food! Oh-my-God. Here is a breakdown of what we ordered (out of 5 stars): Calamari $11.95 - generous amount but I've had better - 3 stars Crab Cake (2pcs) $15.95 - delicious - 5 stars Clam Chowder Bowl $7.95 - def not Splash Cafe but good I like it to be more creamier - 4 stars Caesar Salad $7.95 - not enough dressing for my taste - 3 stars Porterhouse $49.95 - my husband said it was very good - 4 stars ADD Lobster Tail $21.95 - not overcooked, pretty good veggies too - 4 stars Steak & Lobster $34.95 - cooked perfectly to medium how I want it - 5 stars The only thing that sucked about our experience was the loud and obnoxious people we were sitting next to. The guy was talking like we wanted to hear his conversation...dude, that's what the bar area is for! My husband and I had our son sitting at the table with us. The two guys sitting at the table beside us obviously had too much to drink, the loud one kept cursing and just plain being a JERK! Our waiter was super duper friendly and always came by to check on us not to the point where it was creepy or annoying which was perfect. Also the kind gentleman that was refilling our water glasses was super duper cool and refilled our glasses constantly, he even apologized for the obnoxious guy next to us. We will def be coming here again. I've heard good things about the happy hour so I must come and try that out one of these days!
(5)Amy T.
Let me start with saying that this is the best steak house I have ever been to. The steaks are said to be aged and cooked differently compared to a typical steak house. You can definitely taste the difference! I had the fillet mignon and my boyfriend had the prime rib, both of which were devoured! I think our conversation at dinner included "mmmm" and "ahhhh". Our amazing sides: twice baked potato, caramelized carrots, and asparagus. All the sides were a perfect compliment to our meal. The price you pay here is definitely worth it.
(5)Melissa H.
I went there to celebrate my engagement and was not impressed. First off we stood at the hostess stand for 5 minutes before anyone acknowledged we were there. The table was really small for us and there were no linens which seems strange for the prices on the menu. The service was good besides the bartender talking super loud about the basketball game while we are trying to enjoy a nice dinner. My dad ordered the pork chop and the entire piece of meat was bone. The manager apologized and said he would replace it immediately then a couple minutes later the waitress came back to let him know it would be 15-20 minutes and would he like something different. Understandable that it would take awhile to cook but odd the manager did not say that originally. Then they still charged us and made a point to say they charged him for the pork chop that he didn't get but oh wait it was less than the second meal he had to order. Great thanks for saving us $5 on the meal he didn't order! I definitely would not go again.
(1)Kristin T.
I haven't been to CHOPS in years. The BF and I came here for a company dinner last Friday. His company reserved the lower level. I think its a great space, great location, great ambiance... but the food was just mediocre at best... I honestly felt my BF could have cooked these dishes better at home. We had the following: "Mixed Greens (Blue Cheese Herb Vinaigrette) - this was good! "Filet Mignon Sauce Bearnaise" - he had that and it was totally bloody and undercooked. "Pan Roasted Stuffed Chicken Breast with corn & roasted red bell peppers, jack cheese with a roasted shallot demi-glace" - I had this and it was decent, except the chicken was super dry and chewy. I'm guessing the regular menu upstairs is much better and this was only because they were "pre-fix" and were serving a party of 30-50 people. The best part by far was the raspberry cheesecake (see photo)! Trust me - it's just as yummy, creamy and delicious as it looks! I would have given only 2 stars because of the food, but the private room was nice so I'm giving it another star for that! I do want to come back soon to try their happy hour (3-7pm M-F) drink & $5 appetizer specials.
(3)Jared W.
I have been to Chops a few times. The first was for steaks and their dry aging is something different that any other place in town. Delicious flavor, tender steak and fantastic service. It has a great intimate atmosphere for that special date or you can sit at the bar area and go for a more casual eating experience. Most of the time I head to Chops is for the hidden gem of Sacramento, the bacon cheeseburger. Its the best burger in town. Absolutely the best. I kinda wish they served some more varieties to entice more locals to enjoy this fantastic restaurant. Its a real gem. I typically sit on the patio, smoking a cigar with a view of the capital, a cocktail and the fantastic burger. Its a great place to be in the evening, nice breeze across the tree shaded patio.
(5)Stefanie S.
First time here. Stopped by for drinks with some friends. Pretty empty for a Friday evening. I tried their Tequila Cooler. It was very good, but for the price ($9) i thought the serving size was very small. The drink didn't last long so I ordered another one... Service was friendly and efficient. I would like to come back for lunch or dinner.
(4)Dale S.
Horrible service. We were here for lunch on April 24. Table of 8. The order took forever and three of the dishes were the wrong items! It took so long we ate what they gave us for fear we would have to wait another 45 minutes. What added to the anxiety was that our diners were important clients that were in town for a major event with the Governor's office, to be followed with drop-ins at various legislative offices. The poor lunch did not make it a good day at all.
(1)Kris V.
Came to Chops for our work holiday party. Pros: Intimate, dressy, great for groups. Cons: Not-so-delicious steaks. Trust me that when I walked in and saw the wall O'Ribeyes and prime rib in the refrigerator that I started salivating. I wanted to skip the appetizers and get right down to the nitty-gritty. I LOVE STEAK. Ordered drinks from the bar. Nice bartender, not to poorly priced either. I did learn later however that it was Happy Hour when we arrived and the bartender didn't even mention it. Would have been nice to know or else what is the point of having it? The server brought us bread which was divine. We shared the calamari appetizer. Calamari is the one appetizer that I get no matter what restaurant I am at so that I can find the best in the area. This is the Best Non-Crispy Calamari around, folks! I order the Ribeye with a bacon and bleu cheese crust. It came with delish carrots and potatoes. The steak, however, was chewy. Not to mention my "crust" which was a pathetic sight. The cheese wasn't melted and coupled with the bacon continued to crumble off of the steak. At the end all of the "crust" was left on the plate. I must say that I was very disappointed. For a steakhouse this place needs some work!
(3)Monica M.
Double charged my card. Waiting for resolution....
(2)Cheryl L.
Went to Chops on 4th July weekend, 7/5/14 to celebrate my daughter's college graduation. Overall such a disappointment. I'd give the food 3 stars but the server (Amber) is not a good fit for this upscale restaurant. We expected professional and got nothing of the sort. Yes, the food came out rather quick, however the server just made the experience BLAH! I called the restaurant earlier in the day to ask about BYO wine/ corkage fee and the guy who answered my question actually hung up on me before I finished the conversation. That should have been a sign. Half way through our dinner, they sat a large loud party right next to us and the entire restuarant was empty. Was that necessary!!!!!! Maybe this was an off day?? One last thought, the manager came by early in our meal to ask how everything was......totally robotic as if he was troubled to have to come check on us. We absolutely have no intention on visiting Chops again!
(2)Jessica T.
Appalling customer service. I made a reservation for me and my fiancé to celebrate our anniversary, and they confirmed my reservation. I then called a little while later to adjust my reservation's time by 10-15 minutes and was told we would be accommodated and that would not be a new problem. Me and my fiancé then arrived at the restaurant to find the outside was dirty looking, and all their outdoor lights were out. Not very appealing or romantic whatsoever. We then proceeded to find the front doors were locked. We could see working staff inside, but we were not let in. I then called the number I used to make the reservation and saw a man in the restaurant make eye contact with me and proceed to the hostess desk. He answered the phone and let me know that the restaurant had closed early, and that he had left a message on my phone about ten minutes earlier. Well, I did not receive a message on my phone, and I did not appreciate the very much lack of customer service that was shown. This place will absolutely not be recommended by myself or fiancé, and nor will we ever attempt to return. Appalling.
(1)Paul E. G.
Come prepared to hunt for parking! The food is worth the effort! Love this place for business meetings over dinner and entertaining out town guest! Not a date place!
(4)Yvonne S.
I am so happy I do not take all the bad Yelps literally. I was very happy with my experience at Chops. We went to celebrate my Son's graduation and it was great! Aaron was our server and he was very professional and polite, he told us the specials and got our drinks promptly. We had grilled artichokes, crab cakes that melted in our mouths and the porter house for two (which could easily be for three, but that is not a complaint! I could not even make it to my sea salted baked potato. We ended the meal sharing a hot apple crisp with vanilla ice cream and a triple chocolate cake with a raspberry sauce. It was a special dinner with my kids and Aaron made it even better.
(4)Caroline B.
Possibly the best lobster I've ever tried! Very big portions for the twin lobster tails, extra meaty & delicious! Their carrot cake was just perfect! My BF got the Prime Rib which actually came out too bloody, but he says it was okay. Minus one star for the private room being a little too stuffy & the waitress making my BF wait too long for his soda. I would love to wine & dine here again!
(4)Gianna M.
Five of us went to Chops on Saturday night. The restaurant was more than half empty, yet the wait for our food was over 45 minutes. It's a steak house, so we were expecting excellent meat. The 6 oz. filet was the smallest I've ever seen, about the size of a silver dollar. It was comical. The prime rib which was listed on the menu as "slow cooked - prime cut" - was the toughest piece of meat I've eaten in a very long time. The other entrees; pork chop, salmon and burger, were all just fair. All of the meals were served luke warm. Over $200 spent, and very diappointing. I don't mind paying for a good meal - this was not a good meal. Skip it!
(2)Chris B.
Chops is good...but not great. Probably the best dry aged beef you can find in the Downtown area without having to drive out to Folsom's Sutter Street Steakhouse (see reviews) but I was disappointed in how it was cooked. The waitress went around the table and pretty much talked everyone, except me, out of ordering their steaks medium rare telling them it would be quite bloody and that medium would be better. Unfortunately mine came out cooked medium well. The taste was good, although it was a little tough because of how well done the steak was cooked through. I chose the mashed potatoes as my side to go with the carrots and while good, I was disappointed with the portion. Overall it was good, but next time I will probably drive out to Folsom when I've got a craving for some steak.
(3)Vincent V.
Chops is located in front of the State Capital Building. I went for happy hour and was pleasantly surprised that it lasted until 8pm (yep) AND I could sit outside. Service and food are ok, happy hour prices are pretty good, and this is a good spot for happy hour.
(4)Annie S.
I still love this place for their steaks but why in God's name would you take a ribeye off your menu??!!! Had the New York special of the night instead, but it was just alright. Undercooked, actually. I asked for medium but they decide I needed to eat a medium rare steak instead. The jumbo shrimp that it came with was slightly over cooked and bordering tough.
(3)Victoria C.
This review is for both the catering aspect of this restaurant, as well as our dinner experience. First off, the owner is great. Very nice and welcoming. She really catered to our every need. The food for our event however, was average. The chicken cordon bleu bites were dry, the sliders were too sweet and the mushroom thingies were way too spicy. I wasn't impressed with the food at all. I suppose that is to be expected of buffet style appetizers. I will say that the fruits and veggies were very fresh. It didn't diminish our dinner experience and I was willing to start fresh because the restaurant itself is very nice. Our dinner experience was much better. I didn't like the bread. It was too salty and the spread stuff it came with was bland, but the appetizers were fantastic! We had potato skins, mac and cheese and fries. Highly recommend the potato skins and the fries. My salmon was cooked perfectly and the asparagus was perfectly seasoned. I especially liked the brown sugar carrots it came with. Carrots lightly dipped in a brown sugar sauce. It was almost a dessert but perfectly paired with my main dish. Good service, decent food and a nice atmosphere. I'll go back.
(3)El L.
I can't say enough about Michelli and Brian's service, support and comfort they gave me when I came to them to help me plan my wedding reception nine days before my date. The party was great, the food was good and the ambiance was perfect. You both made it everything the other place refused to.
(5)JH W.
Chops - a haiku For an upscale joint Tables should have tablecloths Ambiance was blah
(3)Kim N.
An old school place that seems to need a bit of updating. I do like the choices, there just seems to be some need for contemporary makeover. Clam chowder and crab cakes were a good start. Solid NY steak with twice baked potato. Lobster and filet was also pretty good. Fruit crisp to finish the dinner off. They do an interesting thing where they both wet and dry age the steak. Im not sure I could really tell the difference but I did finish the steak. Service is very friendly, maybe too attentive. Still a decent option when you want traditional steak house option..
(4)Art C.
Went to Chops this past Saturday evening, party of 9. 5 of us were ready to order the Porterhouse steak only to be told they did not have any, it was 7:00 pm, this is supposed to be a steak house. Three stars because of excellent service, steaks were under seasoned and lobster a bit over cooked, if not for the service I would have rated as 2 stars.
(3)R R.
My boyfriend and I went here for our birthday dinner and it was good. It is not the best but I would go here again. The clam chowder was delish the rest was a cross between good and okay. Our waiter was very nice but my boyfriend ordered wine with his meal and never got it we even asked when he was going to bring it and he said that he will bring it right out and nothing. But he brought it out after we were already done with our meals and said he was wondering why it was sitting on the bar.......DERRRR. anyway...it is nice...I don't totally dislike it.
(3)Nancy E.
We had a special evening planned and were very disappointed with the food. $240 for 4 and 2 meals needed to be sent back because the meat was raw inside. The manager and waiter were nice but waiting for the two meals to be redone while the other plates get cold sort of ruins the evening. I will not come back. I also thought the steak and prime rib were nothing special for the price and the big display of roasts in the front waiting area. I was thinking it was going to be like Morton's. They did comp us for two glasses of wine
(1)Stacci R.
I took my mom here for Mother's Day. No restaurant meal has ever made her happier. She had the prime rib and told everyone who would listen this was the best she had ever had. For dessert, she ordered the creme brule and a decaf latte. Mom downed the latte as if it was water. She then took her spoon and consumed the froth as if it were ice cream. Then she started on the creme brule. We decided to come back in 14 days for her birthday. I made the reservations as soon as I got home. Per mom's request, I made sure to ask for Amber to be our server. It is all set up and the count down is on! Oh, yea. I had a great dinner too. :-D
(5)Sara S.
By far, the best dining experience I have had in a long time !! It was one of those... I want to have a really nice nights with my boyfriend kind of nights, and Chops delivered BIG TIME. The service was impeccable, very attentive waiter. The General Manager walked from table to table welcoming everyone and introducing himself. The food was absolutely amazing !! The king Crab ( my boyfriend had), was a HUGE portion and cooked to perfection. I had filet and lobster was absolutely AMAZING. It was a bit on the pricey side, but for the entire experience.... WELL WORTH IT !!
(5)Genae S.
Went to lunch here, I sat on patio and had a beauty view. The staff was friendly and fast. The food was great, I had the hot dog and onion rings. Prices were very good as well.
(5)David W.
I had dinner here with some people I met at a conference. I really like the location... Lots of things to see and down in the downtown area. One thing I noticed was our waitress knew the menu and knew her cuts of meat very well. That is always a good sign! I had a veal chop that was cooked to perfection and was delicious. If you are looking for a classic steakhouse in Sacramento, give Chops a try.
(4)Darina H.
We came here for Happy Hour after a long week of work. It was Friday and we were hungry! I looked up their menu on-line and was impressed with their "small plates" menu and their drinks. I ordered the house chardonnay and had multiple small plates including the Thai Beef Skewers with peanut sauce and cabbage, Calamari, Garlic Scented Fries and Spinach stuffed mushrooms. I must admit, the Thai Beef Skewers were DELICIOUS. I don't eat too much red meat but I would sacrifice my reservations for beef if I could eat this regularly. The beef was just perfectly cooked, tender, and wonderfully glazed with light sauce. The cabbage added such a compliment to the beef skewers and the spicy peanut sauce to add was perfection in my mouth! The other items (calamari, garlic fries and stuffed mushrooms) were average, maybe above average to be fair. The bar area was pretty busy after 6 PM, if you get there at around 5:30 PM, you will find lots of table and bar space. Otherwise, the Capitol crowd begins to arrive at 6 PM (an hour before happy hour ends) and there will be wait at the front door. I love the lighting and decor of this restaurant. I especially like the chunks of meat in the front displayed in their freezer. Very impressive. The bathrooms are very original as well, large wooden doors separately each stall and I appreciated the cleanliness. Overall, good experience here. We loved our bartender, "Misty" who was very attentive and friendly!
(4)Rick W.
Service was good but the $40.00 Prime Rib was dry and very bland. On top of that the medium rare I ordered was closer to medium well. Don't mind paying the price but it should be at least better than Sizzler...
(2)John K.
I went with friends to Chops last night. Our bill was $170 with tip. I had a $50 gift certificate which chops sold through restaurant.com . I gave Them the gift certificate and credit card to pay the balance. The owner came out and said because some of our items were ordered off of the happy hour menu they would not honor the gift certificate. No place on the certificate or menu did it say anything about restrictions on what menu items I could buy. The owner was not discrete, rude and embarrassed me in front of my guests. I'd expect better from a cheap burger joint.
(1)Milton V.
Mediocre at best, not sure if it was because I ordered the NYE prefixed menu. The prime rib was the worst I've ever had at a steakhouse, I took it home and fed it to my dog, i'm not sure if he even liked it. Mashed potatoes were bland, beef skeweres salty like hell, crabcake were ok, salad was not good (how do you mess up a salad?) and i've tasted better cheesecake from ampm. The service was excellent though. For the price I paid I could've went to Bandera or Ruth Chris and left satisfied.
(1)Austin W.
As many of the reviews note, Chops is a nice, intimate location great for groups or small parties to dress up and go out to. The food is no where near the quality is should be for the prices they charge. Definitely a good place to go if you work for the Leg and want to run into some one, but otherwise not really worth it in my opinion.
(2)Christine T.
This place is OK. It has a better rep that it should. I heard rave things about this place so we decided to check this place out for a birthday. Normally we head to Ruth Chris but my dad heard great things about Chops. The fam and I went this week. We noticed a large...bug...or roach crawling across the floor as we were being seated. Kinda had my feet up all night. And then saw it again... The server was okay...I would have expected someone a little more friendly in a nice place like Chops. Even Outback has nicer servers. The clam chowder was luke warm :( The steak and lobster plate was okay. The steak and lobster were okay. Prefer Ruth Chris over this place. I don't know where they got such a good rep because the service lacked and the food didn't wow. And the roach or bug...that was scary.
(2)Christian F.
Had to wait forever and was brought the wrong meal , then some more waiting. Nice location and outside patio. Food mediocre. Not coming back to this place
(2)Erin W.
Woohoo! As good as it gets! The total opposite of Downtown 24 hour fitness Unfortunately I did not get to meet any influential lobbyists or assembly counsel that would advance my career but I did sit next to NBA former star kenyon martin
(5)Ben B.
This is a GOOD restaurant, but its not GREAT, as it pretends to be. One of us ordered a salad and the pork chop. The salad was good, but it was drowned in dressing. To be fair, they took this off the bill when we told them this. The pork chop was overdone and tough, so this was taken off the bill along with its prime rib replacement. I ordered the steak and lobster combo. The lobster was great, the steak left a lot to be desired. They claim to have the best steak in the area, but Ruth's Chris, who also claims this, has far better steak. A good steak, which I've had at many places including, but not limited to RC, tastes good on its own, and doesn't need sauce or extra flavoring. This steak was rather bland, and definitely needed sauce. The rest of the family felt this way too. In total, before the tip, it cost $250 for a family of 4, even after one person's entire meal was taken off. It was about on par with other places I've eaten, where the price is around $150. All in all, not worth it. If you're looking for a fine dining experience in Sac, this isn't it. I highly recommend Grange and Ella, which have been fabulous every time we've gone.
(2)Winston L.
First bad is going to be on me. We went to this steakhouse and didn't really order steak. That being said, me and my two friends went for lunch and had the steak salad, sliders, and the Capitol Burger. These are all items that I feel any well established restaurant should be able to nail. Unfortunately, Chops could not. My steak salad had so many things wrong with it. The major problems are stated here: - Instead of steak strips, I had little nubs of steak (like diced leftovers). Some pieces were so chewy and tough that I left the restaurant feeling like I had a pound of connective tissue stuck in my teeth (of course no floss in sight). - There was part of an eggshell in the salad. - The onion strings on top was an under-fried soggy mess. I have never seen an onion string I didn't like, so this was a first. The burger came out past well done even though a medium was ordered. The sliders did not look appetizing at all. What saved this meal from being a total disaster was the crab cakes. A good bit of real crab meat plus good flavor and sauce. Would I come back again? If it was on someone else's dime, I'd come back and get a steak. Otherwise, no.
(2)Brandon R.
Would have given 5 stars but for the 3-4 TV's mounted all around the restaurant. That was the only detractor. My wife and I ate there New Year's Eve. We were thankful to get a 6:15pm reservation with only a few days notice. I think it was a glitch with Open Table, but we were grateful because a screen refresh after that showed all booked until 9pm! We started with the crab cakes. The sauce was a kind of refried bean. Different, but delicious! My wife had the lobster bisque, I had a chopped salad. Both portions were good sized, and the bisque was especially rich and tasty (not a ton of lobster bits, but still good). For dinner, my wife had the lobster tail, I had the New York steak. Her lobster tail was HUGE and she made "OMG" looks more than once during her meal. My NY was also huge and cooked medium rare perfectly (pink, warm center) and seasoned well. Mine also came with a twice-baked potato that had a really good, smoked flavor to the cheese. She was able to substitute her potato for risotto and said it was good. Our waiter and the service were excellent; very friendly and never missed. By the food and service, I would put this place on par with Henry's at Red Hawk Casino (my favorite steakhouse in the area). We ended with the carrot cake which was equally excellent. ~$200 for the both of us (including two martinis). Made for a very nice, special occasion as we were staying close by at the Hyatt.
(4)Sunny C.
Walked in here after exploring Sacramento on a blazing hot day. It was just around 5pm and this place is right across from the Capitol Building. I walked into a semi empty bar/restaurant which quickly filled up with lobbyists and city officials. Guessing this is the hangout! Overall a pretty decent place for a drink and they do make them strong. I sampled the beef skewer satay and it was served with slaw and peanut sauce. the beef was a nice medium rare with a good char and well seasoned. The slaw complimented the dish well. This place is all about steaks so next time I'll try a porter house, but this place was A-OK!
(3)Elle K.
I had a wonderful experience working with the Chops staff to book a private dining event for 12 in their downstairs room. I am not an event coordinator, but my CEO asked me to coordinate a dinner with VIPs in a quite place where the conversation could flow freely. The banquet manager was flexible, and offered the best terms for upscale dinning near the State Capitol -- $500.00 minimum, compared to $1000 elsewhere. She suggested that we pre-order appetizers, wine, and salads, which made it easy on their kitchen and our guests. She also let all the guests order directly from the regular menu instead of limiting our choices -- which was wonderful since Chops has so much to offer. On the day of the event, the we had a dedicated server that was attentive and attuned to the flow of the conversation. The food was, of course, remarkable. The clients had a great time, too. My CEO was thrilled, the out-of-towners, were impressed, and the dinner was a success. Thank you, Chops!
(5)Kevin S.
Thanksgiving dinner @ Chops. First, it was GREAT they were open on Thanksgiving! Second, they offered a "traditional" Thanksgiving dinner for a very reasonable $26/plate. Considering their usual prices, this was a really nice thing!! The food? It was VERY good. As expected, considering the reviews and the style of place. Good portions. Started with the Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms. Not bad. The bread they serve was good, and the apple cinnamon butter was nice. The meal came with a couple large slices of white turkey meat. Along with sweet potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Very nicely done. This is a "a la carte" style place, so if you want other sides, they cost extra, similar to Ruth's Chris Steak House. The service? I will admit, seemed like they ignored us for a little while, and they were NOT busy....so that's what cost them the 5 star rating. It was ok. Street parking around the place is 1st come 1st served and meter controlled during the day. Suggest you use the parking garage on 10th st. Cheaper than a ticket! The place itself? Looks like a decent steakhouse should. Dark tones around the restaurant, lighting was plenty, but not in your face. Bar at the center of the restaurant. Overall, very pleased with the choice and I will be back.
(4)MR. F.
Just okay. I expected a great steak and it was mediocre. The mac and cheese had no flavor. The noise level is odd. Seated in a booth between two other booths, I was overwhelmed by the crossfire of conversation. Would go there for drinks but not for a great meal.
(2)Samantha C.
Some of my friends and I host an annual party and this was our 10th anniversary so we decided to go big. We decided to host our event at Chops because it was a beautiful private venue (we rented out the Barbelo) and they were very accommodating with some special menu requests (specifically, our event is called Turducken Day and so we wanted to serve turducken). Michelli, the Special Events Coordinator, was amazing. She was so helpful and ensured that our event went better than I could have imagined. She managed to keep me calm after some last minute additions and we had plenty of food. Both bartenders were great and very fast. No one ever had to wait long for a drink. The chef even checked in on us to make sure we liked everything. All of our guests were raving about the event and kept asking if we were going to do this again next year. I really can't say enough about Michelli and the staff at Chops, they really went above and beyond to make our New Year's Eve perfect. If you are looking for a venue to host a special event, I would recommend Chops without any reservation.
(5)Sara W.
AMAZING!!!! Start to finish! We arrived later in the evening and the owner, Denise pretty much forced us to sit down (we were apprehensive because we knew they were closing). THE FOOD WAS AMAZING. I had the scallops and my husband had the filet. PERFECTION. Our server Misty was FABULOUS! Knowledgable about the food and wine. She was so personable and made our night! It's tough to really, REALLY make me happy at a restaurant (I've been a server for 17 years), but this place is the BEST! I wish I lived up here so I could visit more often. GO TO THIS RESTAURANT!!!!!!
(5)Rory H.
Little too pricey for above par food.i ate smoked salmon linguini and believe I could make the same at home for and save 15 bucks. Service was better than average. Ps crab 56 bucks for 1.5 lbs?
(3)Ellen H.
Went to Chops on Jan. 11 for dinner, and had the Porterhouse for Two ($58). It includes two large crab cakes, a huge Porterhouse steak (both tenderloin and strip were cooked medium perfectly), and two sides of your choice, as well as glazed carrots. The food was very delicious, portions were generous, and service was attentive and professional.
(4)P B.
Chops is an average restaurant buoyed by its location. If I want great food, this isn't where I go. If I want a steakhouse meal for lunch, I'll end up here. The menu is typical of any steakhouse across America - filet, lobster, prime rib, cobb and ceaser salads, cheesecake. Nothing is really bad about the food in my opinion, but nothing is really good about it either. In many ways it seems like a restaurant going through the motions, coming up with a predictable menu with food that is passable for most who come to Sacramento. If you need a business lunch, this is a safe bet, though don't expect to be wowed by the food.
(2)Skyler W.
This is a great restaurant to go grab a drink at after a long day of work at the capitol. You will find that most of the people eating/drinking here are probably political folks. I haven't ordered a whole lot of food here, but i have tried the calamari and the crab cakes, the crab cakes were really good and the calamari was so-so. My favorite part of Chops is that they serve Pliny The Elder on tap!!! YUM..YUM... I have been here many times for work outings, they have a basement area that is great for meetings or small events. The service is always great and the restaurant is super clean. This is a place that you can count on for some tasty food and good drinks, especially right after work.
(4)Linda P.
My BF and I came here January 16th, 2011 after going ice skating at the downtown ice rink. My BF had the ribeye and I had salmon. I wasn't impressed. The service was great but food was mediocre for me. It also kinda sucked that they first sat us at this tiny little table at the end. We requested to move to another table with more room. I'm wondering, if that table was available, why didn't they move us there in the first place?
(3)Leah B.
