If you live in Sacramento and hearing “Mother” does not immediately make you think “Sacramento’s most buzzed about new restaurant” then I may have to politely ask if you’ve been living under a rock. The new restaurant venture from Chef Michael Thiemann who was previously with Ella Dining Room has already received rave reviews from just about every local media outlet since opening its doors in January. And, what many are surprised to learn about this new Sacramento gem is that the restaurant is completely vegetarian.
The SacFoodies quickly got wind about Mother and who had or had not tried Mother yet has now been a hallway topic of conversation around the office for weeks. I may not have won the award for being the first to try Mother, but it looks like I win for being the first to blog about the new restaurant.
I visited on a Saturday evening around 9pm with three dining companions. We knew we would be in for a wait as the restaurant does not take reservations, but snagged a table after about 30 minutes. Although we were tempted to order the “Chef’s Special” which is 10 surprise dishes, we weren’t quite that daring and elected to share a few appetizers and order our own entrées.
The appetizers we sampled were: the Kale Salad with Apple, Grape, Walnut and Dill (very fresh!); the Roasted Beet Salad with Carrot, Red Quinoa, Almond “Mayo,” Garam Masala, Rose Yogurt and Watercress (if you love beets like I do, you will love this salad); the Chicken Fried Mushrooms (this one needs no description and it was hands-down our favorite appetizer); and the Pan Roasted Delta Asparagus with Chimichurri Sauce (just the right amount of kick!).
As delicious as the appetizers were, the main courses took the cake. One favorite was the Chile Verde with Roasted Potatoes, Pinto Beans, Hominy, Smoked Pickled Jalapeños and Mozzarella. Your server will ask if you want to add a fried egg to the top – of course I said yes. This dish was rich with flavor, incredibly filling and something I would definitely order again.
But the standout of the evening was the Fresh Pasta. This dish changes regularly, but on the night we dined it included fresh homemade noodles, peas, mushrooms, asparagus, buffalo mozzarella and mint leaves to garnish. Lucky for me that my friend who ordered this dish was willing to share because it was so fresh, so good and so clean plate-worthy.
Now I am no vegetarian, but I didn’t miss the meat for a second during my meal at Mother. It’s walking distance from our office, so for my next visit I’m planning to grab a few fellow SacFoodies and head over for lunch. Who’s with me?
Mother
1023 K St
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-594-9812
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