Italian Stallion Grill
3260 J St, Sacramento, CA, 95816
Italian Stallion Grill Menu
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Address :
3260 J St
Sacramento, CA, 95816 - Phone (800) 951-3663
- Website https://www.italianstalliongrill.net
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Steven M.
Let's be perfectly clear: there are no Italians here. There are, however, a few young owners who all used to work together at the Spaghetti Kitchen who are making a run at having their own place. No offense to these guys -- who are wonderfully warm and are working very hard -- but the food and service here was, well, like a bunch of guys who just opened their first restaurant without a clue how to serve up solid Italian food in a neighborhood that's upscale and has a great place like OneSpeed a couple of miles away. A few examples: * I asked for the grilled broccoli rabe as a side substitute for a salad (since it's on the menu with another item). Instead I got some steamed broccoli that appeared to be frozen flowerets. * We were one of 3 occupied tables in the restaurant. Yet after our appetizers arrived, the server came back and asked what we ordered. * The Spaghetti Arabbiata I had had no garnishes or any attempt at presentation: just a plate of spaghetti with a blob of sauce on top. I can't speak for the lunch menu, but the dinner menu was somewhat limited and a little bit confusing. There are several types of pastas, but each came with their own type of sauce. You can get a steak with shrimp as a combo plate, but not just a steak (unless perhaps you asked). The only thing somewhat inventive was the vodka-infused sauce; everything else was pretty standard. They also really need to work on presentation for entrees that range from $8.99 to a basic spaghetti w/ marina sauce (meatballs extra) to $21.99 for a mixed grill. I know they don't do that at a fast-food joint like the Spaghetti Kitchen, but if you're trying to distinguish yourself from that kind of food, take the time to make it special. Like another reviewer, I'd really like these folks to succeed. But they should close their doors for a few days and get their act together, beginning with their food, if they want to soar like Formoli's did in this same space.
(2)V W.
Not only did we really enjoy the food, we also had a great time here tonight. From the fresh basil in the ranch salad dressing to the deconstructed tiramisu and everything in-between. My chicken was fresh, my vegetarian sister appreciated and "loved" her raviolli. From watching the chef roll out the dough to seeing the full house of patrons with smiles as we all were decompressing in this comfortable, slightly swank restaurant, this may just be my new spot. Excellent job, guys. Only two months in and going strong. I hope you stick around!!!
(4)luz c.
Is this place even open? I've tried going 4 times...and all 4 times it was closed...like closed down. And the number doesn't even go straight to them.
(2)Robin S.
We wanted to try this place out after checking it out online and got there only to find it was closed and under new ownership. Instead, we went next door to Thai Palace and they told us it had been closed for a couple of months, supposedly being remodeled.
(1)Paulina D.
Eat here if 1. You like amateur-made pasta. That jar of pasta sauce, meat you cooked up, and pasta you boiled? Yeah, you'll pay $10 for that here. OR 2. You like two buck chuck in a puny, misshapen glass for $5. $2.50 during happy hour, which might be acceptable... If you don't care that a whole wine bottle was cheaper.
(2)SemiFreddo A.
It's very hard work to open, run and work in a restaurant. For this reason I will try to be polite. The place is very warm and inviting. The staff is very friendly. The place is clean. The name has put me off for as long as I have seen it. Cheeeezy! The food.... We came in with a party of four a couple of weeks ago. To call this place Italian is a joke. I mean seriously, there is not one thing in this pace that's authentic.. The flat bread brought to the table was not allowed to rise prior to baking which rendered it a crusty dense puck. The included salad was the entree's retarded cousin that they let tag along. It was born of corporate inexperience. C'mon people please! The pasta was cheap. Crap ingredients makes for crap outcomes. It was over cooked and waterlogged. broke into a million pieces on the plate and should have been served with a spoon instead of a fork. One of the other diners had ravioli. He asked if it was house made. Nope all frozen. Now there is some very good frozen product on the market, but FFS! You only have forty or so seats. How many are going to get ravioli? Would it kill you to make some? One of the other guests had the steak I guess that's why it's a grill. Overcooked... Our whole party was horrified. I have to stop. Like I said this is a very warm inviting place, the people are sweet and very welcoming, but if you're looking for better Italian go to where they say they learned all about it ... SPAGHETTI FACTORY! CAUSE THAT WHERE YOU LEARN ALL ABOUT ITALIAN. Try the Gumbo!
(1)Cyndi S.
Italian Stallion is a really good fit for this space and the neighborhood, I hope they stick around! I stopped in after seeing their sign that they have happy hour TILL 7 with 2.50 wine and drafts. Oh, and on tap they have Sierra Nevada and Shock Top. For 2.50. Did I mention their happy hour goes till 7!?!?! They have a nice little menu of happy hour appetizers as well, so you could really go and hang out at the bar on the cheap if you wanted to. We ended up getting a pizza, and the medium is just perfect for two to share. They make the nice thin, crispy crust which I love and it was solid. It's a hard space to work with, but it feels a bit more laid back than previous restaurants that have been in this space, which I really like. Super reasonable menu, kids choices, and all the food we tried was great. And they have a million different wines, so if you're a wine snob I think you'd have a fun time here. Excellent, super nice staff as well. Side note: I feel like it's kind of genius having a place that serves pizza two doors down from The Raven. Just sayin.
(5)Krystle R.
Great tasting and affordable Happy hour Cab!! $2.50 per glass on HH! The food was really tasty and very reasonable.... -The garlic cheesy bread is a MUST to try! (It's crispy & cheesy) -House salad comes with the your entrée and the "Gorgonzola Ranch Dressing" was delicious! -( I had the Penne Bolognese, which was pretty good, I liked the "milk braised" meat- it was very tasty) Did I mention ,that the Happy Hour was GREAT? The House Cab was like drinking "Juice" - the vino had a great flavor and was juicy- and to top it off, How can you pass up a $2.50 glass of VINO????? The staff also made our dining experience a pleasant one and to top it off they offered us complimentary desserts to try since it was our first time here. If you're craving some delicious Italian food, give "Itallion Stallion Grill" a try!
(4)Lisa W.
Great neighborhood place. So nice for a great place to open steps away. Great Spicy Marinara and great bread. Family place that makes everyone feel welcome. Great Prices and Great Staff.... Pizza is supposed to be the Best
(5)Amanda D.
Fantastic food! My favorite is the garlic and shrimp ravioli. Yummy everything! Love it!
(5)Leeann L.
The happy hour is a great deal! Service is extremely friendly and the food is super yummy!!
(4)Koyt S.
The bread is the ticket! Every single thing else....not so much. Everything had that "canned" taste. The staff was amazing, but the food was really sub par. I really hope these guys can turn it around. Sac desperately needs another solid Italian restaurant, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for them. Few notes for the owner.... Don't use frozen pizza dough Your sauce is way too sweet
(2)Jessica G.
I went in on a Monday night around 7:30 pm to get food to go. The staff were personable and attentive. I ordered the Spaghetti Arrabbiata and the sauce was great -nice and spicy! It came with a side salad that was a blend of good quality lettuce (no iceberg!) and their home-made bread. I will be going back soon (and bringing friends with me!) to dine in and plan to try the traditional marinara next...
(4)Erica L.
Staff is SUPER friendly. Decor, ambiance AND the food are all terrific. HIGHLY recommend! x
(5)Holly T.
I love the relaxed atmosphere of this place. I definitely will return to try more dishes. The owner is super friendly, made us feel at home. I don't know much about wine so he asked a few questions and suggested a Pinot Noir from Bogle, we liked it so much we bought to take home. The Service was well-timed and wine was actually affordable. Finally a place my boyfriend and I can both agree on.
(5)Kim N.
This was a great place! I had the seafood raviolis. They tasted very fresh with lots of seafood inside. My son had Mac n cheese and he thought it was great. My husband had spaghetti marinara which he enjoyed. They let my other son order the lunch menu and he had a chicken sandwich. He also liked it. The service was great. They were friendly and attentive. Everyone enjoyed the tiramisu and creme brûlée for dessert which was fabulous! We are definitely coming back!
(4)Chuckles X.
A friend and I chose this place to meet up for an early dinner and were not disappointed. Not fancy food by any means but the portions are generous, the food is simple hearty Italian fare, and the service was attentive and friendly. Complimentary bread -- dense and chewy in a good way -- and side salad comes with entree. I got the spaghetti with a touch of vodka sauce (an accurate description as it was more like a heavier marinara sauce.) Our server gave us a free tiramisu to share and that was quite delicious. Oh, and the red sangria was super refreshing. This place won't blow you away but it's a great cute neighborhood spot if you're craving Italian.
(4)DI E.
I've been here a few times and intend to come back. What stands out is the customer service, the guys are very friendly and welcoming and the restaurant is clean which are both important aspects to me. They have an awesome Happy Hour, chicken wings were good. Try the creme brûlée...it's delicious!
(5)Jennifer K.
Ate here last night with some of my girlfriends. We had a great time. Joe, the co-owner, was very upbeat, engaging and friendly. Even the chef came out to greet us. We all had something different and everyone was happy with their choices. We were able to take advantage of the happy hour and I had a glass of their house red. It was delicious and a generous pour. I had the spaghetti with meatballs. The regular sauce was a little spicy so I'm guessing their spicy sauce is really spicy. If you like spicy italian, this would be the place to go. I plan on going back with my family. I want to try their pizza and the raviolis. It all looks so good. Would have loved to take advantage of the outdoor seating, but it was a little too hot. Next time for sure.
(4)Rick S.
First time here and we had an amazing meal! The arrabbiata sauce was the perfect blend of garlic and spice. You can't leave without trying the Tiramisu Mousse! Great friendly service and the food came out quick. We will def be back!
(5)Megz B.
I just popped in for a quick appetizer- the mac&cheese was amazing! Super nice guys, clean...great experience overall!!
(5)Maria B.
Amazing new midtown spot, very nice atmosphere, laid back and relaxing. I ordered the italian stallion special, which included steak, shrimp,pasta and bread. My husband ordered the spaghetti and meat balls with spicy marinara. We were very impressed with the food, and service. The owner also informed us he would be carrying frasinetti wine, which is our favorite and near impossible to find outside of the winery!! We will be back for sure.
(5)Matt P.
If you enjoy a local neighborhood restaurant, you MUST give this place a spin. Make sure to order to mac n' cheese; it's the best in town! (yes, better than tank house, the porch, and ink). From breakfast to dinner the food never disappoints. The chef is always crafting up new delicious bites. The service is never short of amazing. Keep in mind, this is not a chain, this place has that home town charm that we love.