I'm really torn about how to rate this place. On the one hand, I've had some really nice happy hour experiences out on the patio. On the other hand, whenever I've had a full on dinner in the dining room, it just hasn't been that great. With that said, my last dinner here was a huge disappointment. I had the Lobster Risotto--mmmm, how I love risotto. I order it whenever I get the chance since it's not something I ever make at home. You can imagine my let down when I took my first bite and realized it was undercooked. *gasp* For shame! (I totally stole that saying from Darrell Y.) Undercooked risotto should never leave the kitchen in a restaurant like Chops. Yeah, I could have sent it back, but I never send food back for the following reasons: (1) It's super awkward waiting for your new food while your dining partner is politely trying not to eat. Deep down you know all they can think about is how crappy it is that their food is getting cold while they wait for your fresh food to be cooked. Then, to make matters worse, you get into this stupid ass battle about whether or not they should wait for you: "Go ahead and eat," "No, I'll wait for you," "Oh, don't be silly." On and on until your dining partner starts eating. Bottom line is that the end result sucks for everyone involved. You both have to eat alone. You both have to watch the other person eat. What kinda shit is that? Not my kinda shit I tell you. (2) I don't know what some angry chef might do to it. I have an impressive imagination and a natural distrust of strangers, so let's not even go there. (3) I shouldn't have to. Here's a thought, if you can't cook risotto then take it off the god damn menu. (Wow, that felt surprisingly good.) Overall, couple my unfortunate risotto experience with the lackluster decor and that puts Chops at 2 stars. I'm throwing in the extra star for good times from a bygone era and the delicious hunk of meat they fed my lover. On another note, if you're looking for a deal, I bought a $25 gift certificate for Chops from restaurant.com for only $2. Bam!
(3)B B.
granted this is your typical steak place. They do make nice steaks and prime rib. However it is truely all about the location as influential state politicans go there a lot. So it's a good place to hang out with important people at lunchtime.
(3)Eric K.
This review is only for happy hour. The only thing I got was the chili steak fries which are absolutely amazing!!!! If this is the only thing you get you will be full if you order it just for yourself $8 will fill ya up good.
(4)Lyn T.
Great service! Food was great, but wasn't happy with their Ahi appetizer. Overall, was a wonderful experience for a night out!
(4)Sean C.
Excellent drinks, very professional. Complementary atmosphere to a business meeting or special night out.
(5)Kristan L.
I had my first dinner at Chops this evening, and everything was wonderful. Our server, Aaron, was not only professional, helpful, and enjoyable, but extremely handsome and witty. I had the filet, which was cooked to perfection and was wonderfully paired with a crab béarnaise topping. I plan to return and will definitely be requesting to have Aaron as my server every time, he is wonderful.
(5)Heather K.
Yummy!!!! We stopped in for dinner tonight on the way to get our taxes done (anticipating a fat refund....Chops is a bit pricey). I had the lobster risotto and my husband had the prime rib. As I have previously blustered and ranted in other reviews, my ass knows lobster - it's in my heritage. So props to Chops (hey that rhymes) because they actually used REAL lobster meat in their risotto. Okay so it was really overcooked but whatever. I don't hold that against em because I don't expect Californians to know how to cook them critters properly anyway. So yay on the risotto. My husband LOVED the prime rib (he was making an O-Face actually) and his twice-baked potato. Our server, Casey, was really great as well. Oh and the bathrooms are awesome! Ok this review is turning into a blabbering stream of consciousness....probably due to Chops' really good wine list....so I'll quit while I'm ahead.
(4)Violet W.
WARNING: I'm biased when it comes to Chop's. I've only been here for my sorority formal...so this review is based on those few times. Chop's is a great place if you want to have a reunion, formal, business event or family gathering...they are extremely detailed and helpful when you want a big even planned! I've been to Chop's a total of three times for my formals and each time has been memorable! The first time that we held our formal here, they were attentive and knowledgeable. Since we were smaller then, the seating was spatious and the entrees were catered to our needs. We had two different kinds: the chicken and the filet mignon. I had the filet mignon and it was just perfect! The meat was of grade-A choice (or it felt like it) and the dessert was scrumptious (I had a mixed berry cup and my sisters had cheesecake---they said the cheesecake was melt-in-your-mouth good). The next two times, we had a larger group so they made the venue suitable to our needs. The bartenders were extremely nice and made sure that we were having a great time! I also love how Chop's is really chose to the capitol (like a street over) so it made formal extra nice and fancy! SO if you want to do a large event, know that Chop's is a great choice!
(4)Paul M.
Decent place. Good food but bad service for the price.
(3)Sandra A.
This place sucks. The service and the staff were beyond unprofessional and made me and my party of 14 feel beyond uncomfortable with their rude gestures making us all feel like we didn't belong in that type of environment. As if we weren't good enough. UNREAL. The food wasn't worth the price either. Only reason this place gets 1 star is because zero stars aren't offered. I will NEVER go back here let alone recommend it to any of my friends or family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Â!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! double thumbs down.
(1)Christy M.
This could have easily been a four to five star review. The porterhouse meal for two could have fed three-four people. The steak was absolutely delicious, and the twice baked potato was pure happiness. The shrimp cocktail appetizer was tasty. And, the alcohol (split of champagne, pint of Stella) was quite reasonably priced. Why didn't I select four or five stars, you ask? Well, it was nearly impossible to enjoy the great meal and company because of the location they chose for us - right next to a couple of noisy tables with a 1:2 kid to adult ratio. The most money ($175) we've ever spent in a daycare....
(3)K W.
I love this place. My boyfriend and I went here to celebrate him ending the semester. He wanted a steak, so i went on line and checked out Chops Menu. I wanted a Vegan friendly steak house. Which is exactly what we got. My boyfriend loved his prime rib and I got the Linguini with sauteed vegetables and olive oil, made special for me. The server was really knowledgeable and the atmosphere was super mellow and classy. My boyfriend told me he just got a free birthday dinner card from Chops, We just signed up for it when we went there last weekend and his birthday was over a month ago. How awesome is that? We will definetly be going back and not just because of the free birthday entree :)
(4)Kristina G.
OMG is all I can say. The most awesome food I have ever had. DELICIOUS. If I could just find someone to take me here everyweek?? I had the stuffed mushroom appetizer and the seafood skewers. My partner had the lamb chops. They looked pretty effen tasty.
(5)Jason H.
First off, a group of seven of us called ten minutes before closing. The staff was kind enough not to turn us away. This was my second time here, the first being seven or so years ago. The ambiance and decor are what you would expect from an upscale steakhouse. I ordered the ribeye steak (not the special but the regular menu item) and was very satisfied with my order. The steak was a bit sinew-like but lacked a lot of fat that ribeyes contain. I asked for rare and was very pleased that it was cooked exactly to my liking. It came with glazed carrots and my side choice was a loaded baked potato. With two drinks, my total was $60, which included tax and tip. The wait staff was very courteous and not overbearing. We all appreciated that they stayed later than they probably would have since we came in so late. Definitely a place to go for a special occasion.
(4)Jenae A.
I recently went here for a chemotherapy medication presentation, so being that the meal was free, it tasted a wee bit better (well, that and the chardonnay). So I can't comment on the prices, obviously. We were in the downstairs area and I thought for being considered an upscaley steakhouse the decor was a little rundown. The filet was delicious, but I've had the same quality at other steakhouses in the area. For dessert I chose the chocolate torte cake and it was mediocre. I do have to say that they know how to cook their steaks though; they cooked it nice and medium, rare without me having to ask. The staff was extremely friendly and on top of everything.
(3)Diane H.
Food was okay. With huge hunks of beef prominently displaced upon entry, it conjures visions of Mortons or Ruth Christ. Sadly, for a speciality steak house, nothing special. Front of restaurant is beautiful and outside seating has good view of street and capital building; yet majority of dinner seating is in the back with low ceilings, no windows, small 4-seat dinner tables, booths and loud kitchen noises. Won't be returning. Note to owners: keep people toward the front of restaurant. Views/ambiance MUCH better.
(2)Heather W.
I went there Saturday night to take advantage of the Dine Downtown special. I had the blackened salmon with mashed potatoes, Cesar salad, and raspberry cheesecake. I thought all were very good. The salmon was well prepared and flavorful. The potatoes were really good. the cheesecake was good, but not amazing, and could have used more raspberry flavor. I also tried my boyfriend's Filet Mignon, which was very soft and buttery! It was a really good steak. I am not a steak connoisseur by any means, but I thought it was tasty. More about the food: we also ordered the prawn cocktail, which was good but I probably wouldn't get it again - it cost a little too much for what you get (and it had a lot of lettuce in it). Drinks - my bf ordered the "James Bond Martini" - of course! He said it was a good martini. I had the Cosmo Bellini, which was an A+. The service - the waiter was great. He was attentive and not snobby. Just overall a nice and pleasant guy. By the way, your water will never even be half-empty (or half-full) because they fill it up so often. Now onto the hostess: I am not saying she was snobby, but we arrived about 45 minutes before our reservation (the movie let out early), and I asked if we could eat earlier. She acted kind of weird and was like "You want to eat earlier?" Is it weird to ask if they have any open tables? If she said "no" I would have waited, but she seemed a little confused that someone would show up early. I didn't take it personally or anything...just thought it was a bit odd. So...I would go again, and try some steak this time. The dress code is not so dressy; many customers were in jeans. It is a pretty quiet place, just an fyi if you want a louder dining experience.
(4)Jacqueline W.
Besides sitting on the pleasant shaded patio, in order to be seen by all the right mucky mucks at the Capitol and feel like you're one of the important people, why on earth would you eat lunch here? There are some people who enjoy feeling important so much that they don't care that they are spending $25 on a mediocre lunch - and as an underpaid and underappreciated Capitol staffer, I get that. We all have our indulgences... for some it's the strip club, others like aromatherapy massage crap, and some of us need to sit where deals seem to be happening. But, except for that, why would you EAT here? The food is fine, but nothing exceptional, and it's fabulously expensive! The beef stroganoff is fine, the various sandiwches are fine, the salmon salad is fine, but nothing is GOOD. The desserts are all fine. But for $25... go to Kru and at least eat something interesting. And if you need to feel a part of the goold ole boys club, and i get that, too, go to the Broiler. That place is at least pretty good.
(2)Steve S.
Place stole my wife's coat and cell phone on the night I proposed! The hostess apparently had a similar jacket, even though the coat with my wife's cell phone was never returned. The owner, Geoff, dodged our calls for over 3 weeks till we finnaly got a check for the coat.. only the coat....... not the cell phone or a gift certificate or even an apology. I would have taken this matter further but it's a big account for SWS so I had to leave it alone. The best part is that they gave my wife another mens coat and said to keep it cause it belonged to a state representative. Chops represents the corruption that is ruining this country. There are many other places in the area worth dining at..... go there!
(1)Catherine F.
We celebrated my husband's birthday tonight at Chops, and it was magical. I had made reservations asking for a romantic table. We were seated by the fireplace looking out at the plaza, perfect for a chilly April evening. Started out with a delicious veggie appetizer consisting of an artichoke, brussel sprouts, and asparagus with a dressing on the side. We each had the filet oh so tasty. The mashed and baked potatoes are so wonderful and the glazed carrots remind me of my dad's and that's a good thing. It was a busy evening and our favorite server, Kaitlin, checked in on us at appropriate intervals making sure we had what we needed. Michelli, hostess with the most-ess stopped by and "Marilyned" my guy in her beautiful singing voice to his delight. We shared a decadent dark chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream. I guess it's magical because it feels like being in Paris and being with family. Sophisticated and down to earth. As I stated in my earlier review, it's a warm and welcoming place dedicated to providing a memorable dining experience.
(5)Alex K.
Good steak salad. It wasn't fantastic, and it seemed just a tiny bit more effort might make it really darn good, but I enjoyed it enough. I'd probably try their steak before judging them unkindly, but the steak salad was 3 stars, no more, no less.
(3)Min S.
The in-laws were visiting and we wanted to treat them to a lovely restaurant that isn't back in the Midwest. We decided to hit Chops and enjoy the view of the Capitol. We walk-in with a group of four on a Saturday evening and were seated much faster than expected. We got a lovely seat on the patio and enjoyed the delicious foccacia bread... my favorite! When it was time for Entrees, I was a little disappointed, the steak was much chewier than I anticipated, the broccoli slightly undercooked, and I believe the onion rings were the cheap frozen kind. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their entrees however. The lava cake was spectacular! The real reason for the review is applaud their customer service. We had just finished the phenomenal lava cake, and I am looking for my card, when I hear a "Thunk" on the table, followed by chortles by my husband and mother-in-law. I look over and see some feathers on the table and continue searching for my card. Then the laughs continue, and my husband gets up from the table... so I decide I better look again. Upon further review, I realize that there is a portion of the bird still attached to these feathers sitting on our table... His standing draws the waitress out to see if we need anything, chuckling while we ask her to remove it, she is horrified. She immediately removes it and moments later the Manager is out making sure we are all right and asking if there is anything he can do. We are hysterically laughing at this point and tell him it is fine. We all decided to head in and enjoy the ambiance and warm up in the bar. As we paid they brought out a gift card to make up for this partial bird falling on our table!!! As we thought the whole debacle was amusing, it was icing on the cake to have them treat us so well! I will definitely come back... but I will try a different meal!
(5)Hannah A.
My friends and I made reservations with Chops for prom, my Father raved about the food, so we decided we should give it a try. We had a large group, around 20+ people, so they sat us outside. Everything was going smooth until the trees above us started dropping water and leaves/sticks into our drink, and on our plates. When the waiter noticed the leaves in our water cups, he proceeded to dump the water on the floor and pour us more water into the same dirty cup. EW. I got the "dinner for two" with my date which includes a porterhouse carved for two, and two crab cakes. When our food arrived, i was sad to see my steak was overcooked, dry, and cold. While the waitress served the rest of our table, she spilled ketchup all over my friends nude prom dress. Obviously my friend was livid, so the waitress brought seltzer water and began to clean her up. As she cleaned my friends dress, she jokingly said "at least it's not your wedding dress". After that mess was cleaned up, the girl asked for a salad since her food. The salad was drenched in dressing, so she asked for onion rings instead. The onion rings were cold, so my friend decided not to eat. The waiter and waitress were extremely condescending and rude the whole meal. To top it off, after we left, i found out that we never even received our crab cakes. The following week, my friends' mother(the one who got ketchup on her) went to the restaurant and asked to meet with the managers and the servers. The servers and managers fought my friends mother about paying for dry cleaning, and even had the audacity to say that we under-paid. We counted the bill out six times, including gratuity (which they didn't deserve), there was no way we could have made an error. ' So, If you ever got to Chops, i don't recommend going in a large party, or the "dinner for two". I will surely never go back.
(1)Eric G.
Good place to catch up with all the State Politicos. I'm checking out their new lunch menu.... much better.
(4)Helena W.
I have only been to Chops once and it was almost a year ago but I remember every moment of it. I took my boyfriend here for our anniversary and the hostess was very polite and helped us right away. She did give us a little tour and explained to us about the aging facility that Chops puts their meat in for a dry aging process for up to 28 days. After she brought us to our table it was a great little corner booth, very romantically set up for my boyfriend and I. We ordered the 32oz Porterhouse Steak and Crab Cake dinner for two. I must say that the portions were HUMONGOUS! The steaks is accompanied with a choice of sauces and we chose the Cabernet Mushroom demi-glace and the French Peppercorn demi-glace. I like my steak medium rare but my boyfriend is more of a medium well person so we compromised on ordering medium, which came out medium rare so it worked out great for me. Our meal was served with caramelized carrots and I believe a choice of potato and we picked the mashed potatoes. Everything was piping hot and fresh from the grill and our server (forgive me, I forgot her name) but she was so sweet and did everything to make sure our anniversary was special, down to the free dessert which was so unexpecting and nice of Chops. The only reason why I did not give Chops five stars is because of the decor. Some of the paintings and furniture remind me of my dentist's office. I feel for the service and price the restaurant can spend a little on updating the look of the restaurant. Also, some patrons think that Chops is a chain because of the name but it is not. It's owned by a local Sacramento merchant, so support your local business and go to Chops, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Raleigh S.
Some of the best steak I ever had. Found a table outside with a view of the State Capital, ordered the special Filet with scallops, which was perfectly cooked. Yum!
(5)Adam K.
A wonderful treat when I am visiting Sactown. Just about everything they do here is excellent, but you have to come for the steaks. They are presently doing a Prix Fixe menu that give you three courses with attending wine with each course, I have to say it is an wondrous feast of delectable delights. Seriously, sell your grandmother if you have to, but come and try Chops
(5)Lea M.
My boyfriend suggested this place for lunch since he frequented this place while he worked for the state capitol. Arrived before the lunch crowed and was seated as soon as we walked into the door. I had no problems with the lights, as it was a bit dim but I think the atmosphere was trying to target a smooth and relaxing setting. We had the calamari as our appetizer and for the meal I had the prim rib dip with au jus on the side along with a variety salad. My boyfriend had the capitol burger with garlic fries. As soon as our meal started a ton of people were starting to get seated for the lunch rush. Apparently we had only one waitress in our section, as I witnessed her speed walking to and from. Despite her multitasking, the only con that I observed was the slow check and our food getting boxed. I had a full salad and half of my sandwich to go since I was nearly full from the Calamari. When I got my doggy bag, I realized that my salad was missing and there wasn't any au jus packed away. Other than that, I really liked our meal.
(4)christopher c.
I've been wondering about this place forever, and finally had the chance to go tonight for my girlfriend's mom's birthday. Our server and the runners were all friendly and on top of things. We had a vegan and two picky eaters at the table, and they didn't seem annoyed at making substitutions and such. It took a really long time to get our food, and the place was pretty dead...That sucked. I got the pesto-crusted halibut. Pretty good, cooked very well, but the thicker part of the fillet was not very flavorful. The baked potato was delicious, albeit incredibly rich. The carrots on the side were like candy, which was nice because I didn't need to order dessert! Oh, and I don't even like cooked carrots, but I am craving more of those ones already. I also tried a bite of the blackened salmon. It was a bit bland by itself, but the hollandaise sauce on it was delicious! Overall, it was good, but not really worth the pricing, in my opinion. Good to go once and try it, though!
(3)Angelique H.
Food was just okay, and the service was terrible. Our waiter chatted with the table next to us for a long time and completely forgot about part of our order.
(2)Wendy W.
Went to a movie and stopped in for lunch with my mom. It was really difficult to make a selection because everything sounded so good. We started with the poke appetizer, which I have had many times before, and it is literally the best poke in town! Served under a bed of sliced cabbage with wonton chips - phenomenal taste. My mom was amazed at how much tuna was on the plate for the price. Great value. We ended up splitting the fish and chips. I wanted onion rings, mom wanted fries and they offered to split the plate for us so we both got the sides we wanted. The portions were huge! Fish was haddock and I'm used to cod, but I actually found I preferred the haddock which came w/ 3 different sauce choices. Mom thought the fries were so tasty and I had to agree. Our server, Ryan, was awesome. I've been in for a romantic dinner in the past with the hubbie and steak, fixings, salmon everything was perfection. Service has always been exceptional when I've been there. The owners take great pride in their establishment and everyone is so friendly and accommodating. I've had them personally stop by the table to check on our service and ensure we have enjoyed our meal. Parking is convenient in the Capitol Garage (entrance on 10th, elevator takes you straight down in front of Chops on 11th) and they give you a $5 parking voucher to cover the cost of parking. Cannot say enough about this restaurant and wonderful staff. What a gem, and with a beautiful view of the Capitol to boot!!
(5)Milena C.
Went for a retirement lunch for a co-worker here. Probably ~16 of us. Had the steak sandwich; I liked the red peppers and mushrooms, too much cheese on it for me; when the cheese is really gloppy and stretches out the sides, I don't like that. Had a side of spicy chopped potatoes which were good but a little too hot for some. Didn't have any drinks but the guest of honour had five lemon drops and seemed alright. Pretty pricey, probably wouldn't go here again on my own.
(3)Pia V.
Sat in one of their very romantic booth. The server was great and checked up on us all the time. Our tables were kept very clean of dirty dishes and our drink glasses never went empty. Their loaded mashed potatoes are pre-made with bacon, which my boyfriend doesn't eat, so they went ahead and made a special batch just for him with no bacon.
(5)Eric M.
Simply put, the friendly staff could not compensate for the bland, poorly prepared food. The dining room was uncomfortably warm and kind of "grungy." There are many better restaurants within walking distance. Just walk on by!
(2)Ricky P.
Best steak in town. Service was outstanding. Great wine selection. Can't wait to return.
(5)Tocher K.
Listed on Cowtowneats.com , Chops looked like a great option for Happy Hour amongst all the numerous places in midtown/downtown to go for a Friday release of stress. Some of the best happy hours in town are indeed chop houses, for their food is highly admirable and drink specials are keen to enjoy as well, saving much coin from the regular dinner menu. Upon walking in the door i chuckled at the huge hunks of beef staring back at you in their walk in glass walled meat locker. There was a cool little casual cocktail seating section with little tables or the choice of sitting at the bar for Happy Hour. Warmer weather i'm sure the best choice would be on the patio looking up K street or down to L and Capitol park. We sat at the bar and immediately had service attention to get us our every need. The HH menu was longer than i thought with custom cocktails, house wines, tap beers and not to forget the food choices. Granted some of the choices it seems every restaurant in town does so they aren't anything to write home about (fries of some sort, calamari etc) The best choices to accompany my Eye of the Hawk Ale were the spinach stuffed mushrooms, and best of all the Thai Beef Skewers. Far above and beyond anything else the Beef Skewers were perfectly cooked, tender, juicy, succulent, bursting with skewerlicious envy. Dip them in peanut sauce, top it with a sweet cabbage mixture and BAM, it's a party with each bite. I believe i could have ordered 1 or 2 more plates and had a full dinner on just those. You get a lot of skewers so they will fill you up. The place gets busy right around the last hour of happy hour (6-7pm) so if you show up during the early parts of happy hour (4:30-5) you'll have your lay of the land for the best seat and service. Come early, come hungry, leave happy and Chopped! And there is an awesome historical picture of the Capitol framed outside the bathroom doors that looks like it's from the early 1900's before any of the city was built up too much around the Capitol itself.
(4)Derek L.
It was my birthday and I wanted to have a nice dinner with my family. I chose Chops Steakhouse thinking it would be classy a bit up scale but nice. They gave away my reservation when I arrived made me wait 45 minutes then shorted me my dessert to go. Never going back. RUDE RUDE RUDE PEOPLE!!!! BEWARE!!!
(1)Lena C.
I ordered the filet mignon with buttermilk mash and a side of broccoli with hollandaise. The mashed potatoes and broccoli are what to be expected so I won't be reviewing them. Now onto the steak. I did not have a problem with the meat itself but the way it was prepared. I like my steak medium rare, what I got was a medium to medium well. Huge disappointment to a steak lover. Not only was my meat overcooked but it was also drenched in sauce. How am I supposed to taste my steak when it's swimming in a pool of mediocre bbq sauce? Don't waste your time, go to Mortons.
(3)Kristina M.
We had a group of 8 that went to celebrate New Year's Eve at this restaurant, and there was enough of us to guarantee a tip for the staff The food was really, really good, and I recommend the lobster bisque! If you're a vegetarian, I would not recommend this place since my friend sadly ended up eating a small dinner salad. Granted it was a holiday, the service was very, very slow. We waited 45 minutes between the time we ordered until the time we received our food, which I can overlook due to them probably wanting to serve us all at the same time. We also had a birthday cake, and after we sang for our friend, it took them at least 10 minutes to bring it back to serve. It would have been no big deal if we were provided plates and sliced it ourselves, but they wanted to charge us a cake slicing fee (which was kindly waived later). After the cake it, it literally took another 45 minutes before we finally got our checks after asking several different wait staff if we could get it, to include asking our server several times. The place was not packed, but it had enough people there. It was disappointing to see the table of 6 next to us get way faster service than we did. For what we paid, I was really disappointed with the service, and this will probably be my only trip to this restaurant. My personal feeling was there wasn't much of an incentive for us to be served as quickly as other groups due to a guaranteed tip, and it wasn't like we had a party of 20.
(3)Susan B.
ordered two cheese burgers --- mine did not have the "sauce" and the container had pieces of bacon with the pickle -- WTF????
(3)Roscoe R.
Great food, a well-stocked bar, professional service and Misty makes the very best martini in Sacramento! What's not to like?
(5)LuvFood S.
Calamari - Yummy...lightly battered and crispy. Skip the creamy white dip that comes with it. Goes well with the slightly spicy marinara sauce. Prime Rib, 16 oz. - Huge slab of meat. Asked for it medium rare and that's exactly what I got. Au jus was beefy and went well with the meat. Dish came with carrots...in the past they were oven roasted and had a slight glaze from the roasting. This time they tastes boiled and then tossed in butter...not so great. Buttermilk mashed potatoes were already and probably would've been better if it was actually hot when it got to our table. Grilled Prime Rib, 16 oz. - Grilled to BF's specification of medium. Had a nice grill flavor. French fries tasted like standard fried. Onion rings were lightly battered but kind of fell apart and separated from the batter...didn't hold up very well. Bread - Not so great. Sort of focaccia like. The butter was seasoned and tinted red as though sun dried tomatoes were added to it. Neither tasted great nor complimented each other. Chocolate Decadence Cake - Tasted good, but not impressive. Not to heavy or rich, which I like...but it was lacking something I can't quite pin point. Service - Water glass was constantly filled. So was the glass of coke. Waitress was nice. If taking any left over food home, be sure to specify you want the dipping sauces and left over side dishes. I had carrots, au jus, and marinara sauce left over which I assumed would be packed for us....not. Got home and was let down...all the leftovers did not taste right without the dips/au jus. I would come back...as long as I have one of those restaurant.com certificates you buy for dirt cheap.
(3)Cat L.
Our first meal at the state capital was had here at Chops and let me just say, it not only set the bar for the remainder of our trip's dining experiences but it left us with an unqualified comprehension of how we should expect our steaks prepared forever... When you walk through the door, you'll immediately notice two things: The fully-stocked bar (woot!) and slabs upon slabs of glass-encased dry-aged steaks. Add some recessed lighting fixtures and you could showcase that as art. It really is THAT beautiful (tear)! The interior is chic and dimly lit in the evening. I love that the tall booths and table candles add privacy and romantic flair. Even with the large party of about 20 people nearby, our booth made for a cozy escape and my partner was actually audible during conversation despite the exploding chatter a few feet away. Alright, enough of that. Let's talk FOOD. We are admitted crab and artichoke dip snobs so naturally, we started with their Baked Crab and Artichoke Dip and the Porterhouse Steak and Crab Cake Dinner for Two as our main entree. The dip wasn't the creamy kind we're used to seeing but still delicious! Definitely the most crab I had ever seen in a dip of this caliber. Same goes for the crab cakes. Great crostini to complement and tasty starter bread with fresh garlic butter. Something was added to the butter that attributed a light pinkish/reddish color, maybe sundried tomato? I don't know, but GOOD. Obviously, the steak was the star of the show. We asked for "medium rare" and I was a bit worried it wouldn't be as bloody as I liked but have no fear, our steak was bloodier than a couple of emo kids locked in a bathroom with razor blades. I almost wished it were a tad more done but like chocolate chip cookies, better underdone than over. The meat was so tender and delicious and dripping with au jus it was pheno-MOO-nal. ;) Wonderful paired with the caramelized carrots and garlic spinach mashed potatoes (special that day) that came with our meal. I should note that we each got a choice of starch and I would definitely recommend the mashed stuff over the twice baked with cheese and bacon. Twice baked sounded amazing but its dry texture and blandness were disappointing. They should call that one "Parched Potato" or better yet, take it off the menu as it detracts from the glory of everything else they have to offer. Even the service was excellent. Our waitress was on top of everything, made great conversation, and even snuck our orders in before the nearby party of 20 so we wouldn't have to wait long. I appreciated that she made it a point to make eye contact and acknowledge every single "Thank you," which happened A LOT. Very charming place and plenty of great food. I could see ourselves coming here at least a couple of times a year for special occasions and splurgey suppers if we lived nearby. ;)
(5)Andrew Z.
I've been here for drinks far more times than I can recall; it's the most popular spot for Legislators, staff, & lobbyists to grab an afternoon or happy-hour drink...so if schmoozing with that crowd is your bag (I know, it's not) then you should definitely come here. I had amazingly never eaten here though, until a recent lunch. I had the Capitol burger, a 1/2 lb of ground sirloin and filet mignon & a side salad. At $10+, you expect quality, and it is...I could barely put it down between bites. Chops has a classy atmosphere and friendly staff - it's a steakhouse so it's not cheap, but I can at least say the burger is worth the price!
