charQterie — Restaurant in Sacramento

My friend and I met here for lunch because she'd driven by several times and was intrigued. It is a great concept! I imagine it could be the next trend - like do-it-yourself frozen yogurt shops. The "subway style" make-your-own charcuterie was very cool, but it left a lot to be desired. We were disappointed with the meat selection. There were six choices, including beef jerky, some kind of cubed poultry, and a sausage that tasted like something you would get from a gas station. No prosciutto! The cheeses were "meh." They were fine, but I appreciate a soft cheese with my crackers, and there were only hard cheeses to choose from. No brie! Speaking of crackers - Wheat Thins and Ritz... It kind of felt like it was trying to be upscale, but missed the mark. Honestly I would pay more for the plate if the meat, cheese and crackers were higher end. I would never serve my own guests Ritz crackers with charcuterie, and I was surprised I was being offered Ritz in a restaurant where I was paying $30 for a plate. The rest of the choices (fruit, veggies, nuts, etc) were fine. We appreciated that they let us pile on whatever we wanted.

We also had the pork belly sandwich, which was good, however after sharing the medium charcuterie plate and only eating half of it, we weren't even hungry for the sandwich we were sharing and we took it home. Next time, we would get the small plate to share if we were planning on sharing a sandwich as well. The wine was good and the mimosa flight looked intriguing - we would get that next time. We didn't have room for dessert but they looked delicious.

Other reviewers seem to appreciate the atmosphere, but my friend and I felt pandered to. The owner (I'm assuming he was the owner because he seemed super invested) was pushy and overeager for us to make selections. The wait staff seemed like they'd been trained to provide stellar service, but again, they missed the mark. The gentleman making our charcuterie board took forever to place each item in the interest of presentation and it required a lot of patience on our part. One waitress was cloying whenever she came to check on us. Another waitress was flustered when we asked for our hot sandwich to be brought out after we'd had time to work on our charcuterie, like it was a concept she'd never before considered. After I paid, she bustled away from the register without a word and I thought, oh I guess we're done here - turns out she bustled away to hold the door open for us. It was awkward. It almost felt like they were afraid of getting in trouble.

It's clearly a new business because there are some kinks that need to be worked out. For instance, when we arrived, my friend and I didn't know what we wanted. We felt pressured to make a decision right away, but indicated that we'd like to sit down and discuss what we wanted to try. We decided on the medium charcuterie plate and a hot sandwich. We weren't really sure if we were supposed to wait for a waiter or go back to the counter. We went back to the counter to tell them what we wanted on our plate, but didn't know who to order the sandwich with. We ended up telling a waiter walking by on our way to order our charcuterie. The system is a little clunky. If it had been a busy day, I imagine this could get hectic and overwhelming for staff and guests. (I think it would be more cohesive if they took away the handheld menus and put all their selections on a giant wall board at the front. You could make your charcuterie selections, order everything at the counter, then pay and go sit down and wait for your food to be brought to your table.) After we finished eating we were told we could pay at the register on the way out. There is no counter space by the register to set anything down on, such as leftovers or a purse, to have your hands free to pay. The waitress had to push aside some menus on an adjacent counter so I could set my things down.

I would love to love this place and I would go back if the opportunity presented itself, but I hope they can work out...

The food was absolutely delicious. We ordered the Qbuano which was excellent, and the pork belly & pesto tots - all were fantastic. The pork belly tots are some of the best I’ve had. The atmosphere and vibe of the restaurant is classy, in my opinion overpriced but cute/intentional. The manager/owner (whoever he is) is our biggest complaint and a reason we would consider not returning/letting others know to only order take out. He held the door open for us, which was nice and asked if we would be dining in. We said no as we just adopted a new puppy and had to get home. He said he was disappointed since “no one is dining in today.” I thought that to be odd as this place is right next to Costco on a busy Saturday and they have not a single person dining in - strange, but I found out why quickly. We were immediately met with a long-winded explanation of the menu, each intricacy, “their dessert chef left 45 minutes before and they have great desserts,” blah blah blah. He tells us they’ve been open for “a year and 3 days” and we told him we just moved here, to which he told us he was disappointed in us for not coming sooner…? Okay? We decide on what we want, and make our order. We’re waiting and all is normal besides the overbearing manager/owner. Our pesto tots come out, and he’s holding them like a masterpiece, and before he even gives them to us he asks the other people BEHIND us to LOOK at them more than once until they actually did…WEIRD. They look at the tots, they look at us and smile uncomfortably, he looks at all of us and we just nod our heads. He then, after about 45 seconds, gives them to us as he says “you better take these quick - the lady behind you almost took them!! Did you see?” We all become even more uncomfortable, and the lady behind us turns bright red. He then brings out the pork belly tots and does the same thing, but we wanted the tots only, and not to be on display for everyone. We asked if he would give them to us instead of showing them, and he said NO. He became upset and really awkward in front of everybody, and INSISTED on writing “Pork Belly Tots” on the box, saying “I have to write this. I don’t want you to forget.” Like what is going on?? SO, SO, SO weird. I would highly recommend the food, but I see why absolutely not one person was dining in. We left as soon as we could. Whoever the owner is - this person is costing you business, and if you had a different manager this place would be POPPIN’ on a busy Saturday during the summer next to freaking Costco LOL. Wine? Charcuterie? Delicious food? But a dead restaurant? Makes no sense until you meet the owner/manager/whatever he is. (If you do brave it, get the pork belly tots. He said the Parmesan ones are...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting charQterie, and let me tell you—this place is an absolute must-try if you're in Natomas! From the moment I walked in, I was greeted by the warmest, friendliest staff who made me feel right at home.

Now let’s talk food—WOW! The custom charcuterie boards are as delicious as they are beautiful, with an incredible variety of meats, cheeses, and fruits that are perfectly paired. It’s clear that everything is thoughtfully selected and fresh. The sandwiches? To die for! Whether you're in the mood for something hearty or light, there's a sandwich for every craving. And don’t even get me started on the wine and beer selection—carefully curated to match any of the boards or sandwiches, making it easy to find the perfect pairing.

One of my favorite things about charQterie is how versatile it is. It's the perfect spot for a relaxing brunch with friends or parents, with a laid-back atmosphere that's ideal for catching up over amazing food. And if you’re heading to a party or want something special to take home, they offer a super convenient to-go option! You can grab a charcuterie board and a bottle of wine, and you’re set. Honestly, I’ll definitely be back again and again.

Whether you're a local or just passing through, do yourself a favor and stop by charQterie. It’s the perfect addition to the neighborhood, and I can't...