Here is the Bill of Fare for dinner at the Pacific Hotel in downtown Sacramento on April 8th, 1870, just 149 years ago. Prices are not given, other than for the wines and beers listed at the bottom.  Anything printed on the menu was regularly available, and what is written in were that day’s specials.  For instance, under “Boiled”, you could have ham, corned beef and cabbage, corned pork, or mutton with caper sauce. Or you could order “Pig’s Jowls with Green Cabbage.”

The menu is heavy on meat. Note the vegetables — a decent variety, but I doubt that tomatoes were actually available in April, since they were not in season.

The entrees sound good — “Beef Tongue with Pickle Sauce,” anyone? Bon appetit!