Adorable little restaurant in what looks like a single-family home gives it a very intimate vibe. I had booked a reservation for 5:45 PM to make a 7 PM show at the university, I received a call at 4:30 PM asking if that was in fact my plan and if I could come a little bit earlier. I was happy to oblige. Fabulously attentive service. The goat cheese butter with the bread was a great start. Decadence in a bite. Then the rack of lamb with potato croquette arrived and honestly stole the whole meal -- perfectly crisp outside, creamy all the way through. The rack of lamb was cooked correctly but lacked character. Lamb should taste like lamb, and this one played it too safe. Not bad, just forgettable. The vegetables let the plate down. Overcooked Brussels sprouts and unevenly cooked sweet potato aren't what you expect at this price point. Worth the visit. That croquette alone earns it. read more

The Mustard Seed - Herb & Mustard Encrusted Rack of Lamb - New American Near Me - Davis, California

Visiting from out of town and had to try Mustard Seed based on the positive reviews. Restaurant is walking distance from UC Davis and on one of the quaint streets of Old Davis. We made reservations but saw many walk-ins who were accommodated. One thing noted was the price, as entrees ranged from $42-65. Not somewhere easily affordable to college students, and Mustard Seed drew older patrons. That being said, the food was delicious and the staff was very friendly. Popular on a Tuesday night which spoke volume to the quality of the food. We ordered crab cakes as starter, were served complimentary rolls with goat cheese butter spread, and also had rack of lamb, pan seared duck breast and pesto prawn pasta. read more

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We had a lovely meal here to celebrate our anniversary last weekend. This was our first time at Mustard Seed and so glad we were there. The patio is so nice and great for people watching. We started with the crab cakes and pate appetizers. I had the Branzino for my main course and my husband had the steak. Both were delicious and well portioned! Service was friendly and accommodating. Overall great experience. read more

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One of the better restaurants in Davis, carefully crafted menu and intimate seating in a small house downtown. We recently celebrated a birthday, food and service was excellent. Crispy crab cakes for an appetizer, hardly any filler, served with a delicious vinaigrette. Good wine list.There is a good assortment of entrees, and amazing desserts too! read more

It was supposed to be a great restaurant. Today, my daughter and I came here happily for a meal. After we finished the appetizers, we wanted to ask the waiter to clear the table for the main course, but the waiter serving us was busy. Then, an older Asian lady came over and asked us what we needed. My daughter told her, but her attitude was very bad and she seemed very reluctant. I didn't quite catch what she said, but she didn't clear the table for us either. After a while, I saw her bring two plates of main courses and throw them heavily on the table, even though there were still the plates and bowls from the appetizers. I even helped her move them away. I thought she was just in a bad mood, but then I saw her serve the guests at the table next to us with a very nice and polite attitude. Only then did I realize that she might have discriminated against us! I'm really speechless. read more

Great service! I got the ribeye steak and it was the best steak I've had in a while. It was so tender and juicy definitely worth the price. And the cheesecake was definitely good as well. I would recommend this place read more

We had a business meeting here so unfortunately I did not take pictures. I had a soup and sandwich combo and it was divine! I had the butternut squash soup. It really reminded me of pumpkin soup from Germany which I enjoyed. Very fall flavored. With the tuna melt. It had almonds on it which I'd never had. I enjoyed the added crunch. I swear there was a cut grape on it too which sounds odd but it was really good! I had the pumpkin creme brûlée for dessert and it was delicious! The waitress was great, she was very accommodating. Even offering to turn down the music as the speaker was next to us. I will definitely go back! read more

The Mustard Seed is such a gem in Davis! It was perfect for a relaxed dinner night. We went last minute without reservations and were seated right away with no issues, which was a nice surprise. The prawn pesto pasta was rich in pesto sauce and full of flavor, and the grilled bone-in pork loin was tender (though be aware it's covered in BBQ sauce, which you'll either love or not). We grabbed a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from Peju Winery (surprised they had it there) that paired nicely with both dishes. The whole vibe is cute, cozy, and romantic with friendly service. read more

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Loved the interior, warm ambiance, and fantastic service. The food was amazing and tasty, portions were perfect. Loved the ribeye and scallops. read more

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Lovely meal - traditional French/American far (lamb, chicken and fish were all top notch). Our family enjoyed all the dishes. Excellent staff. Great cabin ambiance. Cozy spot. Highly recommended. read more

We had a very relaxing experience at dinner on last Saturday evening, 4/26/2025. Josh was our server, and one of the best we have ever had. My dining partner has many food restrictions and he nailed every one of them. I have never had a server that was so attentive to dietary restrictions, and he was very personable as well. We both had a ribeye, I had the Madera sauce and she had hers without. We both had prime rib eye cuts no bone, and they were the most tender cooked to our individual orders today I've ever had. If you're in the area You need to make a reservation for the mustard seed. It is definitely a hidden gem food quality, presentation and service all five stars. Thank you Josh and for all those in the kitchen that helped you. read more

The Mustard Seed - Prime Ribeye with Madeira sauce. - New American Near Me - Davis, California

The Mustard Seed in Davis was nice spot for a relaxed dinner. We stopped in without reservations and were seated quicky. The prawn pesto pasta was very good and flavorful, the grilled pork loin was tender, though the BBQ sauce was a bit strong for my taste. Friendly service, old vicorian type home. I wouldn't seek it out again, but I'd go if invited. read more

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Very nice staff, really cute and cozy atmosphere, perfectly cooked meats/fish as far as wellness and moisture goes. We had duck and salmon. The flavors were just okay though, for both dishes according to me and my husband. However- the sweet mashed potatoes - were amazing. read more

