Even before we arrived, the service was above excellent. We were running late and they had no issues moving our reservation back. Once we got there, we were informed by the hostess that there would be a 40 minute wait to eat outside, but we could have appetizers and drinks at the outside bar. On a Friday night at a popular restaurant, I generally expected this for the good seating so I was fine with that. Luckily our wait only lasted 10 minutes, and we were quickly moved. We were hesitant with the Entertainment Guide card and if they would accept it (my paranoia taking full effect), but the manager was more than happy to put my fears at ease. Props: so far this place was 10 for 10. Our waitress, Naomi, was phenomenal. She was knowledgeable about the dishes, and offered excellent suggestions, refills magically appeared and she was on hand when needed. Make that 11 for 10: I highly suggest you ask for her.

Back a bit, the reason we wanted to sit outside was for Paragary’s now famous patio seating. Traditional Italian design with very Napa architectural accents truly create an excellent atmosphere. The lush ivy, well lit trees, and calming fountains truly create a calming effect perfect for the dining experience.

The appetizer list was, in my opinion, the most decadent section on the menu. My heart almost stopped as I read my appetizer choice. A plate with a ball of warmed herb goat cheese rolled in pistachios, surrounded by roasted peaches, crostini, and the whole plate drizzled with a red wine syrup arrived before us. The cheese and pistachios, mixed with the syrup, adorned on the peaches created this fan-f’ing-tastic sweet velvet flavor, with the syrup giving it a feral little bite. On the crostini, one could adore and gush over the herbed cheese and soft resistant crunch of the pistachios. True amazement. Snaps to the chef for this little dish.

Rob and I both had the same plate, a scene I try to avoid, but why betray your own taste for the sake of the blog? It would be a betrayal to us both if I ordered something I felt was a second-hand demo of the kitchen’s talents just for the sake of another dish. Anyway, we both had the handcut rosemary noodles with seared chicken, pancetta, artichokes, leeks, and garlic. Now, I’m not a fan of Italian (or European-style cuisine, to be more general) but this was damn good. The rosemary was visible, the taste surprising you with a verdant afterglow. Images of grass fields and lush Italian forests appeared in my mind. The play with the small cut artichokes and leeks had a warming effect, like a small little mama mia was dicing them up herself. The pancetta and garlic was thankfully chopped finely, allowing little fireworks of flavor to explode in my mouth. My eyes were rolling in the back of my head from this.

As I have said before, I’m not the biggest fan of European cooking styles, but Paragary’s went above and beyond. The biggest plus? The price. Even without our card, the price was more than reasonable for the level of service, atmosphere, presentation, and taste presented. Bene!

That’s what I found at Moshi Moshi.  Sure, there are great places in Sacramento like Mikuni’s and Dragonfly, but let’s be honest, the sushi selection in Dixon, Woodland, and Davis is just paltry. Moshi Moshi truly quenches one’s thirst in a sushiless desert.

They can be pretty packed, and they may ask you for reservations so you may want to call ahead and make them. If you get there a bit early though I wouldn’t worry. I’ve never been turned away, even when I showed up with four co-workers all without reservations.

We were all wet and cold that day, and were happy with the prospect of bowls of well prepared miso soup and shibby individual pots of green tea, all coming in at $1 each. For an astoundingly cheap price, we were all able to cut the cold right out of us. The brown rice green tea is hit and miss, so you may like it, you may not.

The sushi is varied and innovative, and while time honored staples are present (spider rolls, California rolls, veggie rolls, and so on), a plethora of vivaciously colored and supremely prepared dishes are available. I myself had a spicy tuna roll, known there as the Zero Roll. Big pieces of extremely fresh tuna were rolled with cucumber and topped with paper-thin fillets of avocado. It was all generously served with a potent chili sauce that pointedly delivered blazing spice but not heat; a balance very few restaurants seem to be able to meet.

