Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in Sacramento

Head to The Kitchen on weekend evenings, for the Demonstration Dinners—five-course meals that last four hours. Throughout dinner, you will marvel at the chefs working in full view of the dining room in an open kitchen. The menu changes everyday but diners can always be sure of fresh ingredients and innovative entrees. The prix-fixe dinners are rather expensive compared to most Sacramento restaurants but the wines are reasonably priced. Reservations are recommended.

With a focus on farm-to-table local cuisine, Mulvaney's B & L serves impeccably plated American dishes. The menu changes daily, depending on the seasonal harvest from their local farm purveyors. Housed in an old historic firehouse, this upscale, yet down-to-earth establishment offers a unique dining environment, from the 40 seat garden area to the snug private 10 seat room in the back, to the vaulted bow-truss redwood ceilings that can accommodate up to 100 guests. Taking inspiration from the cult-classic film, It's A Wonderful Life for the restaurants name, Mulvaney's B & L also strives to invest in its surrounding community.

The Waterboy has been hosting the patrons of Sacramento since its inception in 1996. Located in the Midtown commune of the city, the restaurant offers a carefully-crafted menu that includes numerous dishes that are enriched with the distinct flavors of Southern France and Northern Italy. The kitchen is headed by executive chef Adam Schulze, who uses his vast experience and exceptional culinary skills to create masterpieces like his signature Foie Gras Au Torchon, Five Dot Ranch Steak Tartare, Ragu of Emigh Ranch Lamb Shank, and the Apple Crostata. The appetizers are meant to be complemented by specialty cocktails such as the Tule Velvet Frog, Last Word and Waterboy French 75.

Mikuni Japanese Restaurant, located in the heart of midtown, has been a popular choice amongst Sacramento sushi connoisseurs for years. The restaurant's interior is cosmopolitan chic and the intricate sushi rolls are anything but standard. Some of the more-famous rolls include the Marilyn Monroll and the Train Wreck. There is also a cocktail bar within the restaurant and flat-screen TVs adorning some of the walls. Check the website for complete lunch and dinner menus.

Tapas are the Spanish equivalent of appetizers, and the tasty treats that bring a capacity crowd to Tapa The World. The decor, atmosphere, traditional Spanish cuisine and homemade Sangria transport you to Old World Spain. The Empanadas (meat pies) or Patatas Bravas (spicy potato cubes dipped in a delicious tomato sauce) are just an example of the many tapas on the menu. For a main dish, try the delightfully presented paella or one of tapas seafood dishes.