(5)Heather G.
Plain. Awful. They must pay people to write good reviews or write their own. The food is flavorless and under-cooked - which they'll try to convince you is correct. A waste of your money. This place will be gone in a few months.
(1)Heather W.
Came here for a quick bite with a friend. It was great, friendly staff, great wine, best happy hour in Esac. The spicy Joe burger was outstanding. I really enjoyed the visit and look forward to my next visit the owner said the pasta sauces were the best part, so I look forward to my next visit. The arrbiata sauce was awesome! It came with the burger.
(5)Ken L.
Great place to eat but too bad they are now close for lunch. Loosing a lot of lunch business but good thing the Thai restaurant is next door!
(3)Negar D.
Came here for the first time, and we had the garlic chicken pizza; it was awesome! Owner was very kind. They have great specials and the sauces were amazing. He let us try them all. Very pleased.
(5)Daniel G.
Nice new place. The alfredo sauce is really good. I tasted the marinara, excelent also. Must try. Great creme brule and pizza.
(5)Eryka R.
These guys are always so nice when I go in. Good beer (love Sierra) and great happy hour! I'm a vegan so I haven't tried all the sauces but the ones I can are great. I don't know why people say canned taste because I know for a fact, and can taste, that they are fresh.
(5)Mark R.
Popped in for a quick bite to eat for lunch. Great service. Good value for the meal. Nice, small restaurant with a friendly vibe. Looking forward to coming back to check out their dinner menu. Give them a try!
(4)Jen S.
So, I come here a lot, and I always have the same thing. Fettuccini Alfredo, it's made with a truffle Alfredo sauce. I wanted to try something different. I noticed they have added Gumbo to the menu. It was simply out of this world. It was different from traditional Gumbo, but the sauce is something to die for. It was creamy, but had a tone of flavor, garlic, but not overwhelming. Chunks of Shrimp, chicken, and sausage. it was a must have. I saw a guy sitting across the room have it with broccoli instead of pasta and that's my next choice. Great! It's a must try!
(5)Bryant K.
A wonderful evening. We were greeting by very friendly welcoming staff and felt at home from the start. We just live 2 blocks away and will be coming back very soon. We started the dinner off by asking a little bit of information from our waiter/co-owner about there recent opening of the restaurant. He explained how they decided on their new location and their passion for great cuisine. Started off with some fresh bread (very good,) then I had the truffle fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp (big nice shrimp) only because he had mentioned that all the sauces were made fresh. Oh man it was a delicious choice. My boyfriend got the spinach and cheese stuffed ravioli that come with two different sauces. The marinara was to die for. Chicken on the side, very nice grilled with a hint of lemon. After chatting more with our waiter, great guy, we had I'm pretty sure one of the best cream burlee's I have ever had. I am happy Italian Stallion is in East Sac and I look forward to returning. Next time to check on that wine selection of theirs too :-)
(5)Stacey B.
We went to midtown on a Saturday evening and found it too crowded so headed to this little place just outside of midtown. We were very happy we did! It's not fancy but it has outside seating, great service and the food was fabulous!! We had the both raviolis and chicken Parmesan and tarimusu for desert. A little bit of dean Martin and frank Sinatra music piped outside made for a great Saturday date night. We are looking forward to bringing some friends next time for a Friday night happy hour.
(5)Kim V.
I love this place! The food is FANTASTIC, but aside from that, what keeps me coming back is the atmosphere and customer service! The owners make everyone feel like family... It's kind of like a Sacramento version of "Cheers". Another really cool thing about coming here is it's great for any occasion or get together, groups of any size can wine and dine with Frank Sinatra in the background or meet up at the bar for beer and the game on the big screen... or anything in between... I can't say enough good things about this place!
(5)Annie T.
Decided to try the Italian stallion last night with my mom and some coworkers since its located in walking distance from their work. We were greeted by two extremely friendly guys (who I believe were the owners) they led us to a nice long table next to the front window. Within minutes we had fresh, heated to order, complimentary bread on the table. I also appreciated that all of our entrees came with a mixed greens salad (I suggest Gorgonzola dressing). No complaints on the food between the four of us and we all had something different. I ordered the seafood ravioli which is stuffed with cheese, shrimp and garlic. I highly recommend ordering this! I also tried the vodka sauce which was nothing less than delicious. I noticed they have an amazing happy hour... $2.50 beer and wine! Since no one at my table ordered a pizza I will definitely be back to try it and for the great happy hour prices. Did I mention happy hour goes until 7!?!?
(5)bob d.
A friend and I wanted a neighborhood lunch and thought the Italian Stallion might be worth a try. The folks were friendly and attentive. I ordered the meatball sandwich, my friend the chicken slammer. Well, what can I say? The meatballs were super dry with hardly any sauce-nowhere near a true meatball hero one can get at any Italian deli in NY. There was only a hint of flavor. My friend's chicken was dry and lacked any flavor or sauce. But, the side salads were good and the dressings worked.... The sandwich roll was like a packaged roll from Orowheat.... Sure hope they make changes......
(2)lori S.
Oh beware all you yelpers out there. Get ready to receive a nasty gram from the owner for your bad review of this so called Italian restaurant! So unprofessional and can't believe how RUDE they are. Close up shop now because your food is NOT worth it. Go back to cooking class!
