Review of Capital Concessions

The 2023 edition of the California Capital Airshow was filled with many static displays of law enforcement, civilian displays, vendors and countless military and civilian aircraft of every genre you can imagine. Not to mention the spectacular airshow! On the other hand... looking aside from aviation, there was amazing dining to be enjoyed, including the large operation of Capital Concessions, a pop-up food restaurant that serves great food in the greater Sacramento area.

As with all of reviews that I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.

Photo: Sunday, September 24, 2023, found me at the California Capital Airshow, held annually at Rancho Cordova, CA, located east of Sacramento. The airshow began back in 2004, and is now a mainstay at Mather Airfield, the former home of Mather Air Force Base.

Here we see a Lockheed Constellation, C-121-C "Bataan," which flew in for the airshow, and is among a handful of constellations still in the air.

I should mention, besides amazing displays of law enforcement, civilian and military aviation, along with a lot more... the California Capital Airshow is noted for great food, and is a paradise for "foodies."

Photo: I'm sitting at the controls of a KC-135 Stratotanker, in the co-pilot's seat. Gee... maybe one of these days I'll join the United States Air Force and learn to fly.

Photo: It's a little past 11:00 in the morning, Sunday, September 24, 2023, and it's time to enjoy lunch at the pop-up restaurant set up by Capital Concessions, at the 17th annual Sacramento Capital Airshow.

Photo: The main menu - but not the prices - is posted above the restaurant. "Pupusas Rigas," which is a Salvadoran corn cake, and a mainstay of the menu, is not listed on the main menu, but you'll see pupusas cooking on the griddle.

Photo: The amazingly friendly chef grills pupusas, along with a couple corn tortillas. The sauce above the grill is used for wings, which is a specialty of the restaurant. The outdoor grill, along with the well-stocked kitchen, was completely self contained, and actually, quite a large operation.

Photo: The sous chef, who was working the three deep fryers, throws a bag of fried into the fryer, and will work is magic. This gentleman was not only a talented chef, but a very friendly guy who knows how to deep fry to perfection.

Photo: For today's event, Capital Concessions set up a large kitchen, including three deep fryers, a griddle, along with a massive grill. The restaurant was self-contained, as the airport runway didn't offer much in facilities, except a level service to set up the restaurant.

Photo: Mr. Chef completes a "Philly Cheese Steak" Sandwich, as pupusas rest after grilling. Pupusas seemed to be a popular choice at today's event.

Photo: After an order is ready, the chef handed it off to the hostess/sous chef in the tent, ready to deliver to the take-out window. I was amazed at the efficiency of this restaurant, as under the "self-contained" conditions, the restaurant delivered orders to patrons in a timely manner.

Photo: Mr. Chef first seared the wings on the griddle, dipped them into the sauce, and grilled the wings until they were nearly ready to ser. When the wings were almost done, he dipped them into the sauce and grilled them to perfection. The final touch was to place the perfectly grilled and sauced wings onto fries, for a diner to enjoy.

Photo: The hostess/sous chef, works the grill and is putting the finishing touches on a order of pupusas. Note the condiment table to the left, which offered ketchup, soy sauce, barbecue sauce, mustard and Mexican hot sauce.

Photo: These folks can't seem to wait to enjoy the fine food they just ordered.

Photo: At this restaurant, you order at the window to your right, pay for it, and when your order is ready, the friendly hostess will present it to you at the left window. This young gentleman is getting his order from the friendly counter lady.

Photo: Two diners with their orders... This couple was typical of the friendly people who attend this event... good people who enjoy good times, aviation, and great food.

Photo: This lady is enjoying the condiment station, as she squeezes ketchup onto her order of "Chicken Strips and Fries." Note the pupusas on the grill, the extensive kitchen, and two of the three deep fryers in the background. Capital Concessions set an extensive restaurant for the 2023 California Capital Airshow, held annually since 2004 in Rancho Cordova, CA.

Photo: This friendly gentleman was taking orders, and he simply loved my photos, and "hammed up" for my camera. Such a great guy!

Photo: The friendly hostess, who doubled as a sous chef, clowns up for my camera. She, along with all of the super friendly staff enjoyed my photos.

Photo: My host, from the "take-out" window, hands me my amazing lunch with a smile. Like the rest of the staff, he was super friendly.

I asked this gentleman for a business card, so I could give their operation proper credits, along with a five-star review on Yelp, and he said they didn't have any, and gave me the name of "Capital Concessions."

After surfing the web, in preparation of this post, I came up empty. I regret they don't have a web or a social media presence, as I'd certainly love to publish a five-star review on Yelp.

Photo: I'm a happy guy, as I will be shortly be enjoying a lunch of "Catfish and Fries," prepared by the talented staff at Capital Concessions.

Photo: From the posted menu, I went with "Catfish and Fries," along with two small optional - for free - cups of tartar sauce.

The showpiece of this delicious lunch was four strips of catfish, marinated, battered and deep fried to a perfect, crunchy golden brown. The batter was crunchy and crispy, but the fish was white, tender, juicy and delicious. Gee... was I at a Louisiana bayou restaurant or at the California Capital Airshow? Besides being delicious, the portion size of the catfish was generous, as my early lunch kept me going until dinner.

The battered catfish strips were piled on a small mountain... most likely a "hill" of fries, which along with the catfish, made for a generous portion. The fries were medium cut, and were deep fried to a light golden brown perfection, and were similar to the fries you'd enjoy in your local mom and pop diner. Pretty standard fries, but they were exactly what I was looking forward to.

I requested, and I received, two cups of chilled tartar sauce at no extra charge, which made for excellent dipping of the catfish, and the fries.

Unlike many "event catering restaurants," my fries and my fish arrived hot, in about two minutes after I'd placed my order and paid for it. I suspect the restaurant had plates ready to go, but since the meal was delicious, it didn't matter to me.

The catfish and fries were simply delicious, the portions were generous, and the price was right. Outstanding!

My major regret is this operation doesn't seem to have a "name" nor does it have a presence on the web or social media. I would have loved to give them a five-star review on Yelp.

Photo: Strips of perfectly battered and deep fried catfish, along with some of the best fries to be enjoyed at the California Capital Airshow 2023, located in Rancho Cordova, CA, at Mather Airfield.

My lunch was simply amazing, as it wasn't the "air show" quality of food that you'd expect. Not only was the food amazing, but the staff was super friendly, and really enjoyed my digital camera. I truly wanted to give them a 5-star review and write-up on Yelp, but they seem to be in the "shadows" of the Internet, and social media in general. I truly regret that I couldn't get more information to give them the credit that they rightfully deserve.

Capital Concessions
Sacramento, CA