Mustard Seed

 InfoInfo MapMap
Search:    

The_Mustard_Seed.jpg

Location
222 D Street, near the Pence Gallery
Hours
Lunch: Monday-Friday 11:30am-2:00pm
Dinner: Monday-Saturday 5:30pm-8:30pm
Chef-Owners
Paul & Robyn Bergman
Established
~1985
Phone
(530)758-5750
Web site
[WWW]http://www.mustardseeddavis.com/

Mustard Seed is considered to be one of the upscale restaurants in Davis. They offer a seasonal menu, with something new every week, specializing in sustainable fresh fish, natural meats and local seasonal produce. They also offer house made desserts. You can wine and dine in their little cabin in the trees or outside on their garden patio. All of their wines are from California.

In business for almost 30 years, they offer catering for all occasions and are a UCDavis approved caterer. Individual dining rooms are available for private dining,
along with the entire restaurant for wedding receptions, anniversaries, and birthday parties.

Many of the reviews praise the food but criticize the slow service and the rude behavior of the owners towards their staff, making for an unpleasant dining experience overall.

Mustard Seed has been voted "Best Restaurant" in Davis by reader's polls in both The Davis Enterprise and Sacramento Magazine. Zagat Rated for food: 27 out of a possible 29.

They are proud members of:

Reservations can be made online at [WWW]http://www.opentable.com/ or [WWW]http://www.mustardseeddavis.com/.

Want to avoid trouble while eating and/or drinking here? Check out the Bar Taboos page before entering.

The location was once home to Mr. B's Branding Iron, an iconic Davis bar that existed during the town's early burgeoning years.

Comments:

Note: You must be logged in to add comments

Older Reviews

More Current Reviews

2008-01-30 13:31:40   I think the food here is some of the best in town. It's pricey, but when my husband and I want a nice dinner we know we will get the quality we expect, and thus the price is worth it. My one complaint is the manger. Like others, I have seen her yell at employees in front of patrons. I have seen it happen twice, and it is very unprofessional. I felt so bad for my server I gave her a little extra tip, especially since she really didn't do anything wrong. —AmLin

2008-02-21 16:55:24   As a frequent diner at the Mustard Seed, I will be the first to admit that the couple who owns and runs the restaurant does occasionally have a bad night; however, they are wonderfully kind and caring people despite the occasional inappropriate evening. They have always been exceptionally nice to me, and they know their stuff. The food, the wine, and the atmosphere is all them. It is obviously family owned and operated, and, although dysfunction sometimes stems from that, they also care about you and your experience so much more. They are highly invested, and, for the most part, they seek to give you the best experience possible. Also, the servers are great—I do not understand many of the reviews above. Their salads are delightful, the tomato bisque and puff pastry is superb. If you go at lunch during the fall/winter, get the penne pasta—it is outstanding! Always save room for dessert; it is the best in town! My favorites are the soufflé cake and the trio of profiteroles, but my boyfriend loves the bread pudding. Their lamb and duck dishes are wonderful in the evening next to the fire. If you are looking for romance, reserve the two top next to the fire; I saw a couple get engaged there once! I do feel though that they could stand to change their menu more often. Regardless, it is by far the best in town! —s.haraldson