(1)Tony C.
great service from the owner Joe! the food was great and the Gorgonzola ranch dressing was amazing! cant wait to return.
(5)Shannon M.
Great service, great food. Would defiantly come back. Has the chicken parmesan, husband has spaghetti and meatballs, son had the Alfredo. All was great! The ranch dressing was awesome, creamy texture added a lot of flavor to the salad.
(4)Stan G.
I was really impressed with the food! They let me try all their sauces and while each was a knock-out, the vodka sauce was incredible! PLUS the had spumoni for dessert!!!
(4)Leoncio H.
went here a while back with my father and had pasta it was koo,dudes who were working had good customer service
(4)Mike O.
I had a really great time at the Italian Stallion Grill - this place really impressed me. The food was fantastic, the service was enthusiastic and the atmosphere was classy. It's a physically small location, yet still manages to have room for a bar and a number of tables. There's outdoor seating, too, if that's your thing. The decor was kind of subdued, though don't look at anything too closely. There was a TV above the bar playing a loop of Dean Martin clips, which I thought was a pretty funny thing. The server told us that they have new owners and gave us a run-down on the chef, and it was very friendly, and you get the impression that everyone here has a stake in the game, and the service was better for it. The food surprised me - I honestly didn't expect it to be as good as it was. Started with a house salad with the Gorgonzola cheese dressing and it was phenomenal. Just attacked my mouth with flavor. Then the pork and beef meatballs (with mozzarella cheese and rosemary infused vodka sauce) - they were incredible. Just quality little balls of awesome. And the sauce that they came in was the perfect compliment to the bread - the bread was KILLER. Warm and fresh straight from the oven - it was a thick bread, but that was perfect to soak up the sauce from the Meatballs or the main dish or the Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar, etc. Great stuff. Main course, I went with the Chicken Parmigiana - the meat was perfectly cooked. Really great. The pasta was fresh, the sauce was flavorful - slightly spicy, but very smooth. I had a great time. This place certainly impressed!
(5)Tiffany N.
I came here twice. First, I got the chicken parm with vodka sauce spaghetti. I got it spicy. For once, the spice was there. The spaghetti had an odd taste. I'm had vodka sauce before so that wasn't it. It just tasted...burnt and unpleasant. Second time around I ordered the chicken alfredo. We came with a larger party and the size of the place isn't too accomodating. Literally rubbing elbows with your neighbors and tetris-ing your places in a way that it all fits on the table. The portion for the alfredo was generous. Taste was okay. Nothing too spectacular.
(3)Alex L.
The consensus of my table of four was pretty universal. The food is delicious and generally high quality, the service was lacking. I loved, and I mean deeply and emotionally loved my chorizo burrito. It was a savory medley of flavors and spices and I was sad when my time with it ended. The french toast was very tasty as well and didn't even need syrup. The service, on the other hand, was slow and inconsistent, although it should be noted that our server was a very nice gentleman. My wife ordered eggs over easy with their "famous" homemade bread and received sunny-side up eggs with no bread at all. She asked for her eggs to be redone and reminded them about the bread, spurring them to deliver plain toast and not the bread she ordered. Being the only ones in the place when we first arrived, they were awfully slow to take our order and inconsistent when checking up on our table. I should also note that if you're seeking a prime spot to watch football, the large screen is set too far in the kitchen area to make for optimal game viewing. There are a few decent counter seats, so arrive early. I'd like to return down the line for a second try. Hopefully the service will improve and match the promising meal we enjoyed.
(3)Luci N.
What brought us here was a coupon for free beer. We sat at the bar and quickly made friends with the regulars sitting with us and with the owners, Thaddeus and Joe who have been friends for a while. Their story is that they were bored with state job and decided to open this place together. Chef Drew is the man behind the delicious foods. There's a family feel from staff. Food: The pizzas are great! We ordered the Margherita pizza (10.99) for a medium. It was big enough to share between two people. Other items on the menu that we tried were Mac and cheese with bacon, pork, beef & mozzarella meatballs with rosemary infused vodka sauce (6.45), wings with a spicy buffalo sauce or with Gorgonzola dipping sauce (6.99). They were offering 2 beers for $2.50 for happy hour. Our total bill came out to $22. Overall the food was good- nothing out of the ballpark wow! I liked my first experience here and would like to come back but I'll admit that a coupon would help bring me back faster.
(4)Jefferson L.
I just relocated to East Sac and figured I should start reviewing the offerings in and around my new 'hood. While restaurants like Juno's, Formoli's and OneSpeed are well known, The Italian Stallion Grill is quietly earning its keep. But be forewarned, if you blink, you may miss this little hole-in-the-stripmall. I've been there thrice: once for brunch, twice for dinner. Brunch had its hiccups. They seemed a little understaffed and there were a few miscommunications between the waiter and folks at my table. Still, the food was terrific and, once everything was settled, the meal was enjoyable. For dinner, I found that they definitely raise the level of awesomeness in food and service. I admit that I've had trouble ordering anything but the spicy spaghetti with meatballs because it's ridiculously good but if I use that dish as the standard, the rest of the menu is bound to amaze. Case in point, they list a gumbo which has been calling to me and will likely be on my bill the next time I'm there. As far as the setting goes, this is that quaint and cozy Italian restaurant that you bring a date to, where a family might take over a corner and share a meal or where you meet with a friend for a beer, sit at the bar and watch the chef dole out his craft. It's a bit more upscale than a "mom & pop" but with a warmth that's as inviting and familiar as your mother's dining room. As noted above, Italian Stallion is jammed between Thai Palace and a massage parlor in the mews mostly known for housing The Raven. You could easily walk right past the door if you're not looking closely. Thankfully, they now have a large patio built out into the parking lot in front, which serves as a focal point and will undoubtedly host many al fresco meals throughout Sacramento's long sunny season. I'll certainly be there.
