BEST. DINNER. EVER. Picture This: We are one of those obnoxious couples who have the audacity to hold hands and sit on the same side during dinner. Maybe steal a kiss. Yep. That's us. We arrived at Ella just before our 9:15 reservation and were promptly sat at a beautiful table. And wow, this table was gorgeous! The beautiful design of the space keeps your eyes entertained on every level. Both beauty and intrigue. It is a feast for the eyes before you get to the actual feast. However, we were hoping for a more intimate date experience so we asked for somewhere a little more secluded. Without hesitation, we were moved to another, equally beautiful table. Enter Kelly and Hunter. These two help to make our evening even more spectacular. The ambience was perfect. We started with their signature cocktail, gin and tonic with their homemade tonic and a martini. Hey-ooo! Dang that was a good drink. And efficient ;) We moved onto the heirloom tomato starter. Here is where I realized it started to get a little difficult. I was trying to look polished and refined, and really, you could've licked the plate. My handsome man is a vegetarian so he got the Barada spaghetti. I'm assuming he liked it because he ate every last bite. That, and he told me it was delicious. I ordered the lobster risotto. I have a hard time with food that looks too pretty to eat. But, I stopped staring at the beauty of the plate once the delicious smell rose in the air. Best risotto I've ever had. Hands-down. Makes a second place look pretty sad. No dessert but that can be remedied the next time we visit. We ended up having one of those dates where we ordered the appetizer and an hour later we hadn't finished it because we were still talking. I realized we hadn't even finished our appetizer course and yet, the restaurant was almost empty. When Hunter came by to refill the waters, I apologized that we hadn't even started eating yet and asked what time they closed. Hunter proceeded to provide the most amazing interaction. Making eye contact with both of us, he very kindly explained how they wanted this dinner to be an utterly unique experience and not worry. That we are here to enjoy ourselves in this beautiful restaurant so drink in every moment. And so we did. Kelly was awesome. We chatted for a bit about the musical tattoos on her hands. Just kind and sincere. Incredibly diligent service. At no time was I in need of anything. Waters were kept full, table kept cleared, food served exactly on time. It's a well oiled machine underneath the vibrant atmosphere. The food was spectacular. The ambience was one of a kind. A feast at every level. PS - I'm positive the open kitchen in the back would've been fun to watch, if I could have peeled my eyes off of who was in front of me. read more

Ella Dining Room and Bar - Just a table. That's how the adventure usually starts. - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

Yesterday, I visited Ella Dining Room and Bar in Downtown Sacramento for the first time, and the experience was exceptional. Ella is an upscale restaurant with a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere. I felt perfectly at ease wearing shorts and a polo, which speaks to how approachable the space is despite its refined reputation. Although I didn't order an appetizer, the staff surprised me with a complimentary cup of soup. It was delicious--rich, balanced, and a thoughtful touch that set the tone for the meal. For my main dish, I ordered the Crispy Fried Half Chicken with roasted garlic. It arrived with a small bottle of their house‑made hot sauce and was served in generous cuts: two drumsticks, a wing, and a breast (or thigh). The batter was beautifully flaky without falling apart, and the chicken itself was juicy, tender, and perfectly cooked. The crisp coating practically melted before giving way to a light crunch, and the hot sauce added just the right amount of subtle heat. I enjoyed it so much that I found myself wishing for a dim corner where I could privately eat every piece straight off the bone with my hands. The next time you are in Sacramento, please visit Ella Dining Room and Bar. read more

Still love dinning at Ella's. On the visit, we opted for the seafood paella and the tomahawk. I love all the fresh seafood. The rice was crispy on the bottom, which is what I prefer. This dish was perfect. The tomahawk was good, but not the best I've had. It contained a good amount of fat, which I had to trim off myself. I did enjoy the tenderness of the tomahawk. We will dine in again for another date night occasion. read more

