The Waterboy

We dined at Waterboy this January with friends — a party of four — and the entire experience felt effortlessly refined from start to finish. The reservation process was easy and smooth, with clear confirmations and reminders. When we arrived, we were greeted right away and led to a lovely table by the window, which set the tone for the night. If I could rate the service six stars, I would. The pacing was perfect, and throughout multiple courses, everything arrived at just the right moment. The staff was always there when needed — never hovering, never disappearing. You never had to look around wondering where your server was; they were attentive, calm, and genuinely helpful. The food was outstanding. Every dish tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. We especially loved the steak and the scallops — both cooked beautifully and full of flavor. Dessert was a highlight as well. The apple pie stood out: not overly sweet, more European in style, which we really appreciated. Overall, this was a memorable dining experience with exceptional service, excellent food, and a relaxed but elegant atmosphere. Easily one of those places that makes you want to come back without hesitation.

Great dining experience - impeccable service. If you appreciate quality and fresh food you should check this place out. I loved that it offered a casual dining atmosphere yet quality wasn’t compromised. Thoroughly enjoyed everything from the deviled eggs to the New York steak! I have to say the scallops were my favorite though … the Singapore sling is an amazing cocktail in an tiki mug and I don’t really even like gin! And the coffee profiteroles delicious - they just need to add some seasoning berries lol Wonderful service, professional staff, great wine list - we will definitely be back!

★★★★★ The Waterboy is a true Sacramento classic and an absolute five-star experience. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between upscale and comfortable, making it ideal for both special occasions and relaxed evenings out. The service was exceptional — attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming. The staff made thoughtful recommendations and ensured every detail of the meal was perfect. The food was outstanding. Each dish was beautifully prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients and perfectly balanced flavors. From the appetizers to dessert, everything tasted refined yet comforting. The wine selection was impressive and paired wonderfully with the meal.

The Waterboy Restaurant is what the old lady was talking about to her equally old companion...I mean for a solid hour! She went on and on about great everything was from the service to the dishes in which she described in detail, to how neatly folded the end of the toto paper was in the john! Then she started talking about how the wait person had assisted her choosing the perfect bottle of wine, to the chef coming to her table to personally thank her for her continued patronage, and loyalty....and right then her companion sluggged her in the shoulder! I was taken back by the sight, and not wanting to see them hitting each other with bibles the lady at the ticket counter stepped in and separated the two, then she told the slugger that she wasn't going to be able to catch her flight, and she would be bumped to the next flight to Hawaii. Well, I saw my old pal onto his flight...and went straight to The Wayerboy for an amazing dinner! 5 stars for sure! ! ☆☆☆☆☆

I wasn’t going to write a review until my husband was hit with the most violent food poisoning I’ve ever encountered… don’t worry I’ve added videos for clarification. The best part of this experience was the server and her amazing attitude. Very attentive wait staff. As for the food, it was not what I expected to say the very least. Oysters, good if you like overwhelming onion flavor. Potato gratin, tasted like it was from a box with Parmesan crusted on top. Steak tartare was the most balanced & best thing we had. Steak, so lemon-y and pink I was concerned if it would make my dog sick. Risotto, first time ever trying this and I couldn’t believe they would serve something so awful, it tasted like watery rice mixed with bad seafood. I’m not one to leave horrible reviews like this but after the hell my husband endured after eating at this restaurant, I feel obligated to tell the truth. It’s. Not. Worth. It. (Also, if you have a weak stomach don’t listen to the videos)

Elegant and classy atmosphere as well as friendly and classy hostesses. The food was extremely pleasant, flavorful and filling. The wine selection was fabulous with the servers being very knowledgeable yet fun with the recommendations. A very great place for romance and romantic/special occasions. A little pricey but definitely made my visit special.

This place is wonderful. I came here for date night with my husband tonight. All the servers/hostess were extremely friendly and polite. We had the herb fries, foccacia bread, duck and pasta special. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful. Even my espresso martini was delicious. It's a great date night or special occasion spot to come to. I'll be back for my birthday. Highly recommend!

Really great dining on the patio. Was pet friendly and was offered a water bowl as well! Food was excellent. Especially enjoyed the Steak Tartare with the pastry! You'll have to find street parking for this, we were lucky to find one right at front.

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!

Belated review, but we tried the herbed fries, steak tartare, caesar salad, deviled eggs, salmon, and bolognese. The fries were crispy and flavorful, the steak tartare had great flavor, the caesar salad and deviled eggs were pretty good too, the salmon was perfectly cooked and flavorful, and the bolognese tasted great too. I would order everything again and would love to come back and try more things. Service was fast and attentive. It's a nice place to have a celebratory dinner since it is more of a special occasion vibe.

