Bee Appetit: The Golden Bear serves up brunch and community
Shortly after I started at The Sacramento Bee in December, I cornered Sean Timberlake, our food and drink reporter. I needed a list of brunch recommendations.
While it’s not uncommon for me to go out to new restaurants by myself, there’s something deeply romantic to me about trying out a new place for brunch, book in hand and The Sacramento Bee mobile app open to scroll through after I’ve gotten my food.
Timberlake provided a whole host of options: Abuela’s, Sapha Kafae (which I had a life-changing oliang), Morning Fork, Sunnyside, Magpie, Nopalitos Southwestern Cafe and — far more off-handedly — The Golden Bear.
When I realized I’d parked next to the midtown mainstay, at 2326 K St., after Easter morning celebrations, I decided to pop inside. I’m not much of a mimosa drinker myself, but any place that offers bottomless brunch mimosas waves a giant green flag my way.
I grabbed a spot on the front patio under lazily spinning fans on the light blue painted ceiling, surrounded by chatter. A gathering of old friends wedged into one corner. A couple making their way through the aforementioned bottomless mimosas. A large tight-knit group exchanging gossip and pop culture reviews while tasting the entire brunch menu.
I ordered a local draft hefeweizen ($7) and the breakfast pizza ($19), which features garlic oil and fluffy curds of scrambled eggs on top of mozzarella cheese.
My leftovers from the pizza was my breakfast for two additional days. And the hefeweizen was perfect for the sunny late morning, though it’s availability on tap had ended when I returned this week — for research. During my research excursion, I had a pint of Societe Brewing’s amber ale The Debutante ($7) on tap.
The brunch menu includes a wide variety of options, including the eatery’s kimchi and miso Morning Rice ($16), an open-faced breakfast burger ($20) and the Sunrise Sando ($18) with fried hash browns, ham, scrambled eggs and aioli on focaccia.
The Golden Bear brings community together with a sense of humor. One of the staff mentioned in years past, the bar ran a Rolling Rock beer special for Easter weekend.
The spot runs a regular book club and posts skits on its Instagram and Facebook accounts. Most of the videos are gentle teasing about the idiosyncrasies of working at a bar or retreads of other viral videos.
It’s a spot that doesn’t deign to take itself too seriously. Which, I have to imagine, is why Sean said I’d enjoy it.
The Golden Bear
Address: 2326 K St., midtown
Hours: Kitchen is open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Bar is open 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Phone: 916-441-2242
Website: goldenbear916.com
Vegetarian options: A decent smattering of options throughout their menu, including happy hour and brunch
Openings & Closings
Beloved East Sacramento pasty shop, Pasty Shack, is set to close its doors after 74 years.
The University of Beer is set to close its Folsom location. Its replacement has already been announced.
Folsom is also getting a new cafe. Capy Cafe opens its doors Saturday, April 11.
Temple Roasters is opening its ninth location and its first in Fair Oaks.
After turbulent waters, Black Sails Coffee to open Saturday, April 11 in Oak Park.