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My wife had a recent birthday & it fell on a Monday. Not many restaurants open on Monday so it was a good excuse to visit here. We originally wanted to arrive here after a musical play at SAFE convention center but decided against it bc we thought it might be too crowded plus we didn't have reservations prior so coming later again worked better for us, The ambiance inside Ella was extremely elegant & classy & perfect for my wife's recent birthday celebration. She was happy we finally made it after all it was our first visit. Yes can you believe it? After all these years??? I know it was worth the wait. We did order two mocktails: Pressed Linen for me & Pina Picante for my wife. We both enjoyed them. Finally we decided against bread but steak salad for me & lobster roll & side salad for the birthday lady. We were very happy with our choices. Our waitress Jessica brought dessert menu but we passed on it. She didn't let us leave quite yet until she brought out a complimentary birthday dessert sorbet with a lit candle. I was amazed how the candle stood up by itself too! Lit & all!!! It satisfied my wife's sweet tooth! Thank you Ella for doing an excellent job of celebrating my wife's birthday! We finally can say we have been here! It WAS worth the wait too! I think it took us so long bc of the parking situation downtown but they do have valet if you're pressed for time. We managed to get here earlier & found street parking nearby. We visited a nearby coffee shop so my wife could have her favorite latte prior. Bc of that a planned birthday celebration was perfect at Ella's. I'm sure we would return again for a planned celebration. My wife notice a private room in the back could be perfect. We do have a monumental anniversary coming up. So who knows? read more

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Ella is a special fine dining experience, perfect for a birthday or anniversary. The vibe is, "We fold your napkin before desert and when you go to the restroom", so dress accordingly and plan to pay accordingly as well. Our waitress was fantastic and gave a great tour of the menu as well as the dishes we ended up ordering. The food here is fantastic. So too are the drinks. Drink wise, I went for a tequila/mezcal based cocktail and it did not disappoint. The balance was impeccable. Later on in the meal, I had a nice glass of red wine which complimented the steak well. The food was the star of the show. Bone Marrow is one of those dishes you don't expect to be quite so rich, but it is amazing and worth the visit for. The fish was cooked perfectly and the mushrooms on the steak were delightful and earthy, as well as the steak being a tender, juicy medium rare. I will say the lobster paella was a little disappointing, I expected a little bit more from a nearly $100 dish. Not that it wasn't delicious, but it did not stand out nearly as much as the other dishes ordered. The tartar was a solid app, the oysters were delectable, the bread was toasty and hot with a generous side portion of creamy butter. By my book, service, ambiance, and FLAVOR, Ella is worth the visit. read more

Ella Dining Room and Bar - Pictured Left to right: Lobster Paella, Bone Marrow, Beef Tar Tar, Steak, Halibut - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

Spacious modern restaurant located in the Sacramento downtown area. The kind of place you would visit for a special occasion. For us, we came here to celebrate a graduation. We ordered the steak tartare to share which was excellent. It comes with an interesting bread you can break apart to carry the steak tartare which you mix with the egg yolk and herbs. The steak was fresh and clean. Highly recommend. For our main dishes, we ordered the fire roasted porchetta, tomahawk ribeye, and pan seared halibut. We also ordered the grilled broccoli as a side. The fire roasted porchetta was a little too dry and very salty. For $52, this was a disappointment. The roasted apricot does go well with the porchetta, providing a little balance. Not recommend. The 48 oz tomahawk steak for $165 was not the best steak I've had but was still good. The steak needs a better char on the outside but was tender. The steak overall was lukewarm and gave you the vibe of eating a prime rib instead of a steak. My guess is that it was prepared for awhile and resting in the kitchen for a little too long before it was brought out along with the other dishes. It was prepared medium rare which was what I requested. Can't say I am a fan of the carrot escabache that was served over the steak. Recommend. The best dish of the night was the pan seared halibut. It came out piping hot; the fish was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Highly recommend. Finally, the grilled broccoli was well seasoned and properly charred which gave it a nice smokey flavor. Ironically, the grilled broccoli had more of a char than the steak! But for $14, felt the portions were quite small. Recommend. After our steak tartare came out, it took another 20 minutes for one of the matte d to come to us to apologize and tell us that they forgot about our main and will take another 15 minutes or so. As a result, we probably waited a good 30 to 40 minutes before our entrees came out after appetizers. It would have been a nice touch if they comped us something like a shared dessert or something but they didn't really do anything about it. Overall, we liked the restaurant for its environment and atmosphere , but service and food were a little uneven, especially for the prices you pay. read more

