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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

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.
We couldn’t decide between steak and shrimp… s We couldn’t decide between steak and shrimp… so we didn’t 🍤🥩

Come join us for lunch this week to try our Surf and Turf Sandwich— Prime New York steak and spicy Gulf shrimp with sautéed onions & peppers on toasted housemade focaccia, served with fried green tomatoes and remoulade. 

📸🎥: “Surf and Turf” Sandwich: Prime New York Steak & Spicy Gulf Shrimp on Toasted Focaccia with Sautéed Onions, Peppers, Fried Green Tomatoes & Remoulade. Available during lunch only. 

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Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday from 11:30am until 2:00pm
On Monday night, Rick took the kitchen crew on a b On Monday night, Rick took the kitchen crew on a bit of a pilgrimage— dinner at Chez Panisse, his all-time favorite restaurant and single greatest inspiration behind The Waterboy.

His first meal there changed everything. It shaped his entire philosophy on cooking: source the very best local ingredients, treat them with care, and let them shine. No smoke and mirrors, no extravagant attempts to impress. Just honest, simple, beautiful food that supports local community and nourishes both the body and the soul. 

It meant the world to share that experience with our team and to give them a taste of the place that helped form the heart of who we are and what we strive for. Thank you to @chezpanisse for an incredible meal cooked with intention, integrity, and love. You continue to be a guiding light.
There’s nothing like peak of the season corn, es There’s nothing like peak of the season corn, especially when it’s folded into impossibly creamy risotto and served with tender, golden sea scallops. 

Local gypsy peppers and sweet cherry tomatoes bring just the right balance, and we finish it all off with a touch of Maine lobster butter because we love you so much. And we really hope that 𝙮𝙤𝙪 love this. 
 
📸🎥: Pan Seared Sea Scallops with Sweet Corn-Tomato Risotto, Gypsy Peppers, Tarragon & Maine Lobster Butter

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Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday, and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday.
We’re not saying you 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 to order d We’re not saying you 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 to order dessert… but if you do, you’ll be awfully glad you saved room 😊 Chloe’s creations are made in-house with heartfelt care and expert technique that you can taste in every delicious bite. We can’t think of a better way to end a meal ❤️
Mark your calendars! We’re thrilled to announce Mark your calendars! We’re thrilled to announce our next Thursday Dinner... 🧺  Picnic Night! 🧺 

Come join us for our annual picnic feast on July 24, 2025. Rick, Kate & Crew are putting together a dreamy dinner of summertime favorites for you to enjoy... without the hassle of ice chests or those pesky mosquitos! 

Our beloved Buttermilk Fried Chicken will be making its long-awaited return, and we’ll have some delicious wine pairings available (with Rick’s favorite rosé included, of course!) for those who’d like to sip along.

Picnic Night is always an especially popular event, so no time to dilly-dally in reserving your spot— this is going to be a really fun night & we’d hate to miss you! Tickets can be purchased through our link in bio.

Thursday Dinner at The Waterboy: “Picnic Night”

For Your Amusement...
A Lobster Deviled Egg & Vietnamese-Style Shrimp Spring Roll
 
Heirloom Tomato Salad
Smoky Bacon, Avocado, Shaved Summer Squash, Pickled Onion, Toasty Breadcrumbs, Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
 
Watermelon & Peach Gazpacho
Ginger, Cilantro, Cucumbers, Feta, Pablo’s Olive Oil
 
Buttermilk Fried Chicken
@dwelleyfamilyfarms Beans & Tapenade, Ratatouille, New Potato Salad, Corn on the Cob, Housemade Cherry Tomato Hot Sauce
 
Plum & Nectarine Shortcake
Whipped Cream, Basil & Saba
 
$110 per person (includes gratuity)
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Tickets can be purchased through our link in bio. 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 are so excited to have @liberty_duck back on th We are so excited to have @liberty_duck back on the menu! We’re currently serving it during dinner service over a delicious panzanella with our favorite @twinpeaksorchards peaches 🍑

📸🎥: Sonoma Liberty Duck Breast & Peach Panzanella with Bacon, Focaccia, Arugula, Roasted Sweet Onions, Balsamico

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Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday, and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday.
This rigatoni is just 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 This rigatoni is just 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 for you to come enjoy it on our patio with a cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc ☀️ Come see us one last time before our 4th of July vacation! 

A few tidbits of information for ya—
-The Waterboy will be closed from July 4th through July 7th
-We’ll re-open for lunch service on the 8th, and for dinner service on the 9th (we have a private dinner event on the 8th)
-New menu starts with dinner service on Wednesday, July 9th
-We love you a lot and hope you have a really fantastic holiday weekend

📸 Housemade Rigatoni with Gulf Shrimp, Alaskan Halibut, Sweet Peppers, Corn, White Wine, Butter & Basil
Just when we thought this dish couldn’t possibly Just when we thought this dish couldn’t possibly get more delicious… Chef Kate added crispy chicken skin as a garnish 👩‍🍳🪄 

📸 Prosciutto-Wrapped Mary’s Chicken Breast with Parmesan Risotto, Porcini Mushrooms, Broccoli Rabe & Herbs

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Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday, and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday.
Happy first day of summer! 🍓🌻 

This salad’s feeling like a pretty perfect way to welcome the season… juicy local strawberries, beautiful lettuces from @soil_born_farms , the earthy crunch of pistachios, and creamy herbed goat cheese that melts into every bite.

Also, thank you so much to everyone who joined us for last night’s Thursday Dinner— you made the evening really, really special. Pictures coming soon ❤️

📸 Salad of Local Strawberries: Whipped Goat Cheese, Baby Lettuces, Toasted Pistachios, Pickled Red Onions, Golden Balsamic Vinaigrette

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Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday, and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday.
Steak Frites and a martini? Say less. 
 Now take Steak Frites and a martini? Say less. 

Now take this as a sign and go book your reservation at The Waterboy this week— you deserve it 🥩🍸

Big thanks to our longtime fave @thebookwormfoodie for capturing the moment so perfectly in the first photo! 💕 

📸 Steak Frites: Prime New York, Herbed Fries, Creamed Chard, Roasted Onions, Garlic-Parsley Butter

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**We will be closed for regular dinner service on 6/19/2025 in lieu of our Thursday Dinner prix fixe event**

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.