The sashimi was apparently to die for. My friend Cara seemed to be soley entranced with each bite and had to be roused out of a trance so we could gather her opinion. “Wonderful,” was her only response before she would delve into the next pink jewel of fish. As an avid sushi fanatic, this approval is golden.

My friend David had ordered the Green Dragon Roll, a decadently sweet unagi based roll. The unagi (eel) had been tempura fried, and while I myself can be picky with it, this was melt in your mouth good. Rich, sweet, and just a little bit salty, it almost felt like this roll could qualify as a dessert. The mix of textures from the buttery avocado, delicious give of the rice, and the crunchy soft and slightly oily taste of unagi, decadent sauce and pops of seasame all created a gustatory image that trasnported you to teahouse in Kyoto.

Bento box lunch specials are pleasing as well. For about $7 you score a mixed green salad with a pepper vinaigrette, rice, huge helping of your main dish liek teriyaki chicken, and a small 6 piece sushi roll. The portions are filling and leave you pleasantly satiated. Sushi detractors will be happy here as well, as there is enough on the menu to please anyone with an avarice towards raw fish, so feel free to drag them along.

With all sushi freshly prepared, and with such attention to intricate details, you may have a small wait. Nothing horrid, but you may wonder if the chef fell down and broke a hip or something. Luckily the staff is very approachable so feel free to ask any questions about your order, or if you have yet to order they’ll happily guide you through the menu. There’s even a board with the most popular menu items, specials, and new menu items to help guide you through your choice.

Overall, Moshi Moshi is, in my opinion, the only place to eat sushi in Davis. They have a new loyal customer as will they with everyone who sits down to a warm bowl of miso.

Update: I still visit this place almost once a week. Still fabulous. Service is friendly and fun. They recently updated some of their rolls as well it seems, so go check it out.

Moshi Moshi
2120 Cowell Blvd.
Ste. 143
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 758-8889

The first time I went to Bistro 33 in Davis, Cali., it was for a business lunch. It had only opened about two weeks earlier. I had this amazing sandwich with turkey, herb mayo, pears, smoked cheese; oh, it was heaven between two slices of bread. I intended to head back ever since, and with my friend in town we finally had the chance, 18 months later.

I have a friend who is a chef there. He had been slowly telling me of his desire to leave. That the kitchen wasn’t always stocked, the other chefs were shady and untrustworthy, that the quality was screaming downhill. Yet, I did not listen. That sandwich still controlled my appetite and drove my desire.

Oh, how wrong I was.

Let me begin by saying that the decor of this place is out of sight. I love it. It’s contemporary, whimsical, and edgy. Shimmering tile work, and wrought iron fire place and live music outside, strung white lights, and pillars of flames at the bar. Genius.

Speaking of the bar, the bartenders are talented, and made a classy combo of blueberry Stoli, Pom, and Sprite for me. Shibby indeed. However, after about 10 minutes of trying to pay, I thought I was gonna have to club him over the damn head with a glass for him to take my bill. I mean Jesus, a bartender not going for the bill and tip? Isn’t that a sign of the apocalypse or something?

But why were we trying to leave the bar and get outside so we could wait for our table? The inside was loud. As in you can’t hear anything, and I wish I had Advil on me at the time. It was louder and more obnoxious than your nephew’s fifth grade performance of a John Phillip Sousa march. After going outside to enjoy our drinks, we were paged and seated. Next to the bar. Perfect. The waitress even had to yell so we could hear her.

The food? Barely worth mentioning really. It was just disappointing and bad. I know people are raving about Bistro 33 Midtown in Sac, but Bistro 33 needs an overhaul. My friend’s French onion soup was just oily water with onions. I make way better French onion soup than this swill. No thyme, no garlic, and I am pretty sure there was no salt or vermouth in it at all. I mean, the hell?

I ordered the special of red snapper in ancho butter sauce with pear chutney, green beans, and couscous with lemon and herbs. Wow, this was just… *sigh* I didn’t even want to eat it. The fish was good, but there was no pear chutney. It did not exist on my plate. The green beans were nothing special. It was pan seared a bit in olive oil with salt, and pepper. Nothing I couldn’t make at home. The couscous was bland and tasteless. No wait, it tasted like water. Swear to God. Water.

Did we argue? No, my friend was feeling ill (it had been slowly getting worse all day, and we thought maybe food would help). We had it bagged, but tossed it once we got to the street. We paid and left to get her home so she could lie down.

What is the future of Bistro 33? I don’t know. The desire for something hip by the Davis residents will probably keep it open for some time to come, and the cheap beer/dance nights they have will keep the college students coming. We’ll see how long that will last before the crappy food begins to deter attendance. My advice? If you want hip and trendy, make the drive to anywhere else in Sacramento.

On a positive note, I did get a shibby photo of my drink.

Bistro 33
226 F Street
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 756-4566

My partner, my mom, and my brother and I had all decided to go have lunch with my godmother, Amy, and her husband. After a slight restaurant mishap (the place we had originally planned on had a sign reading “We no longer serve Saturday lunch.”) we headed towards the deli. Now the Harbor Deli is a place you might not expect to find good food. Amongst the kitschy tourist stores, lines for whale watching tours, and vapid but beautiful beach slaves, its a bit of a gem.

The place was throughly packed and we literally got what seemed to be the last table. We all sat down and were warned that we should only order half sammiches. We all looked at the menu and passing plates to understand why. They’re as big as your face. A half order would do just fine. Potato salad, slaw, or fries also come with with each order, so you can promise yourself a full belly. Another plus was we were offered a plate of pickles. And not flacid pickles (get your mind outta’ the gutter), they were fresh! Crisp! Zesty! Full of bite!

I had ordered a corned beef sammich because let’s be honest, is there a tastier sammich meat? Oh no, my dear reader, I think not. It was stacked high with corned beef on yummy sourdough bread. It wasn’t as flavorful as I had hoped, but nothing to complain about. The steak fries were also quite tasty, though they went a bid lukewarm rather quickly.

Rob had a brisket burrito. It was, well, blah. It had a taste of a Mexican spice packet found in Albertson’s. Yawn. It was good, just nothing exciting. The potato salad however was fabulous, and due to the table setting, I was unable to distract Rob in a way that would allow me to steal more.

Everyone else was truly happy with their meals. Really, the food here is damned good and while it’s nothing to write home about, you won’t be leaving disappointed either.

It was super packed and close to the holidays so the service seemed sparse as half of their servers seemed to be out for the holiday, and indeed they were. As such, Amy got fries instead of potato salad, which made her dish free (smooth moves, Deli). My brother got a lemonade that was literally all syrup. That was not made free, but quickly taken care of. My iced tea was forgotten. Still the waitress had sass and was lots of fun, and considering the situation it was easy to see that she was falling into the weeds and there was no other servers who would be able to save her. She was a saint of a server. I would gather that on a normal day, things would have been perfectly spot on.

All and all, it was a good lunch. Nothing to write home about, but I would go again. Maybe after a whale watching excursion. Try to hit this place if you get the chance, just try to avoid the tourist traps.

Harbor Delicatessen
Dana Point Harbor
34667 Street Of The Golden Lantern
Dana Point, California
(949) 496-0424

I’m not really sure if this is a fair review. You see, this restaurant is known for being so bohemian, anti-establishment chic with great food, but today it seemed lacking. With the graduations going on, every senior has five or more visiting relatives and/or friends around downtown Santa Cruz. As a result, that faction of the population quintuples over night as thousands of visitors flood the tiny city.

Our reservation at Chocolate in Santa Cruz was for four o’clock and the place was packed solid. Only two wait staff were on hand, and the kitchen staff wasn’t able to keep up. The food lacked any real depth or great flavor, and service was slow, taking 40 minutes for appetizers to arrive. The poor girls were in the weeds, and the stress was on their faces. So I can’t really blame them, but at the same time, shouldn’t they be prepared for this event that occurs year after year after year? The hotels certainly know to plan ahead with jacked rates, the restaurants and cafes should know to have some extra help on.

So on to the food. Chocolate is a place that touts its local, organic, cruelty free and creative food. It’s also known for chocolate desserts though they seem few and too complicated. Only one non-dessert, non-drink menu item contains chocolate though, in the form of a mole sauce (Chicken Mòle Entree). The mole sauce is quite tasty I must admit. Thick, sweet, and a bit bitter, it paired well with the chicken.

My brother ordered a chocolate Italian soda which tasted like a tootsie roll and was yummy. The odd thing was that they served it using plain water, not soda water, which kinda is the only other ingredient to an Italian soda beside flavoring.

The appetizer, after it finally arrived, was good. It was a cheese and artichoke heart dip thingy. Nothing fantastic, but I’m not complaining. It just didn’t possess that seemingly explosive flavor I have come to expect from the Italian cheeses used. Plus, it was served with bread, and while that was fine, we had already gone through many baskets of the stuff and a lot of water before it arrived.

I had the Shiitake Mushroom Soup with the Mediterranean Salad. The salad was laden with fresh assorted greens, a lemony dressing, pistachios, kalamata olives, Parmesan, and artichoke hearts. Totally yummy, exactly what a salad should be. Best part of the meal by far, for it’s freshness and flavors. The muted taste of the pistachios was a pleasant change from the everyday nuts you usually find in a salad.

The soup however was miserable little thing that needed to be put out of it’s tasteless misery. It was like eating mushrooms in hot water. I know I saw other ingredients, but they just didn’t have any fortitude in them to stand out. The chicken soup however, was mighty tasty.

Rob had some Italian portobello mushroom thing with cheese that he deemed eatable, but nothing we haven’t made ourselves and wished he had ordered something else.

We didn’t have any dessert, as we simply didn’t have time as Rob and I had to leave, so I’ll leave that to the adventurous eaters out there. Seemed to consist of overbearing truffles and a few gregarious cakes you find at any chocolate store. They did have a peach pie advertised with a picture of Bush called Im-Peach-Ment Pie, which I thought was clever (it is Santa Cruz).

Overall, give it a shot, you might like it. Salads are tops here and the chicken soup is great, so they have a good lunch set for ya’. Like I said, I think I just went on their off day.

Chocolate
1522 Pacific Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 427-9900

  

