Pierre and I came back to Sacramento this weekend. One of our friends had generously given us Kings tickets for the Sunday game. It seemed a little outlandish to fly all the way back for one game, but we told ourselves it would give us a great excuse to check out some of the new local restaurants. So we drove straight from the airport on Friday evening to meet our friend Paul at Mulvaney’s Building and Loan. We had wanted to try it for a long time as we had great memories from when the old firehouse building, in which the restaurant is located, was a wonderfully eclectic coffee house called New Helvetia.

They have done a great job with the space – which isn’t very big and rectangular. Most of the kitchen is open to view by the patrons. There is a small bar at the end with some small high tables and stools for drinks and desserts, etc. The place was busy but the staff was friendly and welcoming. We decided to get a drink at the bar because we were a little early and Anthony, the bartender, was pretty knowledgeable about various wines. We ordered an Australian Shiraz which turned out to be particularly delicious.

When Paul arrived we moved to a table. Our waiter, Mike, seemed efficient and well-trained. I ordered, to no one’s surprise, the lamb shank. I almost always order lamb – in fact Paul once felt very secure in making a sure bet with some table mates that I would order lamb. This one time, I didn't and he lost $20 and learned there is no such thing as a sure bet - especially when you bet on a Gemini. The lamb came on a nice bed of winter vegetables and was quite tasty. Pierre ordered scallops and Paul ordered duck. Both enjoyed their choices. During dinner, Patrick Mulvaney, the owner and chef was visiting various tables but didn’t come to visit us. Pierre was disappointed – Paul and I agreed we found that chef visits were usually uncomfortable and distracting.

We skipped dessert but did have coffee. At the end of the evening we decided the restaurant was OK. We met others during the weekend that also had tried the restaurant and agreed with the OK verdict, although some of them told us that they had friends who raved about it.

Saturday was a blur of Pierre driving to each and every wine store in town trying to find wines on his ‘must find wines’ list. We did drive by our old house in Land Park and were happy to see that the new owners hadn’t changed a thing except for new pots on either side of the front door. Seeing the neighborhood through new eyes, we realized what a special place it was.

We were able to catch up with our old neighbor David Berkeley who, as he always did, suggested some pretty amazing wines for us to buy, which we always do! And we got to visit our friends Lauren and Michelle who own the two Swanberg’s stores, recently relocated from Land Park. Lauren is now on J Street with more than 4,000 Hawaiian shirts (less the one that Pierre added to his collection on Saturday) and Michelle has a new location at 21st and X. You should check them out – they have great stuff.

Dinner was a table for 9 at new restaurant Roxy’s on Fair Oaks Boulevard. The place was hopping when we arrived with a demographic that looked old, even to us. We were happy that we had our table ready and waiting. Although it was pretty small for 9, it was tucked in a quiet corner, so it worked well. Many bottles of wine later (yes, you can bring your own and pay a very reasonable $10 corkage fee), we got into a very loud, lengthy and passionate political debate. Good thing that the restaurant was beginning to clear out by then.

Negatives on Roxy's - very few vegetarian choices, a steak not cooked to order, but a very quick and appropriate customer service response, and the place is loud – even without our political debate. The meal was OK – another OK restaurant when the reviews we had read were rave ones.

Sunday was spent at the Kings game. We realized exactly why we loved to go to Kings games – it’s the arena. The Mavs arena is cavernous. As a spectator you are completely removed from the game, the players, the to and fro, the noise, the energy. But at Arco, you are completely part of everything – an intrinsic part of the whole show. Think long and hard Sacramento about that new arena!

Sunday night was the new Frank Fat’s restaurant in Folsom, which looks and feels and tastes exactly like the Frank Fat’s restaurant in Roseville. It was OK, not great.

So, where are the great restaurants – other than our favorite still, Waterboy? Any suggestions for restaurants for us to try on our next trip to Sacramento?

At the end of the trip, we determined that we need to find a way back. The restaurants might only be OK, but being with our friends is priceless. Anyone got a great lot to sell us downtown – we want to build a loft.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive