The food was excellent as was the service, both of which I expected, and they delivered. All of our dishes were great and cooked just right. I loved the atmosphere of the place, had a feeling of being out in wine country. Most options on the menu were meat dishes, but there are still dishes for vegetarians the eat. I had a ravioli style dish that was really good, and paired with asparagus. I got an old fashion as well, which was good, but nothing exceptional. read more

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It's interesting when I went inside the interior made me feel like I was in West Palm Beach. Maybe it was the wicker chairs or that and the palm tree located right in the middle of the dining room. I'm not saying that's a bad thing by any means but just struck me of that when I came in. The food was good and the halibut special was excellent. I'd say the pricing was slightly on the higher side, but on par for the items being served. Service was excellent so I would give that five stars. read more

The Waterboy - Daily special: Halibut (April 21, 2026) - French Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I took my Ma for her Birthday here. She wanted to go to a fancy restaurant and I picked this place. I have been here maybe 17 years ago so it has been a long time. I made sure to make reservations since I didn't want to wait for a table. It was for 5 PM. I think since they open at 5 it wasn't needed. They are on a corner and have indoor and out dining. The place is nice looking and the door is handicap. Push a button and it opens for you. Pretty nice. We arrived early and even before they opened and it was empty. They accommodated us even though they were not open yet. The door opened heheh. The bar is right in front of the door. I noticed that all the seats of the bar were reserved. Kind of funny. I later learned that the regulars come in and take over the bar . Pretty neat. This pace has been around a long time and I noticed a lot of the customers are much older. It's nice to have a place where they know you and welcome you. Plus the prices are not cheap. The server was very nice and friendly. She server us Prosecco for my Ma's Birthday. So nice of them. They didn't have Remy so I got a Scotch. I got the Balvenie 14yr Caribbean Cask $26 it was really nice and I liked the flavor. Ma got the scallops and they were really nice and she enjoyed them a lot. My friend got the Ahi and that was good. My wife got the Spinach Agnolotti. She thought there would be spinach in it but I guess it was the pasta. I got the Waterboy Cassoulet. It had so many meats in it and the server said it would be great. I love duck and lamb so I got it. I thought the portion was kind of small. I liked it but thought some of the meats were over cooked. It was ok. As for the desserts. Ma got the Let's Eat Cake which was a lemon one. It was light and she loved it. I got the Seasonal Crostata which was an apple. It was good as well and it came al la mode. All in all we had a fantastic Birthday dinner and such a good time. Service was great and the place was pretty and we liked it. As for a fancy place. I thought it was just ok. Everyone enjoyed their food but I thought it was just average for fine dinning place. I left still hungry which isn't good. It was nice to try and my Ma loved it which is all that mattered. read more

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Hadn't been here in awhile, but it is absolutely superb in all ways. The service was amazing, our server went over specials and was very attentive and knowledgeable of wine selection and pairings. The ambiance is set with candle lit tables, the only thing is the tables are too close together for me. However, it was still enjoyable. Everything ordered was delicious. The deviled egg was such a treat! I did not get a photo of the scallops dish because I was soooo excited to eat it-- that had to be my favorite thing of all. 10/10 experience and food. I recommend trying this place out if you haven't already. read more

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We enjoyed our time at Waterboy for the first time. Our server was very nice and was constantly checking in on us. We bought our own bottle with $30 corkage. The food was amazing. Its a small space inside and they have outdoor. read more

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Friendly service Delicious food Have an outdoor seating area that can accommodate our dog with us! A little bit of the pricier side but I think it's worth it read more

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Poor service, mediocre food, minuscule portions. I cannot believe all the good reviews for this place given my experience. Can only assume many of the people have been either paid or comped for their review. read more

Ordered food to pickup. Came 15 min after pickup time only to find that they haven't even started making it. Not sure what's the point of ordering with pickup time AND paying advance if they don't even make the food until you get there to pickup. read more

We came to The Waterboy to celebrate my birthday - it was a little belated due to schedules, so initially it didn't feel like much of a celebration, but we felt so taken care of right from when we stepped through the door and the night felt special. I had never been here before and sort of had no idea what to expect. The decor was nice, everything was really neat, and bright! We were served some bubbly to start the night off right. We ordered the oysters and an antipasto plate as appetizers and those were gone so fast, they were so good! Then our entrees came, once we demolished those, we were so happy, I was so thankful everything came together so we could experience this. Thanks for taking such good care of us! read more

