Strings Italian Cafe — Restaurant in California

My friend & I hadn't been to the Strings restaurant in Auburn, CA, for a number of years since a birthday gathering, (pre-pandemic.) All the staff we encountered were wearing their face-masks, there was plexi-glass installed surrounding the front counter / register-area, & there seemed to be more space between tables compared to pre-pandemic norms.

We had an excellent waiter who was very friendly & polite, he helped give meal suggestions, & was attentive during our visit.

We both ordered delicious pasta dishes, side salads, ice water, & desserts.

We had asked if we could sample the 2 different in-house salad dressings with a bread basket. Although the regular house dressing was tasty, I wasn't a fan of the strong vinegar base, so I opted for the creamy garlic cucumber which was not only great on my salad, but it was also an excellent bread dip! Salad was tasty & I enjoyed the added sunflower-seed topper. Their basket of bread was served warm with triangles of soft bread that were wonderful to snack on as-is as well as Dipped in our side-cup of requested creamy cucumber-garlic dressing.

My main dish was breaded chicken topped with Angel-hair pasta, melted cheese, diced tomatoes, & freshly grated parmesan. It did not disappoint & was quite tasty.

We both boxed-up half of our main-dish orders so we would have room for dessert--and it tasted even better as left-overs the next day.

I was hoping to get a chocolate dessert with ice cream to cool-off from the hot weather. I selected a half-order of the brownie lasagna. Although it was amazing--the half-order was definitely a dessert best-shared with a friend because it was so big! It was more like a brownie sandwhich with vanilla bean ice cream, topped with whipped cream, drizzled with chocolate & caramel, & sprinkled with fun edible confetti. Totally rich, indulgent, & a perfect choice on a hot day!

The only negative thing about our visit was they only had one available toilet-stall in the ladies-room. (The second stall had an out-of-order sign on the door.) There was hands-free access to soap & paper towels, but there was no plexi-glass installed between the 2 side-by-side sinks. (I'm not sure what the expected covid-protocols are with bathrooms compared to the added space between tables & booths.)

Other than the bathroom situation, everything was wonderful & I look forward to visiting there again in the...

Update: The below review was from 4 years ago. I originally gave a 5 star. However, we went yesterday and let me tell you that my review has changed! We did not receive bread at all. We are supposed to get bread, soup or salad with our meals, nope, no bread. I was treated great, the male server brought me a refill without asking for it, but did not acknowledge my husband at all, like he did not exist. So he did not get a refill, not even one. No water at all either. The food was not as good as it used to be, more bland and not worth $21 dollars a plate. I don't know what was in the food but our stomachs today are not letting us out of the little girls and little boys rooms if ya disgustingly catch my drift. I used to love this place, but will never go back to any strings again! It was not just the service but the food, which ruins it for us with all strings. Saddens me to say, another restraunt bites the dust for us. The one in our town already closed, so we drove up to Auburn to this one, BIG MISTAKE! Now we are waiting for this one to eventually close, it may or may not, but serving food that expensive that has a bland flavor, men do not get acknowledged but the female does and "forgetting" bread sticks, may result in an eventual shut down. Maybe an Olive Garden can take its place.

Old review from 4 years ago below:

Always good food and...

I feel so bad having to give this place one star but after much deliberation it is only appropriate. The ambiance was to be expected for a plaza type restaurant. Someone must have forgotten to pay the light bill for the portion of the establishment leading to the bathrooms. The salad was rancid, and when do Italians add raisins (+sunflower seeds). I should add I did not see any Italians working or cooking 👀 The soup alleged to be minestrone was bland. The bread was dry & past its shelf life. I’m most certain that the “chicken” and perhaps most of the food was of low frozen quality. My girlfriend had to take a napkin to each bite of the lasagna for degreasing. The best thing going was the ice tea! 💯 Service was actually decent but who cares if the food isn’t very edible 🤢 I hope they get it together because The Strings Cafe in the Central Valley...