The Best Restaurants in Sacramento, According to our Tastemakers

Frank Fat’s is a Downtown icon that sits near the state Capitol and dates back to 1939. Due to its location, it often hosts hungry legislators and their staff out for lunch and dinner meals. The restaurant has elegant wall decorations and a rich color palette. The sheer length of this space, though, is what stops diners in their tracks. And the food is what keeps them coming back. Frank Fat’s delivers a menu that changes with the season. Chinese vegetables from local farms mix with fresh stone fruits. Local lamb and pork burst with flavor next to Sacramento Valley Szechuan peppercorn. This is Chinese food that blends tradition, high-quality ingredients and local pride.

This hip Midtown staple first opened its doors in 1983. The interior is bright and airy, with crown molding and attractive black and white tiles. Diners step into cozy warmth in the patio/outdoor dining area. Here, they see wood tables, waterfalls, and an outdoor fireplace. Paragary’s is a restaurant with Central Valley produce highlighted across both menus. Sonoma duck. Crispy Brussels sprouts. Pickled Fresno chilies. This restaurant keeps the menu as varied as the produce. Local cheeses, craft beers and wines round out the experience.

Seasons 52 sets itself apart for following a micro-seasonal menu rotation. Here, diners often find that the menu changes by the month. In some cases, it changes each week if a specific ingredient is in season. They use as many local ingredients as possible – depending on the season, it could be everything from golden beets to marble potatoes. Seasons 52 has a prime location outside Arden Fair Mall. Inside, it has a welcoming atmosphere with rich details. This restaurant also offers separate menus for dietary restrictions. Diners can select menus including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and lactose-free. A special seasonal three-course menu appears as well.

This fine Italian dining establishment opened in East Sacramento in 2018. This restaurant impresses with a ceiling-high wine tower and hanging pendant lights. Tasteful yet comfy green dining chairs draw the eye and invite diners to stay awhile. As a high-end seafood-focused restaurant, Allora puts equal focus on presentation and taste. Local ingredients bring out the flavors of Italy. International wines bring the world to Sacramento. They also offer a vegetarian and vegan menu.

Brasserie Capitale opened in Downtown in 2015. It brings authentic French cuisine to the Sacramento Valley. This space has a bold interior with red booths, tin ceilings, Parisian lighting, and bold tiles. The menu is French, but the dishes favor local produce and meats. Brasserie Capitale loves to be authentic with dishes like house-made pork pate and petatou. Dishes like cassoulet or bouillabaisse are house specials, where chefs serve them about once per week. French cheeses and wines also have a solid following.

Zinfandel Grille is a Sacramento favorite that first opened in the late 1990s. It features American cuisine from local sources wherever possible. This restaurant along Fair Oaks Blvd doesn’t use bold colors. Instead, the cool colors and dark wood offer a relaxing ambiance. This type of atmosphere is perfect for lengthy dining. Menus change with the seasons, focusing on everything from lamb to crimini mushrooms. Zinfandel Grille also presents house-made plates of pasta, raviolis and wood fired pizzas. Besides the standard menu, they offer a pre-dinner menu and gluten-free menus.

First opened in 2003, Zocalo brings authentic Mexican fare to Midtown. The restaurant took over a 1920s building full of art deco details. Their goal was to turn the former industrial space into an elegant restaurant. Greenery, original artwork, and decorations create a warm ambiance at Zocalo. The menu is full of regional dishes that use local ingredients and seasonal greens. Diners love that organic produce and house-made tortillas are staples here.

Fair Oaks Blvd is home to Piatti Ristorante & Bar, a local staple since the early 1990s. This inviting space has an open-concept kitchen and a relaxed color scheme. Large windows let in plenty of natural light. Italian cuisine is on the menu, with fresh, local ingredients and Mediterranean flavors. Saffron fettuccine. Braised pork & ricotta meatballs. Thyme roasted mushroom pizza. The menu at Piatti is all about peak flavors and local produce. In warmer months, diners enjoy musical entertainment on the outdoor patio.

This Arden Town restaurant showcases a dinner menu full of southern French fare. It focuses first on fish, meats, and seafood. Plan B also serves up fresh tartelettes and various French cheeses and spices. Plan B has a modern, romantic atmosphere complete with brick-textured walls. It creates the perfect space for a date night or get-together. Diners also enjoy the pleasant bar vibe and the relaxed dining room. The seasonal vegetables come from local producers around the Central Valley.

Dawson’s Steakhouse is a Downtown restaurant found within the Hyatt Regency hotel. It first opened in 1988 and continues to draw in returning diners. Local steaks, seafood, and California meats show up at this high-end restaurant. Seasonal greens bring Central Valley flavors to the salads. As for the menu, it follows the farm to fork style from top to bottom. Dawson’s is a strong supporter of California wines. They pair each menu item with a California wine from the Napa, Sonoma or Santa Barbara wine region. Dawson’s has an elegant interior, with wood paneled walls and intimate booths.