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It's been far too long since my last visit to The Waterboy. Its fabulousness hasn't changed one bit. Wonderful, friendly service. Wide variety of usual favorites plus lovely array of seasonal specials. I opted for a mix of both. So nice that my server, Jenny, offered a half order of the housemade focaccia. The only miss of the whole meal was the frigid, rigid puck of butter that came with it. It was far too hard to spread on the delightfully soft, spongy bread. Luckily the sea salt and rosemary left it delicious on its own. Also great for soaking up the last bits in my soup and salad bowls! Enjoyed the chilled peach and melon gazpacho. The torn basil leaves really made it pop. Absolutely loved the Insalata Americana, their take on a wedge salad. The accoutrements were plentiful and perfectly complimented the cold, crispy iceberg lettuce and yummy ranch dressing. While the "soup, salad and bread" combo was satisfying, I couldn't help but get the apple tarte tatin with cinnamon ice cream. Rich, sweet and the perfect serving size. The dining room is open and airy, reminiscent of a sweet European bistro only larger. I promised to Victor, who also assisted with service, that I would certainly not let so much time elapse until my next visit. read more

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This place rules! Servers were on point. Being in restaurant service for 20 years, I was so impressed with the staging. Courses were presented beautifully and were delicious. Hands down this place deserves top marks. read more

The Waterboy offers an opulent dining experience in the heart of Midtown. My partner and I bought tickets for their Thursday night dinner series, which has a pre-fixed menu, and we loved the theme of spring becomes summer, as it incorporated a variety of fresh, seasonal ingredients. The tickets were $110 per person and included gratuity. Besides our interest in the dinner series, we also came to celebrate my partner's birthday, which we noted in our reservation. The Waterboy is a great place to visit if you're celebrating a special occasion, and the host recognized ours and gave us a complimentary champagne toast to help us celebrate. It's details like that, which truly make a good experience a memorable one! Inside feels intimate yet rustic, and we were the youngest diners by several years, but I still felt like we received great hospitality. Dinner was excellent, and one of our favorite dishes of the night was the bacon, burrata, and tomato salad. The chef described it as their take on a BLT, and it definitely delivered! I was a fan of all of the stone fruit featured in dishes (grilled peaches with the chicken) and loved the cherry and almond tart to finish. I'd highly recommend the Waterboy and would suggest making a reservation in advance, especially if you have a special occasion. read more

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The waterboy, what a great experience tonight! We already had dinner somewhere else but wanted to drop in for a drink and maybe a small bite. Everything here was absolutely delicious, my favorite was the cacio de Pepe pasta and the fruit tart dessert! But above all the food, our experience was made great by our server Rosa! I could write a novel about how sweet, funny and helpful she was. It felt like she wasn't just a server but a close friend of ours. Can't thank you enough for our amazing night tonight :) Food: 5/5 Service: 10/5 Ambiance: 4.5/5 Marcels foodie score: 5/5 read more

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We've heard of this restaurant by recommends and word of mouth. It was all really yummy! Our server was Allen, he was a very personable guy and gave us enough space to enjoy our dinner and check in when necessary. We ordered bruschetta (not pictured), a wrapped chicken breast, seafood rigatoni, and 2 desserts. The food is pricey that's for sure, but it isn't not a reason to lower their rating - but be prepared for that! We were happy with how everything tasted! It was pretty hot outside but since we didn't have a reservation, they had to seat us outside I think. There were misters so it was not a problem. We would possibly come here again! read more

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We came here for a birthday dinner. We were given champagne to start the evening's celebration and enjoyed all the dishes. Everything was cooked and plated with precision. Lemon seemed to be a secret ingredient in a lot of the dishes, giving a pleasant and slightly acidic bite to a food you wouldn't expect it from. The starters were all excellent but the main entrees really shined. They make their pasta in-house. The service was impeccable. Empty plates barely sat unattended for more than a minute before being bussed, water was refilled frequently and additional drinks from the bar were offered. The vibe is a dim filament light bulb lit evening, in a cozied industrial brick building. There is no dress code but most people dressed up for the evening. I would come back again to try another seasonal menu! read more

