Food & Drink

Best restrooms

1. The Park UltraLounge
L and 15th streets
www.theparkdowntown.com

Best independent coffee shop

1. Temple Fine Coffee and Tea
1014 10th Street, (916) 443-4960
www.templecoffee.com

2. True Love Coffeehouse
2315 L Street, (916) 448-5683
www.truelovecoffeehouse.com

3. The Naked Lounge
1500 Q Street, (916) 442-0174
www.thenakedlounge.com

Best restaurant worth a long wait

1. The Cheesecake Factory
1771 Arden Way, (916) 567-0606
www.thecheesecakefactory.com

2. “no such thing”

3. The Kitchen
2225 Hurley Way, Suite 101; (916) 568-7171
www.thekitchenrestaurant.com

Best restaurant

1. The Waterboy
2000 Capitol Avenue, (916) 498-9891
www.waterboyrestaurant.com

2. Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar
various locations
www.mikunisushi.com

3. Biba Restaurant
2801 Capitol Avenue, (916) 455-2422
www.biba-restaurant.com

Best soups

1. La Bonne Soupe Café
920 8th Street, (916) 420-9506

2. La Bou
various locations
www.labou.com

3. The Bread Store
1716 J Street, (916) 557-1600

Best steakhouse

1. Morton’s
521 L Street, (916) 442-5091
www.mortons.com

2. Ruth Chris Steakhouse
various locations
www.ruthschris.com

3. Chops Steaks Seafood and Bar
1117 11th Street, (916) 447-8900
www.chopssacramento.com

Best Thai Restaurant

1. Thai Basil
various locations
www.thaibasilrestaurant.com

2. Amarin Thai Cuisine
various locations
www.amarinsacramento.com

3. Thai Bistro
234 E Street in Davis, (530) 747-0123
www.thaibistrodavis.com

Best vegetarian restaurant

1. Andy Nguyen’s
2007 Broadway, (916) 736-1157

2. Sunflower Natural Food Restaurant
10344 Fair Oaks Boulevard in Fair Oaks, (916) 967-4331

Best vodka selection

1. Zigatos Bar & Grille
1910 Canterbury Road, (916) 641-8283
www.zigatos.net

Best wine list

1. 58 Degrees & Holding Co.
1217 18th Street, (916) 442-5858
www.58degrees.com

2. Enotria Restaurant & Wine Bar
1431 Del Paso Road, (916) 922-6792
www.enotria.com

3. L Wine Lounge and Urban Kitchen
1801 L Street, (916) 443-6970
lwinelounge.com

Best ambience

1. Zócalo
1801 Capitol Avenue, (916) 441-0303
www.zocalosacramento.com

2. The Melting Pot
814 15th Street, (916) 443-2347
www.meltingpot.com

3. Tower Cafe
1518 Broadway, (916) 441-0222
www.towercafe.com

Best appetizers

1. Tapa the World
2115 J Street, (916) 442-4353
www.tapatheworld.com

2. Bistro 33 Midtown
1020 16th Street, (916) 233-3633
www.bistro33.com

Best bakery

1. Freeport Bakery
2966 Freeport Boulevard, (916) 442-4256
www.freeportbakery.com

2. Ettore’s
various locations
www.ettores.com

3. Old Soul Co.
1716 L Street, (916) 443-7685

Best barbecue restaurant

1. Sandra Dee’s Bar-B-Que & Seafood Restaurant
601 15th Street, (916) 448-6375
www.sandradeesbbq.com

2. Texas West Bar-B-Que
various locations
www.texaswestbbq.com

3. Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
6628 Lonetree Boulevard in Rocklin, (916) 780-RIBS
www.lucillesbbq.com

Best bartender

1. Curt Pow at Elixir Bar & Grill

3. Ryan Peterson at Zigatos Bar & Grille
www.zigatos.net

Best chain coffee shop

1. Starbucks
various locations
www.starbucks.com

2. Peet’s Coffee and Tea
various locations
www.peets.com

3. Java City
various locations
www.javacity.com

Best breakfast spot

1. Fox & Goose Public House
1001 R Street, (916) 443-8825
foxandgoose.com

2. Cornerstone Restaurant
various locations
www.cornerstonerestaurant.net

3. Café Bernardo
various locations
www.paragarys.com

Best brewpub

1. Brew It Up!
801 14th Street, (916) 441-3000
www.brewitup.com

2. Rubicon Brewing Company
2004 Capitol Avenue, (916) 448-7032
www.rubiconbrewingcompany.com

3. B.J.'s Restaurant Brewhouse
various locations
www.bjsbrewhouse.com

Best California cuisine restaurant

1. California Pizza Kitchen
various locations
www.cpk.com

2. California Cafe
1689 Arden Way, Suite 1058; (916) 925-2233
www.californiacafe.com

3. Mulvaney’s Building & Loan
1215 19th Street, Suite 100; (916) 441-6022
www.culinaryspecialists.com/mulvaneyBL.htm

Best catering company

1. Hannibal’s Restaurant & Catering
11070 White Rock Road in Rancho Cordova, (916) 683-4363
www.hannibalscatering.com

2. Refer A-Chef Catering
(916) 837-2077
www.referachef.com

3. Capital City Catering
1910 Canterbury Road, (916) 641-6111
www.capitalcitycatering.com

Best chef

1. Rick Mahan at the Waterboy
www.waterboyrestaurant.com

2. Billy Ngo at Kru
www.krurestaurant.com

3. Patrick Mulvaney at Mulvaney’s Building & Loan
www.culinaryspecialists.com/mulvaneyBL.htm

Best fine dining

1. Biba Restaurant
2801 Capitol Avenue, (916) 455-2422
www.biba-restaurant.com

2. The Waterboy
2000 Capitol Avenue, (916) 498-9891
www.waterboyrestaurant.com

3. Morton’s
521 L Street, (916) 442-5091
www.mortons.com

Best French restaurant

1. Café Rolle
5357 H Street, (916) 455-9140
caferolle.com

2. La Bonne Soupe Café
920 8th Street, (916) 420-9506

3. La Provence Restaurant & Terrace
110 Diamond Creek Place in Roseville, (916) 789-2002
www.laprovenceroseville.com

Best fresh bread

1. The Bread Store
1716 J Street, (916) 557-1600

2. Old Soul Co.
1716 L Street, (916) 443-7685

3. Grateful Bread
2543 Fair Oaks Boulevard, (916) 487-9179

Best drunk eats

1. Ink Eats and Drinks
2730 N Street, (916) 456-2800

2. Elixir Bar & Grill
1815 10th Street, (916) 442-0693

3. Pieces Pizza by the Slice
1309 21st Street, (916) 441-1949

3. Hot Rods
2007 K Street, (916) 443-RODS
www.hotrodsburgers.net

Best gourmet take-out

1. Selland’s Market Café
5340 H Street, (916) 736-3333
www.thekitchenrestaurant.com

2. David Berkeley Collection
515 Pavilions Lane, (916) 929-4422
dberkley.com/

Best desserts

1. Rick’s Dessert Diner
2322 K Street, (916) 444-0969
ricksdessertdiner.com

2. Tower Café
1518 Broadway, (916) 441-0222
www.towercafe.com

3. The Cheesecake Factory
1771 Arden Way, (916) 567-0606
www.thecheesecakefactory.com

Best Chinese restaurant

1. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro
various locations
www.pfchangs.com

2. Shanghai Garden
800 Alhambra Boulevard, (916) 446-6358

Best Greek restaurant

1. Opa! Opa!
5644 J Street, (916) 451-4000

2. Greek Village Inn
65 University Avenue, (916) 922-6334

3. Daphne’s Greek Café
various locations
www.daphnesgreekcafe.com

Best happy hour

1. Elixir Bar & Grill
1815 10th Street, (916) 442-0693

2. The Golden Bear
2329 K Street, (916) 441-2252
www.goldenbear916.com

3. Zigatos Bar & Grille
1910 Canterbury Road, (916) 641-8283
www.zigatos.net

Best hidden treasure

1. Celestin’s Restaurant & Voodou Lounge
1815 K Street, (916) 444-2423

2. Moxie
2028 H Street, (916) 443-7585

3. DAD’S Deli
1310 S Street, (916) 448-DADS
www.eatatdads.com

Best ice cream

1. Gunther’s Ice Cream
2801 Franklin Boulevard, (916) 457-6646

2. Vic’s Ice Cream
3199 Riverside Boulevard, (916) 448-0892

3. Leatherby’s
various locations

Best Indian restaurant

1. Kathmandu Kitchen
various locations
www.kathmandukitchen.com

2. Gaylord India Restaurant
1501 14th Street, (916) 441-6700
www.gaylords.com

3. Kaveri Madras Cuisine
1148 Fulton Avenue, Suite A; (916) 481-9970

Best Italian restaurant

1. Biba Restaurant
2801 Capitol Avenue, (916) 455-2422
www.biba-restaurant.com

2. Il Fornaio
400 Capitol Mall, (916) 446-4100
www.ilfornaio.com

3. Michelangelo’s
1725 I Street, (916) 446-5012
www.sacartz.com

Best Japanese restaurant or sushi bar

1. Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar
various locations
www.mikunisushi.com

2. Kru
2516 J Street, (916) 551-1559
www.krurestaurant.com

3. Nishiki Sushi Bar
1501 16th Street, (916) 446-3629
www.nishikisushi.com

Best kid-friendly restaurant

1. The Old Spaghetti Factory
various locations
www.osf.com

2. McDonald’s
various locations
www.mcdonalds.com

3. Red Robin
various location
www.redrobin.com

Best late-night dining

1. Ink Eats and Drinks
2730 N Street, (916) 456-2800

2. Tapa the World
2115 J Street, (916) 442-4353
www.tapatheworld.com

3. Bistro 33 Midtown
1020 16th Street, (916) 233-3633
www.bistro33.com

Best locally owned burger joint

1. Willie’s Burgers
various locations

2. Squeeze Inn
7918 Fruitridge Road, (916) 386-8599

3. Nationwide Freezer Meats
1930 H Street, (916) 444-3286

Best locally owned Mexican restaurant

1. Tres Hermanas
2416 K Street, (916) 443-6919

2. Ernesto’s Mexican Food
1901 16th Street, (916) 441-5850
www.ernestosmexicanfood.com

3. Vallejo’s Restaurant
various locations
www.vallejosrestaurant.com

Best margarita

1. Ernesto’s Mexican Food
1901 16th Street, (916) 441-5850
www.ernestosmexicanfood.com

2. Chevy’s
various locations
www.chevys.com

3. Zocalo
1801 Capitol Avenue, (916) 441-0303
www.zocalosacramento.com

Best martini

1. Zigatos Bar & Grille
1910 Canterbury Road, (916) 641-8283
www.zigatos.net

2. Crush 29
1480 Eureka Road in Roseville, (916) 773-2929
www.crush29.com

Best Middle Eastern restaurant

1. Café Morocco
1221 Alhambra Boulevard, (916) 731-4637

2. Malouf’s Taste of Lebanon
1433 Fulton Avenue, Suite G; (916) 972-8768

Best non-chain French fries

1. Jack’s Urban Eats
various locations
www.jacksurbaneats.com

2. Zigatos Bar & Grille
1910 Canterbury Road, (916) 641-8283
www.zigatos.net

3. Willie’s Burgers
various locations

3. Ford’s Real Hamburgers
1948 Sutterville Road, (916) 452-6979
www.fordsrealhamburgers.com

Best pizza parlor

1. Zelda’s Original Gourmet Pizza
1415 21st Street, (916) 447-1400

2. Giovanni’s Pizzeria
various locations

3. Roma Pizzeria
various locations

1. Taco Bell
various locations
www.tacobell.com

2. Jack’s Urban Eats
various locations
www.jacksurbaneats.com

3. Chipotle
various locations
www.chipotle.com

Best sandwiches

1. DAD’S Deli
1310 S Street, (916) 448-DADS
www.eatatdads.com

2. Beach Hut Deli
various locations
www.beachhutdeli.com

3. The Bread Store
1716 J Street, (916) 557-1600

Best server

1. Megan Armstrong at L Wine Lounge and Urban Kitchen
lwinelounge.com

2. Tim Cao at Tuk Tuk Restaurant

3. Rafik Rabehi at Café Rolle
caferolle.com

Best solo dining

1. Jack’s Urban Eats
various locations
www.jacksurbaneats.com

2. Crepeville
various locations

3. Café Bernardo
various locations
www.paragarys.com

Best smoothies

1. Jamba Juice
various locations
www.jambajuice.com

2. Booster Juice
6696 Lonetree Boulevard, 916) 797-0101
www.boosterjuice.com

Best seafood restaurant

1. Scott’s Seafood Grill & Bar
various locations
www.scottsseafood.net

2. Fins Seafood Market & Grill
various locations
www.finsmarket.com

3. McCormick & Schmick’s
1111 J Street, (916) 442-8200
www.mccormickandschmicks.com

Best salsa bar

1. Dos Coyotes
various locations
www.doscoyotes.net

2. La Fiesta Taqueria
1105 Alhambra Boulevard, (916) 454-5616

Best salads

1. Jack’s Urban Eats
various locations
www.jacksurbaneats.com

2. Pluto’s
1735 Arden Way, (916) 921-2500
www.plutosfreshfood.com

Best overall service

1. Mulvaney’s Building & Loan
1215 19th Street, Suite 100; (916) 441-6022
www.culinaryspecialists.com/mulvaneyBL.htm

2. The Waterboy
2000 Capitol Avenue, (916) 498-9891
www.waterboyrestaurant.com

3. Temple Fine Coffee and Tea
1014 10th Street, (916) 443-4960
www.templecoffee.com

Best new restaurant

1. Thai Bistro
234 E Street in Davis, (530) 747-0123
www.thaibistrodavis.com

2. Crush 29
1480 Eureka Road in Roseville, (916) 773-2929
www.crush29.com

3. Roxy Restaurant & Bar
2381 Fair Oaks Boulevard, (916) 489-2000

Best Russian restaurant

1. Stolichniy
5601 Watt Avenue, (916) 332-5989

Best outdoor dining

1. Tower Café
1518 Broadway, (916) 441-0222
www.towercafe.com

2. Paragary’s Bar & Oven
1401 28th Street, (916) 457-5737
www.paragarys.com

3. The Firehouse
1112 2nd Street, (916) 442-4772
www.firehouseoldsac.com