GOES TO A GOOD CAUSE. IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN. BLACK CARD, WHICH IS PAN SEARED WHEN DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO TURNS INTO ONE BIG DINING DESTINATION. AND THEN FOR DESSERT, I HAVE OUR CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CAKE, A THREE COURSE MEAL FOR $45 PER PERSON, BIG FLAVOR. AND THAT’S A CHICKEN DEMI OVER THE TOP. ONE. GREAT PRICE AND A MUCH NEEDED BOOST FOR LOCAL RESTAURANTS DURING SLOWER TIMES. IT’S TYPICALLY A SLOWER TIME OF THE YEAR FOR RESTAURANTS AFTER THE HOLIDAYS, SO A LOT OF THEM SEE A DECLINE IN SALES, UNFORTUNATELY. BUT THIS IS A FUN WAY TO COME OUT ONCE, COME OUT TWICE WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER, WITH YOUR FAMILY. THIS YEAR, 31 RESTAURANTS ARE ON THE MENU SHOWCASING SOME OF SACRAMENTO’S MOST SAVORY SPOTS. WE AVERAGE ABOUT 150 TO 200 COVERS A NIGHT DURING DINE DOWNTOWN. AND THEN WE HAVE THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIKE, OH, LET’S GO BACK FOR ANNIVERSARY, LET’S GO BACK FOR A BIRTHDAY. LET’S GO BACK FOR ANY KIND OF SPECIAL OCCASION. AND HERE’S THE BEST PART THERE’S NO COMPETITION WHEN IT COMES TO LOCAL. YOU ORDER 50 POUNDS OF POTATOES AND YOU GET SHORTED AND YOU GET 10 POUNDS AND YOU’RE LIKE, OH WOW, WHAT AM I TO DO NEXT? WHAT AM I GOING TO DO NEXT? AND IT’S, IT’S THAT CAN I GO TO A LOCAL RESTAURANT? CAN I GO TO ANOTHER RESTAURANT THAT’S DOING DINE DOWNTOWN AND BORROW THAT? ABSOLUTELY. AND WE’RE ALWAYS PATTING EACH OTHER’S BACKS. PLUS, THERE’S A FEEL GOOD BONUS. $1 FROM EVERY DINE DOWNTOWN MEAL GOES TO OPENING DOORS SUPPORTING IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES AND SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING RIGHT HERE IN SACRAMENTO. WE’RE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP WITH DINE DOWNTOWN, AND WE’RE REALLY SO GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE BROADER COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, SACRAMENTO IS A PLACE THAT IS PROUD OF OUR DIVERSITY AND SUPPORTIVE OF OUR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE NEIGHBORS. AND I THINK IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THE WAY THAT IMMIGRANTS SUPPORT OUR LOCAL FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS AS WELL. AND IT’S THAT COMMUNITY SPIRIT FROM THE KITCHEN TO THE TABLE THAT MAKES DINE DOWNTOWN ABOUT MORE THAN JUST A GREAT MEAL. SO IT’S A WIN WIN. EAT WELL, GIVE BACK, SUPPORT LOCAL ONE PLATE AT A TIME IN SACRAMENTO, MARICELA DE LA CRUZ KCRA THREE NEWS. AND THE DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO PARTNERSHIP HAS OTHER EVENTS COMING UP ON SAINT PATRICK’S DAY AND EARTH DAY, A
Dine Downtown returns to Sacramento with charitable support
Updated: 9:23 PM PST Jan 8, 2026
Sacramento’s Dine Downtown event is set to return, offering three-course meals at 31 local restaurants for $45 per person, with $1 from each meal supporting the charity Opening Doors. This annual event provides a much-needed boost for local restaurants during the post-holiday season. “It’s typically a slower time of the year for restaurants after the holidays, so a lot of them see a decline in sales, unfortunately, but this is a fun way to come out once, come out twice with your friends, your significant other, your family,” said Andrew LaFrance from the Downtown Sacramento Partnership.Chef Steven Ashley from Firehouse Restaurant emphasized the collaborative spirit among local restaurants.”You order 50 lbs of potatoes and you get shorted and you get 10 lbs, and you’re like, ‘Oh wow, what am going to do next? Can I go to a local restaurant, to another restaurant that’s doing dine downtown and borrow that?’ Absolutely, we’re always patting each other’s backs,” Ashley said. Jessie Mabry from Opening Doors expressed gratitude for the partnership. “Sacramento is a place that is proud of our diversity and supportive of our immigrant and refugee neighbors, and I think it’s really important to also understand the way that immigrants support our local food and agriculture systems as well,” Mabry said. The event embodies a community spirit that extends from the kitchen to the table, making Dine Downtown about more than just a great meal. See participating restaurants and learn more about the program on its website. The Downtown Sacramento Partnership also has other events planned, including celebrations for St. Patrick’s Day, Earth Day, the Summer Farmer’s Market, and a May concert series.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Sacramento’s Dine Downtown event is set to return, offering three-course meals at 31 local restaurants for $45 per person, with $1 from each meal supporting the charity Opening Doors.
This annual event provides a much-needed boost for local restaurants during the post-holiday season.
“It’s typically a slower time of the year for restaurants after the holidays, so a lot of them see a decline in sales, unfortunately, but this is a fun way to come out once, come out twice with your friends, your significant other, your family,” said Andrew LaFrance from the Downtown Sacramento Partnership.
Chef Steven Ashley from Firehouse Restaurant emphasized the collaborative spirit among local restaurants.
“You order 50 lbs of potatoes and you get shorted and you get 10 lbs, and you’re like, ‘Oh wow, what am going to do next? Can I go to a local restaurant, to another restaurant that’s doing dine downtown and borrow that?’ Absolutely, we’re always patting each other’s backs,” Ashley said.
Jessie Mabry from Opening Doors expressed gratitude for the partnership.
“Sacramento is a place that is proud of our diversity and supportive of our immigrant and refugee neighbors, and I think it’s really important to also understand the way that immigrants support our local food and agriculture systems as well,” Mabry said.
The event embodies a community spirit that extends from the kitchen to the table, making Dine Downtown about more than just a great meal.
See participating restaurants and learn more about the program on its website.
The Downtown Sacramento Partnership also has other events planned, including celebrations for St. Patrick’s Day, Earth Day, the Summer Farmer’s Market, and a May concert series.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel