Sacramento’s best brunch is at this 46-year-old downtown pub, readers say

You don’t survive 46 years in downtown Sacramento without doing something right.

Fox & Goose Public House, an institution at the R Street Corridor’s mouth since 1975, has the Sacramento region’s best brunch, according to The Sacramento Bee’s readers. The pub received 22.4% of votes in a weeklong poll that concluded Tuesday.

Founded by Denise and Bill Dalton and bought by longtime managers Jessa Berkey and Peter Monson in 2015, Fox & Goose has weathered downtown’s changes with an extensive omelet menu and full English breakfasts (also available as a vegetarian option), plus a lively bar in pre-pandemic times. It’s currently open for patio dining, takeout or delivery via DoorDash at 1001 R St.

Bacon & Butter’s ultra-fluffy pancakes, served at its Tahoe Park home base and East Sacramento location that opened in 2019, propelled Billy Zoellin’s restaurant to second place with 13.2% of the vote. Longtime south Sacramento and Elk Grove diner Stagecoach Restaurant broke out to an early lead but finished third with 10.9%.

Solomon’s managed 6.7% of the vote as a write-in candidate, followed by East Sacramento’s Orphan Breakfast House (3.9%) and local chain The Mimosa House (3.5%). Founded as Solomon’s Delicatessen, the downtown restaurant and music venue has veered further from the traditional Jewish deli concept in favor of “global cuisine” like khachapuri and tres leches French toast, though staff still make bagels by hand and smoke lox in-house.

This story was originally published February 16, 2021 at 12:57 PM.