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The Waterboy is a neighborhood restaurant in Midtown Sacramento that has been cooking delicious food and providing great service since 1996. We feature a seasonal menu, inspired primarily by the beautiful cuisines of northern Italy and southern France. In addition, we offer a diverse wine list and a full bar featuring artisanal cocktails and aperitifs.

 

EVENTS
See our Events Page or join our newsletter at the bottom of the page for upcoming events.
For information on private dining & events email us at: contact@waterboyrestaurant.com

 

GIFT CARDS
Gift Cards can be purchased by clicking this link.

 

sac_waterboy

Providing delicious food & excellent service in Midtown Sacramento since 1996. Lunch: Tues-Fri, Dinner: Tues-Sat
Sister Spot: @onespeedpizza

Potato Gratin. Need we really say anything more?⁠
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⁠Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday, and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday.⁠
Radiatori al Sugo Piccante 🍝 The curves and rid Radiatori al Sugo Piccante 🍝 The curves and ridges of these “little radiators” are perfect for grabbing onto the rich & flavorful ragu of braised pork shoulder that they’re served with. 

📸 Radiatori al Sugo Piccante: Ragu of Braised Pork Shoulder, Tomato, Pancetta, Calabrian Chilies, Red Wine, Pecorino

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Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday, and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday.
Thank you so much to everyone who joined us for “L’Autunno Italiano” last Thursday! These dinners are a labor of love, and you’re the reason we pour our hearts into every detail. It makes us so happy when our dining room is filled with both familiar faces and new friends who are experiencing Thursday Dinner for the very first time ❤️

The next one will take place on November 20th, so keep an eye out for an email announcement in the next couple of weeks. 

Haven’t joined us for a Thursday Dinner yet? We’d absolutely love to have you. Send us a DM if you’d like us to add you to our email list so you’re among the first to be notified.

🎥 Thursday Dinner Prix Fixe Event, 10/09 - “L’Autunno Italiano”

Antipasti:
Some Bocconcini Gustosi to Get Things Started

Insalata di Gemma Piccola:
Salad of Little Gems & Treviso with Olives, Robiola, Salami Rosa, Roasted Delicata Squash, Toasty Breadcrumbs & Red Wine Vinaigrette

Gnocchi al Sugo di Pesce:
Potato Dumplings, Scallops, Halibut, Leeks, Fennel, San Marzano Tomatoes, Lemon, Red Chilies & Mint

Faraona alla Griglia:
Charcoal Grilled Guinea Hen with Rosemary, Grapes & Vin Santo, Capay Mills Polenta, Chanterelles, Bacon, Garlicky Chard

Torta di Mele:
Italian Apple Cake with Apple Hill Golden Delicious, Cinnamon, Zabaglione & Sea Salt Caramel
📢 Pardon our interruption for this brief public 📢 Pardon our interruption for this brief public service announcement: The Waterboy Pastrami Sandwich is on special for lunch this week. Very official people say that eating this sandwich improves the likelihood of having a great day by 792% (and no, we did not forget a decimal point). 

Thank you. You may now resume your regularly scheduled programming. 

📸🎥: Waterboy Smoked Pastrami Sandwich on House Rye Bread with Cabbage, Pickles & Whole Grain Mustard
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Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday, and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday.
La Tagliata— a classic Italian approach to steak La Tagliata— a classic Italian approach to steak, and one of Chef Rick’s favorites. In true Waterboy fashion, it’s a simple & delicious preparation that lets our high-quality ingredients shine.

📸🎥 La Tagliata: Grilled Sliced Steak,  Arugula, Parmigiano, Roasted Potatoes & Onions, Rosemary
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Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday, and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday.
If this perfect weather hasn’t already made you If this perfect weather hasn’t already made you fall in love with the season, this risotto should do the trick 🍂 

New to the menu: Pan Seared Sea Scallops with Winter Squash Risotto, Caramelized Endive, Chanterelles, Brown Butter & Gremolata 

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📢: Just a few spots left for our “L’Autunno Italiano” Thursday Dinner event on October 9th! These dinners are some of our very favorite nights at The Waterboy, and we’d love to have you with us. Menu & ticket information can be found at waterboyrestaurant.com/events 
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Our next Thursday Dinner event takes place on Octo Our next Thursday Dinner event takes place on October 9th, and we’ll be cooking up a delicious Italian feast featuring one of Rick’s favorite Tuscan classics as the main course… guinea hen! 

It’s going to be a really wonderful evening filled with fantastic food, beautiful wines, and great company. We’d love to have you there! Tickets can be purchased through the link on our main page.

Thursday Dinner at The Waterboy, 10/09/25: “L’Autunno Italiano”

Antipasti:
Some Bocconcini Gustosi to Get Things Started
 
Gnocchi al Sugo di Pesce:
Potato Dumplings, Scallops, Sea Bass,
San Marzano Tomato, Lemon, Red Chilies & Mint
 
Insalata di Gemma Piccola:
Salad of Little Gems & Treviso with Olives, Robiola,
Salami Rosa, Roasted Delicata Squash, Toasty Breadcrumbs & Red Wine Vinaigrette
 
Faraona alla Griglia:
Charcoal Grilled Guinea Hen with Rosemary, Grapes & Vin Santo, Capay Mills Polenta, Chanterelles, Bacon & Garlicky Chard
 
Torta di Mele:
Apple Hill Apples, Cinnamon, Zabaglione
& Sea Salt Caramel

$110 per person (includes gratuity)
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Ci vediamo presto!