(4)Jenny I.
Pleasantly surprised! Had the $4.99 lunch special - grilled chicken wrap w/ a side salad. Super yummy, and only $4.99?? You can't beat that. Pretty big lunch special menu - lots to choose from. Enjoyed the Italian decor - Rocky Balboa's boxing shorts, Sinatra movies on the tv. They also have a big screen tv which they show games on.. Seems like a pretty chill ambiance. Staff was really friendly and appreciated my patronage. Im looking forward to bringing my husband and trying out their dinner (and wine!) menu.
(5)John H.
3.5 Stars Luci N. & I stopped in to take advantage of the "free beer" courtesy of our local neighborhood weekly. The diminutive storefront on J Street, formerly the home of Vanilla Bean Bistro and before that, Formoli's, is cozy, with bar seating around the "front kitchen" and a dozen tables in the restaurant. As luck would have it, we got there during their HH (happy hour), and joined a few happy, talkative patrons at the bar. The four draft offerings were average, with these beer fans noting we'd like to see more local microbrews! Friendly owners Thaddeus and Joe were busy prepping and tending to their customers. Thaddeus suggested the $11 pizza Margherita and their $5.99 HH wings, which we ordered. I would have liked the pizza to have a more flavorful crust; other than that, it was suitable; not special. The wings were tasty and spicy without lighting a greasefire in my mouth. They've been open for a few months now and I'm certain these guys will keep improving the customer experience; we'll be back!
(4)Nani V.
Their alfredo sauce was delicious. I went with the spicy spaghetti and meatballs, boy was it spicy. I was sweating! lol My friend gave me some of her alfredo sauce to mix along with what I had and it was actually really good. I'll go with that mixture next time around. My other friend went with that mixture of sauces in his pasta dish along with chicken, which was their special for the night. My other friend ordered the seafood ravioli, which I had a bite of and it was delicious. The complimentary bread was so good too, warm and soft. The meatballs were just okay though, nothing special. I do like the fact that it's a small and intimate location. I see myself coming back. We all shared the tiramisu, it was okay for me too. The coffee was strong and I'm just not a huge desserts fan anyway.
(3)Jason G.
This review goes all over the place. Very cool people and nice but that doesnt make a good restaurant. They are 5 stars, the rest are one stars. I live in the neighborhood and want this place to succeed but its just not there. The food was mediocre at best. My friends pasta was drenched in sauce. My pasta was overpowered by the rosemary infused vodka. The meatballs kind of looked like they were from costco freezer bags. lastly, we sat at the counter and we could see inside the kitchen. It was filthy. As a former pizza chef, I know that floor has not been power washed in months. I hope it improves but not I am not positive. I will only be back if I hear things improve.
(2)James W.
BOTTOM LINE: Great straighforward, inexpensive Italian fare in a welcoming environment. 5 stars for the price. ATMOSPHERE: Cozy spot, clean and modern inside, but still a little bit humble due to the small space and full view of kitchen. TV at the bar area, usually showing sports. FOOD: The small menu has recently expanded and now offers pizza, pasta, burgers, and several other dishes including the Italian Combo steak/shrimp/spaghetti combo, as well as two or three desserts. *The bread: Complementary, soft with just a little crunch - excellent and heated to order, fresh out of the oven. *The pizza: A few to choose from on the menu, but they're happy to accommodate make-your-own request. Great crust - thin but not too thin (same dough as the bread), you can choose sauce, a little heavy on the cheese. I highly recommend! *The sauces: The sauces are one of the big highlights here. All made fresh and each of the four I've had is great. Drew says that the spicy marinara and vodka sauces both start with the marinara base. The spicy marinara lives up to its name. The vodka sauce is a good compromise between the truffle Alfredo sauce, which is good (and not oily - which the owner insisted on) but of course very rich. They also serve a meat sauce. They are very nice about letting you try multiple sauces on one dish. *The pasta: You'll need to check up on this, but they have had linguini made in house (easier to make fresh than sphagetti)! Thumbs up for that. For the ravioli, they buy premade pasta and stuff it themselves (e.g., seafood ravioli), freeze it, and then boil it to order. *Other: I got shrimp added for $4 and they were well cooked. *Dessert: Crème Brûlée was no frills (+ a little almond extract) but done well. They offer spumoni and one or two others as well. STAFF: The owners are very nice and excited about the new business. They really want it to succeed and hope to attract a regular crowd from the neighborhood. Chef/cook Drew honed his recipes from his experience at the Old Spaghetti Factory (several staff members worked there). Lean crew - with 4-5 staff members total. After several visits, I can tell that business is already starting to grow. WINE: $2.50 happy hour house wine. They're still refining the wine list. It is priced toward the lower end of the spectrum (e.g., Frisinetti's) - very affordable. SUMMARY: I enjoy coming here and sitting at the bar for a quick meal on my way home. The service is friendly, the restaurant is clean, and I've had no negative experiences here. I really enjoy the pizza, the bread, their housemade sauces, and the great happy hour deals. I'm giving 5 stars, not claiming that this is the greatest Italian cuisine in the world - rather, I recommend for good, inexpensive Italian fare. I'll be back soon!
