Midtown Sacramento restaurant and bar known for tattoos, late nights closes after 21 years

Ink Eats & Drinks has closed after 21 years in midtown Sacramento, according to a letter taped to the New American restaurant and bar’s door Tuesday.

Opened at 2730 N St. in 2003, Ink drew in an eclectic crowd of brunch groups, happy hour drinkers, hospitality industry employees and late-night revelers. Its name was a nod to tattoos, and walls were covered in drawings of eagles, dragons and other art that wouldn’t be out of place on a human body.

“It is with a heavy heart that we have closed our doors permanently. We cherish the times we have shared together and will forever be grateful for your patronage,” the letter read.

For years, Ink was one of Sacramento’s few places to grab a bite after last call around other midtown watering holes . People chowed down on calamari strips and nachos until 4 a.m., then a new wave of customers arrived at 9 a.m. for shrimp omelets and “Ink sunrises” (pineapple rum, orange juice, lime juice, mint and soda water).

Cooks and wait staff from other restaurants routinely stopped by Ink for post-work drinks, particularly on “Industry Night Sunday,” when $6 Jameson shots and $3 Pabst Blue Ribbon or Miller High Life flowed from 9 p.m. until midnight.

Some of the restaurants’ own staff weren’t happy, though. Three former employees separately filed Sacramento Superior Court lawsuits against Ink and a manager in September claiming wrongful termination. The plaintiffs’ suits also made allegations of sexual harassment, wage theft and discrimination based on sexual orientation, among other claims.

Ink was owned by Chris Nestor, who also backs House Kitchen & Bar on Capitol Mall, and Rick Lobley, a previous partner in Capital Dime and Ace of Spades.

Neither owner was immediately available for comment on the suits.