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.

The ambiance is cozy and comfortable. Xeng was our server. She was kind and inviting, certainly a great representative for the restaurant. She answered questions and gave us nice recommendations. We had a salad and sweetbreads as appetizers along with some oysters. All of them were delicious and flavorful with identity. Our mains were even better. My duck breast was easily one of the nicest cuts of duck I've had, certainly worthwhile. We skipped desserts but both got house cocktails which were fun and appetizing. Great experience, awesome for a night out with loved ones.

I think The Waterboy is one of the more underrated restaurants in Sac. It's a fancy spot, without being too stuffy - I always have a good meal here. The menu is usually pretty small, but they do such a good job on everything! I think I get this whenever me and my hubs are in - The sweetbreads! They're the best. I got the duck l'orange and it was cooked to perfection. My hubs got a fish - I forget what kind but it had a delicious crispy skin. Everything was yum. I got the pear cranberry crostada - The two flavors pair so well together! Not a combination I would have thought of. Delicious. Hubs got a spiced cake - it sort of tasted like gingerbread? It was a good though - I love ginger!

The most delicious menu and the coolest staff (shout out to Leah!!). We went here on a whim. Can't WAIT to go back!! Dreaming about what I ate!! (White anchovy appetizer, seasonal ravioli, seasonal soup, ice cream in coffee). Omg, yall. Go here. Drop your other plans and go here. Thank me later.

Don't let the secret out... this is THE best place Everything here is 100/10 Our server most recently, Maria? Was so awesome. I loved her vibe and she made us feel welcome. We love the sweetbreads! Honestly everything is amazing cannot complain at all.

The Waterboy is a delightful culinary journey that offers something for every palate. Our table's standout appetizers were the incredibly fresh oysters and a surprisingly vibrant persimmon salad that set a bright tone for the evening. The seafood risotto All'Onda was a unanimous hit, earning praises from multiple diners, while the potato gnocchi performed the near-miraculous feat of converting even the most skeptical Western cuisine critic. The Sonoma liberty duck breast, while delicious, seemed to lack a certain cohesive flavor profile, though this was a minor critique in an otherwise exceptional meal. Whether you're a seafood lover, a pasta enthusiast, or a meat devotee, there's something here that will delight your palate.

Great service food is amazing good and restaurant is very clean portion size are small small very small on salad of the sea but very good for main course we had the chicken very very good Mash potatoes amazing but they don't give you a lot of vegetables about over our family will go back again and let me say this portion size are what you would expect at a up scale restaurant no matter where you go super small

We had a convivial evening at the Waterboy. My wife and I come to the Sacramento/Davis area every year, at least once. We have friends who date back decades whom we have dined with, and they have explored the food options. They said, for example, that they have come to this venue a half dozen times or so. They recommended it for the four of us. We sat outside and the servers did not rush us. We had the beef tartare and the potato gratin as starters. We also all enjoyed a cocktail from their list of specialties. I had the martini, which used a floral gin I had not imbibed before, and it was served in one of those glasses with a short base, a stout protrusion. The beef tartare looked like little sliders. The potato gratin was rich, not quite as well done as I prefer (a bit of burnt crispiness at the edges), but that may be a less common desire. The wine list was priced reasonably. We had a bottle of a sauterne, not too sweet, which everyone seems to be offering nowadays. For main courses, the women had the seafood bouillabaise. I had the gnocchi, which had an appropriate seasonal profile, for the spring, light and herbaceous. My friend had the steak. The dishes had fresh ingredients, were prepared well and as requested, with moderate seasoning, and ample portions. It was one of those places remarkable for doing everything right. It seems to be an establishment that has the competence to do that continually, day in day out. The server was friendly, chatty in an unobtrusive manner, someone suited to that job. We tipped generously, because it was the right thing to do, and, besides, she was ingratiating without being obsequious. (We learned she is binge watching Succession again, with a new boyfriend, even though she has seen it, and I suggested she might judge him on his reaction.) We sat outside. It was just warm enough. We did not need a heater. I had on a light jacket. The Waterboy would cost twice as much in San Francisco. It is great to have such a fine dining option in Sacramento.

Great time at Waterboy! Rosa was excellent as was the hostess and the additional staff that helped us. Sat on their patio which was comfortable in the cold weather thanks to their heaters. The food was great. Scallop salad was perfectly cooked. The whole team did a great job helping to celebrate our anniversary. 10/10 recommend!

My taste buds loved it all. I've been wanting to go here for awhile and I've always heard how nice and fancy it is. It's definitely nice inside, but also very affordable for the quality. Service was quick and they seemed to really work as a team to have everything run smoothly.

I've been coming here for years. The food is consistently excellent as is the service. The scallops and pork belly are a real standout but after working through most of the menu I can safely say there are no bad choices here. The service is quick and thoughtful. If you come for an anniversary they will start your meal with a complimentary champagne pour. The high ceilings and tasteful art help set the scene for a understated but elegant dining experience. Cocktails are also excellent here. From classics to more unusual seasonal fare they mix delicious and generously portioned cocktails. Come here for your next date night. You won't regret it!

Absolutely loved this place for dinner. The food, ambience and cocktails were amazing. I would highly recommend this for date night or celebrating with someone special !

Ownership obviously values customer service. The food is good/great, but we come back for the first class service.

Dined here recently. Do not waste your time and money on this place. The food, atmosphere, wait staff, and management are just not up to par. There is an abundance of much better restaurants in the area that I have personally tried and can recommend, such as Frog & Slim, Butcher & Barrel, Prelude Kitchen & Bar, House Kitchen & Bar, Echo & Rig, and Fox & Goose Public House - just to name a few.

My very favorite Sacramento restaurant! One of the first dining establishments to introduce local, seasonal, farm to table cuisine, The Waterboy is a casual, chic eatery with highly trained and knowledgeable professional wait staff. Because of these reasons, it is always a truly memorable dining experience. Rick Mahan, Propietor and Chef, opened the Waterboy in 1996. The restaurant instantly became a mecca for "foodies". Those same loyal customers (along with a younger generation) continue to keep the reservations booked. Especially Friday and Saturday nights! Even with the plethora of new hip eating establishments through the years, The Waterboy still reigns at the top of the Sacramento dining scene. In the mood for some French, Italian or California fare served in a sophisticated upscale setting? You have found your place. I love it!

We really enjoyed having dinner here. Cocktails were interesting and delicious, dinner specials were wonderful, and service was accommodating. A lovely spot, highly recommended.

Very great vibe and customer services! They are super friendly and nice, the food is a bit salty for me but overall special and delicious. We had a great anniversary time with them tonight. Thank you !

Complex, delicious, perfectly prepared duck breast with pork belly. This dish was very well thought out. Paired great with a glass of pinot noir

I forgot how great is this restaurant! I used to come here for business lunches (before the pandemic) all the time. Came here for dinner tonight and I'm blown away by the service and food! Our waitress asked if we were celebrating because I had a large gift bag for my friend with early Xmas gifts. My friend told her that we were celebrating my milestone birthday that was earlier in the month. She brought us two complimentary glasses of prosecco to toast the evening. How nice is that? She was funny, friendly and extremely helpful explaining the dishes and specials. The food was excellent! The raw oysters was so fresh! We both ordered the Sonoma Liberty Duck Two Ways - pan roasted breast and leg confit, mashed potatoes, sautéed chard, bacon braised endive and dried cherries. I love it when the sides compliments the main item. It was delicious! For dessert, we had the apple crostata with homemade vanilla bean ice-cream. It was incredible, flaky and not overly sweeten. I was a happy girl feeling satisfied and full. Highly recommended! This is a hidden gem in midtown Sacramento.

This has been our favorite upscale restaurant for years, and our visit last night confirms that it remains our #1. The flavors are surprising and delicate, the service is superb, and the atmosphere is relaxing.

I'm just gonna say Wowzer. I had lunch at this gem of a restaurant on my way to the airport and I wanted to take them home with me. Whether you're indulging in their out of this world deviled eggs (better than your granny made...don't tell her) or the pear endive salad, or the juicy perfectly cooked burger with crispy fries or perhaps the taco truck lunch (my favorite) you will be in gastronomy heaven. I assure you. I needed to taste the white Negroni and it surpassed my expectations. Service was welcoming and made me feel like a local. I enjoyed sitting inside for the people watching but dine outside too. Thanks Waterboy. I'll be back, I just wish it was sooner.