(4)Sarah D.
I can't get over how good this restaurant is!! First of all it's family owned, I love family family owned restaurant. They are usually better than chained food restaurant. Right when I walked in, I was greeted and seated. There were so many choices of spaghetti, I didn't know which one to choose! I was interested in trying the vodka sauce, but sadly they recently changed owners so they took that off the menu. But they are putting it back on the menu which I was happy to hear. We wanted to order the garlic bread, but they were also out of that.. The waiter was so nice that he gave us a coupon for the next time we come! The waiter so was so patient and helpful when it came to decided what we wanted. It kinda took a while and we weren't so sure about which one we wanted to order. But he gave us recommendations which helped. It didn't take too long get our food which is another plus! So once our food came out, oh boy it looked delicious! If you get freshly shredded parmesan, they shred it right in front of you! I got the special I forgot what's it called, but it's a mixture of both their spicy and sweet marina. It tasted as delicious as it looked! My friend got the fettuccine Alfredo which was probably one of the best ones I ever tried. Here they make their Alfredo with oil instead of butter, so it taste sweeter. We decided to get dessert, but the only thing they had left was the ice cream. But nice enough it was on the house! Customer service was great, Jeremy our waiter was very kind and helpful! My only complaint is the parking and the lack of having some of their entrees available, but otherwise I loved it! Parking is very limited, there's some space in the front or in the back. I will definitely be coming back whenever I want some Italian food!
(5)Kirstie B.
After driving past this restaurant every day on my way home, we finally stopped by on a Saturday night around 8 and I was happy to see that it wasn't crowded and we were seated right away. It is a very cute little restaurant and the staff was friendly and attentive. I ordered the Spicy Spaghetti Arrabbiata and the hunny ordered Spinach Raviolis. Both plates were delicious and well portioned. After eating, the waiter brought over a plate of Tiramisu and said he has not seen the two us before and wanted to give us something special, so nice..and very yummy! 5 stars for yummy food and great service! Will definitely be stopping by again.
(5)Helen L.
My study group and I like to come here to carb up for an exam. We like the garlic chicken with the spicy sauce and the margarita pizzas. I like how the pizza slices are crispy and kinda thin, how they fold the crust, and how the pie is saucy. Yums! Also, staff is attentive and friendly. I also like how the inside is small and cozy and that they have a pretty large patio area.
(4)Karen D.
Came in on a Saturday night 7pm. Only two other tables were seated (two tables of 4, one outside, one inside). Seemed pretty dead. How come all the good reviews? Walked in and it smelled like something burned in here. Bread? Still decided to sit inside. Served our spring mix salad with shredded cheese, tomatoes, and my choice of ranch dressing. Served fresh baked warm bread with butter. Free and filling! I ordered the chicken Marsala with the spicy sauce on my spaghetti noodles (instead of the broccoli). Chicken breast was over cooked. Edges were charred/dry. Hubby ordered the gumbo and he loved it. I thought it was ok. Shrimp in his gumbo cooked perfect! Shared the Amaretto Creme Brûlée. LOVED it! Light and tasty! This, with the mousse version of tiramisu, is made in-house, they said. Spumoni is not made there. Chef and server were attentive though. Filling waters and checking in now and then. Wouldn't go out of my way to come here and would try the garlicky shrimp if I were to come back. Parking: 5 parking spots in front, but plenty more around the back of the building in the lot. There are a few side street parking too.
(3)Marsh W.
Not so hot. The garlic artichoke dip came out swimming in a massive pool of oil. This is a pretty clear indication that it was reheated and not made fresh. The Garlic chicken pizza was covered with the same dip as its sauce. Really? Yes, really. The server even told us so. Neither tasted like garlic at all. The coffee came out with coffee having been spilled all over the outside of the cup and dripping onto my friend's sleeve. Three plate were brought out and all three were VERY dirty. I had to go inside to ask for silverware and napkins. These guys are NOT paying attention to anything they should be.
(2)Trevor R.
My new favorite place in East Sac! This place is going to be my New Friday Hangout! Who can beat their Happy Hour? I think the pizza could use just a little more time in the oven, other than that it was pretty delicious.
(4)M S.
Oh my. Well, the location is decent, the indoor atmosphere is cozy, and the pricing is quite reasonable . For $24 we got: -a glass of the wrong wine - a bowl of dressing with a handful of greens and croutons floating in it (despite having asked for dressing on side) - balls of partially cooked pork and beef, and maybe some salt? Definitely no seasoning, and soaked in mediocre marinara. - pizza dough sliced like bread served with a cup of $2 oil/vinegar - a medium sized half cooked garlic chicken pizza with maybe 2 oz of chicken on it. Maybe less than 2 oz. basically raw(ish) pale flavorless dough with some garlic sauce, too much cheese, some chicken parts and a few artichokes. - a coffee carafe full of cucumber water. Yes. A coffee carafe. Definitely not experienced chefs or owners. Best of luck to them in improvements.