2008-06-13 12:40:14   My Girlfriend and I were dining at Osteria Fasulo on a Tuesday night at about 7 pm a couple of weeks ago and had the great displeasure of sharing the interior room with the owners of the Mustard Seed. The patio was very full and there were only two servers on for the night, the one servicing us and the MS owners inside was called in that night after having to cancel a dinner date with his girlfriend in Sacramento. Because we were the only ones in the restaurant we could hear all of the very loud and crass words emanating from the table 10 feet from ours. Leonardo went and talked with them for awhile and the chef also conversed with them at length after serving them a custom dish. Before the chef came out they spared no criticism and after when discussing it with him called it perfect blah, blah, blah. The pinnacle of the evening however, came when our very polite and attentive server under the circumstances (12 tables between two overworked servers )delivered their bill. They complained that the chef told them the custom dish would be comped (we never heard that) and complained vehemently to have it removed. This is the antithesis of class (business at the seed not doing well). THEN, the woman had the audacity to say "service was very poor tonight, our appetizers took too long an what I tell my servers is if you are not waiting on us, we're waiting on you." The pace at a nice restaurant like Osteria ought to be relaxed and offer time to savor the dishes and have relaxing conversation (at a respectable volume) over some nice wine. I fell like the level of class and patience of these two is more suited to getting their Italian fix at Pasta. I have never seen someone treated like this at a restaurant where he was good and obviously operating under understaffed duress. Additionally it would be poor form for a server to interrupt conversations happening between a guest and the owner or chef so it was their false and pretentious yammering that prevented the timely delivery of the delicious mussel appetizer I enjoyed. If their behavior and other comments on this page are any indication i would avoid their restaurant as they managed to create a dour atmosphere in a restaurant that they were only dining in as opposed to operating. -Jonathan Nasca —JJNasca

2008-06-26 21:33:21   The food here is expensive but good, and it's true the service is slow but I haven't experienced anything else too negative (yet). If a $25 dinner entree isn't in your budget but you still want to enjoy some good food, come for the sandwiches at lunch. They're still a little pricey ($10) but are worth it, and I really enjoyed sitting out on the patio. Their stand at the Farmers Market on Wednesday nights is good too. —SRB

2008-10-14 10:59:49   Came here for lunch last Friday with "my partner". It was fantastic! Service was prompt and courteous. I had the tuna while he ordered the roast beef sandwich (I think). The food was tasty and the atmosphere was really nice. Although, I do feel like I didn't get the full experience since the owner didn't verbally abuse us. Maybe next time. —CurlyGirl26

2008-10-14 18:03:04   Yes, I agree, that the woman in the front, who believes she knows how to run a "Fine Dining Establishment," is ridiculous, rude, and very unprofessional. Just the tone in her voice is very condescending, and if you even look like you're not good enough for the restaurant, she asks you why you're there and turns her nose up if you don't "look" like the "right" customer. One piece of advice for you lady...it is not appropriate for a person to be able to see your stomach skin through the holes in your shirt in a "fine dining establishment." This is one place in Davis you WILL get discriminated against. —Penelope

2008-11-16 20:20:40   i completely agree with other posts; the owner is autocratic abrasive and rude, walks around with this chip on her shoulder frantically ordering the staff around and most of the patrons notice. the food is OK- some dishes are better than others they know how to sear a fillet of halibut and for lunch their salads are decent but it's frankly not worth the money. To commit yourself to a place in the $30 entree and $10 appetizers (and $18 corkage fee) territory with dismissive or at least overstretched staff to dine in a cramped and poorly decorated atmosphere is pretty absurd. —Chrissapher

2009-02-02 22:30:37   I was sitting on the Cloud Forest patio today for a late lunch when the owners of Mustard Seed pulled up. They spent the next ten minutes screaming at each other over the poorly swept front porch. She was screaming about how she tells 'them' all the time to keep the front well swept because it gives off a bad impression. I think her screaming for 10 minutes out front gives off a bad impression. Awkward. —CharlieMurphy

2009-03-03 20:38:12   I have to agree with many other reviewers. The lady at the front is incredibly rude. I was applying to be a busser or server, and as I was turning in my application she belittles me and starts to interigate me about my application without looking at it. Honestly she doesn't know how to run a restaurant or how to behave in the romantic atmosphere they are trying to create. Please don't waste your money here and go to Cafe Italia, or Pasta? instead. If felt i would have someday eaten there if she hadn't been so inappropriate with her behavior. —Marina

2009-03-10 12:49:10   I had dinner here last week, and had an absolutely delightful experience! Not only was the food excellent (I had the tomato bisque and a Caesar salad), but the service was exemplary. The gentleman who served me was a middle-aged man (who may well have been the owner, I don't know), who was extremely conversational and friendly. I have eaten here before, and will definitely again. I highly recommend The Mustard See —NaBarry

2009-03-30 14:09:04   This is by far the best restaurant in town. They deserve all the great press thre receiving. That said, I cant believe most of the stuff Im reading here! These are not reviews, but personal attacks. Ive been aregular for over 10 years and have never witnessed anything remotely close. The staff loves Robyn and Paul, they treat them like there own kids. If you must criticise please keep it constructve. I just cant imagine what promted any of this except maybe the competition is trying to ruin thier businees. Dont believe most of what you read here. Its exageration way beyond bellief! —janetpeabody

2009-05-28 21:04:52   MUSTARD SEED HAS THE WORST SERVICE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. you will get treated better if you go to McDonald's. It doesn't matter how good the food is, if the waitress is rude and doesn't even bring you water for the first 30 minutes. Even on an anniversary, they were so rude. This restaurant is a joke and I hope they get a new staff and management immediately if they want to stay in business. —plackbenis

2009-07-09 16:01:54   anyone who regularly reads comments on daviswiki can tell when the owner or some other worker is posting positive or defensive reviews of the business/restaurant. the food is very good though. but the clientele is generally older crowd. —boing3887

* I have to wonder about the age of the folks commenting on this page and the broad range of reviews. As mentioned by boing3887, the Mustard Seed crowd is mostly older. In my experiences at this establishment, besides the servers being treated badly, I felt I was also looked down upon. As a specific example, I walked in just after 5pm on a weeknight without a reservation and the restaurant was nearly empty. The owner flat out ignored my husband and I for a few minutes and then was uphauled to hear we didn't have a reservation. She made us feel like she did us a huge favor by "squeezing us in". Needless to say, when we were done with dinner, the restuarant was still empty, so I think there was plenty of room and no need for her attitude. Multiple times I 've felt very looked down upon (only by the woman) I have to assume because I am young and may look like a college student. This is unfortunate for a few reasons. First, I was a college student in Davis, love the town, and decided to settle down in the area and start my career. Now that I can afford nice dinners more often, The Mustard Seed is no longer on my list of places to go for a nice evening. Second, there are plenty of college students in town who will go to a nice restaurant for a date or a special occasion, so don't ostricize half the town! —AmLin

2009-07-09 16:20:08   I think I'd like to add my two cents to the conversation. I've discussed this restaurant with many of my clients over the years, and we all agree. The food and ambiance of the Mustard Seed is awesome. This place will never receive our business, however, until the female owner stops yelling at her staff. I've been here several times, and EVERY time we leave thinking she must go through new servers constantly. We listen to her yell, and leave unhappy. That should be taken as "advice" from a business owner, not "complaints". —Davidlm

2009-08-12 16:56:52   We have worked with Paul and Robyn on different occasions and have found them to be committed and hard-working. For two years, we have hosted a party for colleagues in our home for over 100 people, catered by the Mustard Seed. Both Paul and Robyn showed up early in the morning, set up the dining area, provided some upbeat morning humor, and came back later only to wow the crowd with their delicious cuisine. Paul manages to keep a sense of humor all the while tending to the oven, the stove, his employees, the party guests, the dog in his way, informing us when said dog has escaped, and keeping the serving dishes flowing. When the party is over, Paul and his staff wrap the leftovers, place them in the fridge, CLEAN UP AFTER THEMSELVES, and give a cheery "Goodnight." He has even received an ovation from the crowd. We have also taken a group of 14 to the restaurant and each guest raved about their food. I especially appreciate working with Robyn because I appreciate her work ethic and her passion for her business. We've also enjoyed delicious lunches and dinners in the restaurant with our good friends and family. We find it the perfect atmosphere for celebrating with those most important to us. —MrsC