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Ella has to have one of the best Sacramento happy hours. Service was great, very attentive and thoughtful. Their drinks are always delicious. 2 stand outs are the dirty martini and gin & tonic; the dirty martini has just the right amount of brine, and the Ella G&T is refreshing and just perfect. The interior of Ella is beautiful, and always feels vibrant but still relaxing somehow. They're consistently enjoyable, and I will continue coming back. Thank you Ella for always providing such a great environment! read more

Ella Dining Room and Bar - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Still the best happy hour in Sacramento. Classic ambiance, experienced servers, and delicious food. Ella has the best Caesar salad and also make great gin & tonic, and martini to pair beautifully. Onion dip is now served with baguette. Burger was very very delicious but the fries were also equally amazing! For the great ambiance and great quality food, the price is so reasonable during happy hour. This is a must visit place if you are in the area during happy hour. read more

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We had a fantastic time at Ella. Everything from the service to the food was outstanding. Standouts would be the truffle brioche for sure and the king salmon. The ambiance is modern but lowkey with a nostalgic overtone. The wine fridge is large and impressive. I actually saw a waiter climb a ladder to reach a bottle. The dress code is business casual, but people tend to look nice. And it's one of those places where they fold your napkin when you go to the bathroom. Overall such a stunning meal and I can't wait to return! read more

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One of my favs in Sac... Came here for lunch. Was working, so they found us a night quiet spot off to the side. We got the oysters and tartare to start. Oysters were wonderful, and tartare was good, but it needed acidity, so we added the mignonette, which was a nice touch. Caesar was one of the best I've had, and the salmon was cooked perfectly. Serving size was small for the salmon, but it was tasty. Steak was also perfectly cooked. Nice work meal environment without being stuffy. Will be back. read more

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Food, service and ambiance were fine. Charging for their 'house' sparkling water is a bit tacky imo. read more

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This place is an all occasion type of restaurant. Business meeting, dinner with your date, celebrating a milestone moment or just to grab lunch, it's a good option to consider if you are in the downtown Sacramento area. Contemporary American food items make up the menu. I highly recommend the fried chicken, my favorite item. Also, the burgers are really good. Ella has an extensive wine list that has received some note worthy recognition and there are several cocktails and spirits available. The staff are helpful and usually very accommodating. There is table seating, big tables and bar side options as well. read more

Ella Dining Room and Bar - Grilled Ella Burger - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Ella has been on my list of fine dining spots to try in Sac, so when I spotted them on the list for Dine Downtown this year (for the first time in 5 years!) it seemed like the perfect opportunity. $45 for a three-course meal here is an absolute *steal* imo--and apparently everyone else's too-- because all reservations before 9pm were completely booked out an entire week in advance. I still had my heart set on trying Ella so we ended up with a 9:30pm dinner reservation, but the food and overall dining experience were well worth the price and late evening slot. +APPETIZER+ 1) Roasted butternut squash soup / baby lettuces: smaller portions but simple tasty openers to our meal. The lime leaf + creme fraiche brought added depth to the soup, and the salad came dressed in a tangy red wine vinaigrette, served with warmed goat cheese and crostini for nice textural variety +ENTREE+ 2) Crispy fried Mary's chicken / wood-fired flat iron steak: thought the steak would be a clear winner but I was v impressed by both! the crispy chicken (cooked sous vide for the most perfectly tender inside) came with roasted garlic and thyme that the waiter advised us to smear & sprinkle on top. I also loved the chili sauce that came with this, which added just the right amount of spice. The flat iron steak was a bit more sophisticated in tone, served in a French-inspired red wine jus with potatoes cooked in duck fat alongside a horseradish soubise that harmonized well with the other flavors accompanying the juicy, well-cooked meat. +DESSERT+ 3) Milk and choco chip cookies / sorbet: im not the biggest fan of chocolate desserts so requested a substitution and got the apple cider sorbet, which sounds simple but the presentation with meringue topping elevated it in true Ella fashion. For my bf's milk and cookies, I liked how the horchata was not too sweet (tasted more like milk with the flavor of horchata) to complement their housemade cookies. SERVICE: Warm and accommodating despite it clearly being the end of an extremely busy shift for them-- our waiter was attentive, made just the right amount of small talk and seemed to take lots of pride in the restaurant, telling us about his fave items off their seasonal rotating menu, sharing little tidbits about each dish and encouraging us to come back for happy hour. AMBIANCE: Impeccable! a spacious interior with unique and elegant decor that is ideal for a special occasion date night or upscale work outing. I can't wait to come back for their happy hour (first come first serve from 3-6pm on weekdays) and to try their full dinner menu! Wholeheartedly recommend Ella for your next fancy dinner occasion~ read more

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Update: We returned to Ella this evening for dinner and had an absolutely fantastic experience. We ordered the truffle brioche again, and this time it was presented and served to perfection. The lobster appetizer was incredibly fresh and delicious. My husband ordered the halibut, which was accompanied by a perfectly crispy piece of pork belly that was outstanding. My beef tenderloin was cooked perfectly. The best part of the evening was the service. James, our server, was warm, attentive, and made us feel well taken care of. The rest of the team was equally attentive, ensuring everything was seamless throughout the entire meal. Bravo to the entire staff, and thank you for such a wonderful dining experience. We can't wait to come back! read more

Ella Dining Room and Bar - Halibut - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Got the chase restaurant benefit so we decided to use it on Ella. Overall it was a really awesome meal and the service was great! Standouts were the truffle butter brioche! Definitely a must order. The toffee dessert was delicious too, it comes with caramelized bananas, candied walnuts and banana ice cream! The entrees didn't blow me away but they were solid. Food: 4 Service: 5 Ambiance: 4.5 Marcels foodie score: 4.5 read more

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I was recommended to try this place by a friend, while staying at the Hyatt Regency across the street. I'm so glad I did! I went for their happy hour which is killer and from 3-6. I ordered a martini and the steak tartare and both were phenomenal!!! The service was impeccable from the front desk to the bar and it was a really packed Tuesday night. Rene was my amazing bartender and took care of me and all of the guests with efficiency, personality and a great smile! Looks like there may be street parking but I walked from my hotel and headed over. It is absolutely beautiful inside! I am usually overdressed and after just flying in I felt underdressed for one of the first times ever. Very work/professional crowd. Great food, service and atmosphere. Highly recommend he Kong it out if you're in downtown Sacramento! read more

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I came here with my family for our birthday dinner and im so happy i chose Ella Dining to celebrate. We were greeted with warmth and got a happy birthday designed menu which I thought was a special touch. The food was great and the appetizers came out so fast. The entrees came soon after and my favorite dish has to be the marinated beet salad. I never had beets prepared in that marinade before and it was so refreshing and delicious. The waiters were also super attentive with filling up waters and cleaning out our table. They also gave us a birthday ice cream with our sticky toffee pudding which was thoughtful. The ambiance of this restaurant is super elegant and perfect to celebrate special occasions. read more

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I came here for my birthday with a friend, we ordered the zucchini soup, baby lettuce salad, the mushroom paella, and the beef tenderloin. Not sure the concept of the soup but it was just bland, the cheese in it didn't really mesh well for me. Baby lettuce salad was really good, refreshing and altogether paired very well together, would be even better with some kind of protein, but for what it was it was a delicious summer salad. The mushroom paella was okay, nothing exciting or nothing that stood out to be better than authentic paella. The tenderloin was good, tender and juicy. The potatoes that came with it were really flavorful and was very delicious. The service was great, our waitress was very kind and attentive. The restaurant was pretty busy, inside the restaurant was nicely decorated. I think they should space out the tables more, some of the tables are so close to the next table it's not really giving privacy to each table. I could literally hear the conversation the person next to us were having because of how close we were to each other. Overall I was a little disappointed in the lack of flavor with the food. Being a "fine dining" experience I have higher expectations for the food quality and the flavors. While the quality was there the flavors were not fully there for me. The best things I enjoyed most was the salad and the tenderloin. read more

Ella Dining Room and Bar - Mushroom paella, tenderloin - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

