Food & Drink

Best place for Mexican food that isn’t a chain
Tres Hermanas
2416 K St., Sacramento, (916) 443-6919
Housed in a quaint, colorful building, Tres Hermanas is the place to go if you want authentic Mexican food in Midtown. They’ve opened a branch of this restaurant—Three Sisters—on Folsom Boulevard, but this place is still a big favorite. The carnitas are great; the chips and salsa are delicious, and the fajitas are wonderful. It’s good for lunch or dinner, but go when you’re hungry, because they give you lots of food.

Best place to buy fresh sushi or the ingredients to make your own
Oto’s Japan Food
Freeport at 35th Avenue, in Freeport Square, Sacramento
They’ve got everything here, from fresh sashimi and sushi to teriyaki chicken and kitchenware. They’ve got Japanese groceries and wonderful rice. Go on a day when you’ve got extra time, though, because it’s not all that easy to find, and you’ll want plenty of time to look around once you get there.

Best place to stop for a quick, healthy lunch
Wild Oats Deli
5104 Arden Way, Carmichael, (916) 481-1955
The food here is delicious, inexpensive and good for you. What more could you ask. Wild Oats is a chain, but a good chain. And you can tell that the minute you taste the food. You can get other health foods at the store, but the deli makes a perfect stop for a meal or a snack.

Best place to meet waitresses with spunk
Zelda’s
1415 21st St., Sacramento, (916) 447-1400
Yeah, the pizza’s the best in town—the cornmeal crust baked in an iron skillet makes for a sublime oral sensation—but the real draw here is the serious ‘tude thrown about by the wait staff. So pronounced and well-renowned is this treatment that regulars are downright apologetic when they’re treated politely in front of out-of-town guests. Oh, and the ever-present Christmas lights are fun, too.

Best place to dine before the show
Chanterelle
1300 H St., Sacramento (916) 442-0451
Located just down the street from the Sacramento Community Theater and SLO’s Music Circus big tent, Chanterelle is a great place to enjoy a fancy dinner before the show. Situated in the lower floor of a large Victorian, this is a classy/casual establishment with a wonderful menu that includes standard entrees with a little flair, terrific fresh fish and pasta … and an excellent wine list. If the weather’s right, outdoor dining here is a must. Hint: If they offer a salmon special, order it quick.

Best place to go after the show
City Treasure
1730 L St., Sacramento (916) 447-7380
Knowledgeable and professional wait staff, good food, one of the best wine selections in town and a light and airy atmosphere make this eatery a favorite any time. But the ability to get a great meal at 10 p.m. makes it a Sacramento stand-out.

Best bucket of crustaceans
Crawdad’s River Cantina
1375 Garden Highway, Sacramento (916) 929-2268
It’s the ultimate fun finger food. Break their little bodies in half, suck out the warm juices, then break open the tail of these miniature lobsters. Sitting along the Sacramento River with a couple of beers, or maybe a pitcher of Cadillac margaritas, when the metal bucket of bright red crawdads comes to your table, it seems like a feast designed for the River King and Queen themselves. “Off with their tails.” Yum, so succulent and decadent!

Best salad extravaganza in Davis
Plutos
Davis Commons, Davis, (530) 758-8676
Located just above the Davis underpass near Borders, this relatively new Davis cafeteria-style restaurant is hands down the best place to grab a quick, healthful and delicious lunch or dinner in Davis. The pros behind the counter grill and slice up chicken, roast beef or sausage while you wait. The side dishes (vegetables, potatoes, etc.) are yummy and often healthful, and the salads are to die for. You chose from dozens of fresh ingredients to top your salad—fresh tomatoes, broccoli, beets, peppers, carrots, mushrooms, zucchini—then Plutos mixes it all up with parmesan and the zesty dressing of your choice. Vòila! Meet your perfect salad.