(4)Steven L.
I've only been here to DJ for sorority events down in the basement. I did get to eat, however. The steak was really good, I liked it a lot. No complaints. Drinks - I didnt have anything but water. Venue - place is nice, upscale. Theres a bar on the main floor. In the basement where I DJed, its nice and private. I heard it was supposed to be a club thats why they have speakers everywhere, as well as some lights. The space to dance is small, so made it kinda hard to set up. One issue I had was with the lady in charged of events that night. Nobody told me I was going to hook up to their sound system. So this other employee says he can go get the rca cable that I needed [I don't carry this cable to gigs because I don't need it] The lady says to me, "You're lucky he has the cable and can go get it". I'm like wth? I didn't ask for it, I don't need it. I have my own speakers. Don't talk to me like I don't know how to do my job and come unprepared. Crazy
(4)Clasina V.
Have not been out to dinner in a while but it was my husband's birthday a week ago and wanted to take hime somewhere nice. We are new to Sacramento and have been using Restaurant.com coupons to get to know restaurants. I got one for Chops, spend $100 on food and get $ 50 off. I checked with Yelp and saw the reviews were divided. Went and tried it out anyway. What a wonderful experience. Our waiter was Kelsey, courteous and informative. We had Osters Rockefeller and the Filet Mignon Oscar, with the loaded potato ( added $ 2.95 but worth it). For desert the lava cake. We loved the whole dinner and the service, not one complaint. We will go back for a special occcasion-this place is a little too much money for a casual Saturday night meal but will go back for a celebration for sure.
(5)Paul M.
This was my 3rd visit to Chops. I've tried the prime rib and the rib eye. They're good steaks, but the meat has been getting tougher with each visit. This last time I had to cut off several pieces of the prime rib I knew I wouldn't be able to chew. I usually don't have to leave any meat behind so this was disappointing. Interestingly enough, I've been given the same table, and server, all three times I've been here. The service has always been professional, friendly, and fast. I like the fact that there was no wait for dinner, weekday or weekend. Is this place a lunch spot? I noticed all the men were wearing ties except for me. Were they overachievers or did I miss the memo? Maybe they were all from the same company. There was definitely some kind of company function going on last night. Anyway, I like the atmosphere (high end restaurant look but nearly empty dining room), but the price is quite steep, about $50+ per person. I'll probably give this place one more try. However, if the meat doesn't improve, I'll have to cross this restaurant off my list for good.
(3)Theresia D.
Went here again for another club night! Had a great time, if you have never been to this place as a club then you need to try it out! Good music, great bartenders and good promoters!!!
(4)Ben P.
What do you do when you've drug (dragged? driggen?) your betrothed 100 miles to Sacto on the pretense of turning a boring work trip into a "vacation" that actually spans only Friday evening and a Saturday that you have somehow, miraculously, gotten off from working? Why, you drag her to your favorite restaurant in the city, of course! For a vacation that's all about you. But with us. But mostly me. Because I'm thorough (and depressed, and overworked, and stressed to the gills, and a borderline alchy), we checked out both the bar AND the restaurant. The bar was good: Pyrat rum in stock, they make a decent martini, and onion rings were a tasty drinking snack. While I know this is Sacto, and I know Chops is kinda a power brokerage, they really shouldn't let people smoke cigars on the bar terrace. It is my opinion that most people smoke cigars not because they like them, but because they enjoy inflicting themselves on others. But that's just one man's opinion. The restaurant side was excellent as well. Old Fashioned was served well, by this old fashioned place. Decent bottle of Provenance Cab for a reasonable price. Wifey and I shared the "so you drug your understanding wife all the way up here, you selfish bastard" special: the 32 oz. porterhouse with crabcakes. Porterhouse was excellent. In a rare non-me-centric concession, the steak was cooked medium. This is going to sound weird, but the crab cakes were too crabby for me. I like a little cake with my crab cake, and Chops appears to be focused on delivering a pretty much 100% solid chunks of crab crabcake. Which most people probably like. Just not me. For dessert, I had the mildly debilitating coronary. Oh, wait: that was the main course. And my almost-certain future. We didn't have any room for dessert. Probably due to the fully-loaded baked potato I had with my steak slab. Or the mac-and-cheese appetizer. Or the pound of meat I had just eaten. Probably one of those. Or all, collectively. Either way.
(5)Jayne W.
I really, really like how they do the steaks here. I have had the ribeye 2 of the 3 times I've been here. I don't know exactly where a ribeye is on a cow, but they should make more of them. Steaks are huge, well-aged, cooked properly, and tender. The veggies are nicely done too - not just steamed blandness but some imagination and flavor. I love the brussels sprouts with parmesan. Wines by the glass are nice but not spectacular - I had a Rodney Strong pinot noir and a Red Diamond Zin. One star off for the desserts - not bad, just dull - and a bit of a wait for our party of seven to get our food. Chocolate decadance cake is good, chocolatey, but not pastry-chef good. Apple crisp, not very crisp. Raspberry sorbet was about the best of the bunch. I've also tasted the porterhouse, the prime rib, the lobster risotto, and the southern fried chicken (my friends and family are the sharing type). All very appealing. Come here if you want to dive headfirst into a food coma while lightening your wallet fairly significantly.
(4)Ron M.
We are lucky in Sacramento to have some great locally owned and operated steakhouses - The Broiler and Sutter Street Steakhouse in Folsom are my 2 favorite go-to places. I will now be adding Chops to my personal rotation. My wife and I were guests of two LA attorneys up for the day, so the location, with a great view of the Capitol across the street, provided an appropriate setting for the visitors. We had an efficient and personable bartender. We were seated at our table when we were ready, and not pushed to our table at the precise time of the reservation. That was a good sign, as there were at least 2 large private parties there, and it was crowded for a week night. Our server Manny was great, striking the right balance between being efficient and knowledgeable about the menu, without rushing us at any step. The only service glitch was a bit of a delay in service of our 2nd bottle of wine, which we probably could have done without in any event. His apology for the delay was not prompted and sincere. It was red meat all around the table. One of our hosts was a UC Davis grad, and went locavore with a Dixon-sourced rack of lamb which he praised. My rib eye was wonderfully marbled and flavorful on its' own (no stinking sauce for me). My wife's filet with Hollandaise was equally perfect. I did not hear raves about the prime rib order of our other host, but I have a theory about prime rib. If you are not at the House of Prime Rib in the City or Lawry's in LA, steer clear ordering it, even in the best of restaurant. I also appreciate a steakhouse where there is a potato choice and very good caramelized carrots included in the price with each meal. The one traditional steak house side we did order, creamed spinach, was served with a unique twist, with smoky bacon and a finish in a salamander or under a broiler. Near the end of our meal, we were visited at our table by Trisha, one of the proprietors who we first met at the host station on arrival. If she has any more energy I think she will explode, but she is passionate about her business and of the experience of her customers. You just cannot get that level of caring from the GM of the national steak houses in the area that charge an arm and leg, and act like you should be thankful that you are allowed to eat at their establishment. I understand they are opening a outpost in Folsom, which is close by to home, and we will try it out. But, I will be more inclined to head downtown for my next visit to Chops. Well done, sirs and madams!
(5)Trish M.
My husband and I had dinner here during a recent trip to Sacramento. We stumbled upon this gem while looking for a nice place to dine. My swordfish was cooked to perfection as was my husband's T-bone steak. The service was excellent as well. Nice place to dine, or share a bottle of wine, and relax with a view of the capitol.
(5)Marek W.
My sister recommended this place to me and it was delish! Best steak salad (not healthiest) I've ever had! There ahi poki appetizer was pretty tasty as well. There server was friendly, but a little slow, especially because it wasn't particularly busy. The only bad part was sitting right under the air conditioner, which was much too cold for a cool day!
(4)Martin V.
Overall, pleased with ambiance, food & service. Had reservation for 8 PM, but arrived almost 30 min early, on 12/24. We were seated immediately in the bar area, which turned out to be the quieter area that evening. Fine by us. Friend ordered the prix fixe 3-course meal. Mine was arugula & mushroom salad & NY strip steak with pepper & brandy sauce. Meats were cooked as requested, though mine came out without requested sauce. Had to return dish to kitchen, but sauced in minutes. Unfortunately, sauce was on the sweet side; only negative about the food. Service was attentive & available when needed. Will return without any hesitation.
(4)Louisa T.
Took my husband there for his birthday. He wanted a good steak. I did research on yelp and was deciding between Ruths Chris and McCormick and Schmicks and Chops. Reading the reviews, I chose Chops. I wish I hadn't. We were both disappointed all around. He ordered some large cut of meat and he said it was "ok". For fifty bucks, I want to hear it was amazing. The sides were good, but we didnt pay $150. for caramelized carrots....We wanted atmosphere, good food and good wine...we were shoved in a corner in the back of the building and I had a wall to stare at all night. I ordered the fish plate...VERY SALTY...the best part of the night was the cocktail I ordered. We saw our waiter when he took our order and brought our drink and our food. Service was terrible at best and it wasn't like they were busy. We were 1 of 4 couples in the place on a Saturday night.
(1)V M.
I came here today to have lunch with my boss and co-workers. I ordered the Fish n Chips since we only had one hour of lunch. My day was swamped with meetings with legislative staff at the state capitol so I wanted to order something I could eat really quick and go back to work. I should've ordered the Classic California Chicken salad...it looked REALLY good on the menu. LoL... The portions here are large so there's no need to order any appetizers. It was kind of dark with not much lighting so it was kind of hard to see. It was pretty busy at lunch time as well since it's right across the street from the capitol. There is a parking lot across the street so you don't have to worry about looking for parking. The waiter took a while to get our food to us...I can understand that it was lunch time but does it really take that long to throw together some salads? I don't think so.... I had a good experience...but my food was kind of salty and I didn't finish it. I would come back if I were ever in Sacramento again.
(3)Emily A.
First, let me start by steering you right over to restaurant.com , to pick up one of their famous bargains to help you enjoy this dinner even more! It's always more fun to spend less and get more, right? If you go for dinner, parking at the garage across the street is validated ($5 off which = about 1 3/4 hour). We could have parked on the street for our early meal, but why wander around? Parking ended up costing us $2.50 after validation credit. Onto the meal: My husband and I went here for a preheated meal. We had reservations, but the place was pretty empty. We were seated in one of their giant booths, which was comfy and felt pretty private until they seated a large party (10+) across from us. They weren't too loud though, but I wondered why they sat them there as the other side of the restaurant was empty?? Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, offering to tell us about the aging process (which we are familiar with, so didn't need to know). I asked about grass fed beef, as their menu's proudly state "corn fed beef", which seems so 15+ years ago, haven't these steak places figured out yet that we want our $50 piece of meat without e. coli, salmonella, and antibiotics?. Seems it wouldn't be too hard to offer grass feed beef options, especially at $50/steak. But I digress, back to the food. We started by splitting a Cesar salad. I wanted to order an appetizer, but none won us over, either meaty (obviously we would be ordering that later), seafood (we aren't fans), or fried potato skins (our steaks come with potato option). The one appetizer that I would have ordered, stuffed mushrooms, my husband wouldn't have eaten any. My impression of the appetizer menu was that it was a bit lazy, do people really order steak or rib appetizers right before a giant steak meal?? Back to the salad, they were happy to split it, but I should have asked to dressing on the side, as I am a VERY light dresser, and Chops is definitely not (like most restaurant's, which seem to believe that the customer wants each piece of lettuce completely coated in dressing). I like to taste the vegetable, weird, I know. I did like the fresh Parmesan on top, but only ate a few bites of the salad and had my husband eat more. I did not send it back, as it was my own fault for not asking for dressing on the side, do I will not count this against them, but be warned :) Oh, I forgot about the bread and butter brought to us by the stealthy bread and water waiter. I love these guys; you take a sip from your water and next time you look over the thing is full again, like super-water-man. This is a great waiter, one who anticipates every need before I even know it and does it without interruption. I actually had to ask him to stop refilling my tea, as I didn't want more. Onto the next course, I ordered the 10oz prime rib, my husband had a huge rib-eye (enough for three) and we ordered the brussel sprouts (in brown butter with fresh parmesan). First off, 5 stars for the brussel sprouts. I am a lover of these little cabbages, but so many chefs over cook them, not these guys (or gals). They were a wonderful tender crisp with a bit of browning and a gentle layer of parm added at the end to lightly melt but not turn them into over-cheesed veggies. I ate most of the plate myself! My prime rib was good, not amazing, but I enjoyed it. I really like the au jus that accompanied the meat. The carrots that came with the dish were cooked just right, but I did not care for the sweet glaze on them, so they were cast aside (sorry lovely carrots). I ordered buttermilk mashed potatoes as my choice for the potato side. I opted for the upgraded "loaded" option, which I regretted once it came. I guess in my mind I thought they would have put the "loaded" on top, but it came all mixed together, which looked like it had been done earlier in the day. The bacon was chewy and there was entirely too much cheese for my taste. Since it was all one big premix mess, I couldn't pick out (I think the lesson here for me is that I obviously am a less is more gal, and Chops is a more is more place, so either get things plain or on the side if you're like me). My husband ordered his steak rare, he was impressed that the steak was seared beautifully on the outside but completely rare on the inside all the way to the edge. Well done steak chef! We had the chocolate lava cake with ice cream for dessert. The best part for me was the fresh berries. It was good, not great, my guess is it comes in premade and they just finish it. Hire a pastry chef and I'll order dessert again, otherwise I'll go elsewhere after the theater for dessert. Why three stars? Good steakhouse, lots of competition here and I can' t say I'd choose Chops over some of the others. Excellent service, added to stars. Food seemed over-seasoned, I think a high end restaurant should not need to hide top ingredients. Economy is tough, standards are higher for $150 meal.
(3)Stephanie R.
Hey Soos!! this place is good. I had the Ribeye with Blue Cheese and Bacon... Muffin had the Prime Rib. We started with the crab cakes and sauteed brussell sprouts. He had a scotch and i had the best dang Whisky and Ginger on earth! complete with a splash of bitters! For dessert. Apple crisp with real vanilla bean ice cream. I'll admit i had a few bites... ok.. so i've listed our Nom's. But more importantly, we had great service! it was pricey for a regular old Sunday night dinner. But something we will try and do at least once a month. Fantastic!!
