Leatherby's, for me, has been a longtime family favorite, a reliable date-night spot, and one of…read morethose places that has become attached to a lot of good memories.
I've been coming to Leatherby's for over a decade, so this place is basically part of my Sacramento-area lore. After moving out of California earlier this year, I've discovered that one of the things I miss most is being able to casually stop by Leatherby's for ice cream, caramel, fries + ranch, and a meal that will inevitably leave me in a food coma.
Let's talk about the caramel first because it deserves its own paragraph. Their caramel sauce is SUPER good. It has the perfect level of sweetness and a creamy texture without being ridiculously sticky. I've had plenty of caramel sauces elsewhere, and nothing has really compared to Leatherby's. If you like caramel, get it. No hesitation.
Their French fries are another must-have for me. When they're fresh, they're crispy, nicely seasoned, and absolutely perfect with their ranch. The ranch is an additional charge, but I will happily pay it because the combination is SO good.
For an actual meal, my go-to is the crab sandwich. My old favorite was their liverwurst sandwich, but unfortunately that disappeared from the menu years ago. RIP to a real one. :(
My husband and son also love their burgers and always find them juicy and filling.
And obviously, the ice cream is the star of the show. Their portions are generous, so don't underestimate what you're ordering. I leave stuffed basically every single time. Around this time of year, they would also have seasonal flavors like pumpkin, which I absolutely love. I seriously miss being able to get my seasonal ice cream fix here.
Leatherby's has been the perfect place for me for pretty much every occasion: date nights with my husband, friend hangouts, and family lunches/dinners. There's enough variety on the menu that everyone can find something they want, whether you're actually hungry or just showing up because you heard the word "ice cream."
They also have a rewards/points system! I've gotten $5 off my bill from accumulated rewards more than once. Worth signing up if you visit regularly.
As for service, it can vary depending on how busy they are. This place is frequently packed, and understandably, that can slow things down. We've had a rotating cast of servers over the years, but they're generally attentive. Every once in a while someone might forget to stop by our table, but it's been rare, and we've never had an experience so bad that it made us reconsider coming back.
If anything, the biggest problem I have with Leatherby's now is that I moved somewhere out of state without one nearby. :(
I just wish Washington had something similar!!
I never expected to miss a restaurant this much, but apparently I was taking my unlimited access to Leatherby's caramel sauce and pumpkin ice cream for granted.
I HIGHLY recommend visiting here at least once if you're in Sacramento.
*Yelp Elite tip: Come hungry. Get the fries + ranch. Get the caramel. And save room for ice cream. Your waistband may disagree, but your taste buds won't.