(2)Sparky F.
Noticed this new Italian spot and gave it a try...young Italian American owners bringing family recipes to the table. We happened to go on the chef's day off. Spaghetti Arrabiatta was light on the sauce but extra sauce was just a request away. It was spicy and tasty. The Italian Combo of Hangar Steak, Shrimp and spaghetti was a disappointment. The steak was served sliced on the plate, was tough and grisly. The shrimp tasted chemically, like they were grilled on a just cleaned grill and I was eating the cleaning fluid. When most of plate was untouched at bill time the waited asked if everything was okay and I was honest about the steak, and they comped the full entree. GOOD MOVE! They had an interesting selection of wines, but have not settled on a wine list yet--they are surveying customer likes... I really like this space, it is the place that Formolis got their start. It is small, intimate, you can watch the chef cook your meal if you sit at the bar. It is a friendly place to eat and hang out. I was sad to see two televisions added, they are distracting in such a small venue. The music was Italian Opera on one of the televisions. I can honestly say I was underwhelmed by the food, but willing to go back for another try on a day the chef is in the house.
(2)Molly M.
My friend and I met here for lunch to catch up and ending up spending over 2 hours chatting/eating. The atmosphere is so upscale yet cozy!! The customer service is exceptional-the waiters were very friendly and attentive while giving us our time to catch up. We both ordered entree salads-hers with basil ranch dressing and mine with balsamic and sub the chicken for grilled shrimp. They were so fresh, delicious and the perfect size to fill us up! Also, the complimentary bread is soft and yummy!! :) We will definitely be back!
(5)Chona E.
Great food! Great service! Killer pasta & tiramisu! Will be back tomorrow to try their brunch! :)
(4)Amy B.
Not bad. Food is fresh and tasty. The Chianti wasn't great though. Definitely worth a go! The ravioli was excellent, particularly the seafood one. Definitely home made. Sauces are all tasty and not over-powered by pepper like some places, definitely a plus!!
(4)Erica N.
Is no longer open.
(1)Flo G.
I came at 8pm on Sunday, March 29, 2015 and they weren't open despite having a 9pm closing time on Sunday. I didn't confirm, but they appeared to be out of business.
(1)Melissa L.
Always a Rich experience! Seafood ravioli. ..you can choose half red half Alfredo. ..service is owners - hands-on... Patio seats 12 btw ...
(4)Missy T.
Delicious homemade bread, house salad and entrees. Owner was delightful. Definitely returning.
(4)Liz H.
Bottom Line: a low key, relaxing but classy place for a date or for a quick happy hour stop (wine and beer only). Friday nights live music and Sunday brunch as well. Awesome little east sac gem! Love this place for two reasons. 1: Owners Thaddeus and Joe are the bomb, but all the staff is welcoming and will make you feel right at home. 2: The $10 any size pizzas and anything with Arriabata sauce.
(5)John M.
My wife and I wandered in here looking for outside seating after walking our dog. The first thing I noticed was the authentic Italian Flag Espresso Coffee sign in the window. I knew this place had real Italian neighborhood cafe potential. We were very pleasantly surprised with our dinners. The spicy marinara sauce on the spaghetti was fantastic and my wife like the appetizer calzone. We each had glass of the better than average house Chianti. The decor is very Old School Italian bistro and should be a great place for a winter dinner. The service was very personable and welcoming. This place is clearly family owned. The friendly service and attention to the customer is always a nice change from corporate chain restaurants. All in all, Italian Stallion Grill is the perfect East Sacramento neighborhood restaurant.
(4)Maria K.
Very cute inside, love the old timey feel as well as the music they play. Employees were very friendly and the chef himself came out to see how everything was and told us what the special was. Food was great but the bread was my favorite! I will definitely come here again!
(5)Rob R.
Fairly disappointed in my first visit. I tried the Italian Stallion Gumbo, and I'm sad to say that the gumbo at my work cafeteria is just as good (and is $10 less). My dining companion had the chicken parmigiana which seemed pretty standard. The real test of an Italian restaurant is their eggplant parmigiana, but not on the menu. I would like to visit again and try the seafood ravioli - let me know if it's any good!
(2)Krystle M.
I came here with my best friend from out of town and her husband. The food was nothing spectacular, but it was pretty good. The service was not great. Italian sangria was pretty good. We ordered a pitcher of sangria, the artichoke dip appetizer (needs more bread but cool that it came out boiling), an entrée salad with basil ranch dressing, chef salad with gorgonzola cheese dressing, and chicken Parmesean. The portions didn't really match the prices in my opinion, but the food wasn't bad.
(2)Shelly T.
This is a great hidden gem in East Sac! The service is amazing and the food is so fresh and delicious. My friend and I had the meatball appetizer ..holy good. I had he fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. Pasta was tender, sauce was savory. Try the tiramisu mousse!! So. Dang. Good. Total for two top to bottom? 45 bux. So worth it.
(5)Eric S.
Great food and wonderful staff and owner. Service was priceless. I will be a regular from now on, thank you for a great evening.
(5)Lynn H.
Most of the reviews on yelp must have been prior to new ownership six of us showed up for dinner we were the only ones their happy hour menu online does not match the menu they hand you when you arrive food was subpar cannot recommend,
(1)Joe M.
