January 6, 2017
16 Restaurants in the Sacramento Area You’ll Love This Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Don’t procrastinate your dinner plans this year, as reservations fill up quickly — especially at the best eateries in town. No matter your dining style, we’ve got you covered.
If you’d like to keep things low-key and casual, but still hip and trendy, consult our list for the trendy couple. If you want to go all out with a romantic meal with your sweetheart, skip to the fancy couple list. If all you care about is the dessert menu, you’re definitely a sweet tooth couple! And wherever you end up for dinner, we included some fun cocktail bars to top off the night.
For the Trendy Couple
1116 15th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 | Make Your Reservation With OpenTable
Photos courtesy of Cafeteria 15L
Cafeteria 15L is an eclectic urban restaurant putting a fresh twist on American comfort cuisine. The whimsical and cozy interior of this eatery makes it a fun and flirty destination for Valentine’s Day, especially after you taste their farm-to-table creations and creative cocktails!
926 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 | Make Your Reservation With OpenTable
This sophisticated yet laid-back restaurant in The Citizen Hotel is a wonderful date night spot for couples who value farm-to-table fare. Their intimate and comfortable setting creates a wonderful atmosphere for sampling their diverse seasonal menu and sipping on a craft cocktail.
1415 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 | Make Your Reservation With OpenTable
Hock Farm Craft & Provisions has a bright, modern and industrial interior that makes the perfect setting for those wanting to enjoy a decadent meal on Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re sharing a few small plates — like shaved Brussels sprouts or mussels — or splitting a pizza, Hock Farm is the place to be.
2718 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95816
Photo courtesy of The Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar
The Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar has a sleek and modern feel, coupled with their incredible dinner menu and diverse bar options. In fact, the Red Rabbit knows how to make a mean cocktail, so this trendy spot will check both the “dinner” and “drinks” boxes on your Valentine’s Day checklist.
1182 Roseville Parkway, Roseville, CA 95678
Zócalo has two locations — in both Midtown and Roseville. Head to Roseville to get away from it all this Valentine’s Day, as you enjoy modern Mexican dishes at this upscale and trendy eatery. Explore the shops and boutiques within the Fountains at Roseville before or after your meal to complete the night!
4359 Town Center Boulevard #116, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Milestone resembles a Napa/Bay Area-style restaurant nestled in the heart of El Dorado Hills. Step into the unique contemporary interior and sample their straight-forward yet delicious New American cuisine. The outdoor patio, friendly staff, and comfortable motif makes this a laid-back choice for Valentine’s Day — perfect for the adventurous couple wanting to discover something off the beaten path.
The Perfect Nightcap for The Trendy Couple:
1409 R Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
The Shady Lady Saloon is perhaps the most popular craft cocktail bar in the city,and are well-known for their expertly crafted seasonal cocktails. Step into this mysterious 1920s-era setting with a modern feel for the perfect end to your romantic night in the city. If you’re not feeling anything on their menu, simply strike up a conversation with their talented bartenders and see what concoction they come up with just for you!
Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Company
1630 S Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
Whether or not you grab a meal at Hook & Ladder, you might want to visit them specifically for their cocktail expertise. Housed in a modern industrial setting, this creative eatery and bar puts a fresh twist on some classic cocktails, such as the infamous Cosmopolitan or an Old Fashioned. If you order a Moscow Mule, you’ll be happy to know that Hook & Ladder makes their own ginger beer in house. Whatever you do, you can trust their expert bartenders to create something special for you and your valentine!
Photo courtesy of Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Company
For the Fancy Couple
1131 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 | Make Your Reservation With OpenTable
We simply cannot have a conversation about fine dining in Sacramento without mention of Ella Dining Room & Bar. This downtown gem is focused on promoting local, sustainable growers, farmers, ranchers and artisans, and their delicious plates adequately represent the colorful flavors of this region. We can’t think of a more picturesque setting for you and your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day!
2801 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95816 | Make Your Reservation With OpenTable
Dine in the presence of a legend at Biba Ristorante Italiano, the pride and joy of celebrity chef Biba Caggiano. Her award-winning Italian fare has been the talk of the town since Biba Ristorante Italiano opened in 1986. If you haven’t yet visited, stop by this romantic and elegant restaurant this Valentine’s Day to taste what all the buzz is about.
1112 2nd Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 | Make Your Reservation With OpenTable
The romantic and cozy environment of The Firehouse Restaurant just screams “Valentine’s Day”. Inventive plates, wonderful wines and hospitable service make your time at The Firehouse extra special. Stroll through Old Sacramento before or after dinner to complete the experience!
2225 Hurley Way #101, Sacramento, CA 95825 | Make Your Reservation With OpenTable
Photo courtesy of The Kitchen Restaurant
A visit to The Kitchen Restaurant is meant to be a special and unique experience. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to dive into the superb and locally sourced fare of this award-winning restaurant. This locally owned eatery has earned nearly every imaginable local and regional award, including the AAA Five Diamond Award for five years straight. You’ll spend several hours dining here, as you enjoy a five-course prix fixe demonstration dinner, take an interactive intermission, and enjoy a finale of fresh herb tea service and artisan coffee served with dessert. You are invited to stroll throughout their beautiful restaurant throughout the night — including their open kitchen!
8941 Elk Grove Boulevard, Elk Grove, CA 95624
Boulevard Bistro in Elk Grove is perhaps best known for their regional American cuisine expertly paired with California’s finest wines. You will discover creative plates using locally grown produce, fresh local vegetables, locally raised meat, and seafood straight from the coast of Northern California. This quaint upscale restaurant has quite the charming atmosphere as well, as it is located in a historic 1908 bungalow-style home.
1215 19th Street, Sacramento, CA 95811 | Make Your Reservation With OpenTable
Mulvaney’s B&L is a whimsical and elegant restaurant serving New American cuisine that rotates on a daily basis to reflect the most fresh ingredients available. We cannot state their farm-fresh approach more eloquently than Patrick Mulvaney himself: “Whatever comes in the front door goes on the plate.” Their traditional and upscale approach to dining makes this the perfect date night destination.
The Perfect Nightcap for the Fancy Couple:
1200 K Street #8, Sacramento, CA 95814
For a classy wine bar to top off the night, Downtown & Vine is your answer. They focus on collecting wines from the best local wineries surrounding Sacramento, Napa Valley and Sonoma, in addition to their wonderful international wines. You may sample their selection in flights, as well as by glass or bottle. If you meet your new favorite wine at Downtown & Vine, you can even purchase a bottle from their retail store!
1013 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Photo courtesy of Empress Tavern
The unique and intimate setting at Empress Tavern makes for a perfect place to cap off the night this Valentine’s Day. The brick-lined walls and ceilings make the space extra cozy and romantic, and their inventive cocktails are well worth your visit.
For the Sweet Tooth Couple
814 15th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 | Make Your Reservation
No matter where you are across the country, The Melting Pot makes a wonderful place to enjoy a date night or special occasion. Their unique approach to dining using multiple fondue courses makes this fun for you and your valentine — especially when the chocolate fondue arrives to the table. Choose from their Original fondue with milk chocolate and crunchy peanut butter, the Flaming Turtle with milk chocolate, caramel and candied pecans, and many more chocolatey options!
222 D Street #11, Davis, CA 95616
Not only does The Mustard Seed in Davis have an outstanding array of dinner options, their dessert selection is to die for. You can’t go wrong with your dessert choice — from the classic Creme Brulee to their Nectarine and Blueberry Tart. Add in the rustic-chic design and cozy feel of The Mustard Seed, and you have a winning Valentine’s Day destination for the sweet tooth couple!
2000 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95811 | Make Your Reservation With OpenTable
Photo courtesy of Mark Herzig via The Waterboy
The Waterboy is known throughout the city for their incredible farm-fresh fare, inspired by the cuisine of Northern Italy and Southern France. But their attention to detail does not end once your dinner plate is removed from the table. Their dessert menu features many tasty options, such as Pumpkin Crème Brulee and Caramelized Nut Tart.
1518 Broadway, Sacramento, CA 95818
Tower Cafe is a great place for the adventurous couple who enjoys sampling flavors from all across the globe. You’ll find a diverse collection of international plates, such as the award-winning Famous French Toast soaked in custard, or their Jamaican Jerk Chicken. Tower Cafe is well known for their impeccable selection of desserts, including several types of tarts, cakes, pies, cookies and more!
1615 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 | Make Your Reservation With OpenTable
What better place to celebrate your love than this elegant and romantic restaurant? Aside from their wonderful dinner menu, Lucca Restaurant & Bar serves a mean dessert. We have our eye on the Carmelized Bananas with frozen vanilla custard, crisp phyllo, toasted pecans, salted caramel and chantilly cream.
The Perfect Nightcap for the Sweet Tooth Couple:
1016 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Don’t be mislead by the name; this is not your average “dive bar”. This classy yet quirky cocktail bar is most known for the women dressed like mermaids swimming in an enormous tank overhead, but is worth visiting for their amazing drinks. This fun spot is perfect for the dessert-loving couple who appreciates unique experiences such as these!
1568 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603
Dessert and wine — what an unbelievable combination. The rich and comforting dessert wine selection at Carpe Vino is perfect for the couple who didn’t quite get enough dessert at dinner. Their cozy atmosphere makes this a wonderful spot to relax after a night out while you sip on some of the best wines this region has to offer.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Where are you and your sweetheart dining this year? We’d love to know what romantic spots you love in and around Sacramento.
Category Neighborhood Guides, Uncategorized