2009-11-30 18:53:32   Sadly, I must echo other reviewers who have mentioned that the owners here, especially the woman, are abusive to their staff and SCARY. (words that come to mind: bile, vitriol, etc) You see, I had the misfortune of living directly behind The Mustard Seed at one point. As in, I walked out my front door and had to walk by their back seating area to go to my car. On numerous occasions I ambled out of my apartment to hear the owners screaming at staff members about all sort of ridiculous things such as setting tables 5 minutes late or forgetting to place a napkin at a table. I even once heard a staff member apologizing and saying it would not happen again and BOTH owners continued to berate him for about 10 minutes over something SO trivial that he apologized for! I honestly had to stay around and listen because I was so floored by what I was hearing — I certainly have never been treated this way by even my worst boss, and could not believe this employee didn't walk off the job. Their food is tasty but it is nothing special, and I feel compelled to boycott simply because I have such negative associations based on what I have witnessed as their neighbor. —soledad101

2010-01-21 13:11:27   While the food is good and the atmosphere is romantic, the service at The Mustard Seed is the antithesis of class. The owners, "charming" couple Robyn and Paul, run the show and you can tell. They are constantly verbally abusing the staff in FRONT of the customers or behind the kitchen door, which doesn't make a difference because the shrill of that woman's voice carries across the entire restaurant. I saw the hostess once crying in the front room while forced to fold napkins during a busy dinner shift. It doesn't matter to them how they treat their employees, however because it is a college town and they can easily find a replacement. They aren't just rude to the employees, if you're not a personal friend of the owners, you are at the bottom of their priorities. I'm surprised that someone has not called the Better Business Bureau yet. They are usually understaffed, so Robyn takes on the responsibility of being both the hostess, waitress and busser. Yet, due to the overwhelming amount of some busy nights and lack of staff, customers are not walking into a restaurant to be served yet the idea is that she is there to serve you whenever she has the time. Friends once tried to dine there and waited a total of 2 hours before asking for their food to go because they could not wait any longer.
The worst part is that the location and space is wonderful and could have the potential of being a hot spot in Davis, but for the price you're paying to support a "mom and pop" business, I'd rather put my money toward people who had some sense of social decorum. —GoAggies22

2010-02-19 21:44:11   I ate here for my Godfather's birthday along with my mother on a Friday night. I made my reservation online earlier in the day and everything worked out smoothly. The first thing we all noticed was that while the restaurant looks like nothing on the outside, the inside feels very cozy. The low ceiling, wine cabinets, and fireplace really make you feel at home. We were waited by the owners of the restaurant, who, judging by the other comments I see here, were having a good day. Service was fine for me.

We started our meal with an order of crab cakes, French onion soup, and caesar salad. All three were delicious. The soup in particular was probably the best I've had of its kind; the cheese was not as thick as some other places make it, but was nevertheless delicious; the soup itself is herby and very tasty. The crab cakes were cooked perfectly, with just enough crisp on the outside, and enough crab density on the inside to make a hearty bite. The caesar dressing was creamy and the leaves themselves were fresh and crunchy. The bread was served with garlic butter and, as usual, came from Village Bakery but also warmed up; in other words, delicious.

For entrees, we had the duck, the short rib penne, and the gnocchi. All three were incredible. In particular I liked the mushrooms they added to the pasta; they had the taste of "wild" shrooms but were also cooked in butter. The gnocchi were firm and delicious, the duck cooked just right. The greatness tapered off a little with the dessert; the creme brulee was great, but the apple tart and lemon cake were not as great as the other meals (but still awesome).