We went on a Friday night. Had to get an early reservation because they were booked for the night. Inside: they had a beautiful display for fall. Loved it. The inside isn't so great--maybe can use some updating. Bar is cute and seems like a nice place to stop and get a drink. It's small, only seats about 6 people. Food: we really enjoyed the food. Decision had to be made between the cheese plate and antipasto and we were very happy with our selection of the antipasto since there was a lot more variety. No bread with the antipasto except for a tapenade and bread treat, which was delish. We also ordered the steak tartare, which came with fries. Both very good. The fries were perfect and came with a aioli sauce. We were quite full after that! For our main course I got soup (saw someone else order it). It was a butternut squash soup with mushrooms. Very good. BF ordered the steak. It was good but not amazing. A little more flavor would have helped. We ended with an espresso (good) and a delicious cinnamon ice cream and tart dish. That was really good and recommended by Chris, one of the wait staff. He was very nice. Staff--giving this review 4 stars instead of 5 because of the server. He seemed put out by having to serve us. Minimal effort was made. Didn't tell us about any of the specials or the fact that they had soup, what the seasonal veggies were, etc. We looked at our neighbors and saw what they had and asked for those (like the soup). Then new neighbors came and another waiter gave them a rundown of all this info that our waiter didn't. As mentioned, Chris was very nice and engaged in conversation when we talked to him. I do have to say that our waiter was very nice and had a smile on his face when he gave us our bill. Must be nice at the end for a decent tip I guess. We will definitely be back but ask to have a different waiter if we get the same one.

Yummy food, but very expensive. It is a restaurant that I'd like to be able to eat their delicious dishes there more often, but cannot. It is a very relaxing setting. Parking is tight due to the location.

Had a great holiday party here on Tuesday night. Seated on time, servers were attentive but not overly bothersome and got everything right. Menu was nice with something for everyone, including 2 vegetarians. My steak was excellent and prepared just how I wanted it. Wine selection was nice and reasonably priced. I would recommend this restaurant for any smaller get together or corporate event.

Went for the first time for our 33 anniversary. The services and food was amazing. The focaccia bread and butter were extraordinary. Even the Butter was awesome, creamy and best we've had. The beet salad was a piece of art, both to the palate and to my eyes. Tomato onion soup was outstanding. The entrees of scallops were good but the duck confit casserole was incredible. Perfect portions. Water glasses never got to half empty. Great experience and staff made it very special. Thank you to all of the Waterboy staff, made the night special.

Interesting dishes, very welcoming staff. We enjoyed the outdoor seating in a good warm evening. Will come back to explore their menu.

A few buddies and I wanted to try this restaurant to have a night out and catch up. Overall a cozy neighborhood restaurant vibe with a solid wine list, friendly service, and tasty food. Parking can potentially be tricky on the street, but we were able to find some free street parking a few blocks away. Had a few appetizers - the focaccia was tasty but kind of surprised they would charge for refills of bread since they were charging to begin with. Steak tartare was tasty, but it was missing the quail egg, and it came with overly salty french fries and no bread (how are you supposed to eat the steak?). Without the egg as a binder, the steak pieces fell apart and didn't stick well together, so it was even harder to eat (with the fries). Mains were tasty, cannelloni was good and had a crispy light wrapping. Pork belly/scallops were good. Bruschetta was good appetizer. Deviled eggs were okay. Overall all of the food was okay, but for the prices charged, I think they were aiming for something a bit higher/more elevated.

Amazing experience. The staff are incredibly nice and professional. We came with our 2 year old, and everyone was so welcoming and kind. The food was delicious!!! The sweet breads were wonderful, the sauce was so good, we used their yummy foccocia to finish off the sauce afterwards--10/10! We also got the duck confit and scallops, which were all fantastic. Our 2 year old loved it all too ( he shared with us the homemade spaghetti, duck, bacon, etc.). The cocktails were also very nicely done. The ambiance is also great for a nice dinner out with family, friends, or dates. I highly recommend this place, and I can't wait to come back.

Incredible food and impeccable service. We especially enjoyed the steak tartar sliders and the antipasto platter. Can't wait to return!

Always excellent food and professional service. Great, tight wine list. Maybe the last place you can get sweetbreads. So good.

We sat for about 20 minutes (maybe longer) before getting a food runner to take our order. The server did not realize we were in her section. She apologized but then proceeded to neglect us for most of the dinner. You would think she would have given exta care after our rough start, but the only person who was looking out for our ordering was the elder bald guy. Shoutout to him! Our drinks sat empty, but he came over to see if we needed anything when he could tell we were looking around for our server. His ability to catch our eye contact was somewhat of a saving grace. The food was good, but a little tired. The menu was more or less what I remembered from my last visit which was years ago. Menu highlights - the duck and deviled eggs were fantastic. Foccacia was good but would have liked by room temp butter. We also really liked the steak tartare. Menu lowlights - Gnocci was overcooked. The oysters being served with mignonette on them instead of on the side. I have never like mignonette and prefer my oysters to be served without toppings. Had I known they would have been served this way, I would not have ordered. The main issue without our dinner was the neglect of our server, who then randomly proceeded to tell us how this time of the year is where she makes all her money. I guess it is because she gets the 20% off the top of her section that is larger than she can handle, and then churns customers until they cyclically give Waterboy another shot a year later. We want Waterboy to be what it once was, we will be back but maybe we'll come a different time of year. Lastly-- huge shoutout to the young busser, kind of blonde-ish. He was sharp and his timing was impeccable and non-intrusive. He should be a server!!! My dude- if you are reading this, demand to be a server or go somewhere else and get what you deserve, where customers will tip you for your talents

I had the caesar salad with grilled chicken. It was good. I also would have enjoyed the ambiance more if there had been air conditioning or at least better air circulation. It felt almost humid inside which isn't a pleasant atmosphere to enjoy food in. Parking was easy with spots available along the side street as well as a parking lot across the street. Would overall recommend.

In Sac for a work trip and hopped on Yelp to find a quintessential California farm to table restaurant within walking distance of downtown. This place fit the bill so hopped on resy to grab a reservation. Was promptly seated and greeted by a fantastic server who obviously loves her job and described each dish perfectly. Finally made a decision on the house special soup pasta e fagoli and the coq a vin. Both were perfectly executed and the taste was excellent! Our water glasses were never empty, the staff was so attentive and the ambiance was quiet and rustic. Definitely a wonderful experience and will be back!

I would say this is a "solidly decent" spot. Came here with a group of four for dinner on a Tuesday, and it was fairly busy. We had reservations (originally for 2, modified to 4 only an hour before), and were seated right away. Good drink selection, neat ambiance, good food. We ordered half a dozen oysters to start, which I thought were great. I had the saffron risotto, which I also enjoyed -- I was a bit surprised that there were so few seafood options, but my dish was fine. Everyone in the group enjoyed their selections for the most part. We did order a dessert to share, which I can't even remember what it was called. It was dry and not good...we didn't finish it even between the 4 of us! That never happens. I did think it was odd that the chairs were wicker...didn't seem to go with the vibe of the restaurant. Overall, I give this place 4 stars because of reservation ease, good service, drink selection, and decent food. Up the game on dessert and expand your menu, maybe even replace your chairs, and you're looking at 5 stars. Overall, I would recommend.

Server: Leah, very nice. They accidentally gave us spaghetti instead of Gnocchi and she was very nice/apologetic about it and continued to check on us throughout the meal. . Focaccia: veryyy salty, wouldn't get again . Daily soup was pozole and it was very good . Risotto: nice and creamy, scallops cooked well . Gnocchi: Pretty heavy and cheesy, not too bad though. . Overall portions were pretty small, but getting a 2 course meal will probably leave you satisfied but not full

Food here is always excellent and creative. I come here annually after attending the music circus. The service is impeccable and the food that is turned out from their tiny kitchen is always on point. This is a splurge for me and they have never disappointed me.

I haven't visited the Waterboy in a long time. That said, everything I've ever eaten there has been top notch. I have had some truly inspired desserts here. Located in Midtown, and surrounded by appealing eateries, parking is always a challenge. The restaurant is bright, clean, and quiet enough to enjoy your meal and companions. Service has been unobtrusively attentive during my visits.

It saddens me to write this review because as residents of Sacramento the Waterboy has been our go to for special nights out beautiful the ambience, location and the food were always consistent for a special evening. However, the service and the food seems to have tanked quite a bit.

I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant. My sister and I decided to go out for dinner to catch up and celebrate her bday. We planned to go to a different restaurant but it was packed so she looked up what was close and The Waterboy popped up. Neither of us has been but were down to try. I arrived before she did. We didn't have a reserve but I asked if the had a table for to available. I'm not sure if it was the owner but this amazing man said "we don't have any tables available but there is a party that is running late. I will call them and if they decide not to come in, I'll give you their table!" WHAT?! He called and they said they were not dining their tonight so he escorted us to a table. Score!! My sister and I were a little reluctant being that neither one of us have been here before but let me tell you, always be open for new experiences. We received a complementary glass of Prosecco in honor of my sisters birthday which was super unexpected and a beautiful surprise. We ordered the handmade focaccia, the frito misto, the fish is the day and the braised lamb shank. Can you say AMAZING?? Everything was extremely delicious, the service was impeccable and the pricing was absolutely appropriate. I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants awesome service, amazing food and great ambiance. Thank you, The Waterboy, for such a lovely evening! I will absolutely be back real soon!!