The Waterboy - Sonoma Liberty Duck Breast (foreground). Mushroom pasta (background). - French Near Me - Sacramento, California

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10/10 experience!! Booked our dinner for 6 pm for outside seating. We got seated right away, everyone was super friendly and attentive. Amazing service. Food was great! Served on time without delay. Drink was also really good. Best part they brought out juice for our little one so that she wouldn't feel left out and she loved it! Ambiance is so great. Definitely coming back for another celebration. read more

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Outstanding meal. We shared sweetbreads, ravioli with roasted chicken, scallops, vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce. Excellent service and very pleasant outside dining ambiance. read more

we went in without a reservation on a friday night, and were sat on the patio. our server was incredible, absolutely sold us on one of the specials, and was attentive and delightful the entire time. i regret not asking for his name at the end of diner! the food was very lovely, and i really enjoyed the duck in particular! we also tried the ravioli, after being told about the owner's pasta shed in the back lol. the star of the night was the strawberry crostata, the pastry was perfect and the housemade ice cream was delicious as well. read more

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I celebrated my birthday in this amazing place. I lleves the decoration, the ambience and de excellent service. It was very easy to make a reservation, all staff were very friendly and very polite. The food was amazing. Good quality and good portions. We ordered evil eggs, fries, and marinaded olives for appetizers. They received us with a glass of champagne for each person to celebrate my birthday. That was a really good courtesy. I tried the duck, it was amazing. My only maybe disappointment could be that the drinks that I ordered were not really good. My Moscú mule tasted like juts lemonade, and my express martini was just coffee. But besides that everything was perfect. read more

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I was so excited to finally try The Waterboy, and it did not disappoint! First, let's start with the parking....super easy! There's plenty of spaces, and even a little lot right across the street. We began with drinks and I was stoked they had Pliny the Elder from Russian River Brewing available. My table mates chose from their extensive wine list. The staff was so helpful and attentive, and the food...it was amazing ! I had the steak tartare, the ahi tuna sandwich (the day's special), and an affogato for dessert. Everything was delicious. I now understand why this restaurant is a local favorite, highly recommended! read more

The Waterboy - Lunch menu - French Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I'd say this place is underrated and a Sacramento hidden gem! The service was incredible, being in the heart of the lavender district and lgbt I really appreciated how welcoming this spot was. The food was so good, I still think about the delicious peppers we had as an appetizer. The atmosphere is what you would expect from a more high end spot down town. Go check it out! read more

I've been wanting to try Waterboy for a while. Our sever said that the restaurant has been around for 28 year and sources ingredients fresh and locally (Farm to Fork before the phrase Farm to Fork was used!). The restaurant had a pleasant ambience, there wasn't loud music in the background so my friends and I could hear each other talk easily. We ordered the focaccia which is made fresh in house. That was soft yet springy, very good. The duck cassoulet was very good. The duck was tender. The beans were garlicky and flavorful. I just wish it were a little bigger. For dessert we shared the almond cake (good) and the profiteroles (excellent). The pastry was buttery, crisp but not hard. They have an in house pastry chef and it showed. I didn't not order an appetizer. Since the mains are on the smaller side I would recommend an appetizer as well for those with a bigger appetite. Overall, a great meal and I look forward to coming back for the next special occasion. read more

The Waterboy - Profiteroles and Let's Eat Cake - French Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Beautiful space. In an accessible part of midtown easy parking on a Friday night. Warmly greeted by people our host. We made reservations, not required, highly recommended. The wait staff is superior in every way. Seamless service without ever feeling like it was too much. Allan was great. Wide open but doesn't suffer from being too loud. I think the tall ceiling helps. The food was exquisite. The antipasto had a wonderful assortment of meats, pickled vegetables, crostini, wonderful olives and tasty cheese. Our halibut was cooked perfectly. Served on a bed of mizuna with pomegranate seeds and slices of fried delicata squash. The Pinot noir was very nice. The selection of NA beers was great. Opted for a fieldwork hazy ipa. 16 ounce can of deliciousness. Highly recommended. IMO One of Sacramento's most underrated spots to dine out. read more

The Waterboy - French Near Me - Sacramento, California

Solid spot for a relaxed dinner. The menu has good variety and everything we tried tasted well balanced.

Exceptional service - our server was great, especially impressed by the seamless coordination of the support staff. The veal sweetbread demi-glacé with their focaccia bread and sea scallops entree was very tasty. read more

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I really wanted to like this restaurant because on the way to Sacramento from the coast I used GPT to find a restaurant with a menu that matched our desired dining experience. First, there were issues with parking and accessibility. I am in a wheelchair, and The Waterboy has no designated handicap parking, only street parking with their small lot reserved for employees. We had to pull up to the curb at an intersection, with traffic going around the car, just so I could get out into my wheelchair. They do have an automatic handicap-accessible door, which I appreciated, but by the time I made it from the car, down the sidewalk, and into the restaurant, I was shaking from the effort. It took at least 15 minutes just to find a way to exit the vehicle and make it inside. When I made the reservation I stated that I was in a wheelchair, yet Sophia did not give me a heads up on the lack of handicap parking. After finally getting inside, it was about 8:50 p.m., and the very first words out of the server's mouth were that the kitchen would be closing at 9:00. I described the ordeal I had just endured to get into the restaurant. The staff said they would call the city about the parking issue, but that didn't help in the moment. Once seated, the server, Neill, was polite and generally accommodating, but I did not receive a copy of the specials menu, and wasn't even aware of them because he made no effort to describe them. When I asked about wines only being by the glass, it was only then that he brought the wine list, which I would describe as just okay. There was also an awkward moment that didn't leave a great impression. After I explained the parking issue and he stepped away to speak with the manager, he returned and immediately took the order from a table that had arrived after us--even though we were ready to order. For my meal, I started with the Veal Sweetbreads with mushrooms, bacon, lemon, capers, Marsala, and demi-glace. ($23) It WAY over-salted. When the server asked how it was, I told him, and to his credit, he offered to replace it. I requested a half order instead. The second plate was better, but the heavy flavors overpowered the naturally delicate thymus glands, and they were also overcooked. I prefer a quick sear that leaves the inside creamy and melt-in-your-mouth, but this version leaned toward firm and lost its subtlety. When I mentioned the excessive salt, the chef actually defended the dish rather than acknowledging it might have been overseasoned. I am a very experienced home chef with my own recipe site and feel confident in my assessment of the food. I have since read other reviews where other diners have commented on the over salted dishes. My second dish was the Sonoma Liberty Duck Breast with panzanella of bitter greens, focaccia, Twin Peaks peaches, bacon, roasted onions, peppers agrodolce, and balsamico. ($46) I asked if they cooked it rare, and the server said medium-rare. I said that was fine--as long as it wasn't overcooked. Unfortunately, it arrived closer to blue, which is even less cooked than rare. The duck was also completely unseasoned, and the plating--simply scattered over otherwise nice greens--felt uninspired and not particularly appealing. For dessert, I chose the kumquat sorbet ($8), expecting a light, refreshing finish to the meal. Instead, it was far too sweet, masking the natural tartness of the kumquat and lacking the clean palate-cleansing quality a sorbet should have. I didn't finish a single one of my three dishes. My dinner companion had a different experience. She enjoyed her Ravioli of Roast Chicken, Mortadella, Caramelized Onions and Greens with herb butter, pork belly, Parmigiano Reggiano, and roasted garlic jus. ($36) She especially liked the pork belly, noting it was rich and flavorful, though she did mention there were only five ravioli on the plate. Because of that, I gave her a few pieces of my duck--but she agreed that eating nearly raw duck was not enjoyable. She also ordered an Old Fashioned Manhattan ($15!!), which she found well-balanced and enjoyable. For dessert, she had the Butterscotch Budino with whipped cream, caramel, and biscotti ($12), and she found it to be delicious--easily the highlight of her meal. The one bright spot for me was the two margaritas on the rocks ($30!!!!), which were well-made and balanced. In the end, while the cocktails were good and my companion liked her ravioli and dessert, my own meal was deeply disappointing. The ingredients definitely did not "shine," flavors were inconsistent, the seasoning erratic, the plating uninspired, and the experience was marred by accessibility challenges that could have been communicated upfront. For the cost ($207, including tip) and effort of dining here, I expected far more consistency and thoughtfulness--both in the kitchen and in the overall experience. Anna S. - Wild Woman Kitchen read more

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high-quality seasonal menu. The place is clean and the ingredients are very fresh. It is a good spot for a refined, farm-to-table meal.

I celebrated my birthday at Waterboy last night and my friends and I had a wonderful experience. None of us had been before, but I wanted a nice dinner for my 30th and had heard great things about this restaurant. Through the whole process, the managers and the staff on duty, were incredibly kind and worked with my best friend to square away the details for it. The food and drinks were phenomenal. We were all floored by everything we had, literally because we ate so much! It was the perfect way to spend my 30th birthday. Thank you for the exceptional service and we look forward to eating here for years to come. read more

The whole experience was exceptional! To start, our server Josh was amazing! He was so friendly and knowledgeable about everything at the restaurant! We booked last minute on Resy so the only available seating was outside but they have heaters outside and we were able to stay warm with it being about 40 degrees outside. We ordered the potato gratin and the focaccia to start. Both were incredibly delicious! The focaccia was so fresh and airy. For our main meal, I ordered the mushroom gnocchi. I am incredibly picky with gnocchi, it's one of my favorite foods, so it must be done well. This blew me away. This is truly one of the best gnocchi dishes I've ever had. My partner had the pasta special for that night and it was also impressive. Everything was so fresh and flavorful! Overall, we had a wonderful dining experience and can't wait to come back! read more

The Waterboy - Potato Gnocchi - French Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Another wonderful experience. When my father was alive Waterboy was one of his favorites and my mom also loved coming here. Yesterday I was in town and asked my daughter where she'd like to go for her bday- and so we lunched here! It was her very first time here & she really enjoyed her experience. (now 3 generations are loving Waterboy). We sat out doors and met others dining there- friendly customers Our server (a very pleasant woman) brought two pours of Proseco when she learned it was my daughter's bday. We shared a very fresh delicious salad & a scrumptious ravioli dish. As there were bread plates I would have loved a piece of bread, but other than that all was good. And cheers to the bartender- our drinks (I had the Papasan) were strong & yummy! read more

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Our office had our Christmas luncheon here on 12/12. Our reservation was for 12:30. I got there at noon and our table was ready! I was seated and promptly served water. Our waiter, Big Al, was friendly, helpful, and happily answered all of our questions. Our table shared oysters, focaccia, deviled eggs, and pancetta wrapped shrimp as appetizers. For my main, I ordered the spaghetti with scallops and shared a baby green salad with a coworker. All the food was delicious! It was my first time here and it won't be my last! read more

Food, service, wine selection all amazing! One of our favorites in Sacramento. expensive? Yes, but totally worth it. If we lived closer this would be our regular spot to have a glass of wine and a bite. read more

The Waterboy is one of the must dine restaurants in Sacramento. Tonight, we enjoyed the Chicken dish and the cassoulet. Service was outstanding. It was great sitting at the bar comparing stories with others. read more

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One day in Sacramento for a baseball game, found one of the best restaurants! Adorable restaurant downtown. The service was excellent. The meals were perfect combinations of flavors. My husband had the scallops with risotto and I had the house made ravioli. The portions were not overwhelming. Both were delicious. If ever in Sacramento again would probably re-visit. read more

I had an AMAZING experience at The Waterboy. This restaurant in midtown Sacramento has been on my bucket list, and honestly I had pretty high expectations going in. I will let you know that The Waterboy met all my expectations in regard to the food and service here. In fact, they exceeded my expectations! This restaurant is a higher-end establishment with white tablecloths and all. Though it is higher-end, it's not stuffy inside. In fact, the dining room is welcoming and cozy. It has a nice calm and relaxing vibe with people happily enjoying their meals over good conversation. The food was stellar. We started with the deviled eggs and they were smooth and filled our mouths with delicious-ness. The appetizer comes with four, but I seriously wanted ten of them. For our first course we began with salads and shared a soup. The salads were well balanced and pretty much exactly what you would expect. They were delicate and flavorful. For the soup, we shared a chilled corn soup. Again, this soup was balanced just right. We loved the sweet corn flavor with the pops of tomato. For entrees, the pork chop was the juiciest I've ever had in my entire life. It was juicy on the inside and the crust had a beautiful char on it that gave it the complex flavors I wanted that evening. The chicken was also amazing with a perfectly crisp and light skin. The Waterboy is a restaurant 100% worth going to and I'd happily vouch that it's one of the best restaurants in all of Sacramento! read more