(5)Marc H.
My fiancé and I went to Chops on a Saturday night and had a less than thrilling experience. First of all, my expectations for a restaurant with such an expensive menu are very high. I expect great service and great food which one would assume would be commensurate with the very high price. Chops disappointed me on every level. We had horrible service and the food was not up to the standards that other restaurants of similar caliber produce. Our food and drinks took forever to come out. There were empty dishes left on our table for a prolonged period of time. It took 45 minutes to get our check. It seemed as if the waiter had 5 other tables that he was trying to take care of which made us feel like we were being completely ignored. In addition to the horrible service, the food was anything but top notch. Both of us had the filet and shrimp. When the edible portion of your meal takes up less than 1/4 of the available space on the dinner plate, there is a problem. The portions were deplorable. I don't think a 2 year old would have been full off of the meal I was served. Now I know why they give you loaves of bread before dinner is served. In addition to the portions being very tiny, the quality was mediocre to acceptable at best. I ordered my steak "medium." Medium to me means that the steak is actually cooked. It should be pink in the center and cooked around the outside to about halfway in. Unfortunately, my meat was red in the center and pink throughout the rest of the piece with a thin exterior lining of cooked meat. I am not a meat connoisseur so maybe that was how they cook beef in fancy restaurants. The shrimp were overcooked and a little chewy. the best part of the dinner was the bread served before dinner and the cake we brought for or friends birthday. To further exacerbate my frustrations, when I received the bill, the recommended gratuity was already hand written on the receipt. I crossed out the recommended gratuity and wrote in what I thought was appropriate. Come to find out, they had charged me the full gratuity which was almost $30 more than what I wrote down. I had to call the general manager and have her refund me the money. Needless to say, I believe this restaurant deserved less than the one star I gave it. It was extremely overpriced, the service was unacceptable and the food was not great. They could not excel in any of the major areas. Honestly, I do not know how this restaurant survives. It must rely on first time customers who are duped into believing that they will have a great meal. If you want a great dinner and are willing to spend a bunch of money, hire a private chef to come over to your house for the night. You will have a much better time and you won't feel like crap giving your hard earned money away.
(1)Frank G.
snore. buy a drink or club soda and sit and admire the beautiful capitol people, but that's all. i don't eat meat, but i've heard it's not that good. it looks good, nice decor, nice place to hang out. the service is friendly, but probably overworked and can't get to tables well enough, fast enough. this is just a schmoozy expensive pretty place for politicians and those who want to talk to them and about them.
(3)Bill P.
If I could name my favorite thing about Sacramento other than fat-assed women in Big Dog clothing, it would have to be the abundance of patio seating everywhere! I mean, Los Angeles and San Francisco, for all their hating on this fair little city, could learn a thing or two about making me happy from this place! So, went to Chops with my Dad and another smart-ass. They got olde tyme Sacramento male food - roast beef sandwiches with onion rings. They looked good as hell, but I couldnt really take a bite, cause of the situation. I ordered the Salmon BLT, which was A+, though a little heavy, what with bacon, avocado and salmon all up in my grill, plus the bread was buttery herbed focaccia. Entrees will run you like 15-20 here. Appetizers 5-10. Yeah, so this place is not diet friendly, but its good, across from the capital and it has a super nice patio. I dont know if I would come here if I wasnt with old-school prosecutor types, at least not for food, but for what it was, it was very good. They also have a drink menu, which was fairly priced ($8 Martini). It would be a great after work feeling old spot if I lived in Sacramento and had friends that did as well. DING DING DONG.
(4)Rick C.
We arrive this weekend in Sacramento for a Convention. I arrive late and am told that we are going to have a steak dinner. I am excited of course because we all look fantastic and are ready for a great night. Chops certainly did not disappoint. We arrive looking fantastic and hungry (hey, what do you expect, most of us are guys!) to a quite beautiful restaurant. Our table ordered the scampi, the salmon, the prime rib, and many, many steaks. The salad and the soups were a bit of a disappoint but thankfully the steak well made up for it! We cannot complain. The server was very helpful and very mindful of our group throughout the night. She didn't even seem to be a bit annoyed that we were all just having an extravagantly, loud time. Oh and I'm most definitely sure she heard us. Good times! Although it was definitely pricey, it was well worth it for the ambiance, the food, and the time with all my great friends.
(4)Margaret G.
My husband and I came here to celebrate Thanksgiving since we didn't have a chance to visit family or cook at home. We were surprised to see that a good amount of people had chosen Chops as their Thanksgiving restaurant of choice. Bottom line is that though the service left much to be desired - our server never even introduced herself by name - the food was excellent. We had the New York Steak with mashed potatoes and the lamb chops with mashed sweet potatoes. Though a little bit pricey, the meal was delicious. Still on the fence about whether we will come back here again (largely because of the bad service) but it is a great one time (at least) experience.
(3)Bruce P.
I had a fantastic steak at Chops. The stuffed mushrooms and well made drinks justified the prices. Excellent meal.
(5)Jeff F.
Went to Chops to celebrate a birthday. There were 7 of us. All had a great meal and a great time! Terek, our server was attentive, knowledgeable, engaging and entertaining. He definately added to the total dining experience. For all diners, the food was fantastic. I had the short ribs over polenta and they were perfect. My wife's scampi was also excellent. The others had steaks in various forms and all were top notch. I generally don't order steaks in restaurants because few can compete with my own grill. Not true here. Chops is not a nouveau foo foo type of place. They serve basic American food that is spot on and prepared perfectly. I would recommend it to anyone that is looking for a great meal and a good time in a nice place.
(5)Jessica S.
Me and my husband stumbled in here by accident. Its a little hard to find as the sign is small. 1st time my husband had the filet mignon and lobster and I had prime rib. The portions were excellent and the lobster is the best we've had since Lorenzillo's in Cancun (pre-hurricane circa 2008). I get prime rib everywhere and it was fantastic. 3rd time there my husband got swordfish and I got the blackened salmon. Needless to say both excellent. Bar was great also I am kind of cheap but there Mojitos are so good I don't mind paying a little more here. The service was excellent when we ate at a table we had 4 people waiting on us constantly. When my husband and I went for a drink the bartender and waiter were fabulous. I reccomend this place to everyone.
(5)Angela C.
I've been here many times and have tried virtually everything on the menu, but the steaks are the best thing! I've been to several different steakhouses, and the steaks here beat them all. The dry-aging process makes them just melt in your mouth. The caramelized carrots, loaded mashed potatoes and blue cheese crumble add to the fabulousness. Top it off with great ambiance, convenient location, and exceptional service makes this restaurant ideal for a romantic dinner for two or a large party (I used them for my rehearsal dinner). If I could give them more stars I would!
(5)Ben W.
As the name would suggest they do have some quality meat. The prime rib is really tasty and the portions are huge. They have a full bar and a pretty good lounge area. I really like the patio seating for the summertime.
(3)A. B.
First time here was a quite Thursday night while govn't session was out. Place was dead. Sat at the bar for drinks and steaks. Bartender was great and so was the ribeye. We had a mix of drinks, like 7-8 each prolly. Bill came out to like $100 each. I would go back though.
(4)Nathan W.
Thought I'd give it a try based on yelp reviews, however for the money this place sucks. Go to any other steak place in town! My salt encrusted potato didn't even have salt!
(1)Sandy N.
We made reservations and we were quickly seated at a booth that we requested. There wasn't a line at all on Wednesday night. It was not as quiet and romantic as I was hoping for but it was decent. We had snacked on some focaccia bread while we looked at the menu. We started off with the Oysters Rockerfeller they were delicious! The spinach was a little bitter for me, but they were still good all together with the oysters, toasted bread crumbs, bacon, and hollandaise sauce. I ordered the Chops Ribeye and he ordered the 14oz Prime Rib. Oh my... the rib eye was soooo juicy and tender, it was one of the best rib eyes I ever tasted. My bf's prime rib was ehh.. but he liked it. I was so stuffed halfway through my rib eye steak... oooh and the mac and cheese we ordered was so tasty! We got a free dessert of choice for our anniversary, so we ordered the sundae which was topped off with whip cream, toasted almonds, blue berries, rasberries, and blackberries and chocolate sauce. It was good. The service was friendly, but not as attentative as we wanted. Overall it was a good experience and our wallets were empty!
(3)Chris T.
Final update to original review. My wife and I went back to Chops last week, $100 gift card from Chops ownership in hand. What a completely different experience - and more like my first visit. Manny was our waiter and he was excellent. Fred, the General Manager, came by to introduce himself and check-in on us, without being obtrusive. I ordered the Rib Eye special (signature rib-eye with a tasty mushroom sauce) and my wife had the filet and lobster tail. Both our meals were cooked to perfection. I hope this experience was not due to any special treatment, and is merely a testament to what you can generally expect at Chops. We'll definitely return again and hope this level of service and food quality becomes a trend.
(3)Floyd P.
Bummer, I would have expected this place to be more upscale in terms of service, but it fell way short. The stuffed mushroom app was just ok, the steaks were good, but again were way slow to come out. Inexperienced service and mgmt for sure.
(3)The Truth T.
Went here to celebrate a birthday. The restaurant itself was ok. I liked the bar ambiance better than the dining area. The service seemed a little slow. The waiter unpolished - more of like a chili waiter - however he was nice. I had a ribeye with a side of mac and cheese and my partner had a new york. We both had the twice baked potatoes. I dont eat much, so I did take more than 1/2 home. However when I got the steak out the fridge to make steak and eggs the next day I was horrified at the amount of fat on it! Since it was my bday we selected the lava cake off the menu AND THEY CHARGED ME NEARLY $10 FOR IT! Since when do fine dining establishments charge for bday cake or whatever? I just dropped $150 for 2 steaks! Felt like CHOPS was wishing me a very merry UNbirthday. Needless to say, we wont be back. Gave you a chance and you blew it baby.
(1)Josh R.
Went here for dinner with the in laws for their anniversary. Service was very solid. Not overly present, which I hate, but there to check on us as we needed, answer some questions, and be friendly. The food was solid as expected. There were a couple filets, a prime rib, and a halibut special around the table. All of which were cleaned off the plates, licking them clean in the process. All of this with a nice bottle of pinot. I suggest everyone find a GC on restaurant.com for a substantial discount. Made the evening that much better. I would give the 5th star if this was a world class steak, but it wasn't quite to that level. Everything was great, but not in that special class of amazing.
(4)Joshua F.
Horrible in a word. Took my family 2 hours to get our entrees. We had a 3 year old too which would tip-off a good server that we didn't have all the time in the world. After 2 hours our $40 steaks were cooked incorrectly and they were cold while the sides were hot. We were so tired at that point we just wanted to pay and get back to our room. They did comp the steaks but we didn't eat them anyway so what's the point?
(1)Mary D.
This was our first visit and chose Chops based on reviews and it's close proximity to City Center Theater. FOOD WAS FABULOUS. We had a large party and ordered a variety of food; entree salads, pasta, steak and the awesome short ribs. Everyone loved the food. This could easily be a 5 STAR restaurant IF THEY IMPROVE THEIR SERVICE. We saw much more of the busboy filling our water than we did of our server. She wasn't very friendly, never really came to see if we even like our meals, was slow to pick up our plates or box up our leftovers and took too long to see if we wanted dessert or coffee and even longer to bring our check. This particular evening we went to a play before dinner; had we done it the other way around, we would have been late for our play because of the SLOW SERVICE. We don't mind paying good $$$ for fine food, it's just a little disappointing that they DIDN'T HAVE THE SERVICE TO GO WITH IT. And, because we were a large party the gratuity was automatically added to the check; sorry to say SHE DIDN'T EARN IT. We will try this restaurant again sometime but if the service doesn't improve we will unlikely not come back.
(4)Crissy G.
I like their food. I went here for lunch today and the salad and sandwiches were very good! It's a very nice place to come with friends and just chill and eat! The service was great, too!
(4)Gail A.
My husband and I came here with our son to celebrate his H.S. graduation. We all ordered steaks, and also oysters for an appetizer.. After some time our waiter returned and apoligized for not having the oysters out sooner, and explained they had "just found them in the basement." We were reassured they were fresh, and they would be out soon. The waiter asked if we wanted the steaks first. We declined and asked to have the steaks soon after the appetizer. The oysters were served and they were good. The steaks did not come soon after, and when they came the food was not warm. I was disappointed in the time delay for everything, the food not being warm, and the lack of finesse on the waiters part. I am not interested in returning to Chops.
(2)Ashley N.
I have been going to Chops for years now and the food is spectacular. However, service can be very hit or miss. Went in last night for dinner and sat in the lounge (Duke vs. Butler, couldn't miss) and started off with a couple cocktails. I had the Cosmo Bellini, a nice peachy-twist on a Cosmo....a little too sweet for my taste, but at only $8, easy on the wallet for a specialty drink at a steakhouse. Next, ordered a bottle of Renwood Barbera (yes, my boyfriend and I are Barbera freaks) and a caesar salad. Chops's caesar dressing is delicious, I always prefer a nice creamy one. Would've been even better if our server (who was also the bartender) had offered us some fresh cracked pepper to go on top. Seems maybe she was a bit annoyed we were sitting at a table and she would now have to walk back and forth from the bar. The stuffed mushrooms are also a great way to start, but we passed this time. Next we split the 12oz filet Oscar style (topped with crab, asparagus and bernaise sauce)....absolutely delicious! The meat was very tender and juicy and the crab was generous. The meat was a bit charred on the outside, but last night was the only time it's ever been like that so I'll let it slide and it was still cooked to a perfect medium rare. The entrees came with their candied carrots (I normally hate carrots, but looove these!) and a potato. We split the entree so we each got a potato which was nice. We also had a side order of the creamed spinach with bacon and parmesean crust, which was also delectable. The dessert list is a bit disappointing so we had our server wrap up our leftovers. I had quite a bit of crab left from my filet but she did not box up any of it which was also disappointing, although of course I didn't realize until it was too late. All in all, Chops food is definitely worth the price. Next time I will remember to sit in the dining area though, as the bartender was pretty bland and not very friendly....and would walk away as I was still talking to her.
(4)Sophia S.
I had a gift card for chops, even though it wasn't the most logical choice for a vegetarian, we wanted to use the card. There were enough appetizers and small plates to make a meal. We ordered artichoke, brussel sprouts, mac & cheese. The food was OK, there are much better places in town. It was a Saturday night and they were DEAD inside. The service was good, we enjoyed talking to our server (the bartender) for a while after our meal over cocktails. We sat on the patio, which was cool, it's a pretty decent size.
(3)L S.
I am really torn about how to rate Chops, and I'm not usually indecisive about this kind of thing. So, 3 stars is where I landed. The price point was far too high for the food quality. The menu proudly stated that the steaks were from corn fed beef. Really? That's not exactly something to brag about and I would have expected grass fed for the price. We found the food mediocre. Crab cake appetizer was good, shrimp cocktail was good (much spicier than I expected, but good). We both had filet with the twice baked potato for dinner. The twice baked was on the server's recommendation - neither of us was impressed with it. Now to talk about the steak. The reason you go to a place like Chops. Now, I knew going in the door I was going to have to sacrifice and not get a perfect steak, not because of the restaurant, but because I'm pregnant. A perfect steak can't be cooked any more than medium - and I knew I had to have mine medium well. So, I was prepared to make the sacrifice, and that doesn't figure into my 3 star rating. I ordered my medium well filet and it arrived rare...well, maybe medium rare. More rare than I would normally eat. They apologized, and cooked it some more and returned it. Still too raw....just about medium that time. The server let me know that the temperature was coming out right for medium well, but the steak was deep red all the way through - not medium well. But, they took it back and cooked it some more. Third time was the charm - and it came back medium well. I couldn't help but think that they should have known that you have to butterfly a thick filet to cook it that well done.... I mean, Outback knows that. Morton's knows that. Ruths Chris knows that... That being said, they were very apologetic and kept working on it until they got it right. They did everything possible to make it disrupt our dinner as little as possible. Then to compensate, they offered both of us a free dessert. So, the service was excellent. I appreciated that very much. So, I was very torn about the whole experience. I feel like they should be able to cook steak better. And they are a little overpriced for the quality. But the service was great and the people nice. So, 3 stars. i doubt we will go back because I didn't feel like I got appropriate value for the dollar - but it's not a bad place at all.
(3)Jasmine H.
The service was great here but you kind of figure that since it's a nice restaurant. The food was yummy. Me and my Boyfriend had the Dinner for 2. It includes a 32 oz porterhouse, potatoes, crab cake, and vegetables. The Porterhouse was great and it was very tender and juicy. The potatoes was delicious and there was a lot of different selection for just potatoes. I didn't care for the Crab Cake too much because i didn't like the flavor but overall the food was good and the service is great. I will definitely be back for more of their yummy food.
(5)Frank B.
I was taken here by an old high school friend who is equaled as a carnivore only by certain now-extinct upright dinosaurs. I myself never eat beef at home so when he suggested the 16-oz top sirloin I was skeptical that I could eat that much meat. When it arrived at our table I was sure I could not eat it. I ate it with no problem. It was the best steak I have ever had. OK, now back to the tofu.
(5)Yoshiko M.
Before it was Chop's, it was the Lobby (location by the State Capitol explains that name), and before that, it was Brannan's. I didn't like it in any of its iterations. The menu was too predictable, and none of the menu standards were done exceptionally well. So that left the proximity to the Capitol pretty much its only draw. In fact, as a non-meat eater, I thought the Chop's version would mean the end of a long, unsatisfying relationship. Thanks to one of my favorite lobbyists, I discovered a different side of Chop's. G said, "always order the specials, honey, and you'll never be disappointed." And as usual, G was right. Since I don't eat red meat, I order the seafood lunch special. The first time, G and I ordered filets of a light white fish with a name that neither one of us recognized. The fish was lightly breaded and perfectly fried to leave the exterior crispy and the interior tender and moist. The asparagus was well cooked, leaving just the right amount of bite, and the mashed potatoes were creamy and hearty. Okay, they passed test #1. But to make sure my experience wasn't enhanced by being with a valued regular, I tried Chop's again. When R dropped into town before flying off to Tanzania, we ordered the mahi-mahi special, served with rice and a medley of veggies and once again the fish was fresh and prepared by someone who understands seafood. Seasoning fish is tricky -- a lot of cooks make it too salty or leave it too bland -- the Chef at Chop's always manages to use a blend of different herbs, breading and seasoning to bring out the best of the fish of the day. I follow G's lead, and never order off the regular menu, and am always happy. The phenom may be because the special du jour enables the chef to work what is the best from the market for that day. Part of eating at Chop's is to see and be seen, and I am a fan of al fresco anyway, so outdoor "patio" seating is a natural choice (and you avoid the cow aquarium). Staff is used to accommodating a hectic schedule, and will work to get your food hurried if need be. I suppose it is silly to write about seafood at a steakhouse, but ya gotta give credit when it is due. G says that the non-seafood specials are equally good. I give it a Sac-town 4.
(4)Rebecca B.
A Monday nite waste of time and money! If you have a lot of money to waste, here is the place to go. For the 3rd time, we went here for great steak and got...YUCK! M/R COLD filet, cold baked potato, poor service and outrageous dinner charges ($270 for 3 and we brought our own bottle of wine)...and a creme brulee that had SALT on the top (I don't care what the chef said....I sampled both!) Seriously...a complete waste of money, unless of course you are on an expense account...still...I wouldn't go here with clients. A real disappointment. A good thing...the cocktails were good...overpriced, but good. Pick another steakhouse...there are tons with better food.
(1)April G.
Wow. This place is spendy. And it was packed on a Thursday night. I want to be a lobbyist when I grow up. All that meat in the entry is kind of fun, isn't it? Due to some special circumstances, my boyfriend and I ate here the other night. Everything was perfectly done, and the service was great. I love the brown-sugar-roasted carrots that came with our entrees. My boyfriend had the prime rib, and I had the salmon. The salmon had a great flavor and was perfectly done. The only problem was the chocolate lava cake we shared for dessert. I wasn't impressed. It was very...one note I guess. It had vanilla ice cream on top, which looked homemade but tasted like store brand ice milk. The cake itself was just really sweet, with a little chocolateyness , but not very much richness or depth. It was disappointing after such a nice dinner. Overall, the food was good and I enjoyed myself, but it seemed overpriced for what it was.
(3)dana h.
If you like eating at restaurants where the owners take the tip you left for your wait staff, you'll love Chops. Do not have have your banquets there! The 20% gratuity goes to the owners NOT the staff (waiters, bussers, bartenders all SPLIT %8) and if you leave anything extra the owners keep that too!!
(1)Brian G.
Waiter was attentive and the food was pretty good, but overall service was very slow, and it wasn't too crowded. Atmosphere is quiet and dark.
(2)Red G.
If I could give 3.5 stars I would. The cheesecake was outstanding. It was probably the best I've ever had. It was caramel, chocolate, nuts and more chocolate. I couldn't believe they made it in house. Truly delicious. As for the food, I was not overly impressed, nor was I sorely disappointed. I ordered a steak which was more chewy then I think it should have been. My dining partner had a grilled salmon that was moist, tender and delicious, until you tasted carbon. The crowd was generally pretty good, if you like louder politicos as your dining compatriots. They didn't have a booth ready for us, so we sat in a half-booth which worked out fine, except that a solo dining portly gentleman sat near us and kept belching and grunting, and then argued with the waiter after the meal. And oh, the waiter. He was surprised by the crowd which showed up. I swear he looked like he was related to Matt Damon. Nice guy, but forgot my dining partner had ordered a beverage and asked her twice what she wanted to drink. Still, for Sacramento it's a nice place and I'd go back if I was rolling in the play-dough. This place was kind of pricey !
(4)DJ L.
My wife and I went to Chops for our Valentines dinner off a reccomendation I received from a friend for an intimate dinner downtown. My expectations were set high by the reviews on Yelp and other sites and my wife and I love steaks. The setting was nice and predictable for a steakhouse. The wait staff ws very friendly and helpful which made the occassion nice. The food however - ehh. The side dishes were bland and possibly reheated, the wine selection was predictable, but most disappointing the meat was good but not great. Maybe it was a one time let down but I would not go back.
(2)ericka L.
I only had drinks and an appetizer, so my rating is no reflection on the steaks. I came here for happy hour drinks with a Capitol staffer and started off with an Absolut Mandarin vodka tonic while waiting for him to show. The female bartenders make nice, strong drinks and are polite, efficient, and friendly. (As well as hot, always a bonus.) I ended up having three vodka tonics and two beers, including a "Trumor" (may be wrong name, as this is what was on receipt but not in my memory) in lieu of Stella, of which there is apparently some sort of worldwide shortage. We also shared the calamari, which was pretty damn good, crispy and light but also somehow a little greasy. The garlicky dipping sauce rocked, the other one not so much. Overall, calamari, three Absolut Mandarin vodka tonics, and five beers came to $58 pre-tip. Not bad. I can recommend this place if you're a chick who's into political dudes, 'cause the place is a total sausage party.
(3)Lacey K.
My husband and I went to Chops for our anniversary. I made reservations, and told them it was our anniversary and I would like a table off by itself so we could get lost each other, the hostess said no problem we will have a romantic table waiting for you. We lucked out and got great parking as we arrived at Chops, we were greeted and welcomed. As we were taken to our seats, the hostess sat us behind a party of 7 yes 7 people, to get in and out of our booth we had to squeeze without bumping. I was not excited about where they sat us, the both it self was very nice but the location sucked! We were served seasoned bread with garlic butter and water immediately that was great. We ordered potato skins for an appetizer, which was awesome. I stayed with water for dinner, and he ordered a Coors light, in that type of restaurant you would think it would come in a glass? NOPE not this place. Normally a bottle or can would be fine it was just the fact that this was our anniversary dinner and it is supposed to be special. My husband order the prime rib with garlic mashed potatoes, and I ordered the beef stroganoff. The prime rib was great one of the best, but the mashed potatoes were bland, the stroganoff was just how I remembered when my mom used to make it. We would have stayed for dessert, but I could not take much more of the party of 7 in front of us, how can you expect 7 people to be quite, I know when I got out with a bunch of people we are not quite. It is totally the restaurants fault for the location placement of the guests. We most likely will not go back.
(3)Rafael L.
What can I say about Chops? It's a steakhouse? It's steak? I don't get it. Well I get steak, I just don't get Chops. We did have a good time and the service was great. We were on our way to see Jerry Seinfeld at the Sac Civic Center, so we thought this would be a great start to the evening, but it was nothing special. I'm still trying to figure out the whole steak house thing. Aging and all that too. I'm not a big fan of meat that sits around and rots for a month. Not yet anyway. Kill the damn thing and serve it to me raw! Don't let it sit around for a month! I want the fresh stuff!
(3)Jesse D.
Chops is one of the downtown locations that may be expensive for dinner, but a great place to get a bang for your buck during lunch hours. Dinner and drinks are a little pricey, but the quality of food is solid. My recommendation is to go during lunch hours and get a cheeseburger. I also highly recommend the clam chowder.
(4)Melisa E.
went there for dinner on a Friday, 8pm . There were 4 other people at the bar, no one else eating. I had a mojito which was decent bf had a glass of wine. To start I had an excellent cup of clam chowder - however, my problem is size and price. It was about 5 bites and it was $7.00 it was good but it wasnt THAT good. I had blackened salmon with a ginormous baked potatoe and bf had the $50 32oz porterhouse. Blackened salmon was dry, potatoe was ok. The filet part of the porterhouse was incredible the other part was dry and chewy. Service was good but then again we were the only table in there. I think its overpriced for what it is bill was $125 probably would not go back - maybe if we had a coupon or something.
(3)Jamie E.
We ate at Chop's recently (on a Saturday night, 1/21) and the steak was the best we ever had. It was a Saturday night and we almost did not go in because the restaurant was not very crowded. Luckily, we decided to try it and found out that most of the crowd is from the State Capitol during the week and Saturdays are not that busy provided no events are happening. We started with the House Chop Salad which was yummy followed by Filet Mignon with Baked Potato. The steak was the most tender and tastey that we have ever had. Bryan was our waiter and provided excellent service. It was a great place to eat and we will be back!
(5)Theresa M.
Chops is pricey but very well worth it! The food is great, the atmosphere is not too quiet yet not loud either. The Gonzales family had a very enjoyable Christmas Eve dinner. Our waiter "Manny" provided excellent , old-fashioned down to earth service. He made us feel very comfortable and that really makes a difference when your dining in an expensive restaurant. We are looking forward to going back for our Bdays, hopefully Manny is still working there!
(4)Brian B.
This place was pretty awesome,excellet steak great wine selection. I really liked the carrots aswell and the servers made me feel right at home.
(5)Leo G.
Stopped in there for a late lunch. Trish one of the owners greeted us and was generally fantastic throughout the entire lunch. She and the waitress did a good job checking on us. They went completely above and beyond for us after they brought out our food one person in our party had to take an important call for about 20 minutes. Trish came outside and took the plate inside to keep it warm and on top of that dumped the fries and cooked new ones for him. Food was great, had the prime rib dip sammy, was very tasty. The onion rings were pretty good, but not great, same with the fried calamari app. Overall I would eat there again and recommend it for the service and the meat, so good! Thanks!
(5)J. R.
I chose Chops based on yelp reviews. Thank you for helping me choose a great place! We started with the Crab and Artichoke Dip which was amazing! I just began liking seafood and it was not an overwhelming taste. It was served with bread and the portion is plenty for 2 people. We had this at the bar before our reservation time. Their portions are a really good size, so it was good to have time to let that food settle a bit before being seated. For dinner I had filet and lobster with asparagus and mashed potatoes. I love filet, but this was not even close to the best one I have ever had. There was nothing wrong with it, I just think it could have had more taste. The lobster was a good size and tasted great, though. The asparagus was good, and the mash potatoes were standard. My boyfriend had the steak salad (with ranch, not bleu cheese) and a half order of crab legs. The salad was delicious, and he seemed to be very happy with the crab legs too. We each had 2 glasses of their Meridian Cabernet, which was also very good. I wouldn't say the ambiance was anything special, but the level of noise stayed low, which was nice for keeping the focus on the table I was at instead of everywhere else. The service was not anything superb, but I have no complaints. I give chops a solid 4 stars, and I would definitely go back if I ever have the chance.
