OK, there are some places where the distraction is what the evening is about – The Kitchen, for example. But for the most part, I want my favorite restaurants to be like an old shoe, comfortable, predictable and polished.

For a long time I worried that my list of favorite restaurants should be more appropriately called my list of favorite restaurant – The Waterboy. I love that place. And I am not alone. So many people I meet out trying new restaurants and after we have swapped notes – the wine was too warm, the food was too cold, my meal didn’t come with the rest of the tables, etc., I ask for favorites and invariably the answer is, The Waterboy. The ambience is so laid back – an old money feel – and yet the service is sure and precise, the food is delicious, and the price is reasonable. Only when Waterboy is really crowded do you notice that the space was not built with optimal acoustics for a restaurant.

And so, in a desperate attempt to make my list of favorite restaurants true to its name, I continued to visit each new establishment. I must now admit that I was a big fan of Sammy Chu’s. Even though I ate lunch and dinner on the same day more than once, I guess I couldn’t single handedly keep it going and so it is no more -although it has re-opened as Icon with a different owner and menu. I hope that will not affect how you now view my capabilities to recommend restaurants.

But after many visits to Dragonfly at 18th and Capitol, I realize that it has now joined my list. There are a couple of tips to know in order to fully appreciate it. First, don’t go on busy date nights – Friday and Saturday – as it’s just too crowded. One time we showed up to be told there would be a 3-hour wait! And when you make a lunch date there, make it for 11:50AM when it’s easy to get a table. At noon, it starts to get really crowded. The valet parking is a big help. For $5, you pull up and there is no need to drive for blocks looking for a parking space (and not noticing when you find one that parking is prohibited that day for road cleaning).

Once inside, the food is great – Asian fusion and sushi. The Bento boxes for lunch are a bargain and don’t overstuff the eater. The sushi is innovative with very fresh ingredients. The Asian tapas are varied and tasty. The servers are great at providing suggestions. And the service is good but never intrusive. The restaurant shares a fabulous old building with Zocalo, but its décor is very different. The exposed brick and beams and the dark wood are soothing. It’s a wonderful place for a business discussion or a get together (and catch up on all the news) with friends. OK, there is the proverbial big screen TV, but it’s far enough away from the tables that it is not a problem.

And the final reason that it got added to my list. I took my husband there the other night. He pronounced Dragonfly fine. Fine is an A plus in his book.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive