Sacramento restaurant suggestions?

Going to be in Sacramento for a couple days at end of July. Unsure if we'll have time for an evening out without Betsy's (non-foodie) parents, but like to be prepared. We really like Biba's, but probably want to try something new. We've been to 55 Degrees (ok) and Rio Cafe (wouldn't go back). The Kitchen and the Waterboy were suggested before -are those still good choices? We're open to almost any type of food, and price ranges (OK, maybe not $200/pp tasting menus). The one thing that probably is a deal breaker is extreme noise. We will have seen little of each other for 2+ weeks, and I don't like shouting.

We'll go from there to Laguna. We usually take the coast route, or a combination of 101 and 1, but will probably do the Central Valley this time. Any suggestions of good food along I-5 appreciated (otherwise we'll just find an In'n'Out). Laguna ideas welcome, too.

There is a good chance that Betsy might have "girl's night" with her elderly aunt (giving her cousin a night off), if so I might post on Offline forum to see if there is anyone in Sac area who might want to do something that night.

Hello,

I've gone to an annual conference for work the past several years in Sacramento. We've had great dinners these past two years at Il Fornaio, an upscale Italian restaurant on the Capitol Mall. They have a nice selection of Italian wines, and I enjoyed my first Amarone (Cesari) there last year. This year, we shared a magnum of Caymus Cabernet. Since it was very young (2005), the waiter nicely offered to decant it for us. It tasted divine. (and luckily I did not have to pay for it!)

We've also enjoyed a couple of diners at California Fats, an Asian fusion restaurant in old town. I particularly like their honey walnut shrimp dish. This year, we shared a bottle of Cakebread Cabernet and Ferrari-Carano Reserve Chardonnay there.

The Kitchen and the Waterboy were suggested before -are those still good choices?

It's been a couple of years for me but Waterboy has always been a good bet and there's been no change in chef/owner (Rick Mahan) AFAIK. They make excellent use of quality seasonal produce and the place is very wine-friendly and has been (at least as of a few years back) the favored destination in Sacramento for winery types from the Sierra foothills. Maybe somebody else can give you more current info but I have no reason to think things have changed. Both menu and wine list are on the restaurant's website, easily Google-able with "Waterboy Sacramento" if you're interested.

thanks to both of you!

Geez, how did I miss this?

Waterboy is definitely still one of the best places in town. Good ambiance and great Mediterranean-inspired food with a very reasonable wine list.

Haven't been the The Kitchen in many years, but it still gets very good reviews. Not an intimate place - more like a busy-dinner-party atmosphere. Very interesting and locally sourced food, though.

A couple of other possibilities would include Mulvaney's (our current favorite, although the noise factor indoors might be too much and in July, sitting outdoors can be oven-like). Ella is a less theatrical restaurant from the same people that brought us The Kitchen. By all accounts, it's stellar. I haven't been there yet.

Haven't been out much in Laguna, so I don't know the area well. If you do come up I-5 as far as Hwy 50 and are looking for an informal place with great food, try Jamie's at 5th and Broadway. Very good bar (although not very wine-oriented), the best club sandwich I've ever had, and specials that run from smoked ribeye to very fresh fish to house cured corned beef. Don't let the bison head on the wall fool you - Jamie knows food.

And of course, let me know if you end up free for an offline.

Haven't been out much in Laguna, so I don't know the area well. If you do come up I-5 as far as Hwy 50

Mike, from the context in what you and Dale have written, I think when Dale says "Laguna", he's probably talking about Laguna Beach, not Laguna the Sacramento neighborhood! Dale, as far as good food along I-5 is concerned, that's going to be a challenge. You should understand that when the San Joaquin Valley portion of I-5 was built, it didn't follow the path of an older road but instead traversed mostly unpopulated territory. When it finds a town, it's just by chance. I can still remember the sign they posted on the newly opened freeway from a family trip to LA (mid 60's?). Something like "Next Services 170 miles". Oil companies stationed tanker trucks full of gasoline at freeway interchanges for those who didn't start with a full tank. Otherwise, there were no businesses of any kind on that stretch. Of course, that's changed but what you've got now is truck stops and freeway exits lined with all the standard fast food chains. In other words, the best eating along I-5 might be a Quizno's somewhere. But maybe somebody will recommend good Mexican in Kettleman City or something like that, Kettleman City being an example of one of the very few human habitations I-5 accidentally found.

You're right, Mark. I saw "I-5" and "Laguna" and jumped to a conclusion.

I'd agree regarding food on I-5.

oops, sorry for confusion, yes I meant we were driving down I-5 to LA then Laguna Beach. We typically just pack a good lunch, and hit a rest stop. We'll do that (though I do find In'n'Out more acceptable than any East Coast fast food, I can be convinced to stop).

Thanks for Sacramento suggestions. Will post if it looks like there's a free night, know that summers can be hard.

You gotta try this place!

http://www.firehouseoldsac.com/

I have to say I had the best filet mignon I have ever had in my life here.

This is a perfect place to go without small children. DH and I had a very romantic dinner.

Tina

Tina,
thanks for the suggestion. I'll file for next time.
Now it looks like Betsy will be with her aunt one night (I posted a note in offline section if anyone is interested in dinner Tues 7/29), and we're having dinner at home with her parents the other. We'll do our romantic dinner in Laguna.
But......Saveur's latest issue is the Road Trip edition, and one road trip is Californian Asian. Part is devoted to Stockton Boulevard in Sacramento. Features the Vinh Phat market, but also a couple of restaurants - Pho Bac Hoa Viet and the New Paris Bakery and Cafe. Will try for lunch at one (and welcome any comments on relative quality).

Tina,
thanks for the suggestion. I'll file for next time.
Now it looks like Betsy will be with her aunt one night (I posted a note in offline section if anyone is interested in dinner Tues 7/29), and we're having dinner at home with her parents the other. We'll do our romantic dinner in Laguna.
But......Saveur's latest issue is the Road Trip edition, and one road trip is Californian Asian. Part is devoted to Stockton Boulevard in Sacramento. Features the Vinh Phat market, but also a couple of restaurants - Pho Bac Hoa Viet and the New Paris Bakery and Cafe. Will try for lunch at one (and welcome any comments on relative quality).

Haven't seen that issue yet, Dale, but Stockton Blvd does indeed have a high concentration of ethnic restaurants and markets. I haven't been to the Pho Bac Hoa Viet there but there's another of their restaurants just down the street from my house. I'm no expert on pho, but what I've had there has been excellent.

My dinner out ended up being an offline at a home, but we did have lunch at the Pho Bac Hoa Viet at 6645 Stockton Blvd. I highly recommend it. The "small" bowl ($5-7) of pho is pretty damn huge, easily enough for my lunch. I got the combination (I like offal!) which included tripe, tendon, brisket, and meatball, Betsy got the flank steak. We also shared the salt pepper green beans (fried with a little rice flour and peppers, then seasoned) which was fantastic. We had started with shrimp summer rolls, which were well done but fairly standard.