Tower Cafe

If you’re planning on dining here for brunch or lunch, I highly suggest you come earlier to avoid the long wait list. Besides that, the ambience is nice and the food is good. I usually order the Thai steak salad and the seasonal French toast.
Ambience is nice and calm in the patio. If given a choice, I suggest dining in the patio area as it can get loud and chaotic inside the café. The garden surrounding the patio is beautiful and makes for a romantic dining experience.
Thai steak salad is usually a hit or miss. Sometimes it’s good and other times, it’s either over cooked or the meat tastes old.
Seasonal French toast is a must try! This is actually the best French toast I’ve ever had, it blends so well with the fruits and syrup.
Service is a hit or miss. Service becomes slow when it gets busy. Perhaps, they should hire more waiters to solve this problem.

I strictly came here off of the Unilocal review. I saw they were so highly rated.
The location is idyllic. I ate outside as they opened in the garden setting. It was the right temperature. Drank some coffee. had their traditional french toast and a side of apple sausage. The french toast was probably one of the better ones I’ve had.
The setting probably puts this place over the top.
Great place for a romantic date or to take someone you care about.
I’d go back again whether I’m visiting or a local.

This is not your average breakfast spot. Consider this a treat and an experience. It gets crowded and there’s usually a line. So go right when it opens.
Our group of seven sat on the patio. The patio is lovely. So many mature trees providing shade. Colorful awnings. Fountains. The ambience of the patio is one of the highlights.
Our group ordered quite a variety for breakfast. Fruit and granola, their famous French toast, an omelette, the Madame cristo, eggs and potatoes, corn meal pancakes. Everything that we ordered was delicious. Cooked to perfection. Full of flavor. Everyone kept sharing bites.
It’s worth checking out the inside of the main restaurant. Lots of tropical décor. The restaurant was opened on Earth Day in the 90s.
Our server was on point. Enough to give him a 20% tip. The setting, the food and the service were five star. I’ve never had a tastier breakfast.

If you live here this place eventually will feel like 3.5 stars but for most who come here 1 or 2 times a year it’s the place to be.
The hostesses and hosts treat you like Cattle and get upset quickly if you ask for anything beyond inside or out. They are on the young side and lack the tact that comes with experience.
The food is hit and miss. Last time I was here the chicken was over cooked and dry. This time I’m ordering the fish and chips. Although the fish appears to be breaded differently it is as great as the last time I had it.
The environment and location are what makes tower café. Tower theater next door or any of the spots nearby to grab drinks at make tower café the place to be. It’s always busy and that has its advantages and disadvantages.

I’ve eaten here a ton of times; I like to bring out of town guests or go when it’s an especially lovely day outside. Love, love, love the outside patio area. It’s quite beautiful. They also have decent food. Almost everything I’ve had here has been fresh and delicious.
However, a meal here is not cheap, and I’m not always sure the atmosphere and food are worth the price tag. Yeah, it’s nice and the food is good, but it can get pricey, even with the cheapest menu items. Of course, they’re not really hurting for my business, but I feel I have to speak the truth anyway.

Okay usually I’m not the one to whine, but I really do hope something changes at Tower Café, especially on the weekends, so management /​ownership I hope you take note.
If you come on the weekend for breakfast/​brunch, be prepared to wait at least 30 minutes to get a table and at least another 45 minutes for your food to arrive after you order, so in total you will actually start being able to eat your food a whole 1 ½ hours after you actually you arrive to the restaurant. So if you’re hungry, I recommend going elsewhere.
My party of 5 had to wait exactly 1 ½ hours before we could eat Brunch on a 95 degree hot summer mid afternoon. Granted the atmosphere and big trees are nice to eat and relax at and give you shade, but the simple fact of the matter is that the tiny kitchen that this restaurant has cannot accomodate all the tables that it has both inside and outside. The waiters had their hands tied as they had to tend to multiple tables that had orders waiting for more than 30 mins. The kitchen staff and size looks to be completely overwhelmed for the amount of clients that this restaurant can handle.
Other than that, the food is good, but not great, and the décor is definitely interesting. Would I visit again? Probably yes, but not on an empty stomach…

Took my friend here for brunch on her birthday and all I have to say is just, wow. We were able to outside which is shaded by trees and beautifully decorated. Food was great, drinks were great, & service was great. This was my first time here and will definitely be back !

Boy is this place popular! Came here for bunch on a Sunday at 2:30PM and we had to wait 40 mins. Good thing is there’s a ton of seating! You can choose to sit inside or outside. Regardless where you sit, there’s still a beautiful scenery. They really incorporate cultures from all over the world into their décor and dishes.
We tried the Madame Cristo and Egg Tower as Unilocalers have suggested. ⁵⁄₅ for the Egg Tower! Probably one of the top three places for eggs Benedict I’ve ever tried (brunch is my favorite meal so I’ve tried many places). The eggs are just pure perfection. However, I’m not a huge fan of the French toast. The toast itself was quite soggy. I personally enjoy the crispy ones. But the jam for the toast was very flavorful.
Great place for brunch, great place for dessert, great place for drinks. Almost everyone in the waiting walkway had a drink in their hands.

I visited Tower Café on 5÷24÷16 for a late breakfast. Relatives took me here as its a local favorite of theirs.
It truly is a one of a kind! If your into old architecture (40s ??) or music history, this was the Tower Records store. If you enjoy world travels and pieces of art, this is the place! Plus the food and service are both really good too!
I had the Madame Cristo. Its french toast, egg, ham and cheese with a great raspberry sauce. It was all good but I think Id rather have the french toast with the raspberry separate from the egg, ham and cheese.
There is a nice dessert bar and endless objects of art! Looks like the collection of a serious world travelers. Its not just a bunch of curios for sure.
There are a few rooms inside, some side areas, and lots of table outside which part is like a tropical jungle with fountains of old California style.
Since there is really nothing else like this anywhere when you consider the building, the plants, the garden, the layout, and the art, JUST GO when you get the chance. It is open breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Crowded for Sunday brunch, but otherwise first-​rate food and drinks!
I got the west African veggie burger (it was after 10am) and it came with a yummy size of breakfast potatoes. The plate was huge!
I ended up sharing my burger and eating a few too many potatoes, but I have no regrets! They also have some more standard breakfast stuff, as well as some more exotic specials.
All together, brunch for 6 people was under $ 100, which is a bargain anywhere in Sacramento.

We decided to come here for dessert after dining at Oz Korean. Best idea ever!
Today we were greeted by super friendly staff and each of them told us if we needed help, to let them know.
Donna was one of those awesome employees! She was patient, offered helpful recommendations and her genuine smile. My boyfriend was curious about the other chilled drinks they had besides Thai tea, without asking she grabbed cups and gave us samples of them. That was very nice of her especially when it seemed like the restaurant was very busy.
Customer service is a big factor when I’m evaluating my experience. Tower café aced the customer service factor!
We ordered the following
OMG cookie — You will be greeted by two one sided chocolate dipped crunchy oatmeal cookies that are brought together with peanut butter that is found in the middle. I avoid oatmeal cookies all together, this one I can’t ! I do have to add later at home I ate the second half of the cookie with French vanilla ice cream and oh boy NOMS
Black Bottom Cupcake — All I have to say is MOIST chocolate goodness. This is not a dry cupcake. The frosting looks intimidatingly super sweet, but it’s not. They made it just right. You will probably get frosting on your face, I did !
Raspberry Horchata– Can I say that my food/​drink senses went happy when I sampled this drink! I never had a raspberry Horchata before. It is refreshingly different and light in taste. I wish we ordered two of them. Next time I’m in the Sacramento area, I will be having this drink for the ride home.
Russian Tea Cookie– I have been to this place a few years back and what I remember most is the Russian tea cookie. These are one of my favorite desserts. It’s hard to find ones that even compare to Tower Café’s. It is edible love that fits in the palm of your hand. When you bite into one, it crumbles into your mouth, as you savor it the sweet powdered sugar and butter melt as one leaving you with happiness.
For all these wonderful treats we only spent about $ 12. I think that’s reasonable considering the love that can be tasted in these desserts!
I highly recommend this place :)

All the flavors of the dinnertime Kingston Sandwich were excellent! The jerk sauce wasn’t spicy, but had a really good little kick. I don’t think I’ve ever had jimaca on a sandwich before, and it matched perfectly.

Funny how I’m eating my own words from the previous review.
I already knew I loved their custardy Famous French Toast, so why wasn’t I sold on the Monte or Madame Cristos back then? Must’ve been that sweet tooth winning out, and that cinnamon whipped cream.
Came in for a late dinner after a Sac Food Film Festival event nearby, and went for the Monte Cristo. Essentially famous french toast sandwiched around sliced ham and swiss cheese, baked and dusted with powdered sugar, served with chipotle raspberry jam and side of fries.
The Madame Cristo is the same except with two over medium eggs and béchamel sauce on top!
Monte Cristo: It’s sweet, it’s savory, it’s super delicious. That raspberry chipotle jam though, once I finished my sandwich I proceeded to dip my remaining fries in that goodness. Can I just get a jar of that to take home? The sandwich itself was yummy, and I’d definitely order it again. As for the Madame Cristo, that may just be a little too much for me to handle!
Tower actually popped my Monte Cristo cherry, although a week later I went to Blue Bayou at Disneyland (also my first time eating there) where they started serving the Monte Cristo in 1966 and it became popular. Their version was also quite a lot to behold and consume… more on that in my review for Blue Bayou, forthcoming.
Park in the back of the Tower building. Indoor or outdoor seating. Bathrooms in the back past the baked goods display. Open late.

This café is a must go-​to when you’re in Sacramento!
This café is known as Tower café because there’s a huge tower! The café itself is so beautiful because there’s outdoor seating where it feels like you’re in the rainforest. The indoor seating is pretty cramped however. I’ve never eaten indoors, so I can’t speak for the ambience inside the café.
The food here is really good, typical brunch foods!
Eggs tower (benedict): ⁴⁄₅ — I’m not a brunch person, but I thoroughly enjoyed this meal! The potatoes were cooked perfectly.
Service here is great. My waiter continuously came back and checked in if we needed anything.

On my groups last day in Sacramento, before continuing on our road trip, my friends sister told us that brunch was a big thing here. It was my turn to find a place to eat, so I hopped onto my hand-​dandy Unilocal account and found this spot. And, Unilocal was on point this time.
Got here and the hostess said it was a 45min to an hour wait. We were already behind schedule so we said eff it, will wait. And, not even 15min in they had us seated outside in the patio area where there was a big tree in the center giving us plenty of shade and letting us enjoy the beautiful California sunshine as well. Not, only were we having a great start to our day already but the service was impeccable as well.
I ordered the «Monte Cristo» ($ 14ish French Toast styled sandwich w/​sliced ham and swiss cheese and topped w/​powdered sugar and served with chipotle raspberry jam and fries). This brunch was fire, and that jam had my sweet tooth going crazy. This brunch is comparable to the brunches I go to in LA. My girlfriend ordered the «All American Burger» ($ 11ish), it was good but I was definitely here for brunch not for something I could get anywhere, so ya thats that.
Everything from the ambiance, the décor, the food and the service was an A+ for me. Obviously it’s more on the pricier side but you get what you pay for. I would definitely come back if I am in the area, and would recommend to others if they haven’t already tried this place to come out and be amazed.
P. S. Get that Monte Cristo tho. (You’re welcome!!)

Found this place to be pretty good. Cant hate on it! I had a work meeting/​breakfast here and it was a nice casual environment. Surprisingly, having lived in the area for 16 years (and previously downtown for 4 years), I had never been to this place.
I ordered french toast and the person I was with ordered a pancake. I was more impressed by his pancake just because it was so huge and looked pretty damn good. I should have ordered that! But the french toast was pretty good anyway. I also ordered a side of fruit which was really fresh — not just lame, mixed melons.
The service was always attentive and quick… which I appreciated.
The place is relatively «hipster» but not in your face. It also is the definition of a café — they have a counter with a fridge where it looks like they store pastries (although I’ll admit, I didnt go there).
Breakfast places are literally a dime a dozen… so it is important for them to have a unique and casual vibe. Many of the places I go to in the Rocklin/​Roseville area are just insanely busy… and they are pretty standard breakfast places and no one looks like they enjoy their job. I’m pleased this place stands out in the crowd.

Everyone has been to tower and if you haven’t, then you aren’t living your best life in Sacramento.
They have such unique twists and ordinary dishes. Plus, the not-​so-​ordinary dishes are also delicious.
I love their tower Caesar salad. They have house made croutons with such delicious latin spices. And i got the black bean soup last time. Very good with the small salad. Their veggie burgers are also on point.
Best brunch spot in sacramento. :)

Came to Tower Café this morning for my birthday breakfast! I have been wanting to go for quite some time and finally got to enjoy the lovely café!
I went at 10am. Parking was very large but extremely full. When we walked up, there was a huge crowd of parties of 4+ people standing all over the front entrance. I was always told it was always packed but was really shocked when I saw the long wait! Luckily it was just me and my sweetie so we didn’t have to wait at all! A few tables for 2 were empty.
I’ve heard from friends and coworkers that a wait for more than 2 people can be 45 min sometimes!
We got to sit outside and it was nothing short of magical! The atmosphere was incredible. So beautiful and calming. The trees were everywhere and so many peaceful decorations lingered. Once I sat down I was eyeing the place in total disbelief that I was really experiencing all of that in the moment!
Food:
Breakfast is my favorite type of food and I am in love with hollandaise sauce with potatoes and the English muffins. I saw the Eggs Tower special on the menu and was immediately intrigued. I ordered that but had to adjust it a bit as I’m a vegetarian. I wanted the eggs and ham taken off. The wonderful waiter we got, Juan S., set it up to where he swapped eggs and ham with tomato and avocado in my meal! And charged me less for it.
My boyfriend also got the Eggs Tower with no changes. The hollandaise sauce is not savory here, it is very sweet and creamy! A very nice twist to the traditional hollandaise. The potatoes were absolutely delicious with onion and bell pepper fried to perfection. Our meals were to die for.
Had to pair it with a delightful mimosa ;)
Found my favorite brunch spot!
Wanting to try their famous drench toast next, that is if I can steer away from that delicious hollandaise breakfast plate!

5 stars.
5 stars for the wall to wall worldy décor. Despite the fact I purposely avert my eyes from the gods & goddesses & every possible graven image of the entire Asian continent, entering this place makes me feel well traveled. Uprooted. Otherworldly. Zeniths my hunger for new sights & sounds & unchartered territory. It encourages me to step on my fears & leave the safety of track home suburbia, put a leather thong on, let my hair be my only body covering & spear fish in the Son Doong cave in Vietnam or ride bareback in the savannahs of Africa.
5 stars for the food. My current favorite is the salmon linguine, but it’s the original one that comes with cheese, lemon, & a snigget of wine. It’s not the one in the menu. But if you ask for it, you will thank me later. It’s a bit soupy, lemony, & cheesy. Just how I like it. Comes with buttery yummy bread & you will probably take home half because of the large portion. It’s a perfect rainy day, on-​my-​period, or I-​just-​burned-​1000-​calories-​at-​the-​gym comfort food.
My well disciplined diet Hubby frequently orders the Brazilian chicken salad without complaint. I have had the Thai steak salad many times when I am more disciplined and enjoy it without feeling like I am on a diet. The Thai steak dinner is my other go-​to and tastes really yummy and comes with 2 dipping sauces, perfect for tastebuds that get bored easy like me. The chili relleno is in fact breaded but not in a way I am used to in Mexican places. It’s breaded with like a panko (a Japanese breading) which I find odd. I haven’t got this twice.
The dessert is what we mostly come for after we eat somewhere in Sac. I have gotten the ying & yang which is very good all the time, the chocolate mousse is okay but I can make a better one at home. If they haven’t run out out of the mudslide cookie, you will love it. It is the best dessert they have IMHO. Hubby seems to love everything with blueberry or apple. Most chocolate desserts I have had there have been very pretty but forgettable except the mudslide cookie. The vanilla Gunthers ice cream is a Hubby must-​have next to Hubbys slices of pies. They once had a slice of coconut something that was the best dessert I had there but they haven’t had since then. Their Irish cream coffee had me giggling so stupidly one night, Hubby kept asking me to shut up.
4 Stars for service mostly because I can’t remember anything bad happening. But minus a star because I can’t remember anything amazing either.
Just a tip… We never have encountered the horrific lines like other have & we have been her many times. Particularly because we only come after 9pm for dessert or maybe 6pm for dinner. If lines are not your thing, but you want to experience Tower Café, skip brunch. Or come right at or right before opening. I advise sitting outside at night on a warmish evening & keep the kids at home so you can soak in the ambience. Enjoy the twinkling lights under canopies of draping Japanese maples around you & imagine you are in another country like I do.

A fun Sacramento staple place. I may have been here when I lived in the US in the nineties, but I can’t recall. I recently came here with my friend for breakfast on a weekday and the place was packed, though we got seated immediately. I absolutely love the outdoor seating area which has heaters; it’s lovely. We ended up sitting inside though where the décor is fun and eclectic.
We ended up ordering the same thing, the Madame Cristo with a mimosa. The breakfast item is a ham and swiss cheese sandwich made with french toast and topped with over-​medium eggs and bechamel sauce. Yessssss. It was amazing! It comes with a chipotle-​raspberry jam which wasn’t my favorite. It was maybe about $ 17? The mimosas were $ 7 which seemed slightly overpriced since you can get bottomless mimosas for not much more than that at some brunch places.
Service was okay, not overly friendly and a bit rushed. I would definitely come back!