North Highlands is a great place to live. The same could be said for Sacramento as a whole.

We are two hours from San Francisco (the people that live there prefer you do not call it Frisco) and two hours from South Lake Tahoe. When the mountains are capped with snow it is hard to find anything more beautiful (except my wife) than Tahoe. San Francisco, with all its charm, possesses some of the best restaurants on planet earth.

Yes, North Highlands is a great place to live, but partly because of all that is near by. For example, there are all the great events that are held ten minutes down the freeway at Arco Arena. If you have been to a Kings game you know, if possible, it is best to have your dinner before or after the game. Eating at the Arena is a lot like listening to Hall and Oates’ greatest hits. Sure, the words are familiar and you can tap your foot, but in the end you feel all hollow and empty inside.

I am not going to harp on the Arena food being over priced. Like energy costs in California, there are just certain things we just expect to pay mini bar prices for.

If you take the Truxel exit off of I- 80, you will find a plethora of eating establishments in the Wal-Mart shopping center. You can enjoy places like In N’ Out Burger, Baja Grill, On the Boarder, and many others. Oh, they also have an Applebee’s. In my opinion, Applebee’s is the dining equivalent to shaving with a cheese grater. However, if YOU like it, it is at the ready, riblets and all.

Continue down Truxel past the Arena, at Truxel and Del Paso, and in the Raley’s shopping center you will find Jack’s Urban Eats. My wife (the young, personable, vivacious, and oh so attractive little pixie I refer to as Carrie) and I recently had Dinner at Jack’s after a Kings game. Now, we did not actually attend the game, but it had just ended, none the less.

Jack’s serves up carved to order hot sandwiches, fresh veggies, and some wickedly good salads. For $5.99 I had a fantastic Tri -Tip Sando. Great food at a great price and fast, to boot, if you are running late for the game.

From a nutrition stand point you have options at Jack’s that will likely outdo a King dog.

If you are coming in from I-5, you might want to take the Del Paso exit, pull into the Safeway shopping center, and head into Giovanni’s Pizza.

Giovanni’s is locally owned and several have popped up over the last few years in the Sacto area. Giovanni’s serves a THIN CRUST, New York style pizza that is sensational. Yes, I said thin crust. Trust me, you only think you like thick crust better. As your palate matures, you will realize a thin crust is better and also the way pizza was originally designed to be. You see, you only think you prefer Pepsi to Coke, beef ribs to pork, Burger King to Mcdonalds, Lennon to McCartney, The Sac Bee’s columns to mine, when, in fact, it is simply a learned response from So the next time you go to a Kings game, or take the kids to Disney on ice, or perhaps the Aerosmith concert, you have a couple of great choices for your pre or post game vittles.

And, remember, if you are going to one of those Monster truck deals, you always have Applebee’s. Stop for some riblets, go watch some street illegal trucks run over inanimate objects and then just start heading for the light. I mean, after an experience like that, life can only go downhill.

Mmmm riblets.

I love to EAT, ergo I love this job. And if you’re going to review restaurants what could be better than doing it in North Highlands? I mean after all, we are the gateway to both Antelope and Rio Linda.

All kidding aside (well at least for a sentence or 2) I am excited about a new place at 4981 Watt Ave called Wingstreet. Wingstreet is actually 2 restaurants in 1, it is combined with a Pizza Hut. Now granted I am not as excited about the Pizza Hut half. Not that I have anything against Pizza Hut, but we know what they are all about. However, when you can order your pepperoni pizza, spicy Asian wings and Nacho taters all at the same counter, now we have excitement like this sleepy city has never known!

Yes, you heard me right, Nacho Taters. Wingstreet taters smothered in nacho cheese sauce, topped diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, bacon and jalapenos. You will want to make sure your medical insurance is paid up before you tie into that dish.

Wingstreet/Pizza Hut serves an array of other appetizers as well as gourmet salads. Of course they boast a wide variety of wings that are quite shall we say, yummy. Great sandwiches such as the chicken Parmesan.
But, cool as all that is (and it is cool), what I have to say next is down right arctic. You see Wingstreet also serves a variety of pastas. And if that is not frosty enough for you they have dessert selection that features a humongous hunk of New York style cheesecake. You see, this is not your fathers Pizza Hut, unless of course your father actually owns the place and I am just not aware of it.

Wingstreet/Pizza Hut boasts a clean, modern dining area and is a great place to come watch Monday Night Football and other sporting events.

Once again, where else can you grab yourself a Nacho tater appetizer, have a chicken Alfredo bake and chase it with some cheesecake? Sure it sounds like an E ticket ambulance ride to the cardiac ward, but you can finish the cheese while watching the siren lights spin. But remember, they do offer salad.
Next month, I will likely check out The World Buffet in Antelope. It occupies the space formerly held by Smaacks European Buffet. Smaacks went out of business shortly after I gave it favorable review. Five restaurants I have raved about in last two years have gone belly up. Go figure.