Date: November 22, 2006
Location: 1431 Del Paso Boulevard, Sacramento
Corkage: not sure...
Cost: $225 for party of 4+ (including tax & tip)
Phone: 916.922.6792

I first discovered this little gem of a restaurant in Sacramento back in 2002. At the time, I was still living in Stockton and looking at the brief notes from the visit on January 19th, 2002, it's a restaurant I've always enjoyed.

As some of you may know, Mike Chandler, aka winebrat is the Wine Director at the restaurant. Mike took over the operation in late 2002 and has since created a wine list that would rival any establishment in San Francisco. Not only has the wine list got better and grow with Mike, the food is also getting better with every visit.

Figuring I haven't seen Mike for a while, decided to plan an off-line in Sacramento and get the SacTown crowd together. Unfortunately, what was scheduled as a dinner for eight, got a few late cancellation and turned out to be a small casual evening of four.

Mrs. CHICO stopped in for appetizers but left the table to jambo726, CHICO, Melissa and I. Mike came and sat with us as the time allows in-between handling the restaurant.

We ordered a few appetizers to get rolling Composed Cheeses, Warm Goat Cheese and Rosemary French Toast, Sauteed Fresh Wild Mushrooms, Steamed Clams & Mussels, and Ahi Tartar. Each of these item are wonderful, paired with a 1996 Tyrrell Semillon and a 1994 Portuguese Wine CHICO brought the name escapes me at the moment.

About half way through the apps, we started to pour the other reds of the evening, 1999 Portolio and 2002 Sur Luchtel Sacrache Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. At this time, Mike dropped off a 2004 Carter Revilo Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon as his donation to the cause, as if we didn't already have enough bottles and stems on the table.

For entrees, jambo726 ordered the Grilled Salmon Steak. CHICO opted for Rosemary Encrusted Half Rack of Lamb. Melissa went for the restaurant's signature dish, Paella, while I went with two more appetizers, Heirloom Tomatoes and Mozzarella and Sonoma Foie Gras to pair with the 2001 Clos Haut-Peyraguey.

As with the appetizers we had, all the entrees looked great, especially the Paella, which I got to try some and translated fully from visual to taste. A big thick piece of Foie Gras was seared just right, went perfectly with the stickie, I would REALLY hate to be living in Chicago...but then again...

In the end, we didn't have any room for desserts, but there is always a next time. If and only Sacramento is a closer drive, I would love to go to Enotria more often. It took me 90 minutes to go from Napa to Davis to pick-up Melissa and another 30 minutes to the restaurant last night. Two hours is just a bit too long of a drive for me, although the traffic was horrible on a Friday evening.

In any case, those of you that live in the area should definitely give this place a try. For the others that happen to visit Sacramento for whatever reason I really can't think of, this would be a great place to go have a casual dinner and enjoy the evening.

Oh, and a side note. Don't be scared of the neighborhood, not the greatest part of town but generally safe. :P