(4)char c.
I tried the fillet Mignon steak, and it was okay. Something I could have cooked at home myself. We were the only ones there on a Sunday night a party of 5. It took the waiter probably 20 minutes to come and take our order than another 60 minutes to serve us our food. There was a new waiter that was there assisting our main waiter and it was his first time at least it appeared to serving, but I liked him because he seemed like he actually wanted to give us good service, where as our actual waiter well he didn't seem to be too excited to be there. The location I think is a good location during the week when all of the state workers are there, but weekend it was dead. I've always walked by this place and well I never knew that there was anything here, because out front the windows are tinted so you cannot see in and the patio furniture is always stacked into the corner of the patio. Overall the experience here for a supposedly high end restaurant in Sacramento there are other better places for the price.
(3)Faith C.
Ok, so the meat cellar freaks me out a tiny bit. Did they really have to stick massive pieces of cold cow right in front of the reception area? And I'm a total meat whore, don't get me wrong! But beside that, I love this place. Whether you're in the market for simply a salad, or want to enjoy a nice slab of what you got to view while waiting to be seated, they do it right at Chops. The outside seating is perfect, with a nice view of the Capitol and K Street and then you can sit and laugh at all of the people who only get to go to La Bou and Ambrosia. Their desserts are killer!
(4)Christine L.
This is my second and last visit to Chops. Sad to say everything is too overpriced for what you get. Sacramento has other good and great steakhouses that are better and less expensive. Save your money.
(1)Mrs P.
Good Lord, What a terrible place. This place was such a huge disapointment for me, I took my fiance here for this birthday with high hopes.. and ICK. To begin with.. It was only 5:30 on a Friday so the restaurant was not full, they were a handful of people at the bar and a handful of tables full in the restuarant, the service was bad because the food took so incredibly long. We waited 45 minutes to get one filet and one appetizer when they weren't even busy! My Fiance's filet was poorly cooked, he asked for Medium-Rare and got an unevenly cooked piece of meat comprised of Dry, Stringy flesh. What a disapointment.. You'd think for a 39$ steak you could get a decent piece of meat. My appetizer was unedible because of giantic pieces of artichoke that were so plasticy, I couldnt chew them well enough to swallow. Needless to say I sent mine back, Although I hate to, but It really was terrible. Yet another disapointment on top of the long wait for the food, crappy food was that the food was left under heat lamps which I'm sure accounted for how dry the steak was. I'm not sure why a steak would sit under heat lamps while an appetizer was made... The final Ucky thing about this place was that the Manager lurked around going in and out on the patio smelling of Smoke. While we were there at least 3 employees walked by us to exit the restaurant and smoke not accounting for the manager.. He smoked the most! It was completely rediculous, I mean honestly... You are the staff here and you are really using our seating area as a hallway for your smoke break? There were more than enough exits from the building for them to be skipping our seating area. Such a Disapointment... Stick with the Classic Steakhouses guys!
(1)Kris A.
My girlfriend and I went to Chops for "date night". We usually pick a place that we haven't been to before so we swung by Chops Steakhouse in Downtown Sac. Without hesitation WE WILL NOT BE GOING BACK. The steak was way overcooked, the seats(booth) stick to your pants like velcro, and the manager was not friendly at all. The 1-star was for our server who kept my water glass full and was very personable. Don't waste your time.
(1)Greg M.
I took my wife to Chops for her birthday, My sister in law and brother in law joined us. We dine out frequently around town and always enjoy a great steak. Our normal place we enjoy is Ruth's Chris and are never disappointed. We decided to get out of the suburbs and head downtown. When we arrived the place was like a ghost town. Saturday night and there were 3 other tables seated ion the whole place. There was not one patron in the bar. We convinced ourselves that since the location is a little tucked away and across from the Capital that it must be swamped on the week days and not so much on the weekends. I think it was empty because of the quality of food and service. I had made a reservation on their recorded message and no one over called back. It did not matter because there was plenty of room. Our server took quite some time to get over to the table and when she did she never introduced herself. After taking out orders our salads arrived 20 minutes later. She walked by at one point and said under her breath "oh yeah..salads". Our entrees arrived about an hour and fifteen minutes after sitting down. I had the filet as well as my wife. My cut was tough and very chewy. My wife ordered her medallions medium and they came out rare. It did not do much to complain because our waitress only came by the table 3 times the entire evening and never once asked us if we wanted anything more to drink. All in all a very bad experience. The food was below average and the staff that assisted us should find another line of work or put some effort into her job. I will never recommend this place to anyone and will never return.
(1)Layla R.
You need to go here during lunch or dinner on weekdays when the Legislature is in session. You'll see somethings you never wish you had but you'll have a great steak. It's a swanky joint. If someone needs something from you, they take you to dinner in the dining room in back. If you are with your peers, you sit near the bar and order drinks and appetizers. (If you're the governor, you get to drive up to the front door, even though no cars are allowed on 11th, and go straight downstairs to some special dining room for all the steaks you can eat, because this place ties with Esquire Grill for the governor's favorite restaurant to frequent). If it's a late night when they're still in session, it's a great place to see all the action. The TV at the bar gets the capitol channels, so you can get drunk while they lift the calls at 10pm and watch the fate of your bills unfold (it's what I imagine it must be like for guys who go to bars to watch sports). The patio out front is a whole 'nother scene. People sit there to see and be seen. (it's situated perfectly on 11th so you see all the comings and goings of the Capitol). On certain special occasions, say during the final evenings of sessions, there will be music on the outside patio and you can watch a bunch of dorky, uncoordinated people act like college kids in suits. Once I saw a certain Senator who shall go unmentioned getting her boogy on, and I am still recovering from the experience.
(4)Reina M.
i thought chops was supposed to be one of the better steak houses in sacto? yet, it was virtually empty on a friday night. too bad, really, because the service was friendly and attentive, and the food was great. (although one thing that puzzled me was that as we were lead to a big round table in the corner of the restaurant's front area, i asked if any booths were available and the hostess said they were all reserved. granted, i couldn't see into the back area where the booths are, but going by the fact that the front of the restaurant only had 3 other parties in there lead me to doubt her...but i digress.) all of the appetizers and side plates sounded delish, so we decided to get a bunch of that. the ahi poke was ok, but i'm strict when it comes to poke. the fish was fresh, but it was cut into really small cubes and it was a tad bit overflavored with shoyu and sesame oil. also, there were more vegetables than ahi (cabbage, radish, cukes - who puts all these veggies in a poke??? just marinate the fish, throw in some ogo, and maybe lay it on a bed of cabbage, but it's not supposed to be a salad w/ ahi...) i definitely miss the simple poke i had back in hawaii, but this was not a bad haole-fied version of it, flavor-wise. ther appetizers and sides we got - flash fried calamari, thai beef skewers, mac & cheese, steamed broccoli w/ a type of bernaise/hollandaise sauce, brussel sprouts, and mushrooms sauteed in white wine & parsley. all good. since we were in chops, i had to get a meat, so based on our server's recommendation, i got the prime rib, rare with fresh horshradish. yum. nice herb and salt crust, perfectly cooked and the au jus was flavorful but not over the top. the salt crusted baked potato was a hit as well. all that food, with about 6 drinks, came out to about $160. people need to start re-visiting this place. it's a forgotten gem.
(4)Dee B.
OMG my sister in law used this place for her birthday celebration and it was extremely extremely nice the food was great...i would mos def do this again
(4)Nicholas R.
I've only eaten here once with a friend who works as a server. So bear in mind my meal was 35% off and I am slightly biased. Bomb doesn't even begin to describe their hot sandwiches. I tried both the prime rib sandwich and the artichoke/crab sandwich and I nearly wet myself from the taste explosion. High class atmosphere but not so much that it feels opressive. I really enjoyed this place. Hot hostesses are also always a plus.The garlic fries were a lot more boring then I thought they would be, but the onion rings are pretty good. The prices are pretty ridiculous for everything, but that's how it should be at a nice restaurant like Chops, keeps the riff-raff out.
(4)RW G.
Service made it a Three... As a fan of the Steak Frite - you really need to make your own fries - it is not that difficult in a restaurant kitchen. No need for frozen Fries with a $40 steak. Oh and the Family stule carrots were delicious - but should not have been served on the same plate. the glaze ran under my steak. And the bread and butter was aweEsomE. thansk to Chris the Bartender/manager to pull it together
(3)Jenny P.
My husband took our family there for dinner. My son really wanted his steak at on of the top restuarant.. We had lobster and steak. The lobster was really good and juicy.. The steak is not the quality that we had before. look like they change the quality of there steak. The sevices was excelent. The food is okay. We don't know if they change the chief or quality of steak... my husband been here many times, before the quality was much better of their food.
(4)Lisa L.
My husband and I celebrated our anniversary here. It was delich! We started with soup and salad and both were enjoyable, the prime rib I had was quite flavorful and the potato side dish (stuffed) was wonderful. My husband's steak was very tender and cooked perfectly. I tried a raspberry lemondrop and it was so tasty. Overall a very relaxing, romantic, delicious experience.
(4)phortitude u.
Another Sunday, another mistake venturing into a restaurant that I expected more from. Don't get me wrong, I didn't realize it was a mistake until I got my food. The decor is fantastic, the booths regal, and the service overall was quite excellent. I and my dining companion ordered the prawn cocktail, which as shrimp cocktails go was ok. However, we ordered the porterhouse for two (nicely carved for two accompanied by two crab cakes). If one looks at the menu there is a nice explanation of the grades of "doneness", with the following proviso that they only guarantee the steak to medium. My companion prefers her steaks cooked medium-well to well done, which is what we ordered. The steak came to us as a rare to medium rare. Although we could've sent it back, she decided to try it. It was cold. At that point, I figured that they didn't "refire" the steak long enough or the cooking staff got lazy. Additionally, the crab cakes were very similar in appearance to the crab cakes that one gets in an area unfamiliar with crab cakes. It wasn't lump meat, it was stringy and far more similar to a lower grade of crabmeat suffocated in breading and some filler-egg/mayo/or both. We both figured that the desserts should be better than the meal; however, once we saw them, I promptly ordered an irish coffee and the bill. They looked like desserts that I've seen at other mid-tier restaurants, perhaps premade by Sysco (pure speculation- not to overly criticize Sysco). Although my dogs were happy with the remnants of my dinner, they don't have access to my yelp account. To reiterate- the service was good, the dining environment was good, the food... not so much. A further note- I actually do like that Chops has a viewable meat locker for the beef; however, truly aged beef looks far more rotten than that, and I suspect they keep and move the "further along" beef to a meat locker less accessible to the public eye.
(2)Pippi L.
Seriously, if you want to drop your paycheck on a good steak, go here. They have a meat cellar. You can see it from the lobby and reception area. You can see the meat aging perfectly. They also have an incredible wine selection, as to be expected. This is where the lobbiests take clients. This is where the lobbiests like to eat. If you see some dorky guy with a half grown beard and a suit and a straw hat, he's a lobbiest. That's practically their uniform unless they are witnessing at a hearing. Anyway. The salads and steaks are primo. You can't miss here. Unless you are poor or can't find someone to treat you.
(5)Samantha B.
First I want to say that the rating would be four stars for just the food but got bumped to three stars for how long it took to get the food. We ordered the crab cakes ($16) as a starter and the arrived promptly - They were all crab and a little chewy but quite tasty - We ate them with the focaccia bread and aoli that came with it. Then we waited. There weren't many people there, it was Thursday and it seemed like almost everyone already had eaten but we waited some more. About 45 minutes later our entrees arrived. They were delicious, albeit a little long in coming. I had the 12 ounce Filet Mignon with baked potato ($35) and the Hubby had the pork chop with buttermilk mashed potatoes ($23). The filet was perfectly cooked (medium well) and tender, the baked potato was tasty, the carrots amazing (a little sweet). The pork chop came with onion rings and carmelized apples on top of it - Yummy!! The potatoes were good also. All in all, the food was pretty darn good - Solid four stars.
(3)Bob R.
Had an engagement dinner at Chops Sat evening, the service was terrific, no delays, they were on the spot at all times. The food was awesome, the steak Porterhouse aged for 28 days, a really good sign plus it was really good. Had the house special for two with mushrooms, a salad, one bottle of wine and two chocolate desserts, one of those being the hot lava cake, I wish the lava cake was a bit hotter, but over all this was a 9.5 out of 10. Plus they picked up my parking for the evening as well. I'm picky and this experience was terrific, hands off to Chops.
(5)Marc J.
OVERRATED if you're a political wannabe then go there. lots of capital folks there. food sucks, the service is average. not to be verbose but avoid this place.
(1)Carol S.
Tonight, my girl friend from out of town, and I just ate dinner at this great restaurant. The Porterhouse Special was divine! After eating this meal, I can say that Chops is now my new favorite steak house! I will come back some day to eat some of the seafood. The portions were huge! The steaks were tender and tasty. Medium, was really more medium rare. The mashed potatoes were scrumptious, as was the bread and the tomato herb butter. The carrots with glaze was delicious. The waiters were polite and understanding as they had to address the needs of my friend who has sugar allergies. They helped to put her at ease when she informed them about her allergies. They were quite accommodating in efforts to meet her needs. I saw there was a fireplace inside, but unfortunately was not burning. I love fireplaces in restaurants. Makes for an intimate, warm environment. I noticed the outdoor patio too. A nice warm day or evening would be a great time to come back to enjoy this patio.
(5)Lysa S.
Went with friends for a nice holiday meal and were NOT let down. I had the New York strip and it was huge! Very tasty as well, everyone else had specials and were equally pleased. We got the side macaroni and cheese and we all loved it! Will be going back!
(4)Linsey F.
Went here on a Friday night...this place was dead. At 9 PM my friends and I were the only customers in the whole place. That meant that the servers basically decided to ignore us while they smoked and talked on their cell phones. The food was OK- I had a good steak. But for the price, I expected better service. Its probably a much better place to eat during lunch or after work.
(3)