While everything tasted great, what struck me the most about the food here was that everything was cooked perfectly. Nothing was overcooked or undercooked; every dish had a good bite to it; perfect texture. This was especially true with the gnocchi and the crab cakes. Overall, I'd say this was one of my better dining experiences in Davis. —BrandonWong

2010-03-05 10:22:18   The Mustard Seed is truly a delight! I try to go there for lunch as often as I can. The food is always prepared beautifully. The atmosphere is calming and homey. I think their prices are very reasonable. Especially for the quality of the food which is consistently awesome. —ashleyinthemist

2010-03-21 18:16:47   I have been wanting to come dine at the Mustard Seed since I moved to Davis 5 years ago, but never had the occasion to do so. But on my first wedding anniversary, my husband and I celebrated here - HUGE letdown. After reading the reviews, I expected maybe some mean/weird/argumentative owners and some excellent food. What we got was mediocre service, and mediocre/uninspired food, which was overpriced. The service: without going into specifics, our server never cracked a smile. She said all the appropriate things a server should but with no authenticity - just running through the motions. Food service overall was also slow. The food: salads were good, but on the order of what I make at home. Crapcake appetizer was lukewarm but yummy. The biggest problem is that it was paired with the wrong sauce, like a wonton sauce - gross. Our meat entrees were good overall, but the sides were either over/underseasoned and overcooked. Wine by the glass (the zin) was also mediocre. Dessert: chocolate/butterscotch pot du creme, was just ok. Again it was a pairing issue, as the type of chocolate actually didn't work well with the butterscotch at all. Now I don't mind shelling $ out for good food - but this was not worth it. $150 spent on a mediocre meal and service. I will never go back. —lemurific

2010-04-07 17:16:15   The owners of this place are complete and utter psychotics. They are off the wall. I saw them fire a server right after she was told she was the best server in town by a table! —dasheeit

2010-05-27 12:34:20   I don't think the owners realize that guests can hear them yelling at staff in the kitchen. I also get frustrated when I am asked if I have a reservation every time I am there and the place is empty. That said, the food is very good and the setting is terrific. Service can be slow sometimes. —stodd84

2010-07-07 20:12:58   Like everyone else has already said: the food and the feel of the place is great. This, however, does not make up for the awful service you will receive here.

My family and I went here during graduation weekend, had a reservation, and was one of the first dining parties to arrive for dinner that night. An older lady, who I assume was the owner, took our order. And I wont go so far as to say that she was outright rude, but like someone else said, you get better service at McDonalds. This woman did NOT smile once, did not ask how our night was, did not bother to make ANY conversation other than what we wanted. I'm usually fine with this type of service (hey, its quick and to the point right?), but if you, like me, think that FINE dining is more than just summary execution of your order, then find somewhere else to go.

We were there for probably a good two hours, and after our initial food order, they never once came back to ask how everything was or if we needed more drinks. As such, we all finished our wine/soda/whatever, before the food actually arrived (hey, it was a hot Davis night!), and despite flagging down every waitress that walked by for a good 15 minutes, it was not until one of us actually GOT UP and went into the little exposed kitchen area that we managed to get our drinks refilled. Absurd!

2010-07-30 16:24:51   THEY DENIED SERVICES TO ME AND MY HUSBAND!!!!!! because they didn't fit my stroller!!!!! half of the restaurant was empty and the manager, cook or owner didn't even want to come out to apologize for the stupid waitress's rudeness!!! —alineSanchez

2010-09-17 11:00:12   If you are looking for great service with a smile and maybe even personality, perhaps this is not the place for you. I go there for the food. It is wonderful. I agree the wait staff is typically unfriendly. Davis is a small town with just so many really good restaurants and I will take a place with a real Chef that prepares terrific food using local, fresh, well prepared food without all the bells and whistles, over some of the others in town with great service and terrible food any day! —ashleyinthemist

2010-09-24 09:00:06   I don't normally do "upscale" dining, but my mom was visiting from out of town and wanted to give it a try (this was on 9/17/2010). We were disappointed. The waiter was over-eager and annoying. The duck was dry and the sauce was runny (definitely not worth $25). Then they overcharged my mom's credit card and when she called to complain, they told her there was nothing they could do. —karusso

2010-09-24 20:44:03   The Mustard Seed is probably the best restaurant in town. Its quaint decor, beautiful patio and wonderful service make it very special. The food is fantastic! I truly have no criticism. Kudos! —toriac

