The Waterboy

I was so excited to finally try The Waterboy, and it did not disappoint! First, let's start with the parking....super easy! There's plenty of spaces, and even a little lot right across the street. We began with drinks and I was stoked they had Pliny the Elder from Russian River Brewing available. My table mates chose from their extensive wine list. The staff was so helpful and attentive, and the food...it was amazing ! I had the steak tartare, the ahi tuna sandwich (the day's special), and an affogato for dessert. Everything was delicious. I now understand why this restaurant is a local favorite, highly recommended!

I've been wanting to try Waterboy for a while. Our sever said that the restaurant has been around for 28 year and sources ingredients fresh and locally (Farm to Fork before the phrase Farm to Fork was used!).The restaurant had a pleasant ambience, there wasn't loud music in the background so my friends and I could hear each other talk easily.We ordered the focaccia which is made fresh in house. That was soft yet springy, very good.The duck cassoulet was very good. The duck was tender. The beans were garlicky and flavorful. I just wish it were a little bigger.For dessert we shared the almond cake (good) and the profiteroles (excellent). The pastry was buttery, crisp but not hard. They have an in house pastry chef and it showed.I didn't not order an appetizer. Since the mains are on the smaller side I would recommend an appetizer as well for those with a bigger appetite.Overall, a great meal and I look forward to coming back for the next special occasion.

Went here for dinner on Thursday and the service, food and atmosphere are worthy of 5+ stars. This was my second visit to the Waterboy. The food was just as delicious as the first time. We had the oysters to begin. For mains, I got the fish special and my friend got the spaghetti carbonara. We shared one affogato for dessert.The carbonara was the standout, perfectly salted al dente pasta with the exact proportional fork full amount of bacon. Yum! The fish was very good too. It was sea bass poached in a light broth with tomatoes, potatoes, capers and onions. You can never go wrong with oysters or affogato - always winners. The service was so attentive. Our reservation was for 8 PM and they close at 9 so we tried our best to not be the last one standing (sitting). We didn't feel rushed whatsoever. Can't wait to go back again soon!

I was delighted to finally try this staple in Sacramento. There was a parking lot close by that you can pay for parking. We had reservation reservations for Saturday at 7:30. We tried to go before without reservations and there was no seating so I would recommend reservations. The dining room was beautiful and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. we started with the charcuterie board. It was very large and I would recommend it for sharing between two people. I enjoyed having the rigatoni and my husband enjoyed the steak. I had a French 75 with the appetizer and a lovely glass of wine with my meal. Everything was great. The staff was very helpful in selecting what we would enjoy eating. There was a few items that I want to try that are not available for dinner, so I'll definitely be going back for lunch.

Beautiful space. In an accessible part of midtown easy parking on a Friday night. Warmly greeted by people our host. We made reservations, not required, highly recommended. The wait staff is superior in every way. Seamless service without ever feeling like it was too much. Allan was great. Wide open but doesn't suffer from being too loud. I think the tall ceiling helps. The food was exquisite. The antipasto had a wonderful assortment of meats, pickled vegetables, crostini, wonderful olives and tasty cheese. Our halibut was cooked perfectly. Served on a bed of mizuna with pomegranate seeds and slices of fried delicata squash. The Pinot noir was very nice. The selection of NA beers was great. Opted for a fieldwork hazy ipa. 16 ounce can of deliciousness. Highly recommended. IMO One of Sacramento's most underrated spots to dine out.

Another wonderful experience. When my father was alive Waterboy was one of his favorites and my mom also loved coming here. Yesterday I was in town and asked my daughter where she'd like to go for her bday- and so we lunched here! It was her very first time here & she really enjoyed her experience. (now 3 generations are loving Waterboy). We sat out doors and met others dining there- friendly customers Our server (a very pleasant woman) brought two pours of Proseco when she learned it was my daughter's bday. We shared a very fresh delicious salad & a scrumptious ravioli dish. As there were bread plates I would have loved a piece of bread, but other than that all was good. And cheers to the bartender- our drinks (I had the Papasan) were strong & yummy!

I had an AMAZING experience at The Waterboy. This restaurant in midtown Sacramento has been on my bucket list, and honestly I had pretty high expectations going in. I will let you know that The Waterboy met all my expectations in regard to the food and service here. In fact, they exceeded my expectations!This restaurant is a higher-end establishment with white tablecloths and all. Though it is higher-end, it's not stuffy inside. In fact, the dining room is welcoming and cozy. It has a nice calm and relaxing vibe with people happily enjoying their meals over good conversation.The food was stellar. We started with the deviled eggs and they were smooth and filled our mouths with delicious-ness. The appetizer comes with four, but I seriously wanted ten of them.For our first course we began with salads and shared a soup. The salads were well balanced and pretty much exactly what you would expect. They were delicate and flavorful. For the soup, we shared a chilled corn soup. Again, this soup was balanced just right. We loved the sweet corn flavor with the pops of tomato.For entrees, the pork chop was the juiciest I've ever had in my entire life. It was juicy on the inside and the crust had a beautiful char on it that gave it the complex flavors I wanted that evening. The chicken was also amazing with a perfectly crisp and light skin.The Waterboy is a restaurant 100% worth going to and I'd happily vouch that it's one of the best restaurants in all of Sacramento!

This is a local, farm-to-form restaurant that represents Sacramento fine dining. The service at this restaurant is phenomenal. The restaurant feels compact in a cozy manner, with many waiters who are attentive to the table. There is a broad range of wines and cocktails to pair with your meal.I ordered the Sonoma Liberty duck breast. I had to take 1 star off because the duck breast tasted rather dry despite looking very medium-rare. The side vegetables and winter squash were delicious in the balsamic vinegar-based sauce. In the future, I would probably opt for a different protein.

Waterboy is the OG of fine dining in Sacramento.They have survived and thrived for over 30 yrs and that's a testament to their good food.The menu changes seasonally, but their iconic mainstay are the marsala sweet breads. No matter how awesome the menu is--these sweet breads are always on my order.

I just moved to Sacramento and was in the mood for some good quality scallops and let me tell you this place did not disappoint. All the food was good and flavorful from the mushroom soup to the scallops to the risotto to the seared tuna and ending it with the cinnamon profiteroles. The server was nice and she was funny too. Perfect environment for a date night or a dinner with friends.