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen is considered by many Davis, California, residents to be the best in Thai restaurant in their city; the interior decoration has a sense of authenticity, there is a wonderful little room adorned with pillows where you can sit on the floor and an open patio sitting area. It even has a separate bar, with it’s own exotic interior and wooden deck for seating as well. I was there with my friends and co-workers hanging out for a few reasons, 1) one was leaving for grad school and we wanted to get her drunk and full to show our love, 2) it was also her birthday coming up, 3) an un-official reason, one got a night semi-baby free, 4) another un-official reason, we all were wanting some Thai food lovin’ and to get a little bit mowed.The bar is known for it’s live music, skilled bartenders, hot n’ sexy wait staff, and dollar tequilla night (defining the quality of the tequilla, and inebreiated eagerness of the student population). Thus we were all more than happy to sample some of their drinks. We sat on the relaxing wooden bar patio for a while, people watching and chatting it up. Sophia’s offers a wide range of beers, local and imported, so everyone was pretty darned happy.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen is considered by many Davis, California, residents to be the best in Thai restaurant in their city; the interior decoration has a sense of authenticity, there is a wonderful little room adorned with pillows where you can sit on the floor and an open patio sitting area. It even has a separate bar, with it’s own exotic interior and wooden deck for seating as well. I was there with my friends and co-workers hanging out for a few reasons, 1) one was leaving for grad school and we wanted to get her drunk and full to show our love, 2) it was also her birthday coming up, 3) an un-official reason, one got a night semi-baby free, 4) another un-official reason, we all were wanting some Thai food lovin’ and to get a little bit mowed.The bar is known for it’s live music, skilled bartenders, hot n’ sexy wait staff, and dollar tequilla night (defining the quality of the tequilla, and inebreiated eagerness of the student population). Thus we were all more than happy to sample some of their drinks. We sat on the relaxing wooden bar patio for a while, people watching and chatting it up. Sophia’s offers a wide range of beers, local and imported, so everyone was pretty darned happy.Appetizers like spring rolls, corn and shrimp fitters, and beef satay can be ordered at the bar as well (Thai iced tea cannot). Each of the appetizers are a small meal in of themselves and served with unique sauces, providing an flavorful experience. The beef satay is well flavored with a perfect bit of spice and sweet peanut sauce, it has a taste of authenticity and Thai flare that goes perfect with beer. The Thai spring rolls with chili sauce also worked perfect with my Cosmo, which was the best I’ve ever had.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen is considered by many Davis, California, residents to be the best in Thai restaurant in their city; the interior decoration has a sense of authenticity, there is a wonderful little room adorned with pillows where you can sit on the floor and an open patio sitting area. It even has a separate bar, with it’s own exotic interior and wooden deck for seating as well. I was there with my friends and co-workers hanging out for a few reasons, 1) one was leaving for grad school and we wanted to get her drunk and full to show our love, 2) it was also her birthday coming up, 3) an un-official reason, one got a night semi-baby free, 4) another un-official reason, we all were wanting some Thai food lovin’ and to get a little bit mowed.The bar is known for it’s live music, skilled bartenders, hot n’ sexy wait staff, and dollar tequilla night (defining the quality of the tequilla, and inebreiated eagerness of the student population). Thus we were all more than happy to sample some of their drinks. We sat on the relaxing wooden bar patio for a while, people watching and chatting it up. Sophia’s offers a wide range of beers, local and imported, so everyone was pretty darned happy.Appetizers like spring rolls, corn and shrimp fitters, and beef satay can be ordered at the bar as well (Thai iced tea cannot). Each of the appetizers are a small meal in of themselves and served with unique sauces, providing an flavorful experience. The beef satay is well flavored with a perfect bit of spice and sweet peanut sauce, it has a taste of authenticity and Thai flare that goes perfect with beer. The Thai spring rolls with chili sauce also worked perfect with my Cosmo, which was the best I’ve ever had.We soon moved to the restaurant section (a different building across the patio) and luckily due to knowing the hostess, got to the floor seating room. Here, a lovely mural on all walls give a pleasant visual treat while you eat. We all placed our orders and made ourselves comfortable. Thai iced tea here is very flavorful, and proof God exists. It’s also free refills; FREE REFILLS! Something other restaurants should learn to do.

The food at Sophia’s Thai Kitchen of good quality, and Davis residents laud over it constantly. However, in my own opinion, you can find better. Each dish seems to rely to much on lime, cilantro, and galangal. The curries, while flavorful, are a slight bit bland on the spice, but sweet and savory and will definitely please you.

Almost all of the dishes give you the option of adding chicken, tofu, beef, or shrimp. The Pad Thai is often bland and lifeless, a mound of noodles and peanut sauce, guaranteed to leave you disappointed. The Chicken Laap, which I had, was a perfect toss of chicken and red onions, and exploding with lime, cilantro, and spices. It’s bold and strong. The glass noodles with steamed tofu, a perfect vegetarian dish, was warm with citrus and cilantro, and a cool relaxing texture. It was not boring like one might expect.

The whole restaurant and bar was also very baby friendly (it was 5:30 at the bar, no worries), and the baby, for the short amount of time she was there before the mommy trade occurred, was happy and the staff were more than accommodating.

Would I come again? Yeah, the place is great for a group or for a quick drink. It’s all a matter of taste when it comes to Thai food, so give Sophia’s a try.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen
129 E Street, Suite E
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 758-4333

Sacramento, California isn’t necessarily known for its restaurant scene, but that’s slowly changing, and Mason’s in downtown is doing an exhilarating job bringing about that change. Mason’s is located in The Park Downtown, a sort of culinary hot spot which also features Ma Jong’s Asian Diner, The Park Lounge, and The Park To Go with each one bringing its own chic and trendy design and culinary outlook, developing an emulsion that dazzles the senses and blows the mind.

“I still can’t believe how amazing that meal was,” stated Rob as we drove home, him fighting the onsetting food coma, and trying to snap out of the euphoric state the previous two hours had placed us in.

“I think we knew we were going to be well treated and pretty happy the second we walked in.” I had made the reservation for our anniversary a few days earlier over at OpenTable.com, and had been looking forward to this meal. The eccentric lighting, marble counters, and thoroughly creative design was intense. The abundance of couched seating and and use of various textures and materials was a casual, yet inviting and fashionable. The drama of the room was intense and electric, as if a runway show model should soon glide out and lead us to our table.

“I can’t believe how spot-on the service was too. I wasn’t annoyed in any possible way!” And it was so true, the service was impeccable. The manager had read our OpenTable comments, and came up to congratulate us on our anniversary, which surprised me as it always seemed that restaurants didn’t take the time to read them. Every action from each hostess, bartender, waiter and waitress was smooth and practiced like a well choreographed dance. Even the smallest details were noticed, such as the bartender addressing us by our names after checking our ID’s. Even though we weren’t dressed to the nines, like many of the other high and powerful patrons, we were treated as if we were the only ones that mattered. Seemless from start to finish.

“Seriously, I know we got there early, and I wasn’t exactly keen on waiting but damn, that bartender! I was glad for the wait!” She had effortlessly created the most perfect whiskey sour for Rob, allowing just the right amount of sweet and sour to warm your throat. She also solved my cocktail indecision with a creation of hers involving pomegranate juice, blueberry Stoli, and sprite. I declared the drink a success, the bartender a genius, and announced my intention to pick up the ingredients to recreate this later. The gentle shock at the expert creations lingered in our minds. “That was the best whiskey sour I’ve ever had,” sided Rob. We were even further surprised with the tea service presented with the iced tea, as they brought a small bottle of simple syrup, lumps of raw, organic sugar, and lemon wrapped in cheesecloth.

“What was that little thingy they offered us when we sat down?” I rested my chin on my hand and stared out the window, struggling to recall. Compliments of the chef had been sent to our table, whether for our anniversary or just because, and acted as a savory teaser of what was to come. A simple toastette with slices of smoked salmon, a creamy sauce, and bits of baby wild greens became the object of our affections.

“Oh and that tomato-”

“Golden tomato.” I couldn’t help but correct him.

“-with the avocado and dungeness crab that I had for an appetizer!” A powerful and subtle statement of food. A small cylindrical sculpture of crab and avocado in a bowl had been set before Rob, arousing concern that they had at first gotten the order wrong. Yet the flare of presentation had not been overlooked, as our concern was washed away when a pitcher slowly poured out the chilled golden soup, allowing the little island of crab to pop into the scene with renewed vigor amongst the colorful backdrop.

“And my salad! Dear God, we need to cook with figs more often!” A fresh mixed micro green salad with toasted almonds, striped figs, crumbled blue cheese and pickled bing cherries had been plated to be the central display in an art gallery. The gentle sweet embrace of the figs, with the pungent bite of the cheese delivered spark after spark of excitement. We could tell that this was the handiwork of a gifted chef.

Executive Chef Philip Wang, who has worked in some of the most renowned restaurants such as Daniel in Manhattan and Jardiniere in San Francisco, recently stole himself away to Sacramento to aide in making way for the city’s restaurant revival. Utilizing modern American cuisine, and relying on seasonal ingredients - leading to an ever changing and always glorious menu - Wang has made Mason’s a dynamic, rivaling restaurant found in nearby San Francisco.