2010-10-27 01:28:08   This is my favorite place for lunch. Unfortunately, they eliminated my favorite dish, the duck salad, from the menu. No, ordinary chicken will not do for me. The Almond Tuna salad is nice too but I still hope they put the duck salad back on the menu. —bcschipper

2010-12-20 16:57:15   Admittedly, I've been rough on Mustard Seed for the service over the years. I'm one of those Townies that goes back to the days when they were a counter in Court N' Cedar. Anyway, after boycotting the restaurant due to service for the last 1.5 years or so, we finally returned for my birthday on Saturday night. The food was outstanding (duck and lamb), at pace with Tucos, as the two best restaurants in Davis. The service was noticeably better, albeit the fact that we were put on a 45-minute dinner pace even as the second seating on a moderately busy Saturday. The only, but significant, disappointment in the evening came toward the end when Robyn engaged in a conversation across the room in a booming voice proclaiming that she and Paul moved to Sacramento because Davis is awful unless you're a parent taking advantage of the schools or a university student. For those of us that pay high taxes to support the community, live on the same street as the restaurant, and fit neither of the categories, why didn't she just spit in our food? Seriously...nothing has changed...I LOVE the food, but am just scared about showing up, savoring every dish, happily spending $200, only to be verbally slapped in the face. —ScottLay

Robyn & Paul,
I don't care what Scott said or did to you. You guys are stuck up morons for writing such a condescending message to someone in a public forum. It makes you look like terrible people, which makes me never want to patronize your restaurant again, not even at the farmers market.
Pesocrates

2011-02-23 10:00:19   Oh my!! This may belong on a Mustard Seed/Talk page, but it's so funny this post should appear. After a LONG break, my husband and I thought about returning to Mustard Seed recently. I can say with 100% confidence that we will not in light of this very post. Many Davis business owners make tasteful replies to poor reviews, with an honest attempt to repair any damagage to their image, but this is certainly not one. I've joked about getting the Mustard Seed owners together with the owners of Raja's so perhaps some of their grace and hospitality will rub off. But really, it's a shame that I know a number of Davis folks who have really enjoyed the food at Mustard Seed, but cannot continue to support them based on what they've seen first person and read in reviews. Bummer. —AmLin

2011-03-03 13:57:55   Hate this place. Tried it a few times, and I will never go back. Food was alright, nothing you can't find elsewhere. And holy crap, the owner is probably one of the nastiest people I have ever encountered in my life. —septemberain

2011-03-17 20:57:20   Wow. I was just looking for a nice place to eat with my boyfriend tomorrow and I thought the menu for this place looked good (very decent prices for lunch). However, after reading the reviews, I am wary. The response from the owners pushed me over the edge. There's no way I'm going to frequent this place. Please think about how you present yourself to your customers. Your rude, abrasive, and frankly, crazy sounding response to that man's comment was completely off-putting. From these reviews, I know I'm not the only person who's probably too scared to give this place a shot based on other diners' impressions of the owners. Service makes a restaurant, and there are places in Davis I can go to where I know I won't have to listen to the owners screaming at the wait staff, or deal with them harassing me when I leave a comment about the service.

I live in an apartment complex so I may have the same IP address as someone else (I don't know how that stuff works). So, not a sock puppet, just fyi. —AbigaleMoody

2011-03-28 21:31:03   We were initially afraid to try the Mustard Seed after some of the comments. We had a very nice experience and meal. Wait staff was friendly and helpful. The food and wine were superb (especially the French Onion Soup and Pork Chop). —drdustin

2011-04-12 20:22:23   I just heard about this place today when they catered an event in the building I work at on campus. There were some extra sandwiches that they offered to us students, so I brought one home since it looked so delicious. Needless to say, I just ate it for dinner and it was just as amazing as it looked. Partway through one half of the sandwich though (a portobello mushroom one) I started chewing something VERY tough and realized it was paper (like from a paper wrapper) that was stuck in the sandwich. I thought that it was maybe something that just happens sometimes, but I don't know after reading this page. I was really excited to try this place (especially about maybe taking a date here) but after reading the reviews, knowing they hate students, and finding paper in my food, I can guarantee that I will NEVER visit this place. Too bad though, the food was really, really good. (consider them only for catering) —ElizabethWood