Where to begin? I'd previously only had Ella for their famous Happy Hour specials, but this Christmas some friends and I decided to gift each other dinner at Ella. The three of us sat down with the intention of indulging, and we succeeded. The food here is very consistently solid, service is great, and meant to enjoy at your leisure. If you're looking for a quick service where you can get in and out, this might not be the spot for you. But boy oh boy, if you give the dishes the time to come out, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Take your time and enjoy. The vibes are great; it's not a stuffy, uptight restaurant stuck to legacy and tired dishes. Don't get me wrong, they have their staples, but it seems like their chef enjoys pushing the creativity a bit from time to time and I'm here for it. One of our favorite dishes was the take on simple chips and dip. I have no words. The gnocchi melted in our mouths, and the brioche with truffle butter was something that still makes my mouth water. I'm already counting down the days to our shared Christmas-gift-dinner experience next year. Thanks Chef! read more

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After a bit of a chaotic first attempt due to Dine Downtown, we finally made it back to Ella--and I'm glad we did. The food absolutely delivered. We started with the steak tartare, which was excellent--well-balanced, nicely seasoned, and with just the right amount of garlic. For mains, I had the pan-roasted king salmon. It was cooked beautifully, though a touch saltier than my personal preference. My fiancé ordered the oven-roasted pork chop, and that was easily the star of the table--juicy, flavorful, and perfectly executed. Drinks were also a highlight. I ordered the White Linen, a refreshing gin-based cocktail with cucumber and lemon that was light and easy to drink. My fiancé's Sip Into Something (tequila blanco with caramelized pineapple, lime, tamarind, and allspice) completely stole the show--complex, balanced, and honestly way better than mine. Overall, a strong return visit with standout dishes and great cocktails. When Ella is on, it really hits its stride and makes for an elegant date night! read more

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Very flavorful, amazing service, beautiful restaurant. This restaurant quality is definitely unique to Ella especially being in Sacramento - there's not many quality restaurants like this that go from service to prestige to food quality . My steak was actually not hot - which I brought up to management. They gave me a dessert instead of remaking the steak which would've been offered at any other place. That was the biggest disappointment since I really didn't get to enjoy the main course. The manager came to speak to us, which speaks to their service but again did not offer another plate or dish just a dessert in place read more

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Our party of 5 came here for dinner. Out of all the dishes we order, our favorites were definitely the truffle brioche and the tomahawk steak. The truffle brioche was packed with shaved truffle and the bread was super soft. The tomahawk steak was super tender and well seasoned, perfect to share with 2 people. The staff was so helpful explaining the menu to us and gave us recommendations when we weren't share what to order. I would come back again if I need a place for celebration. P.S. their menu changes throughout the year so what we ordered may not be on the current menu. read more

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Came here for Dine Downtown 2026. I was happy to see Ella on there for the first time! The butternut squash soup was creamy and flavorful, and the pomegranate seeds were a tart surprise for a somewhat sweet soup. The steak was perfectly cooked and tender. I normally dislike horseradish and I felt the sauce they used wasn't too overpowering and you could still taste the meat. The milk and cookies was a disappointment. I think that's the last dessert I would choose on their menu but I understand why they chose it. Easy to make a lot of it. Cookies were somewhat on the firm side and the horchata milk was very watered down. Aside from the fine downtown menu, we got bread and butter. The bread wasn't anything special, I can get a better loaf at the co-op. Butter was standard. We also got the gin and tonic and one of the seasonal drinks and they were delicious! I'd certainly go back for a happy hour. The restaurant itself is beautiful. Nice wooden tables with unique shutter decor on the ceiling. It felt very spacious. Service was okay. Took us a couple of tries to get their attention and they weren't regularly checking on us. But I understand it was busy. read more

