Diners' Choice: Neighbourhood gem restaurants in Sacramento / Sacramento Valley

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighbourhood gems in Sacramento / Sacramento Valley? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Plan B - ARDEN TOWN

4.8

4.8 (798)

$31 to $50

French

Sacramento

About the restaurant

Celebrating our 14th year serving southern French fare with Mediterranean influences including Mussels & Pommes Frites offered 6 ways.
Black board specials include:
Rack of Lamb
Filet Mignon
Fish and Meat specials
Pasta, Risotto and Gnocchi Specials

Top review

ChristyVIP

Dined today

Excellent dining experience. A true gem! An amazing team.

Mezzo - Stockton

4.8

4.8 (456)

$30 and under

Italian

Stockton

About the restaurant

Mezzo Ristorante in Brookside is a small neighborhood trattoria. Inspired by the cuisines of Italy, Chef Daniel creates a beautiful seasonal & modern italian menu, featuring local produce, house made pastas, quality meats and fresh fish. Mezzo features weekly seafood, ravioli, drink specials for our customers to enjoy!

Mezzo offers indoor dining & on our heated enclosed patio for our customers to enjoy year round. Our bar opens Tuesday-Saturday n starting at 4:00 and serves beautifully handcrafted cocktails, mocktails, a notable wine list, craft beer & after dinner drinks.

Mezzo specializes in private events showers, graduation, birthdays, baptisms, anniversary parties which can be held in our private patio or restaurant. Look for our farmers market dinners, wine tasting events and wine dinners.

At Mezzo we invite you to relax, restore, dine & enjoy drinks with family and friends.
Best of San Joaquin Magazine winner & Diners choice award

Top review

Daniel

Dined on May 11, 2025

Awesome experience! All the staff was friendly, the food was excellent! We really enjoyed sitting on the patio!

The Gypsy Bistro

4.8

4.8 (223)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Lockeford

About the restaurant

Experience dining like never before in our unique restaurant, set in a former concrete wine storage tank. Unwind on our charming terrace, reminiscent of an Italian Piazza, with a refreshing craft cocktail or a glass of wine expertly selected by our sommelier. Our eclectic menu features locally-sourced, seasonal dishes, all prepared from scratch.

Our menu is a blend of classic dishes with a modern twist, showcasing favorites such as our grilled steak of the night, delectable pastas, and succulent scampi. Conveniently located just off the Lodi wine trail in Lockeford, California, we are the perfect stop halfway between the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe, 1/2 mile west off scenic Hwy 88.

Join us for an unforgettable dining experience that celebrates the best of local ingredients and culinary innovation.

Top review

Alicia

Dined 4 days ago

The Grateful Gypsy Bistro is my favorite restaurant-ever. The food is always amazing. It is full of flavor while also being well balanced. The environment is calm and homey while also feeling very warm and inviting. I can't recommend this restaurant enough. The best Ribeye and the best chicken fried steak I have ever had. There isn't one thing I have tried that I didn't like. 10/10.

Mattone

4.8

4.8 (306)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sacramento

About the restaurant

Mattone means brick in Italian.
We build our foundation on fresh house made pasta, local produce, meat & cheeses.
Our base is Italian, but our chef has flair for the unexpected & worldly.
Join us for cocktails, wine, beer, & friendly atmosphere.

Top review

RoxanneVIP

Dined today

The food was fabulous and the service even better!

The Tin Lantern Bar and Grill

4.8

4.8 (45)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Auburn

About the restaurant

Cozy locale featuring burgers and filet mignon, plus beer, wine, and a selection of whiskey.

Top review

Pepper

Dined 6 days ago

Great experience. Staff very patient as my guest and I were catching up after a long absence in each others' lives. As always food really good and a very fun time.

Zinfandel Grille - Sacramento

4.6

4.6 (2760)

$31 to $50

Farm-to-table

Sacramento

About the restaurant

Experience the art of farm-to-fork dining at its finest: savor house-made pasta, wood-fired oven pizza, and dishes crafted with love over open flames. Celebrate the vibrant flavors of seasonal, local, California bounty, and raise a glass to our inspired craft cocktails and fine wines.

Top review

Pam

Dined 1 day ago

This was a really nice experience. We visit Sacramento twice a year and usually go to Seasons 52, which is now permanently closed. After googling, we chose Zinfandel Grille, and we are so glad we did. Our server, Don, was friendly, personable, and very attune to when we needed things. And, he was so prompt! The food was good. The gnocchi and calamari appetizers were our favorite dishes. The sauces are the main dishes were exceptional. We will definitely return when in town again. :)

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Fabian's Italian Bistro

4.6

4.6 (1980)

$30 and under

Italian

Fair Oaks

About the restaurant

Voted Best Italian Restaurant in Sacramento! Fabian's Italian Bistro serves locally sourced ingredients crafted into classic Italian dinners, lunches and brunches. On the weekend, you can enjoy brunch with classic eggs benedict, avocado toast or even the "chef's mess". At dinner or lunch service, take a peek at the special wine and cocktail menu, which is filled with both local and imported options.

Fabian’s Italian Bistro is worth checking out any day, but if you happen to be in the neighborhood on Tuesday or Wednesday, you’re in for a treat. Tasting Tuesday dinners include an ever-changing special tasting menu, where you can try smoked pork, scallops, pork tenderloin, polenta, squid ink spaghetti and more. Wednesdays at Fabian’s Italian Bistro feature select house favorite wines for half price, plus they allow you to bring your own bottle with no corkage.

Top review

David

Dined 5 days ago

I have been coming here for years and I would say it’s my favorite restaurant in the area. The menus is always changing and the food is always spectacular. The ambiance in the patio makes it a great experience and the service is always top notch. David Dellinger

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Caffe Italiano Ristorante

4.6

4.6 (343)

$30 and under

Italian

Fair Oaks

About the restaurant

Authentic Italian cuisine in Fair Oaks. We use the freshest ingredients and provide the best service. We look forward to seeing you!

Top review

JosephVIP

Dined on May 11, 2025

Exceptional service with great food. A hidden gem.

Brickland

4.4

4.4 (59)

$31 to $50

American

Sacramento

About the restaurant

Brickland is a family-owned neighborhood restaurant located in East Sacramento. We offer a mix of classic American, Mediterranean, and other cultural dishes with an Afghan flare.

We offer a full bar, indoor and patio seating, weekend brunch, and happy hour Tuesday-Friday 3:00- 6:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 3:00 - 5:00 PM.

Our Executive Chef, Karel Mulac rotates the menu seasonally and crafts unique pasta dishes, housemade soups and weekly specials made with seasonal, farm fresh ingredients.

Top review

Moira

Dined on May 11, 2025

Our first visit and we had a wonderful dinner. Our server was very helpful introducing the Afghani dishes to us and also very attentive. We loved the food and will be back!

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Rock & Brews Sacramento

2.9

2.9 (127)

$31 to $50

American

Arden Fair

About the restaurant

Welcome to Rock & Brews, where the unifying force of rock ‘n’ roll music and the burgeoning craft beer movement meet the American bar and restaurant. We are an energized dining and entertainment concept offering affordable, high-quality classic American food.
We have a broad selection of local and international craft beer options, and we immerse our guests in a casual rock ‘n’ roll experience unlike any other.
Rock & Brews is taking thrills to the next level.
Rock your taste buds with delicious cuisine fit for rock stars while enjoying craft beers from around the world. Immerse yourself in the ultimate rock ‘n’ roll dining experience.
Located in Sacramento CA, Rock & Brews offers guests a broad menu of classic American food with a twist.
Rock your appetite, rock your mind, and rock your world at the one and only Rock & Brews Restaurant.

Party's over 10 guests automatic gratuity added (18%)

Top review

Jackie

Dined on Feb 14, 2025

My daughter and I went for a late lunch/early dinner on Valentine's Day at Rock and Brews. It was our first time here. Very fun, lively atmosphere. We caught the band setting up for their performance later that evening - this was a treat! We had a great time, enjoyed our food and will be back again soon!

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