"Although Magpie bills itself as a warm gathering spot for locals and travelers alike, its substantive menu of small plates — featuring items like a $2.50 anchovy toastette to a heftier $26 duck confit and pancake dish — also makes it an excellent candidate for a solo date or “treat yourself” location. Owned by Sacramento natives Janel Inouye and Matt Roehr, Magpie pays tribute both to their hometown and the Central Valley, where they were regularly inspired by abundant Santa Cruz farmers markets. Their intentionality is clear throughout the space, from the ambiance generated by the warmth of its guests to the seasonally rotating menu — so if those small plates melt into dinner and you find yourself facing a plate of lamb chops and glass of pinot noir, so be it." - Tamerra Griffin