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Overall? Mixed emotions here. The ambiance is a win: coastal chic with serious Rhode Island shoreside vibes. Clearly a popular spot since it was packed, but that also meant service felt a bit chaotic and food took longer than expected. Not a dealbreaker, just noticeable Parking? Street We had: Warm Salad of Frisée (3.5/5): Had all the right elements (baby spinach, crispy bacon lardons, poached egg, mustard vinaigrette) but it just didn't fully click. The egg was fine, the bacon was there, but the vinaigrette lacked the punch to tie it all together. Decent, but forgettable (Special) Broccoli Gratin (5/5): Absolute winner of the night. Creamy, rich, and perfectly balanced, with flavors that just worked. This dish needs to be a permanent menu item Waterboy Cassoulet (4.5/5): Deep, slow cooked perfection. The duck confit was melt in your mouth tender, the pork belly and garlic sausage packed flavor, and the white beans soaked up all the goodness. A little more generous on portion size and it'd be flawless La Tagliata (3/5): Had potential, the steak was cooked well and had decent flavor, but it was ridiculously chewy. The side? Sparse, bland, and forgettable. Felt more like filler than a real complement to the dish Some highs, some misses. The food had moments of brilliance but lacked consistency. Would come back, but with adjusted expectations read more

Belated review, but we tried the herbed fries, steak tartare, caesar salad, deviled eggs, salmon, and bolognese. The fries were crispy and flavorful, the steak tartare had great flavor, the caesar salad and deviled eggs were pretty good too, the salmon was perfectly cooked and flavorful, and the bolognese tasted great too. I would order everything again and would love to come back and try more things. Service was fast and attentive. It's a nice place to have a celebratory dinner since it is more of a special occasion vibe. read more

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Went here for dinner on Thursday and the service, food and atmosphere are worthy of 5+ stars. This was my second visit to the Waterboy. The food was just as delicious as the first time. We had the oysters to begin. For mains, I got the fish special and my friend got the spaghetti carbonara. We shared one affogato for dessert. The carbonara was the standout, perfectly salted al dente pasta with the exact proportional fork full amount of bacon. Yum! The fish was very good too. It was sea bass poached in a light broth with tomatoes, potatoes, capers and onions. You can never go wrong with oysters or affogato - always winners. The service was so attentive. Our reservation was for 8 PM and they close at 9 so we tried our best to not be the last one standing (sitting). We didn't feel rushed whatsoever. Can't wait to go back again soon! read more

The Waterboy - Exterior at Night - French Near Me - Sacramento, California

I was delighted to finally try this staple in Sacramento. There was a parking lot close by that you can pay for parking. We had reservation reservations for Saturday at 7:30. We tried to go before without reservations and there was no seating so I would recommend reservations. The dining room was beautiful and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. we started with the charcuterie board. It was very large and I would recommend it for sharing between two people. I enjoyed having the rigatoni and my husband enjoyed the steak. I had a French 75 with the appetizer and a lovely glass of wine with my meal. Everything was great. The staff was very helpful in selecting what we would enjoy eating. There was a few items that I want to try that are not available for dinner, so I'll definitely be going back for lunch. read more

The Waterboy - Charcuterie - French Near Me - Sacramento, California

Excellent service. Excellent food. Excellent ambiance. My husband and I have been dining at The Waterboy since it opened many years ago. Every time we go we always say we need to come here more often. Alan was our waiter again. He does a great job and is always so pleasant as are the others that work with him. The food never disappoints. I always have to order the deviled eggs even if I'm the only one eating them. I barely touched my entree, the New York steak (cooked perfectly medium rare) because we ordered so much food. But it was well worth it. Steak sandwich today. read more