Empress Tavern Champions Local Farmers and Restaurateurs
Downtown Sacramento’s Empress Tavern celebrates California Grown produce, supports local farmers and showcases fledgling food entrepreneurs. We met with Chef Dennis Sydnor to learn more about how this local eatery has become a catalyst for change in the culinary community.
Empowering food entrepreneurs
The Empress Tavern is located in the basement of the historic Crest Theatre. For over a decade, the restaurant’s moody, mid-century vibe has lured in moviegoers to enjoy craft cocktails and farm-to-table fare.
In 2025, the Empress Tavern partnered with Alchemist CDC, a Sacramento non-profit, to provide real-world experience and training to would-be restaurateurs. To participate, all potential candidates must complete the Alchemist Microenterprise Academy, a 12-week course designed to help low-income food entrepreneurs navigate the various aspects of running their own business and to help them build valuable connections within the culinary community. From there, a select few graduate to the Alchemist Kitchen Incubator Program, or AKIP.
The AKIP participants receive one-on-one coaching and the opportunity to feature their fare at The Empress Tavern. Chef Dennis Sydnor elaborates, “Once they’re in the AKIP program, that’s where we have an opportunity to work together here in this space. We offer this space for them to host events. And then we also work with them on how to create and execute those events. I help with logistics and the day-to-day of how you set yourself up for success in a brick-and-mortar, how you adapt to a changing client base, and how you prepare for success on a given shift. And then we just work through challenges as they arrive.”
From farmers market to menu
The partnership with Alchemist runs far deeper than the AKIP Program. Alchemist CDC also runs the Florian, Meadowview and Arden farmers markets, where Chef Dennis sources much of the produce he uses at Empress Tavern. Regarding the Florian Farmers Market, Dennis muses, “Man, I grew up in that neighborhood. So it’s awesome to see that farmers market there. About 90% of the stuff that we get comes from that market.”
Dennis is a staunch advocate for local farmers markets. He explains, “It’s important to shop at farmers markets – it keeps your dollar small. It reinvests into your community by supporting the farmers and producers who are normally within 50 miles of where you’re living.” Beyond the economic benefits, Dennis simply believes that the produce found at farmers markets is of higher quality. He notes, “As a chef, I would say that the locally grown and produced vegetables far exceed the commodity varieties in flavor, texture and health benefits.”
California Grown on the menu
The Empress Tavern proudly features CA GROWN Menu Specials, inspired by Dennis’ visits to the Florian Farmers Market. Dennis states, “We felt it was important to highlight California-grown vegetables. One, because we run free farmers markets in town, and we service EBT and SNAP benefits at all of the farmers markets here in town. And two, because we’re in California, and we’re in the best growing environment in California, so it was just easy. We were already doing it, and so it was just important for us to tell the story.”
Current CA GROWN Menu Specials include Sweetpotato Stew, Eggplant Parmesan and Apple Shortbread Parfait.
Next steps:
The partnership between Empress Tavern and Alchemist CDC is still new, but Dennis is excited to expand the eatery’s scope and incorporate more educational programming. “We want to turn this into a supper club – a dinner and a movie place where people can enjoy some truly wonderful farm-to-fork food. We will be bringing children, school-aged kids, to farmers markets. We’ll give them vouchers where they can spend money themselves, and then bring them into the restaurant and show them how to make a healthy meal for their family. We’ll be partnering with SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District) and some other local municipalities to highlight the use of induction and sustainable cooking methods. There’s a lot coming up…some really cool programming.”
Visit Empress Tavern
1013 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 662-7694
Open Tuesdays. Look for additional public events on the Empress Tavern calendar.
Sacramento: The Farm-to-Fork Capital
Currently, Empress Tavern is open only on Tuesdays because of its focus. So, if you’re visiting Sacramento and looking for fabulous farm-to-table fare, check out a few of our favorites!
Where to Eat in Sacramento: Our Favorite Farm-to-Fork Restaurants
Sacramento is the Nation’s Farm-to-Fork Capital. Learn more about why the state capital is a mecca for produce lovers!
Alchemist CDC was a proud participant in the inaugural Terra Madre Americas. Learn more about this biannual event – and make plans to attend in 2027!
Article and photography by Hilary Rance.