The Waterboy Awards

The Waterboy Restaurant Review:

A local pioneer of seasonal cuisine, The Waterboy helped set the standard for fine dining in Sacramento when it opened in 1996. Today, it is as strong a player as ever. Local ingredients at their seasonal peaks are transformed into dishes with a European influence, mostly French and northern Italian. Starters include deviled eggs with Gulf shrimp and cucumber relish, salt cod croquettes and steak tartare with caramelized onion crème fraîche; while mains include bouillabaisse, coq au vin and duck frites. Daily pasta and fish specials are good bets, and diners would be remiss to pass on the house-made desserts, such as almond gâteau with Mandarin curd or salted caramel pot de crème.