So finding this place was easy. It's about a :45 second walk from my girlfriends house. Which is why we went, it was close and I needed to take the lady to a "I'm a dumb ass boyfriend sometimes" dinner, as quickly as possible. Nice warm enviroment. Had some Italian Opera music going on, with Olympics coverage on at the bar. Felt very Godfather-esque. The Logo on the wall could have not been there. Looks like a stencil and black can of spray paint job. (working in graphic design and the print industry, I'm a little picky) Let's get to the food... Salad was amazing. I highly recommend the Gorgonzola dressing. Chunks of awesome in it. The appetizer was also very, very good. An artichoke cheese dip served on a plate and it was still boiling. My only gripe was the fact that there was not enough bread. It was so good however, the last bit of dip I couldn't sop up with bread was scooped into a spoon. Main course left something to be desired. First off, I'm not the most cultured individual, so some pronunciations escape me, so I went with the "Beef Bolognese". It tasted about as good as I pronounced it. It tasted like it was prepackaged and something that I would make at home, not something I was paying $14.99 for. I think the fact that we made un-vocalized conversation through eye contact about how "not good" it was. Either that, or she was commenting on the State of the Union address the night before...but not sure. Im not really a dessert guy, but again, I was in the doghouse so I got her dessert, as well. She had a creme brulee and I had the tiramisu. Both made us forget about our main course. Dessert is highly recommended. The main course wasn't that big, so you will have room for it. Thank you Italian Stallion for clearing my name! Please win me over, I really want to like you guys!
(3)Emely D.
The service might be slow but the food is excellent. It's a cute romantic small place for a first date.
(4)Brandon B.
Comedy Night Thursdays! My friend told me they were doing live comedy on Thursdays. Show starts around 9ish. Cover fee only $5! Since it's a smaller size venue it's a place where the comics like to try new bits and material, so you get a really awesome mix of styles and jokes. They brought out some of the best local comics as voted by in SN&R. Most of the comics do bigger venues, so Well worth it. Definitely will be back for Comedy Night! Now onto the food, we had a pizza. The pizza was excellent. My friend is lactose intolerant and they had no problem making half the pizza with no cheese. Our main pizza was with red sauce which was good, then I bought another slice so I could try their white sauce, just as good if not better than the red sauce! I'm biased toward the ranch based sauces, so if you like them go for it. Now for the price. A slice of pizza & a beer for $5.99, can't beat that at all. Not sure if that's only something they do for the evening, or for the comedy show, but I was glad they had it. Service was awesome. One of the owners Thad was there. He made sure that we, and everyone else were well taken care of. Drinks almost empty? He was right there on top of it getting another if you wanted. Very nice guy and awesome to see an owner with that much direct interest in the customers. I've been to many restaurants over the years locally many times over and have still never met any of the owners. Looks like they have got their stuff together really quick for being a fairly new place, very impressed. Overall extremely happy/satisfied with everything these guys had to offer. Will be back often, and will be bringing friends!
(5)Marchel B.
My BF and I are in the process of a kitchen remodel, which means we are eating out quite a bit. Trying not to break the budget, we are looking for well priced, sit down, bring me a menu, bring me my food and have a glass of wine type of dinner places. So we decided to give this new little place a try and it met all the requirements. We ordered pasta, him with chicken parm and pasta with Arrabiata sauce and me with vodka sauce and meatballs. A nice little salad came with, it could have had more veggies on it but the dressing was great and not overdone. The chicken parm was really good, lightly crispy and not soggy with sauce. Both pastas were perfectly al dente and the vodka sauce was really yummy. We each had two glasses of happy hour wine and the total bill with tip was just a bit over $50.00. Not cheap, but not bad either. Only complaint was that they had a February special for two entrees and a bottle of wine for $55.00 that we were not informed about. We overheard another waiter explaining to another patron. Would have like to have known that as my BF would have had the steak and shrimp! But I would definitely plan to come back and try the pizza. And more vodka sauce.
(4)Dana F.
I have never given a bad review on Yelp :( And I hope the owner reads this for input. I will try Italian Stallion again in a few weeks and change my review if they have "come into their own". The gentlemen working we're so sweet and cheerful...which is the ONLY reason for two stars. We went in week 2 and didn't mind the scattered service (incorrect order, weird "leftover" wines, long wait) because of the extremely charismatic staff. My guy says it was the worst spaghetti and meatballs he's had...brother said he thinks they went to Costco and then heated stuff up and served it...the four of us agreed to not return and give the owners some feedback. We WANT this space to succeed. The fact that the decor is exactly the same as the last restaurant is somewhat erie. I actually didn't hate my seafood ravioli. It was good. Didn't seem terribly Italian. Their Vodka sauce was good! Again. I'll change my review if things get better. And i hope these other reviews are real and the place has improved.
(2)David L.
Came here for the Monday night $10 pizza deal on downtowngrid.com (any pizza, any size, $10). Was pleasantly surprised by top notch service and great food. The other menu options (and what other people had on their tables) looked great. I'll be coming back.
(5)Jeremy P.
Really good food, great service. Love neighborhood feel of place. Quick to help you get anything you need to make your dinner awesome!
(5)patrick g.
Had brunch there today, I had chorizo omelet. Really good, especially the salsa. Reasonable prices.
(4)