Thanks to all who responded and provided me with information about Sacramento and US 50 restaurants. For what they're worth, here are some comments about Sacramento’s ‘Slocum House’ last weekend.
I ate with an old friend, and the meal served as a reunion. Unfortunately, the last-minute nature of our rendezvous meant we had to arrive for dinner at 9.30 p.m. ‘Room’ OK. Nice, as advertised, but not, to me overwhelmingly special. We were seated on time, at a staggeringly small table, overwhelmed by tableware, condiments and about eight different glasses. This, I never like: it makes me feel like I should order ‘less’ because there is really no room to accommodate the food! We also felt cramped because both our chairs could not go farther back because of walls. We were more or less ‘wedged’ in place. Not a good start. Our server was a lady with a pleasant French accent. Her contribution to the meal was excellent really; only towards the end did her earlier assurance (when we voiced concern about the hour) that "Do not worry, we stay open as long as necessary till you finish," ring false. We felt 'rushed' in the end.
Food:
Lobster Bisque (‘daily special’): "Fair, not exceptional," said my companion. Dungeness Crab Cakes: I considered these good. Fresh crab flavor/texture was present. I would have passed on the sauce (a reduction with cream) as being too cloying and masking of flavor, and there was too much of it. Overall good. Filet Mignon (‘daily special’): My companion, who used to be a butcher and thus knows aged beef when he tastes it, announced it was not aged to his taste. He pronounced it "Adequate only." Venison loin (stuffed): I requested ‘rare’ ("Excellent Monsieur!") but it came anything but, and was thus quite dry. (This could have been because we both lingered long over appetizer/salad (salad nothing special, dressing good) but that should not be an excuse in a high-end place.) Thumbs down on this one. Creme Brulee: Best skipped over. Under-caramelized, grainy sugar texture to the topping, and (ugh!) cold. We should have been warned. Wine: A recommendation from the list. A cabernet ($45 range) which will be nice in a decade or so, perhaps. There did not appear to be many quality 'drinking well NOW' affordable red wines on the list.
Overall: Actually, very much as I expected: a little too much self-promotion and a little too little that was anything out of the ordinary. (I know dining late can bring perils of its own, for which I make allowance in these comments.) It actually came very close to what I had expected, albeit at a slightly higher price.
Mike
From [email removed] Sun Dec 24 16:06:05 EST 1995
Article: 21744 of rec.food.restaurantsSacramento, CA
Slocum House, Sacramento. Recent meal: observations.
I, too, find the Slocum House over-rated. But, in Sacramento, among the crowd who'll wear dark stockings with light colored shoes and flowered dresses, it's considered a "classy" restaurant. Skip the pretense and head over to Rudy's Hideaway. I couldn't abide the "Happy Birthdays" being sung several times during our visit. One is crowded in. At the table next to us, there was a couple; he must have worked there. Staff kept coming up and chit chatting with him. No maitre'd or floor manager to tell them to knock it off. Even the chap's date was not amused. But, then, he was excluded from the conversation, too. One sits so close, that such observations are possible. We ordered the venison as well. The waiter went on and on about how it wasn't gamey. Well, it's farm-raised, of course it's not gamey. This is also just very unsophisticated. I'm not an imbiber. My husband ordered a merlot by the glass. It was nothing special and quite expensive. They are touted as having a wonderful cellar. Your experience seems to indicate otherwise. Slocum House makes a big effort to be "special". I didn't think it was. I constantly mourn the loss of Wulff's. Another over-rated place is Bernice's Cookery. It's the Boston Market to the Arden Park set and to those folks in the villas out there. I haven't been there yet but Mike Dunne of the Bee highly rated Enotria on Del Paso Boulevard. They have quite a collection of wines.