** Thursday Dinner is a special event at The Waterboy where we offer a prix fixe menu to be enjoyed by all guests dining with us that evening. This will be the only menu available that night. Seating is limited and tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets are available through our link in bio. **
We love duck here at The Waterboy, and we couldn’t be more grateful to @liberty_ducks for supplying us with what we think is the very best around. 

We’re currently serving it with a delicious huckleberry agrodulce, delicata squash, romano beans, caramelized onions, watercress & buttermilk mashed potatoes. Exactly the sort of dish we want to be eating as the autumn leaves change colors and our evenings begin to cool 🍂

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📢: Our next Thursday Dinner prix fixe event takes place on October 9th— “L’Autunno Italianno” 🇮🇹 Head over to waterboyrestaurant.com/events for details. Ci vediamo presto!
Ravioli di Ricotta with sweet corn, chanterelles, Ravioli di Ricotta with sweet corn, chanterelles, cherry tomatoes, Parmigiano, brown butter, & sage. It’s been a favorite since the moment it hit the menu a couple weeks ago and is every bit as delicious as it sounds. 

With ingredients like corn & cherry tomatoes, we won’t be able to keep this one around for too long. Be sure to come enjoy it while you can 🌽☀️🍅

We hope this weekend is treating you well and look forward to seeing you when we’re back open on Tuesday!

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Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday, and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday.
Three new reasons to save room for dessert ✨ Cho Three new reasons to save room for dessert ✨ Chocolate Cheesecake, Ginger Panna Cotta, and Coffee Profiteroles— all made with love by our amazing pastry chef, Chloe. Which one are you going to try first? 😋

📸: (1) Chocolate Cheesecake with Whipped Cream & Oreo Crust (2) Ginger Panna Cotta with Lemon Shortbread Cookies (3) Profiteroles with  Housemade Coffee Ice Cream & Spiced Crème Anglaise
A pound and a half of Manila clams, housemade ling A pound and a half of Manila clams, housemade linguine, garlic, parsley, white wine & olive oil. It’s the very first dish to feature our new house-extruded linguine, and this Italian classic felt like the perfect place to start. Simple, delicious, and exactly what we want to be eating right now. 

📸🎥 Linguine alle Vongole: Manila Clams, Garlic, Parsley, White Wine, Olive Oil, Roasted Garlic Toast. And a peak at our shiny new linguine die for the pasta extruder.
One of Rick’s all-time favorite pairings: pork & One of Rick’s all-time favorite pairings: pork & beans… Waterboy style. New to the menu, our porchetta with creamy cannellini beans, summer vegetables & salsa verde is even more flavorful than it is colorful— and worth every bit of the love that goes into making it.

Tap the link in our bio and make your reservation for this week so you can come enjoy it, along with the other fantastic new additions to our menu. 

We can’t wait to welcome you for a wonderful meal ❤️

📸🎥: Klingeman Farms Pork Belly Porchetta with Creamy Cannellini Beans, Roasted Sweet Peppers, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Salsa Verde, Rosemary & Sage

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Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday, and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday.
We already knew Dora was an artist in the kitchen, We already knew Dora was an artist in the kitchen, but this weekend she proved she’s just as brilliant on the sidewalk 🎨✨ @dorabromme created this stunning chalk piece inspired by our scallop risotto at @chalkitupsac over the weekend, and we’re completely in awe of her talent. 

See her masterpiece at Fremont Park, then come to Waterboy and enjoy the dish it depicts— available at dinner through Wednesday and lunch through Thursday. Don’t miss either before they disappear!

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Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday, and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday.

📢: New menu starting this Thursday, 9/04 @ 5pm
Now is the time to savor tomatoes and basil in abu Now is the time to savor tomatoes and basil in abundance, and we’re here to help you do just that 🍅🌿 Beautiful tomatoes and fragrant basil from our friends at @full_belly_farm and @root64sacramento are making their way onto plates across our menu right now— come enjoy them soon while these ingredients are still at their flavorful peak.

📸 (1) Tomatoes Tonnato: Heirloom Tomatoes, Olives, Capers, Lemon, Basil, Toasty Breadcrumbs, Celery, Tuna Mayonnaise (2) Stunning Genovese Basil from Root 64 *photo credit to @root64sacramento * (3) Spaghetti Pomodoro: Heirloom Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Basil, Garlic, Red Pepper, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pablo’s Olive Oil (4) Beautiful Full Belly Farm Cherry Tomatoes (5) Bruschetta: Toasted Housemade Foccacia with Herbed Ricotta, Cherry Tomato Jam, Green Olive Tapenade & Basil
If Rick had to choose a favorite pasta, this may v If Rick had to choose a favorite pasta, this may very well be it— Rigatoni all’Amatriciana ❤️ Housemade rigatoni in a zesty tomato sauce cooked with guanciale, red onion, and a dash of chili for pleasant, balanced heat. Made with love, finished with pecorino & parsley. 
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#PastaIsLove⁠

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📢: We will be closed during dinner service for a private event on Wednesday, 8/27. 
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Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday, and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday.
Our favorite summer sandwich is on special for lun Our favorite summer sandwich is on special for lunch this week! House bacon, juicy @full_belly_farm heirloom tomatoes and @soil_born_farms lettuces on housemade white bread with basil mayonnaise 🥓🥬🍅 

See you soon!

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📢: Our next Thursday Dinner prix fixe is happening on August 28th, featuring a delicious vegetarian menu to celebrate our incredible bounty of local summer produce. Tickets can be purchased through the link in our bio. 
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Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday, and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday.
Mark your calendars! We’re thrilled to announce Mark your calendars! We’re thrilled to announce our next Thursday Dinner event on August 28, 2025... “August Harvest”

At the heart of The Waterboy is a deep appreciation for seasonal, local produce— and this special evening is a tribute to just that. Rick, Kate & Crew will be cooking up a delicious vegetarian menu celebrating the incredible summer bounty we’re receiving from our favorite farms, all served with the warm Waterboy hospitality you know and love.

It’s going to be a wonderful night of great food and great company, and we’d love to have you with us! Tickets can be purchased through the link in our bio. 

Thursday Dinner at The Waterboy, 08/28/25: “August Harvest”

B̶e̶m̶u̶s̶e̶d̶?̶ Amused!
Gougère with Petite Ratatouille & Basil – Crostini with White Bean Puree & Peperonata
 
Ravioli of Sweet Corn, Ricotta & Squash Blossoms
Brown Butter, Parmigiano Reggiano

Salade Niçoise 
Dwelley Beans, Full Belly Farm Potatoes, Cucumbers, Olives, Gypsy Peppers, Sweet Red Onions, Red Wine Vinaigrette & Aioli
 
Bouillabaisse of Summer Vegetables*
An Assortment of Local Vegetables, Lobster Mushrooms, Heirloom Beans, Saffron, Leeks, Fennel, Grilled Bread & Rouille
*This is a vegetarian bouillabaisse— does not include fish or shellfish
 
Fig & Almond Crostata
Housemade Vanilla Ice Cream & Saba 

$98 per person (includes gratuity)
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We can’t wait to have you join us for this special night!⁠

** Thursday Dinner is a special event at The Waterboy where we offer a prix fixe menu to be enjoyed by all guests dining with us that evening. This will be the only menu available that night. Seating is limited and tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets are available through our link in bio. **
We love summer, and eating Full Belly Farm Melon w We love summer, and eating Full Belly Farm Melon with Parma Prosciutto is most certainly one of the reason why 😊 Served with white nectarines, mint, watercress, ricotta salata, Pablo’s olive oil & balsamico, this salad is the perfect way to start your meal on a warm summer day ☀️

HUGE thank you to @full_belly_farm for providing us with the most amazingly delicious melons, year after year after year 🙏❤️

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Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday, and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday.
This one’s a favorite around here— Chef Kate s This one’s a favorite around here— Chef Kate says it’s tied with our scallop risotto as her top dinner pick. Klingeman Farms Pork Chop, stuffed with Italian sausage & herbs, served with crispy fried polenta, sautéed peppers & onions, and garlicky greens.⁠
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Hearty, flavorful, and (as always) made with love. Come give it a try for dinner this week ❤️⁠
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@purecountryklingeman⁠
Final call! We have a little menu change happening Final call! We have a little menu change happening on Thursday night, and these four dishes will be making their exit. There’s still time to enjoy them today (Wednesday, 7/30) for lunch or dinner, and tomorrow (Thursday, 7/31) for lunch. 

We’ll miss them too— but we promise there’s plenty more deliciousness on the way 😊 Come give them the send-off they deserve!

📸: (1) Potato Gnocchi: Pesto, Marinated Heirloom Tomatoes, Dwelley Green Beans, Summer Squash, Parmigiano Reggiano (2) Salad of Local Strawberries: Whipped Goat Cheese, Baby Lettuces, Toasted Pistachios, Pickled Red Onions, Golden Balsamic Vinaigrette (3) Pasta alla Norma: Housemade Rigatoni, Full Belly Eggplant, Crushed Tomato Sauce, Oregano, Garlic, Hot Pepper, Ricotta Salata (4) Bruschetta: Burrata, Stone Fruit, Basil, Balsamico

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Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday, and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday.
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The Waterboy

2000 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 498-9891 tel

DINE-IN and TAKE-OUT

LUNCH: Tuesday-Friday, 11:30am-2:00pm

DINNER: Tuesday-Thursday, 5:00-9:00pm & Friday-Saturday, 5:00-9:30pm

contact@waterboyrestaurant.com

Get Reservations for The Waterboy at RESY.com
© Copyright 2020, The Waterboy, All rights reserved.