Ten Ten Room/Sacramento, CA
Behind the Citizen Hotel in Downtown Sacramento, there's a gem on 10th street.
I'm not going to lie, it's a small bar. But what it lacks in size--it makes up for with an ample selection of whiskeys and other spirits.
My first time at Ten Ten, I went with a couple friends on a Tuesday afternoon, also known as a slow time for bar patrons. One of my friends loves gin, citrus and botanicals. The other was on a mission to sip on some rye whiskey. Two vastly different palettes--both were very satisfied. Our bartenders were potion masters. Shaking and stirring some of the most beautiful cocktails I have had the pleasure of drinking.
When one of the bartenders found out about my friend's rye obsession, the barkeep got excited and gave him a free tasting of four different rye whiskeys he'd never had before. The other bartender was explaining the different kinds of gin she had available and which cocktails were her favorites. I tried three of them. Each very different. All incredibly delicious.
After two gin cocktails and a couple of sips off my buddy's rye, I was ready for food. I ordered the Cuban sandwich but I started with their Scotch-Deviled Egg. There was something so cozy about eating hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, breaded and deep fried, then cut in half and turned into the perfect deviled egg. It's served on a bed of baby greens and garnished with a couple slices of pickled red onion and some Italian parsley.
I think this appetizer is the perfect example of what makes the Ten Ten Room so great.
Balance.
The Scotch Deviled Egg would have been too rich and too fatty without the acid from the pickled red onion to cut through the creaminess and give the dish some bite as well as character.
The Cuban sandwich wasn't the best I've ever had, but when you've had one made by an adorable Cuban lady who serves it with the most delicious beans I've ever tasted… All I'm saying is it's hard to top.
Bottom line?
I will be going back to Ten Ten very soon.
As for what I'll be drinking? I'll ask the bartender what their favorite cocktail is and give that a whirl.
If ever there were a place to step out of your comfort zone and try some new spirits, it's the Ten Ten Room.
