Plates Café and Catering

Attending a BizTalk… Enjoying a nice catered meal, chicken w/​pasta, caeser salad, & fruit. Love the purpose of this restaurant. They are changing the lives of women & children, via the Saint John’s Program for Real Change. I recommend you come have lunch and support their cause!

I ordered the Chickpea Sandwich. It was ridiculously tasty. Hummus, apples, beets, radish sprouts, olive tapenade, tarragon and mayo on a soft but sturdy sliced white bread. Sweet and savory flavors blended well together (there was a crisp saltiness), and the different textures complemented its structure. A pita pocket may have been a better option to combat the messiness. (A fork and knife came in handy when one slice of bread started going in the opposite direction of the other.) I’m still sweating garlic two hours after eating it. Mmmm-​hmmm.

Walked to the restaurant today and they were closed to the public. I work ½ mile away from this location. Never been here before and never will.

Read the previous reviews, noted the ratings and figured I’d give this place a go. It’s tucked away in the Army Food Depot. I originally went in for the desire of a Cobb salad but I decided differently once I heard the specials and the young lady reassured me the ceviche tacos were divine. At $ 10, I should’ve stuck with the salad which should be fool proof. I got two dried out and overly soaked in something tacos and a side of black beans. Beans were decent to say the most. Hardly a special for the money and definitely not something I’d recommend from here. I also learned that they were a training facility so there were errors being made while the order was being filled. Nothing against training because that’s how we all learn, but just something to make other consumers aware of. Super friendly staff so I give it three stars, and I will go back and try the Cobb salad as I had originally planned.

Called in a take out order, two french dips, sweet potato fries, and a chocolate chip cookie.
When I went to pick up the order, they gave me the sandwiches but said I would have to wait TWENTY (20!!) minutes if I wanted a cookie. Well, if I had known that when I ordered over the phone, when I was asked when I could pick up the order, I would have waited and picked up my food when it was ALL ready. Instead, they could not fulfill my complete order. Sure, they said I could wait twenty minutes, but then my sandwiches are just sitting there getting cold in the takeout box, all for a cookie (which I’ve heard is very delicious, thus why I was so amped to get one! Plus, sweets are my favorite part of any meal). In fact, when I got home (less than ten minutes away from the café) my food was lukewarm… good thing I didn’t wait for the cookie!!!
On to the parts of my order that I actually received:
–The french dip, without horseradish, was less than good, but not awful. My significant other got the same sandwich with the horseradish, and thought it was good, not exceptional. I didn’t eat all of mine because it wasn’t that great, and he finished mine. But, keep in mind, he eats just about anything!
–Sweet potato fries were barely warm, but I microwaved them and my SO said they were okay. Mine were mushy, his were crispy, and so we just ended up throwing mine away (what a waste of three bucks!)
Overall, I still came out of the experience unhappy with the lack of communication when placing my take out order, and the feeling that I wasted my money on food that wasn’t that great. I will not order take out from here again. The abundance of positive reviews has led me to believe that the lack of communication was due to a hiccup in their customer service, and is nothing to judge them harshly by. I would like to try another dish, and not just judge them based on the mediocre sandwich I got today. Plus, I love the cause.
–In a nutshell, if you want to try this place, just go– don’t order takeout. The food is okay, but on the go, I’d rather go to Boudin or Subway than Plates.

Great atmosphere, I loved the holiday decorations. The service was good, the food was excellent, affordable and delicious! I would def come back here when in town

Plates Café is great! A dear friend took me here for lunch to celebrate my birthday and we had such a wonderful time. It was our first time at Plates and as soon as we walked in, I knew that I was going to love the place. Lots of natural light throughout the restaurant and it is beautifully decorated with artwork and photographs. Also, the Giving Tree made of plates was such a creative idea.
Our server was sweet, helpful and very attentive. We couldn’t make a decision because everything on the menu looked so appetizing. We ended up splitting the Cobb Salad and the Turkey Breast Sandwich with French fries. OMG… the salad, sandwich and fries were all delicious! For dessert, we ordered two big cookies (chocolate chip and peanut butter) and split them… so YUMMY!
Great food and for a good cause in which all tips goes towards helping the women/​children shelter… I will definitely be back. :-)

I had the chicken club sandwich here for lunch and it was pretty frickin good. My chicken breast was moist and tasty with a nice chipotle aioli spread on the bun with bacon and tomato! Side of fries complimented the sandwich and they offer an eclectic menu for lunch.
Okay so now we know the food is good and so worth trying again. The kicker here is the care and experience the staff is gaining. Plates is a non profit helping women gain new experience and transition into the food service industry! But this ain’t Mc Donald’s and the experience behind the scenes makes for excellent tasting dishes at a very valuable price point!
Did I just let out a kept secret about a hidden gem, or am I just catching this experience late? Either way I’ll be back for more and you should go for the food and the cause!

Omg what is my problem?! I’ve been wasting my time and money over at LA Bou this whole time when all along this fantastic place (and all for a food cause is a bonus) has been here! I didn’t even get a chance to take a pic of my salad I was so hungry but seriously, hands down THE BEST cobb salad I’ve ever had! Can’t wait to go back and try everything else. Hats off to all you lovely ladies!

sooooo goood, for being café food. all tips goes towards helping the women and children shelter. it’s a big place located in a warehouse strip of fruitridge. the kitchen is a open kitchen right when you walk in towards the back, it was all women working that day and customer service was great. I ordered a chicken BLT and a steak salad with side of sweet potatoe fries alongside my sandwich. my bacon was crispy just like I like it, the bread was crispy and fluffy, steak was cooked perfectly juicy and flavorfully, sweet potatoe fries were th e best sweet potatoe fries I’ve ever had, and the lemonade!!! it’s fresh! I’m a huge fan of fresh lemonade and it was bomb!!! my new favorite go to spot for café food because most café food is mediocre, not here! keep it up chefs and waitresses because you all are doing beyond a fantastic job! I love you guys! especially the cause this is bringing for the women and children.
btw, there are really cute art done by the children posted along the walls. so cute!

Just ordered lunch from here for the first time. It’s FANTASTIC! Called in a to-​go order, but will definitely eat there next time. They have lovely seating, white tablecloths, cloth napkins. Ambiance is far nicer than their reasonable prices indicate. We ordered the sweet potato fries, chicken Cobb salad & spicy chicken breast sandwich — it came with fries. The portions were huge & everything tastes great! They use fresh farm to fork ingredients. An added bonus — this is also a training program for homeless mothers. So not only are you getting a delicious meal at a very reasonable price, but are also helping people in need. Have worked in the area for 2 years & just found out this place existed (when I searched Unilocal for «Cobb salad»), wish I had known sooner. Will definitely keep them in mind for any catering needs at work as well.

Plates Café catered my church’s Annual Meeting yesterday. They provided 4 types of sandwiches all on wonderful, thick rolls… Italian, ham, turkey, and a Portobello Mushroom veggie option. I personally had the Italian selection & was not disappointed. The salads were mixed greens with green apple & goat cheese served with a citrus vinaigrette. The cookies for dessert were thick, chewy & huge! The oatmeal raisin was my favorite. Everyone at my table was pleased with our lunch. PLATES CAFE never disappoints!

The food was good. I had the salmon BLT. However, I have three stars because the service was extremely slow.

Frenchdip was awesome! Sweet potato fries cooked perfectly. My service was good. I think I will be back! I love that this place is for charity :)

Plates is a restaurant that’s operated by the St. John’s Shelter for Women and Children. It’s a great way to see how women and their families are getting a new start while getting on-​the-​job experience in the restaurant industry. The space is airy and bright, with reminders of heartwarming stories everywhere. The food is delicious and moderately priced, wine is available and cards are accepted.
Our lunch consisted of a Chinese chicken salad and a chop salad. Both salads came in generous servings and were well made. We took some extra time to hear some of the success stories of St. John’s, and it felt good to know how our donations, though small, were making a difference!
Plates is operated by shelter director and CEO Michele Steeb, who last year expanded the restaurant to a second location, Plates2go in midtown Sacramento. It’s a great choice if you happen to see the long line at Chipotle and want to try something different.
If you do go to Plates, know that your server is a volunteer who has had a few days to a few months’ training while she rebuilds her life, and you’ll enjoy the experience even more! Visit soon and bring a friend, colleague or business associate, and you just might feel better knowing that you made a difference in someone’s life.
The roundup:
Food: 4 — It’s great!
Service: 4 — They’re learning a new trade and happy doing it.
Setting: 4 — Serene, bright and quiet.
Value: 5 — You’re helping a great cause and you won’t go broke doing it.
Date worthy: 4 — Quiet enough to talk to each other.
Dogs: Service only!

I had lunch here yesterday for the first time. I chose Plates based off the good reviews here on Unilocal.I only learned about the humanitarian effort after I entered the establishment. It’s nice to know these kind of helpful organizations exist and I fully support the cause.
I ordered the portobello mushroom burger with sweet potato fries. The mushroom burger was very tasty as were the fries. My only complaint is the fries were only luke warm when I got my plate. By the time I was half way through mushroom burger the fries were cold. I’m simply not a fan of cold fries. Other than that I look forward to my nexteal here and potentially taking them up to 5 stars.

For a good cause and the food, yes, I’m a fan. I’ve been a regular now for quite some time. I remember finding this place for the first time and thinking, «Why so isolated and hidden?» They deserve a better spot, one that could attract more passers-​by. Good thing we have outlets like Unilocal to rave about places like this.
Sandwiches are great, fries and soups are hot and tasty, service is quick and friendly. I can’t complain about the affordability of this place, too. Whoever is cooking back there is definitely serving quality meat and sides.
I came in to a new selection of items during this visit. The server informed us that they’ll be doing this specialized menu every fourth Friday of the month. I ordered their Carolina Pulled Chicken sandwich. The mustard base sauce was delicious. It didn’t overwhelm the meal whatsoever like I was afraid it might. The chicken was nice and tender. The bun. oh my goodness. the bun was so soft and perfectly heated inside. I could’ve eaten it by itself. Awesome lunch plate ~
And yet another reason to recommend this place and keep coming back.

Finally came back for the first time in at least a year. They had a special BBQ menu for the 4^th Friday of the menu and we were the first to try it! I went for the Louisiana hotlink sandwich. $ 8.00. It was huge! I could only finish half. The red bell peppers and onions were perfect and there were plenty! Normally I would take them out but they perfectly complimented the heat of the hotlink. It comes with a choice of beans or fries and I went for fries. If you’re a fan of crispy fries, these aren’t for you, but luckily I’m not so I liked them.
Ladies are really nice here. This place supports a great cause. I wish they had a closer and more convenient location so it could come more often but I’m never disappointed when I do come!

Plates is the best concept ever. You can have a really great tasting lunch at an affordable price, AND support women who are working hard to learn new skills and become self-​sufficient! I LOVE this!
The staff — from your hostess to your waitress to the cooks and in between — are women supported by St. John’s Shelter for Women and Children. These ladies have been through it but they are there to see that you enjoy a great meal in a pleasant atmosphere. They are training and gaining valuable employment skills so they can start new chapters with their children. There are incredible success stories out of this program!
The service is really great. Very accommodating. The food is very good — great quality and some of Sacramento’s top chefs volunteer to work with the program designing great menus.
I’ve been here not just for lunch several times, but for events as well. They have a great event room and the catering (breakfast foods) is fab!
Please check this place out. It can be a bit tough to find if you’re not familiar with the old Army Depot, but it is a great place for lunch with a friend, a meeting with a client, or your next event.

Finally ventured out for lunch. Appreciate what they’re trying to accomplish. Wait staff was pretty darn nice.
Ordered cobb salad for lunch. Let me warn you. Their salads are HUGE although a lot of it is lettuce. Was OK. A little hard to to pick out the ingredients for all that lettuce and they were chopped pretty fine. Nice side of real blue cheese though. DH ordered hamburger and fries. Also OK. Glass of wine was on the high side. Almost $ 9. Think it was most expensive thing we ordered.
Big, open space. Bring a sweater/​jacket. Can get cold in there.

I had the opportunity to visit Plates for lunch the other day. Two friends and I wanted to try this place that we’d been hearing so much about.
Fortunately, there was good signage in the business park that it’s located in. I had been afraid that it’d be a hard to find in an amongst the other buildings in this area of the old Army Depot. There’s even some designated parking right in front of the café.
As we came in the door, we were immediately greeted and seated. The space for the restaurant is large and decorated with artwork created by some of the children of the charity’s shelter. Nice touch.
Our orders were taken: 2 cobb salads and a burger with sweet potato firs.
The hand squeezed lemonade was wonderfully tart and refreshing. The person bringing the beverages and water was very attentive and kept our glasses full.
The cobb salads, when they came, were pre-​tossed with very generous amounts of blue cheese.
The burger looked good. My friend liked it and shared some of the sweet potato fries, which were perfecto!
I’m pleased to see this program doing so well.
While I enjoyed the lunch and almost cleared my plate, there is some room for improvement. The cobb salad was okay, neither bad nor extraordinarily good. It was about on the order of a salad served in a chain family restaurant. I will have to come back another time and try other things on the menu. The salad isn’t something that I would come back and order again.
Other reviewers have noted that it feels good to support a place that is helping people develop marketable job skills, and I agree.
The restaurant market in Sacramento is quite competitive. it is my hope that this program continues to assess and improve to enable its graduates to compete for the best employment locations out there.

This place is awesome. I love the concept, and I love the food. And heck, I love the prices! The daily specials really get you a well-​priced meal at $ 6.
For those not familiar with the concept, this is a project by St. John Shelter to help teach «employable skills» as they put it. It’s a wonderful cause, and I feel good spending my lunch here. Any time I get to support the community and do something I love (which is eating, in this case), it’s a win-​win.
The food here is varied. You’ve got sandwiches, pasta, salads and some other assorted soups and sides. I’ve particularly enjoyed the mac and cheese, and the spicy pulled-​pork sandwich sliders on freshly baked jalapeño/​cheddar biscuits. The latter is KILLER. It’s dangerously good and I’d probably eat it until I got sick if I could. My co-​workers got a pretty big variety of things, and I heard not a single complaint. Everything here feels quite gourmet!
It’s a little bit of a trek to get out here, but it’s well-​worth it. This truly is a hidden gem of a restaurant. You’d never know it was there, but once you know, you won’t forget about it.

If you want to eat good while helping others at the same time– come here! 100% of the profits go directly to St. John’s. Plates is a program of St. John’s Shelter for women with children. Plates provides career training for women who have been homeless. The women that work here are (unpaid) volunteers. Due to state laws they cannot accept tips either but there is a donation jar next to the cash register. The donation money also goes to St. Johns.
It is located right off Fruitridge Blvd. in Depot Park and is tucked away at the back of several business buildings. It is not a place you can spot from the street. You must seek it out.
The place is pretty spacious. Upon entering you are greeted by a hostess and given a menu. Then you proceed to order at the cash register and seat yourself while you wait for your food to be bought out to you. I suggest they place the silverware on napkins rather than laying it on the tables themselves especially since the table I was sitting at was a bit sticky. That or placemats.
I was torn between choosing the Plates Croque-​Monsieur or the Forest Mushroom Pasta, but ended up choosing the Plates Croque-​Monsieur. Smoked ham, Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, vine-​ripened tomatoes, whole grain mustard mayonnaise, griddled sourdough bread…$ 7.50. The most memorable thing about the sandwich was the bread. The good: crispy. The bad: greasy.
Sandwiches come with a side. You can choose between French Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, Mediterranean Pasta Salad, or a Garden Salad. I chose the pasta salad. The pasta salad consisted of penne pasta, goat cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and pepperoncini. It was tasty.
Luckily my friend ordered the Forest Mushroom Pasta, so I was able to try it. Crimini and Shiitake mushrooms, spinach, Parmesan, garlic, white truffle oil, sherry cream sauce, toasted bread crumbs…$ 9.00. Fantastic! There was a generous amount of mushrooms and the pasta was really creamy. There is not one negative thing I can say about it. I only wished my friend went to the bathroom, so I can sneak a couple more bites off her plate!
Besides their regular lunch menu they have weekly specials. Every first Thursday of the month they also have a guest chef dinner. For the month of July, they have the owner/​chef Adam Pechal from Tuli/​Thir13en and for the month of August they have the owner/​chef Billy Ngo from Kru/​Red Lotus. Both are respected chefs in Sacramento. Dinner sounds great and I wish I could attend but $ 45 is a bit out of my budget.
Although it can be difficult to come here when they’re only open from M-​F 11am-​2pm, I suggest everybody should try the food to support the program!