2007 Subscribers’ Choice Dining Awards

29023

Sacramentans love to eat. With the region bursting with restaurants, we asked our subscribers to vote on their favorites in a variety of categories. Here are their picks, along with a few standout dishes selected by Sacramento magazine’s editors.

Best of the Best (Money No Object):

Biba

2. The Firehouse
3. Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Runners-up: The Kitchen, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Slocum House

Best of the Best (Moderate Prices):

Paragary’s Bar and Oven

2. The Waterboy
3. Bandera
Runners-up: Carvers Steaks & Chops, 4th Street Grille, Lucca Restaurant & Bar, 33rd Street Bistro

Best of the Best (Inexpensive):

Jack’s Urban Eats and The Old Spaghetti Factory (tie)

2. Cafe Bernardo and Chili’s Grill & Bar (tie)
3. Chipotle
Runner-up: Mimi’s Cafe

New Restaurant:

Roxy Restaurant & Bar

2. Crush 29
3. McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant
Runners-up: BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, Mulvaney’s Building & Loan

New Downtown Restaurant:

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant

2. Buckhorn Grill
3. Spataro
Runners-up: Bistro 33 Midtown, Mason’s, Restaurant 55 Degrees

Restaurant on the Rise:

Crush 29

2. Roxy Restaurant & Bar
3. Mulvaney’s Building & Loan
Runners-up: BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, Mason’s, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant

Appetizers:

Tapa the World

2. T.G.I. Friday’s
3. The Firehouse and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro (tie)
Runners-up: BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, Elephant Bar Restaurant

Bagels:

Noah’s Bagels

2. Panera Bread
3. New York Bagel Boys
Runners-up: Bella Bru, Nugget Markets, Raley’s/Bel Air, Sacramento Bagel, Safeway

Bakery:

Freeport Bakery

2. Ettore’s European Bakery & Restaurant
3. Raley’s/Bel Air
Runners-up: Grateful Bread Baking Company & Cafe, Panera Bread

Barbecue:

Texas West Bar-B-Que

2. JR’s Texas Bar-B-Que
3. Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
Runners-up: Back Forty Texas BBQ, Sandra Dee’s Bar-B-Que and Seafood Restaurant

Biggest Portions:

Claim Jumper

2. The Cheesecake Factory
3. Buca di Beppo
Runners-up: Cattlemens, Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, Mimi’s Cafe, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Romano’s Macaroni Grill 

Bread at a Restaurant:

Il Fornaio

2. Romano’s Macaroni Grill
3. Panera Bread and Red Lobster (tie)
Runners-up: The Firehouse, Mimi’s Cafe

Breakfast:

Fox & Goose Public House

2. Mimi’s Cafe
3. IHOP Restaurant
Runners-up: Cafe Bernardo, Cornerstone Restaurant, Tower Cafe

Brew Pub:

BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse

2. Sacramento Brewing Company
3. Brew It Up! Personal Brewery & Grill
Runners-up: Pyramid Alehouse, River City Brewing Company, Rubicon Brewing Company

Burger:

In-N-Out Burger

2. Red Robin
3. Squeeze Inn
Runners-up: Carl’s Jr., Ford’s Real Hamburgers, Willie’s Burgers

Burger, Non-Fast-Food:

Red Robin

2. Hamburger Mary’s
3. Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks
Runners-up: Chili’s Grill & Bar, The Firehouse, Squeeze Inn

Burrito:

Chipotle

2. Dos Coyotes Border Cafe
3. Adalberto’s Mexican Food
Runners-up: Baja Fresh, Ernesto’s Mexican Food, Gordito Burrito

Caesar Salad:

Jack’s Urban Eats

2. The Firehouse
3. La Bou
Runners-up: Cafe Bernardo, 4th Street Grille, Mimi’s Cafe, Outback Steakhouse, Paragary’s
Bar and Oven, Piatti

Caterer:

Classique Catering

2. Texas West Bar-B-Que
3. Chateau by A Shot of Class and Selland’s Market-Cafe (tie)
Runners-up: A Chef’s Affair, Capital City Catering, David Berkley Fine Wines & Specialty Foods, Ettore’s European Bakery & Restaurant

Chain Restaurant:

Romano’s Macaroni Grill

2. Chili’s Grill & Bar
3. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro
Runners-up: BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse,The Cheesecake Factory, Mimi’s Cafe

Cheese Plate:

The Melting Pot

2. The Firehouse
3. 58 Degrees & Holding Co.
Runners-up: Biba, Tapa the World

Chef:

Kurt Spataro (Spataro)

2. Biba Caggiano (Biba)
3. Rick Mahan (The Waterboy)
Runners-up: Taro Arai (Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Taro’s by Mikuni), Patrick Mulvaney (Mulvaney’s Building & Loan), Randall Selland (The Kitchen)

Chips and Salsa:

Chevys Fresh Mex

2. Ernesto’s Mexican Food
3. Zócalo
Runners-up: Centro Cocina Mexicana, Chili’s Grill & Bar, On the Border

Coffeehouse:

Starbucks

2. Peet’s Coffee & Tea
3. Bella Bru and It’s A Grind (tie)
Runners-up: Java City, La Bou

 

 

 

Coffeehouse, Locally Owned:

Bella Bru

2. Java City
3. It’s A Grind
Runners-up: La Bou, The Naked Lounge, Plantation Coffee Roasters

Cooking School:

American River College (Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management)

2. Whole Foods Market
3. Kitchen Academy and The Kitchen (tie)
Runners-up: Culinary Institute of America,Institute of Technology (Culinary Arts), Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op

Crab Cakes:

Scott’s Seafood

2. Joe’s Crab Shack
3. The Firehouse
Runners-up: McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, Red Lobster, Rio City Cafe

Deli:

David Berkley Fine Wines & Specialty Foods

2. Raley’s/Bel Air
3. Corti Brothers
Runners-up: Beach Hut Deli, Dominick’s Italian Market, Nugget Markets

Desserts:

Rick’s Dessert Diner

2. Ettore’s European Bakery & Restaurant
3. The Cheesecake Factory
Runners-up: The Firehouse, Freeport Bakery, Tower Cafe

Dining and Dancing Spot:

Harlow’s

2. The Park Ultra Lounge at Mason’s
3. The Cliff House of Folsom
Runner-up: Rudy’s Hideaway

Dining Entertainment:

Garbeau’s Dinner Theatre

2. Delta King Pilothouse
3. The Kitchen
Runners-up: Benihana, Harlow’s, The Town Lounge

Dining Secret:

Moxie

2. 4th Street Grille
3. The Melting Pot

Dive:

Squeeze Inn

2. Jamie’s Bar and Grill
3. Zelda’s Original Gourmet Pizza
Runner-up: Poor Red’s

Chinese:

Frank Fat’s

2. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro
3. The Mandarin
Runners-up: Chinois City Cafe, Fat’s Asia Bistro & Dim Sum Bar, New Canton

Chinese, Hole-in-the-Wall:

Wonderful Chinese Restaurant

2. Far East Cafe
3. Shanghai Garden
Runners-up: Forbidden City, Fortune House, Hop Sing Palace, Mayflower Chinese Cuisine, Panda Express

French:

La Bohème

2. La Provence Restaurant & Terrace
3. Le Bilig French Cafe
Runners-up: Bidwell Street Bistro, Cafe Rolle, Danielle’s Creperie & Gallery

German:

Sudwerk

2. St. Pauli Inn
3. Plaza Hof Brau

Greek:

Greek Village Inn

2. Daphne’s Greek Cafe
3. Opa! Opa!
Runners-up: Kabob House, Symposium 

Indian:

Gaylord India Restaurant

2. Kaveri Madras Cuisine
3. Bombay Bistro
Runners-up: Kathmandu Kitchen, Pooja Indian Grill,Sher-E-Punjab Indian Restaurant

Italian:

Biba

2. Il Fornaio
3. Romano’s Macaroni Grill
Runners-up: Cafe Vinoteca, Lucca Restaurant & Bar, Olive Garden

Italian, Family-Style:

Buca di Beppo

2. The Old Spaghetti Factory
3. Español
Runners-up: Club Pheasant, Olive Garden, Romano’s Macaroni Grill

Japanese:

Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar

2. Benihana
3. Hana Tsubaki and Taro’s by Mikuni (tie)
Runners-up: Mana Japanese Restaurant, Nishiki Sushi Bar

Mexican:

Ernesto’s Mexican Food

2. Zócalo
3. Tres Hermanas
Runners-up: Centro Cocina Mexicana, Chevys Fresh Mex, Vallejo’s

Mexican, Hole-in-the-Wall:

Vallejo’s

2. Adalberto’s Mexican Food and Jimboy’s Tacos (tie)
3. Tres Hermanas
Runners-up: Emma’s Taco House, La Fiesta Taqueria

Sushi:

Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar

2. Nishiki Sushi Bar
3. Taro’s by Mikuni
Runners-up: Kamon Japanese Restaurant, Kru, Mana Japanese Restaurant, Osaka Sushi, Samurai Sushi

Thai:

Thai Basil Cafe

2. Lemon Grass Restaurant
3. Amarin Thai Cuisine and Thai Cottage (tie)
Runners-up: Bangkok Garden, Thai Siam

Vietnamese:

Lemon Grass Restaurant

2. Bobo Cafe
3. Andy Nguyen’s
Runners-up: Hoa Viet, Pho Bac Hoa Viet

Family Restaurant:

The Old Spaghetti Factory

2. Mimi’s Cafe
3. Brookfield’s Restaurant
Runners-up: Applebee’s, Buca di Beppo, Chili’s Grill & Bar, Red Robin

Fish Market:

Fins Market & Grill

2. Scott’s Seafood
3. Whole Foods Market
Runners-up: Corti Brothers, Nugget Markets, Raley’s/Bel Air

French Fries:

McDonald’s

2. In-N-Out Burger
3. Red Robin
Runners-up: Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks, Jack’s Urban Eats, 33rd Street Bistro

Fried Chicken:

KFC

2. Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits
3. Church’s Chicken
Runners-up: Chick-fil-A, Raley’s/Bel Air, Sandra Dee’s Bar-B-Que and Seafood Restaurant

Gourmet Cookies:

Mrs. Fields

2. Cookie Connection
3. Freeport Bakery
Runners-up: Cookie Company, Ettore’s European Bakery & Restaurant, Kelli’s Gourmet Cookies

 

 

 

Gourmet Takeout:

Selland’s Market-Cafe

2. David Berkley Fine Wines & Specialty Foods
3. Nugget Markets
Runners-up: Ettore’s European Bakery & Restaurant, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, Whole Foods Market

Guacamole:

Chevy’s Fresh Mex

2. Ernesto’s Mexican Food
3. Centro Cocina Mexicana
Runners-up: Chipotle, El Torito, Zócalo

Happy Hour:

Chops Steak Seafood & Bar, El Torito, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood
Restaurant and T.G.I. Friday’s (tie)

2. Spataro
3. The Firehouse

Health-Conscious Menu:

Fresh Choice

2. Sunflower Drive-In
3. Applebee’s
Runners-up: Jack’s Urban Eats, Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op, Whole Foods Market

Hotel Restaurant:

Dawson’s (Hyatt Regency Sacramento)

2. Chanterelle (The Sterling Hotel)
3. Basil’s by the Lake (Radisson Hotel Sacramento)
Runners-up: Morgan’s Central Valley Bistro (Sheraton Grand Sacramento), Tower Bridge Bistro (Embassy Suites Sacramento), Zinfandel Grille (Rocklin Park Hotel)

Ice Cream Parlor:

Leatherby’s Family Creamery

2. Coldstone Creamery
3. Vic’s
Runners-up: Baskin-Robbins, Burr’s Fountain, Gunther’s

Auburn:

Latitudes

2. Awful Annie’s
3. Le Bilig French Cafe
Runners-up: Bootleggers, Carpe Vino, Katrina’s Cafe, Monkey Cat Restaurant

Davis:

Bistro 33 Davis

2. Seasons
3. Sudwerk
Runners-up: Dos Coyotes Border Cafe, The Mustard Seed, Sophia’s Thai Kitchen

El Dorado Hills:

Masque Ristorante

2. Bella Bru and Cafe Campanile (tie)
3. Chantara Thai Cuisine and Strings Italian Cafe (tie)

Elk Grove:

Boulevard Bistro

2. Silva’s Sheldon Inn
3. Elk Grove Brewery & Restaurant
Runners-up: BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, Logan’s Roadhouse, Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Palermo Ristorante Italiano, Texas Roadhouse

Folsom:

Bidwell Street Bistro and The Cliff House of Folsom (tie)

2. Fat’s Asia Bistro & Dim Sum Bar
3. BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse
Runners-up: Chicago Fire, Scott’s Seafood

Lodi:

Wine & Roses

2. Movie City Grill & Bar and Rosewood Bar & Grill (tie)
3. School Street Bistro and Woodbridge Feed & Fuel (tie)

Natomas:

Bella Bru

2. BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse
3. Center Court with C-Webb
Runners-up: Carino’s Italian Grill, Malabar

Placerville:

Sequoia

2. Cafe Luna
3. Sweetie Pie’s Restaurant & Bakery
Runners-up: Tomei’s, Tortilla Flats, Zachary Jacques 

Roseville/Granite Bay:

Carvers Steaks & Chops

2. Crush 29
3. Fat’s Asia Bistro & Dim Sum Bar
Runners-up: La Provence Restaurant & Terrace, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Ruth’s Chris Steak House

West Sacramento:

Club Pheasant

2. Emma’s Taco House
3. Vince’s
Runners-up: Ikea, Sal’s Tacos, Westside Pub & Grill, Whitey’s Jolly Kone

Woodland:

Morrison’s Upstairs

2. Tazzina Bistro
3. Ludy’s Main Street BBQ
Runners-up: Ruby Tuesday, Sonic Drive-In

Kid-Friendly Dining:

The Old Spaghetti Factory

2. Red Robin
3. Mimi’s Cafe
Runners-up: Chili’s Grill & Bar, Chuck E. Cheese’s, McDonald’s

Late-Night Dining:

Ink

2. Tapa the World
3. Bistro 33 Midtown
Runners-up: BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, Denny’s, Lyon’s, Mel’s Diner

Lunch, Budget:

La Bou

2. Jack’s Urban Eats
3. Subway
Runners-up: Chipotle, McDonald’s, Togo’s

Lunch, Business:

The Firehouse

2. Esquire Grill
3. Chops Steak Seafood & Bar       
Runners-up: 4th Street Grille, Il Fornaio, Lucca Restaurant & Bar

Lunch, Ladies’:

Danielle’s Creperie & Gallery

2. The Firehouse
3. La Bou and Mimi’s Cafe (tie)
Runners-up: Ettore’s European Bakery & Restaurant, Lucca Restaurant & Bar

Neighborhood Restaurant:

Riverside Clubhouse

2. Applebee’s
3. 33rd Street Bistro
Runners-up: Bella Bru, Chili’s Grill & Bar, Original Pete’s

Old Favorite:

The Firehouse

2. The Old Spaghetti Factory
3. Slocum House
Runners-up: Bandera, Club Pheasant, 4th Street Grille, Paragary’s Bar and Oven, Rudy’s Hideaway, Tower Cafe

Outdoor Dining:

The Firehouse

2. Paragary’s Bar and Oven
3. Slocum House
Runners-up: Chevys Fresh Mex, The Cliff House of Folsom, Rio City Cafe

Pasta Selection:

Romano’s Macaroni Grill

2. Olive Garden
3. Strings Italian Cafe
Runners-up: Biba, Il Fornaio, The Old Spaghetti Factory

Pizza:

Round Table Pizza

2. Zelda’s Original Gourmet Pizza
3. Giovanni’s Pizzeria
Runners-up: California Pizza Kitchen, Original Pete’s, Steve’s Pizza

Pizza, Non-Pizzeria:

BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse

2. Paragary’s Bar and Oven
3. California Pizza Kitchen
Runners-up: Paesano’s Pizzeria, Original Pete’s, Zinfandel Grille

 

 

 

Restaurant in a Mall:

California Cafe

2. California Pizza Kitchen
3. Il Fornaio
Runners-up: Taro’s by Mikuni, Pluto’s, River City Brewing Company

Restaurant To Take Mom:

The Firehouse

2. Slocum House
3. Mimi’s Cafe
Runners-up: Biba, The Cliff House of Folsom, Il Fornaio

River Dining:

Rio City Cafe

2. Chevys Fresh Mex
3. Bridges on the River
Runners-up: Crawdad’s River Cantina, Delta King Pilothouse, Joe’s Crab Shack, The Virgin Sturgeon

Romantic:

The Firehouse

2. Slocum House
3. The Melting Pot
Runners-up: Aioli Bodega Española, The Cliff House of Folsom, Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Sandwich Shop:

Mr. Pickles

2. The Beach Hut Deli
3. Togo’s
Runners-up: La Bou, Quiznos, Subway

Seafood:

Scott’s Seafood

2. McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant
3. Fins Market & Grill
Runners-up: The Firehouse, Joe’s Crab Shack, Red Lobster

Special Occasion Restaurant:

The Firehouse

2. Slocum House
3. Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Runners-up: Biba, The Melting Pot, Morton’s The Steakhouse

Sports Bar:

Mandango’s Sports Bar and Grill

2. BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse
3. Center Court with C-Webb
Runners-up: Hooters, Mark & Monica’s Sports Grill & Pizza, Player’s Sports Pub & Grill

Steakhouse:

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

2. Morton’s The Steakhouse
3. Carvers Steaks & Chops and Outback Steakhouse (tie)
Runners-up: Chops Steak Seafood & Bar, Cattlemens

Sunday Brunch:

The Cliff House of Folsom and Dawson’s (Hyatt Regency Sacramento) (tie)

2. Slocum House
3. Delta King Pilothouse
Runners-up: Basil’s by the Lake (Radisson Hotel Sacramento), Fox & Goose Public House, Sacramento Brewing Company, Tower Cafe

Theme Restaurant:

Elephant Bar Restaurant

2. Joe’s Crab Shack
3. Hard Rock Cafe
Runners-up: Buca di Beppo, Center Court with C-Webb, The Melting Pot

View:

The Cliff House of Folsom

2. Rio City Cafe
3. Bridges on the River
Runners-up: Chevys Fresh Mex, Delta King Pilothouse, Joe’s Crab Shack

Wine Bar:

58 Degrees & Holding Co.

2. Crush 29
3. Enotria
Runners-up: The Firehouse, Restaurant 55 Degrees

Wine List:

The Firehouse

2. Enotria
3. Crush 29
Runners-up: 58 Degrees & Holding Co., The Kitchen, The Melting Pot, Morton’s The Steakhouse                     

Sacmag.com Votes&emdash;During the month of May, we asked sacmag.com viewers to vote for the best restaurants in the region. Here are their favorites in 10 categories.
    Best French Toast:  Tower Cafe
    Best Doughnuts:  Krispy Kreme
    Best Frozen Yogurt:  Brookfield’s
    Best Garlic Fix:  Jack’s Urban Eats (garlic fries)
    Best Lunch To Go: La Bou
    Best Margarita: Chevys Fresh Mex
    Best Place To See and Be Seen: The Park Ultra Lounge at Mason’s
    Best Prime Rib: Cattlemens
    Best Sangria: Tapa the World
    Best Buffalo Wings: Hooters