Last week we wrapped up our Courtyard Dining series as Liz and Maria dined with Rick Kushman on the patio of Aioli Bodega Espanola. Rick deputized the Sac Foodies on a Courtyard Dining mission and, for a few weeks, we indulged in great outdoor atmospheres and delicious food at some locally hidden gems. Our visits included Osteria Fasulo, The Mustard Seed, La Provence and Casa Garden.
We want to thank Rick for this fun experience and invite you to read his courtyard dining wrap-up featured in Sunday’s Sacramento Bee.
Do you have a favorite courtyard dining spot around town? We’d love to know!
Courtyard Dining: Aioli Bodega Espanola
For our final courtyard stop, Maria and I were lucky enough to visit this Midtown hotspot with none other than Rick Kushman himself. The three of us met for lunch on the patio and I have to say that Aioli has one of the nicest patios in town! Sitting on the patio, surrounded by foliage and listening to the sound of the pretty tiled water fountain behind us, it was almost impossible to believe that we were dining on one of the busiest corners in Midtown.
After noshing on a few baskets of bread with a dipping sauce that reminded us of hummus with a kick of spice, I decided to order one of the daily specials, a chicken salad topped with grilled bell peppers and shoestring potatoes. Maria opted for the vegetarian sandwich special and Rick went with the lamb sandwich which he described as having a subtle Mediterranean spicing but calling out for a glass of Pinot Noir to go with it. Both sandwiches came with side salads and were served on grilled bread that tasted like a delicious cross between pita bread and pizza crust.
Chatting away over our meals we agreed that Aioli likely is one of the best-kept courtyard dining secrets in Sacramento. The inside of the restaurant looked just as welcoming including a cozy bar area in back. Lucky for all of us that weather reports look like we’ll surely have at least a few more weeks of patio-dining-acceptable weather – at least for lunch!
Aioli Bodgea Espanola
1800 L Street
Sacramento, CA
(916) 447-9440
Courtyard Dining: Osteria Fasulo
I’ve lived in Davis for just over two years now and still love trying new restaurants. When Rick Kushman suggested that the SacFoodies try Osteria Fasulo as part of the courtyard dining series I jumped at the chance. Osteria Fasulo is an Italian restaurant located in West Davis: its location is unique in itself – the restaurant is situated in a residential neighborhood instead of downtown, where most others Davis eateries are located. In fact, I was wondering to myself when we pulled up how a restaurant, so far off the beaten path, was famous for being one of the best restaurants in town… and then I saw the patio.
I would like to point out that the inside of Osteria Fasulo is homey, and very nice, but the patio is what makes the place so great – it’s huge and looks onto the restaurant’s garden and a neighborhood bike path. Lucky for my husband and me it was a warm summer evening and we wanted our meal to linger into the night when the patio’s strung lights would be illuminated, which it definitely did!
As per usual, we couldn’t decide what to try, so we ordered a selection of menu items and tasted off of each other’s plates. After the order was placed and wine poured, our server left us to sit at our cozy corner table under the grapevines, while she started rustling through the garden. We made our guesses about what she was harvesting and then saw her surface with a small squash blossom and immediately disappear into the kitchen.
It was to my pure delight when our first course, a Summer Squash Soup, came out topped with the blossom, stuffed with goat cheese and grilled – delish!
Our evening got better as the sun went down – the food kept coming and the service was very friendly and the staff was quite knowledgeable.
Lobster & Beef Carpaccio.
Lobster & Spinach Risotto
Pistachio crusted Salmon and green beans
Just as we were being served dessert the owner, Lenardo Fasulo stopped by our table to say hello and ask how our dinner was. I loved this – such a nice touch that not many restaurant owners take the time to do, and it makes all the difference. At Osteria Fasulo you feel at home and welcometo sit in the patio and enjoy until your heart’s content. Of course nothing tops off a long dinner like a dessert and a latte – our choice was the Bavaria Cream with Raspberry Puree and Chocolate Shavings. What a night!
Osteria Fasulo
2657 Portage Bay East
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 758-1324
Courtyard Dining: The Mustard Seed
I’ve driven through Davis more times than I can count, but have never really stopped to enjoy this cute, college town. So when the opportunity presented itself to enjoy a lovely dinner on the patio of The Mustard Seed in downtown Davis, I jumped at the chance.
Although we dined on a slightly overcast day with a few sprinkles, I could see that this would be a wonderful spot to kick back, enjoy a glass of wine and nosh on great-tasting food featuring seasonal ingredients. Immediately after being seated, our server brought out crusty bread, a garlic-goat cheese spread and olives. This was a nice surprise over your typical bread/butter combo. We then ordered two starters– the first was a grilled artichoke with an herby-balsamic glaze and aioli on the side and the second starter was an Arugula salad with Mission Figs and Serrano Ham. It was sweet, peppery and savory all in a delicious bite.
As much as I loved my artichoke, I had my eye on the entrée. I’m always a sucker for a good pork chop, and this one was slathered in a house-made barbecue sauce that was the perfect blend of sweet and zesty. But the real star of the plate was the cheddar mashed potatoes with green onions and corn. I could barely keep my dining companion (who ordered the Corn Meal-dusted Diver Scallops served with Sweet Corn Risotto) from stealing bite after bite of these cheesy, chunky spuds
Because I couldn’t stop myself from finishing the pork chop, I left zero room for dessert but The Mustard Seed had a great assortment of chocolate and fruit selections along with some tasty-looking cheese plates.
If you are looking for a romantic dining spot for two, or planning a bridal or baby shower, definitely reserve the patio at The Mustard Seed for meal (or event) to remember.
The Mustard Seed
222 D. Street #11
Davis, Ca 95616
(530) 758-5750
Courtyard Dining: Casa Garden
For our first courtyard assignment, Rick suggested Casa Garden Restaurant. Open for 35 years, and focusing on fusion cuisine and a California take on classic dishes, their menu changes weekly and features fresh and local seasonal ingredients. One of the best things about Casa Garden is that all profits and 100% of gratuities go to support the Sacramento Children’s Home, one of the oldest children’s homes in California.
Here’s what we loved:
Maria – Their weekly menu is short, but not short on flavor. I ordered the Sesame Thai Beef Salad, which was fresh and flavorful. I noticed their wine list, too, but it was a working lunch after all – so I stuck to the iced tea! We all loved meeting Assistant Chef Tommy Moreno who gave us a peek inside what makes Casa Garden. I can see how their beautiful courtyard would be perfect for a wedding or other special event.
Vanessa – The wait staff at Casa Garden are all volunteers donating their time for the good of the children’s home. Our waitress was a Paula Deen look-alike with a similar smile and gracious charm! I ordered the chicken and spinach crepes, baked with the perfect combination of meaty-, creamy-, cheesy-goodness. It was paired with mixed greens in a light olive oil and vinegar dressing and a sourdough roll.
Christine – The food is great, but what is even better the feeling you get just by dining at Casa Garden. Since ALL profits and gratuities go to the Children’s Home, it is clear that everyone, and everything, in the restaurant is there for good reason. Assistant Chef Tommy Moreno explained that even the art on the walls and the chairs we were sitting on were donated to benefit the Children’s Home.
Liz – I love a good lunch outing and Casa Garden was no exception. I ordered the cheesy chicken and spinach crepes and was very surprised when Chef Tommy explained that he actually tries to “lighten up” his recipes because it didn’t taste light to me and I mean that in a good way! We all shared a slice of the Heavenly Raspberry Pie for dessert – I loved the surprise of it being served cold – perfect for the hot day.
Cecily – You can’t help but notice the pretty scenery when you walk into the Casa Garden courtyard. We walked through a freshly groomed garden courtyard to reach the front door where we were greeted by a type of friendly staff you don’t get at all restaurants. What really blew me away was when I found out that everyone from the chef to the gardener is a volunteer. It’s hard not to walk away from lunch at Casa Garden with a little inspirational bounce in your step.
Casa Garden Restaurant
2760 Sutterville Road
Sacramento, CA
(916) 452-2809