Restaurants with Great Wine Service (and Great Food, of course)

In case you are not stuck in Lodi, but in Sacramento, here are a couple of restaurants worth visiting. Luc Dendievel (wondering about all the Belgian beers on the list?) is the chef at Restaurant 55, and he is certainly a master in creating simple, tasty dishes with the freshest ingredients. An entree based on poached eggs was just a perfect dinner after a long, hot summer day. The wine list is beautifully designed and easy to read, and consists of some well-known names, but mostly of small, family-owned vineyards. You can tell that the wine director knows her wines! A special twist is the presentation for the wines by the glass: the bottle is presented to the guest at the table, and then poured; this helps to remember the wine. The staff is very well educated in wine service. My server Summer did a magnificent job with a smile on her face, even when a corked wine showed up!

Or try Ristorante Piatti with their beautiful menu of European (mostly Italy) inspired dishes and wines. Their brick-oven pizza is fabulous! In Sacramento, they are located in a somewhat boring, upscale shopping mall, but the restaurant offers nice ambiance including outdoor seating. Not a large wine list, but a good selection and knowledgeable staff.

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Comments

[Napanite]

That photo is an entree at Restaurant 55? Our tapas bar is more generous. What is the fare on a single poached egg and a few elbow macaroni?

[Wineandjoy]

Thank goodness the portion sizes are becoming more sensible, I was able to also eat a rare tuna starter and a cheese plate for dessert. No macaroni, just some freshly harvested beans and carrots. It was simple, but delicious!