Ella Dining Room and Bar - The Real Gin and Tonic, harvest and oak - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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We planned a date night to see a movie at the Esquire IMAX and dinner at Ella afterwards. Since it was Thanksgiving week we were not sure how busy it would be. We were pleasantly surprised we were able to get reservations. It was pretty busy! We arrived a little early for our reservations and really planned on sitting at the bar while we waited but we were seated early. We had the best server in my opinion- James - he was warm, welcoming and really knowledgeable about everything on the menu, including wine and drink options from the bar. He gave wonderful recommendations for each course. James was attentive and really personable. We truly enjoyed him as our server. We started with two old fashions - one traditional and the Ella old fashioned. Both were wonderful. They were smooth and slightly sweet, with bold whiskey notes complemented by citrus from the orange, spice from the bitters, and a lingering, warm finish. We followed the drinks with the bread and butter service, Ella Caesar salad and the seasonal roasted pumpkin soup for the first course. The pumpkin soup was delicious. It had a great creamy texture and a subtle sweet pumpkin flavor. It was a perfect start for the cool evening. I always love the Caesar salad at Ella. The dressing with the anchovies is my fav! We followed with the pan roasted salmon that had Brussel sprouts in a mole sauce that was done very well. It was not overwhelmingly flavored - just the perfect flavor of the mole to complement the sprouts and salmon. We also ordered the beef strip loin ---- wow! It was so tender and melts in your mouth. The potatoes in duck fat were excellent. We ordered a glass of red and white to enjoy with our entrees as well. To finish the evening we absolutely had to get two desserts even though we thought about sharing one. We ordered the lemon ice box cake and the sticky toffee pudding with banana ice cream. Complements to the pastry chef as both desserts were absolutely unforgettable. The lemon ice box cake was beautifully made with whipped cheesecake. The sticky toffee pudding was perfect. The sweetness of the dates and pudding was so flavorful. The roasted banana ice cream was the best pairing with the toffee flavor. Overall our evening was perfect from the drinks from the bar, to all courses of dinner and dessert. Most importantly the service from all staff and especially James who absolutely made our evening special was greatly appreciated. We will definitely be back. read more

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Ella is a marquee fine dining restaurant in Sacramento, and they definitely excelled in service. Attentive, friendly, knowledgeable, with great recommendations, Ella's staff is top-tier. We had truffle brioche, caviar service, gnocchi, fried chicken, tenderloin and green beans side, and I'd agree with other reviews the entrees weren't anything special but the rest of the menu items were good. The chicken lacked flavor to me, and the steak was average for fine dining. December menu was created around mushrooms, as it was their season, and luckily we love mushrooms. You could get truffle on many of the items. I do like the seasonality of the menu as Sacramento is the farm to fork capital. The restaurant has a modern farmhouse feel, with different colored shutters along the ceiling. The tables were set around the center bar, so it felt exposed rather than intimate. The open space allowed a lot of noise to bounce around. We were seated in close proximity to others, so conversations weren't necessarily private. If you're considering Ella for a date night with more privacy, maybe sit at the bar on the high tops where you're next to each other. Overall, I'd go again but not for dinner to celebrate something, but rather their famous happy hour. read more

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My first visit to Ella and thoroughly enjoyed it. This restaurant has a large bar with a great happy hour, can easily accommodate large parties and 2-4 top tables. The staff were friendly and attentive, the food was delicious, ambiance was pretty but a bit noisy and the place kind of echos. I believe their menu rotates seasonly. For spring the featured a lot of lamb dishes. The lamb ragu rigatoni was the table favorite of the entrees and the English Pea Stew was my favorite overall. Executive Chef Dustin Harvey poured the soup for us and explained his creation to us, it was an absolute treat and was delicious! So glad I ordered it. I also highly recommend their gin and tonic they are known for. read more

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We were out at a near by museum and my family and I decided we wanted to eat some tasty burgers! My husband was actually the one who discovered this restaurant. He did let me know it's super fancy for a sit down with our two younger boys. However, I must say our two boys are well-mannered so we decided to give it a try. This place did not disappoint. When we walked in, we were promptly seated. The service is absolutely phenomenal. The staffs were friendly and very accommodating. We ordered the Ella Burgers, Lobster Roll and Fried Chicken. The tasted excellent! The inside was definitely a place where you would book your anniversary, bridal brunch, birthday lunch/dinner, etc...It was decorated beautifully inside. Very elegant, I must say. read more

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Another great meal! We definitely recommend making a reservation because this place stays busy, and it's easy to see why. We usually always get the truffle brioche rolls, but unfortunately our reservation was late in the evening and they sold out already (which should show you how good they are). We started with the tomato and beet salad and the cheeseboard. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and a perfect way to start the meal. For our entrées, we had the beef tenderloin with mushrooms and the seared salmon. Both were cooked perfectly and were absolutely delicious. We finished with the lemon icebox cake, which was light, refreshing, and the perfect ending to dinner. We also each had one of the seasonal cocktails, and they were fantastic! A big shout-out to our server, Andra! She's taken care of us the last three times we've been here, and she's consistently amazing. She's so knowledgeable about the menu, gives great recommendations, and always makes us feel welcome. Her friendly personality and excellent service are a big reason we keep coming back. If you're lucky enough to dine here, definitely ask for Andra! I especially like the ambiance here. You can be casual or more fancy, bring a date or a client or a friend, and it's the perfect space. Very spacious and clean as well. We'll definitely be back again, earlier, to get the rolls! read more

We've been to Ella Dining Room and Bar about five or six times in the past few months, and every single visit has been outstanding. From the elegant decor to the spacious layout that accommodates everything from intimate dinners to large private gatherings, Ella strikes the perfect balance of sophistication and comfort. The service is always top tier as it's attentive, professional, and genuinely warm. Over our visits, we've tried a variety of starters and mains, and while everything has been excellent, the true standout has to be the Truffle Brioche. It's an absolute must-order every time. Order it.... trust me. We also love that the menu changes with the season, keeping each experience fresh and exciting. On our most recent visit, my husband order the Housemade Spaghetti, which was unlike any traditional spaghetti we've had. This dish was made with burrata, smoked tomato, and truffle cream. It was rich, flavorful, and divine! The entire restaurant is impeccably clean and beautifully maintained, which adds even more to the experience. Street parking is available nearby. Reservations are highly recommended. We can't say enough good things about Ella. It's easily one of the best dining experiences in Sacramento. Every meal here feels special, and we can't wait to return! read more

Yet again a fantastic experience. I've had bone marrow a few times, but I finally discovered what it's supposed to taste like. My god it was so good. I was very surprised by the fried chicken. I didn't feel like eating anything else on the menu so I just got the fried chicken. It was very delicious!! Surprisingly 5/5 Drinks were good. Got a martini and a bottle of red. Overall very happy with the experience. Service excellent as usual. read more

Ella Dining Room and Bar - Fried Chicken - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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We made reservations here for a Saturday evening. There were three of us and we were seated next to the wine cellar/bar. I was a little worried about sitting next to the bar especially next to the servers pick up section, but it was never a problem and staff never congregated. It was a busy night, most tables were full, the restaurant was lively, but we were still able to have a conversation without screaming. The server allowed me to taste two wine before deciding on the Tempranillo blanco. We started with the Ella Ceasar which was plentiful for the three of us. The anchovies are served whole on top, dressing coats the bottom so you have to cut up and toss the salad yourself. It was tasty, but we felt like it was missing a crunch, maybe bread crumbs or even crispy anchovy skin would have made this over the top. The halibut and salmon were both seared perfectly, with a crispy outside and flaky inside. The sautéed cabbage on the halibut made for an interesting texture combo which was a little one way (softer) - probably would have paired with a crispier veggie for some contrast. The fried chicken was as advertised -- the breading was flavorful and yet wasn't overbearing. You didn't get those random over crispy parts where the breading was over coated. Just know, all you get with this is chicken. There is no other sides provided, which was fine for us. Overall we had a great experience. Valet parking was a nice touch and added to the bill at the end. Our only real negative was we thought our server seemed distracted and wasn't very engaging. He didn't even give us his name at the beginning of the meal. I guess for the price point I expect an experience and he didn't really engage with us much or offer suggestions. I know not everyone wants this so this is just a personal thing I guess. read more

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Overall experience: 3/5 Food: 3/5 The steak was good, but the lamb dish was not good at all. The noodles were also very hard, like they weren't cooked properly. Service: 5/5 The waiter was very nice and attentive, and kept checking on us throughout the meal. read more

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My favorite happy hour in Sacramento. You simply cannot beat the $9 dollar steak tartare. From the first time I had it, it has lived rent free in my head. The place has a lovely ambiance, even though it is in the thick of K Street, it is still a great spot to dine. They keep happy hour walk-ins separate from the main dining room, but I have never had trouble getting a seat or receiving great service. It is first come first served, but it works. It is also nice that happy hour ends at 6pm instead of 5pm like most places, which makes it actually possible to get there after work. They have a wide range of cocktails and happy hour bites that can pass as a full meal if you order a few to share. I tried the delicata squash and chickpea fritters, which felt a bit like an Indian pakora, and the tamarind aioli was remarkable. Very inventive and you can taste the layers of flavor. The steak tartare at $9 dollars was slightly improved from my last visit. The bread was more like a fried, hollowed out shell so you could scoop the tartare into it. It worked far better than awkwardly piling it on top of thick slices of bread. A clever improvement to what I still think is the finest bougie happy hour bite in the entire city. So well done for those who appreciate a well balanced, yet salty and rich tartare. My gin and tonic was also well crafted and had quick the kick (as it should). They also offer an "adult happy meal" with a burger, fries, and a martini for around twenty five dollars. I want to try it and I saw plenty of people ordering it. Ella is a great spot. I absolutely love it and I am sure the full dinner experience is just as good. read more

Ella Dining Room and Bar - Steak Tartare - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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This is owned/run by the Selland Family (same as the Kitchen). Very classy and elegant restaurant. Service was great. Waiters were attentive and would clear the tables pretty quickly as we finished the dishes. Food was really good and was high quality. I'm normally not a halibut person because it's usually a bit tough, but this halibut was so tender! I was so impressive. The meat seemed more like cod! We also got the caviar service which was good, but I think I prefer it on chips rather than the small pancakes. One of the best dishes we had for the night was the truffle brioche. Wow the flavor was phenomenal and the brioche buns were slightly toasted on the outside but soft on the inside. They put truffle shavings on the top. The fried chicken was also pretty good. They cooked it with rosemary and garlic which gave it a very fragrant smell/taste. Cocktails were delish! They had a lot of tables, but definitely make a reservation. Great place for date night! read more

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For me Ella and summer are synonymous. I looove to come for happy hour or really any hour. They have my favorite Caesar salad in the city and I'm always telling people about it. The ambience, the service, the food, everything is always top notch! I can't wait to go back! read more

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Ella reached out to make things right, which I really appreciated. I understand that every restaurant can have an off day, but it means a lot when a team cares enough to ensure guests have a good experience. I really respect that and look forward to coming back. read more

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This was a preset menu for NYE 2026. It was honestly really over priced and not worth the money what so ever. The wait staff was very professional and friendly, the service was quick and attentive, the restaurant is very modern and fancy inside. However, like I said the pricing for this preset menu was a little insane and I don't see us coming back here. The food itself was definitely good, just not worth it is all. read more

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I am honestly shocked that this place has good reviews. I had heard nothing but great things so my fiancé and I decided to get dressed up and finally experience Ella's ourselves. . Unfortunately our dinner fell nothing short of appalling. Needless to say by the photos, I couldn't even eat my meal. Our server also could barely explain the menu, I highly recommend they warn their guests when their dish will be served with a dinosaur head on your plate. I would have definitely sent this back and gotten something else but our server didn't come check on us until about 15 minutes into our meal, at that point we were ready to leave and just asked for boxes. To top it all off, he took the plates back to box, brought our check and didn't come back with our to go boxes. Unfortunately we will not be returning. In my opinion , this place is highly overrated. read more

Ella Dining Room and Bar - Trout - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Very nice restaurant, excellent service. Food was good, split the truffle pasta and beef tenderloin. It could have come out hotter. The old fashioned was good and my favorite was the truffle brioche buns. Pricey but classy. read more

Ella Dining Room and Bar - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

August is lobster month so their menu featured an array of lobster dishes including.. lobster corn dogs (did not try but interesting concept for a fine dining restaurant). I love that their menu and ingredients evolves with the seasons. Went with the lobster risotto which was flavorful, rich and savory like butter without it /tasting/ buttery, if you know what I mean. Presentation was spot on. The truffle oil bread and carpaccio appetizers were decent but not standout. All the servers were friendly, professional and helpful although I did come here for a work event in their reserved room so cannot comment on the usual dining experience but I would imagine it is attentive. read more

Ella Dining Room and Bar - Lobster risotto - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California