2011-04-17 16:36:51   So basically like every other review—the food is GREAT! Maybe the best chicken caesar salad I have ever had and have never been disappointed with an entree. HOWEVER, my family have boycotted the place for the last few years based on the numerous experiences with the outright mean lady owner. After about the third "incident" we had enough and will never go back. This is not counting all the times she publicly screams at her employees for trivial mistakes. It's a shame because she is costing the place thousands and thousands of dollars... —mark333

2011-05-05 21:48:29   The food is good here. It's the only fancy place in town. Probably best for when having your parents come to town. —bobobb

2011-06-22 14:51:22   I love the Mustard Seed. The food is very nice. The service has always been good for me. Thankfully I have not had some of the issues I have read about here. I have lived here for years and I love Davis, but the amount of good restaurants are limited. I guess I am not as sensitive as some of you are. If the food is great, but I read some bad reviews someone else wrote of their experience, I would not stop going to or not try out a restaurant because of others experiences. —ashleyinthemist

2011-07-05 17:50:14   I had a delicious Salad to day for lunch. The service was impeccable. —Sherri

2011-07-12 16:41:06   You know, I love the food and ambience of the Mustard Seed. But, I am one of those that had servers cry on me on three different occassions. Granted that was almost two years ago because I haven't been back since. Maybe it has changed and I should give it another try in hopes that the care of the employees has changed. —LokiAbbi

2011-07-27 18:28:40   Nope, nothing has changed, nothing will change. I've had interactions with the management of this place on a couple of occasions, and won't be going back. My review at Yelp says it all. —JaneyLamont

2011-10-02 18:54:23   My wife and I went to Mustard Seed for the first time the other night. It was a very nice experience. The food was all pretty good. We shared the goat cheese frisse salad with the warm bacon dressing, which was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend it. For entrees, I had the prawns with sundried tomato and spinach risotto. For an upscale restaurant, I'd say it wasn't amazing. The dish was a bit underseasoned, and the prawns (which were huge) were a little bit undercooked. The texture of the risotto was fantastic, but it could've used a little more salt, pepper, and a stronger cheese or two melted in. The sundried tomatoes were the highlight of the dish; a few more of them might have been nice. Bekka had the duck dish with the huckleberry sauce and pureed sweet potatoes. Yum. The duck was very nicely cooked, and the huckleberry sauce was excellent. The veggies with it weren't all that exciting, but they were tasty enough—except for the puree, which was absolutely delicious.

Service was alright, not amazing. Everyone was very friendly, but it was a bit slow—from getting our bread (which comes with delicious olives) to food to getting the check to getting a new knife after the appetizer. The wine list was also a little sparse if you just want a glass.

We used a groupon, which made it very reasonably priced. In terms of overall value, I'd say I slightly prefer Seasons, and there are some better options in Sacramento, but I don't regret going, and I suspect I'll be back again. If you wan't a nice place for a date that's a bit cheaper than Osteria and you're Seasons'd out, it's worth a visit. —TomGarberson

2012-04-06 20:05:03   Just had dinner tonight with my wife and daughter. Food, wine and service were all very good. Our waitperson was, I believe, Robyn; she was quite gracious and attentive.

Lots of horror stories in these comments, but our experience was quite the opposite. I've dined here a few times over the last decade or so and have always had a pleasant meal. Reccomended. —PaulThober

2012-05-05 02:36:51   My parents and I came here recently during picnic day weekend. We were really impressed with our dishes. It compares to the fine dining that is usually available in the Bay Area. —AndreaA

This is a Wiki Spot wiki. Wiki Spot is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that helps communities collaborate via wikis.