When I’m in NY or Santiago, there is never a shortage of outstanding restaurants for late night dining. But until recently there wasn’t much of a selection in Sacramento. Now there’s Ink eats & drinks, a great place to grab a great meal, especially late at night.

The off-beat restaurant is located in the old Capitol Grill digs across the street from Paragary’s. But it’s nothing like its pedantic predecessor. Ink is funky fun casual – the patrons are a mix of urban hipsters, MMA fans and Capitol power brokers.

The food reflects that same complexity – at 3 a.m. you should try the “Sacramento sliders” that remind me of an upgraded White Castle from Rush Street in Chicago, for dinner try the sophisticated artichoke hearts with aioli, at lunch go for the artichoke & spinach dip with garlic paprika dusted pits chips, or try the bistro filet with eggs for breakfast. Ink offers a variety of delicious options to satisfy almost any taste.

There’s a good selection of local and imported wines. The Crusher, a Cab from Clarksburg, is my personal favorite. But if you’re feeling adventurous try Mary’s our favorite: the Porn Star. Mary is our favorite server.

From breakfast, lunch, dinner or late-night fare, everything is well prepared with some creative twists and service is casual, knowledgeable and friendly – it’s SoHo in Sacramento!

Ink eats & drinks is located at 2730 ‘N’ St., Sacramento.  Phone is (916) 456-2800. Web site is http://www.Inkeats.com

Any list of California’s most interesting restaurants has to include Al’s Place – locally known as Al the Wop’s – located along a Sacramento River levy road in the historic town of Locke, the original “china town.” Built in 1915, and operated by Al Adami since 1934, Al’s was the only non-Chinese business operating in the town of Locke. The town has dimmed over time, but Al’s remains an iconic place that’s a rite of passage for anyone interested in California history or traveling through the Delta.

Al’s has a short menu featuring its famous and affordable steak sandwich – more like a steak dinner with bread on the side – a great selection of local wines, including one of my favorites – the Old Vine Zinfandel from nearby Bogle Vineyards.

Steak sandwich ala Al’s Place

Served parlor-style on picnic tables with a bizarre array of condiments ranging from peanut-butter to chili-sauce, the atmosphere is very casual.

Condiments on a table at Al’s

Don’t be put off by the “dive” character of Al’s – that’s part of the charm. The walls are covered with photos and posters and the ceiling is littered with dollar-bills that patrons have stuck there over Al’s near-century of operation.

It’s the perfect place to relax with simple, hearty food at the end a wine tour of the Delta or if you take the back-roads from Sacramento to Napa/Sonoma – even a Sacramento River fishing trip. You can dock in a nearby marina.

Al’s Place is at 13936 Main Street, Locke, CA. Phone is (916) 776-1800. You can read Tab Berg’s biography and see more of his restaurant recommendations at http://www.atLarrys.com  The web page for Al’s Place can be reached through http://www.locketown.com