The seared duck with crispy roasted skin, served with foie gras, plums, and glazed vegetables all luciously enveloped in a plum-port reduction is a total mind blow. I’ve never had foie gras before, but now I can see what all the damn fuss is about; grilled, it provided this umami sensation that was astonishing, I couldn’t help but moan with each seductive bite. The duck was cooked perfectly with just the right hint of gamey flavor, the slightly chared skin adding a bittersweet juxtaposition to the flavorful flesh of the duck. It was magical, and an exemplary illustration of Wang’s mad skillz.

“And to think, that barracuda! I’ve never had a fish so flavorful!” It was the truth, I recollect in my mind the fish dish. Originally the dish was to be swordfish, but the kitchen had run out and offered the barracuda in its steed. Served amongst baby vegetables and in a delicate citrus sauce, the dish tantalized with it’s blend of down home local ingredients, pacific hearty fish, and slightly tropic sauce.

“It really was too bad about that dessert though, I was so looking forward to it.” We had decided on the marscarpone and honey ice cream with so and so extravagancy, yet we were sadly informed that the kitchen had run out of that as well. While the other desserts looked yummy (except the warm peanut butter doughnuts and raspberry sauce, but I’m not a fan of PB&J), we had our hearts set on that one and skipped dessert. Rob however did enjoy an expertly crafted and exceptionally strong espresso.

“I’m still full,” Rob said, pulling into the driveway a glaze over his eyes. “I’ve never eaten in a restaurant like that before.”

“That was amazing. But now we’re gonna judge every place in comparison to Mason’s.”

“Damn, that is going to be a problem…”

It’s a cross I’m more than willing to bear.

Mason’s
The Park Downtown
1116 15th St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 492-1960

Tapa the World is a Spanish style tapas restaurant in Sacramento that’s popular as a late night stop before going out dancing or clubbing on weekends. Since they stay open until midnight, it’s also popular for some of those coming home from the clubs as well. Rob and I decided to drop by on a whim for a light dinner earlier on and see if we could grab a table amongst the hustle and bustle of trendy and pretending-to-be-trendy crowd.We started out with olives, which were meaty and salty, just as olive should be. I always hate when an olive dish is pallid and lacking diversity or served in a petri dish that barely satiates one person, but this was a large terra cotta dish filled to the brim with a nice variety of olives. We did have an issue with one of the one pitted variety of olives on the plate. Something was wrong with those, they tasted a little funky and had a sort of mildew taste to it. The others were superb.

The tapa of the night was a delicious shrimp plate with melted butter and sprinkled with black salt and aioli. They were fabulous, salty, and creamy and perfectly cooked so the shrimp was just flavorful and tender. There’s also something delightfully barbaric about ripping the heads and shells off of shrimp and devouring them. Love it.

The kobe beef was gamey and melted in your mouth with a full flavor that was helped with a nice blue cheese butter and crispy onions. Though it was a bit overdone, the food was still delicious.

We were seated in the courtyard, which had it’s pitfalls. For instance, be prepared if there happens to be any fire or emergency because the sirens’ cacophony in that cave will drive you deaf. Also, the table next to us had their table extended for a birthday party which came so close that anyone wanting to get by ended up having in intimate positions with our table.

I am not sure we ever saw our server or else we had four of them. One took our order, one brought the olives, one brought the food, and the last took the check. No one ever asked how we were or even gave us side plates for bread. We had to stop a girl to get the check. Really, busy or not, it was shoddy service.

All and all, a nice meal, but be seated in the front patio if you can and go on an off-day.

Tapa the World
2115 J Street
Sacramento, CA
(916) 442-4353

Spataro’s is located on L and 14th, in the lobby of the Meridian Plaza across from the park and near Mason’s. It’s in a very busy corporate area of downtown Sacramento, and you can tell. The place is swarmed with suits. Honestly, it felt like I was back in Orange County again. The entire crowd was all power ties, blackberries, and Prada. Everyone was very “look-who-he’s-with-and-what-is-she-wearing?”

ANYWAYS, back to the restaurant, it’s a nice place, very fancy, love the outside as the view is pleasant, and it’s a good people watching perch. We did have a small issue with service, but in all honesty the place was totally swamped (the place is popular, even on a Wednesday) and there was only one waitress and she was in the weeds, poor girl.

Still, all these little negatives are nothing. The food is fabulous. I started with the chef’s special cocktail of the night: lemon juice, lemon vodka, and freshly muddled cherries. It was a fruity and refreshing light summer drink that I’ll want to re-create at home.

We started out with some simple French fries. They weren’t too greasy, but nice and crisp and salted with some shredded Parmesan cheese. The deep fried asparagus was to die for, they were bursting with flavor and were perfectly salted by the fry batter; served with aioli it was a little slice of heaven.

We also ordered house-made mozzarella wrapped in prosciutto, however they were out of mozzarella so we got a large plate of deliciously salty and well aged (and house-made by Kurt Spataro himself) prosciutto drizzled with a peppery olive oil, and given a nice crack or two of fresh pepper. Mmm-MM!

The bread was also quite yummy, we were served slices of fresh baguette and some ciabatta that had a light rub of olive oil, herbs, salt and pepper. We had a bit of marinara sauce to dip it in as well so the bread front was well covered.

The biggest plus? Each dish was only $2-$4, each drink between $2-$6. Each plate fed about 3 people when shared. We got a drink each, four different delicious plates, plus tax and tip paid about $27, I think. The place also serves lunch and dinner, with menus that look equally frugal and deliciously Italian in their origins.

Overall, a fantastic experience. Good food, good drink, and a good place for a great price! We all plan to go back again!

Spa Bar - in Spataro Restaurant and Bar
1415 L Street
Sacramento, California
916.440.8888

Has anyone told you how special you are? How wonderful you are? How much it upsets me that no one discovers you except by accident when they can’t get into Sophia’s? Well, you are wonderful. You offer the best comfort food anywhere in town. You’re authentic, and no one else around is just like you.

Your homemade noodles are to die for, each one perfectly chewy and sweet. They perfectly compliment your broth, which warms the soul. And girl, you know I love the size of your bowls. They’re luscious and hot. I mean, I could baptize a child in your bowls. And don’t let anyone tell you you’re cheap. For around $7 bucks a person, I say you’re the best deal in town, and you’re appreciated for it, but you’re not cheap. You’re thrifty.

But it’s what’s in your bowls that makes things magical. Take your fried pork chop noodle bowl - strips of deep fried, seasoned pork chop served along a side of a bathtub of noodles and tasty pork n’ veggie broth. So yummy, so tasty, so meaty. Yeah, I called you meaty. I like girls with back. It’s sexy.

But some nights I want something with some mild spice, something a little more green. You can go green, you love the earth and all its creatures. That’s an admirable quality. Your mustard green noodles in house broth is pleasing to the eye, and tasty to boot. I mean, who doesn’t like mustard greens? You’re a smart girl to take advantage of that.

And your kimchi? Oh! So spicy, so sharp. Nice to know you have a razor sharp, acerbic wit to ya’ too. It gives you character. Your five spice noodle and Dan Dan noodles also give a nice bit of bite. Mmm! Love it girl.

But, hey, no one is perfect. You’re seating can be a bit uncomfortable, really, you could give it a quick fix, but it does the job and has character. You do seem to get a bit slutty at times; you get a bit packed and slow on the weekends at night. But on the weeknights when it’s slow, it’s great that we can just be the two of us and really relax and get to know each other.

Anyways, you’re still my girl. You know I love you. I’ll see you soon, okay?

love,
Garrett

Davis Noodle City
129 D Street #D1 (behind Sophia’s Thai Kitchen)
Davis, California 95616
(530) 757-2618