We very much enjoyed our pre-theatre dining experience here over the holidays. The ambiance is warm, charming, and very inviting. Service was top notch and very much a group effort. Our dinners were just incredible. We had the duck with simple but exquisitely roasted Brussels sprouts and a delicious short rib ragu. We shared the chocolate cake which was just sinful! We will be back. read more

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Went for my birthday dinner. This place was so nice. I will be back. The staff were kind and they accommodated 8 . I will eat everything there. It was all great. Good selection of wine. read more

My boyfriend surprised me for valentines and made reservations here. He knows I love lamb so he chose this place with the intention of getting me some lamb (so sweeeeet) we enjoyed our Valentine's Day dinner with some wine to go perfectly with our meal. This place was packed for Valentine's Day with lots of couples. I loved how attention to detail this place was with their menu. The soup has heart shape puffs which was adorable and a wonderful touch. I did like my lamb and my boyfriend got streak which looked yummy. The service was polite and the inside was very clean. read more

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Ambiance and food were amazing! We loved this place. Service was attentive and friendly although our server didn't know much information about some of the dishes they were serving. read more

The food is exceptional and the servers are a delight. Wine list is fabulous. Nicest people!!

Food: the Fig & Baby Spinach was super fresh & tasty; the Macadamia Nut Crusted Halibut was cooked perfectly; the Grilled Pork Loin and Herb & Mustard Crusted Rack of Lamb were also tasty, along with their sides of Herb Infused Garlic Potato Mash with Bacon and Scallion Croquette Service: great, timely service with friendliness Design: interiors is an old home, which makes it very quaint Overall: if you want fresh, farm-to-table New-American food, for a special occasion or you want to impress a date, then please check out this place. read more

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The food was amazing and the dessert was out of the world!! Sweet intimate setting and the customer service supreme!

The restaurant is a long established place in Davis. I remember a professor said it is where prospective professors would be taken when offered to join UCDavis faculty. I took my daughter there for a mother-daughter dinner and was excited to show her my old graduate school university. We ordered the pate app., salmon and braised short ribs pappardelle pasta entrees and other items. The pate we would not order again. The entrees and fresh bread were delicious except no braised short ribs- just some shredded meat in the sauce. Still delicious. Service was almost nonexistent. We couldn't get my daughter's water glass filled. We waited 30 plus minutes for entrees while we watched multiple other tables get their food that came well after us. No reason given. No wait staff even looked at us. When I motioned to a waitress she looked at me, then turned and walked away. More waiting. My daughter and did enjoy the food when it did arrive. Again no wait staff came after that. We could not get service. They did not have enough servers (1 & the manager/hostess later one gentleman for the entire 3 room restaurant. Again had to get the attention of our waitress. There were 3 out of 4 tables in our room with a total of only 7 people. She again made me wait for the check. My daughter had left for the car by then. I waited to pay, gave my card immediately...over the next minutes the waitress rudely said she waited for me to sign after she brought the check bc I had had to use the restroom. Would not return. Better service at home, myself. Food was good but not near worth it. Mismanagement is sad bc this should've & could've been a great restaurant and evening for my daughter and I. We paid almost $200 for this. I hope others have better experiences or the manager and her waitress make a few much needed improvements. read more

The Mustard Seed - New American Near Me - Davis, California

Great for a fancy dinner in Davis ! I love the tomato soup with the pastry dough on top, and we got the steak and pasta last time- both were delicious. read more

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We had a lovely evening at this homey, yet elegant restaurant in Davis. We came before a show at the Mondavi center and it was perfect. We shared crab cakes and I had the duck and my husband the steak. Both were excellent and so was our server. The crab cakes were just ok but the whole experience was definitely worth five stars. read more

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Great food and atmosphere. Pricey, but worth the splurge. Such a nice staff and location.

I had a nice time here at The Mustard Seed! The food was perfectly made and very tasty. The service is also super amazing and fast. The ambiance is chill and calm too! 5 stars. read more

This was a delight! Enjoyed my duck and my husband enjoyed his pesto pasta. Great service, very attentive. Love the decore and ambiance. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants to visit when I'm in town from SD. It's cozy and the food is great! Friendly staff. read more

The Mustard Seed - Eggnog crème brûlée - New American Near Me - Davis, California

I had no idea Davis had a fine dining restaurant until I was invited here for a all-expenses paid company dinner. Prior to the dinner, I had to preorder my orders and definitely had to make my moneys worth. Rosemary Bread (5/5): These were complimentary and come in fours. It was sprinkled with roasted rosemary and served with a garlic spread. It was super yummy and wished I could've had more. Crab cakes (5/5): These were the best crab cakes I've had! It had a great balance of cake and crab flavor. I wished it had more instead of three pieces. Grilled Ribeye Steak (5/5): Whenever I order steak at a restaurant, I usually leave hungry or satisfied, but this got me stuffed. I order my steak medium rare and it was MASSIVE. I couldn't have imagined it being so big. A portion of it was also drenched in madeira sauce and was paired very well with the steak. The steak was good but wasn't mind blowing. However, it was big that it worth it for sure. It also came with herb infused mash potatoes and roasted vegetables. Definitely made me so stuffed, I could barely finish. I definitely recommend this place if you're ever in Davis (which I hope never happens) and I want fine dining read more

The Mustard Seed - Grilled Aged Rib Eye Steak - New American Near Me - Davis, California

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A nice place to eat on a rainy Davis night. The spicy lentil soup was excellent and well prepared. The scallops were very good. My partner reports that the fish was not to her liking. The other dishes came out well, the grilled pork loin. Overall terrific ambience. A nice place to catch up with friends and family. We would come here again. read more

The Mustard Seed - Trio of Caramelized Sea Scallops - New American Near Me - Davis, California

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This was my second time stopping by and it never disappoints! It's nice to have a higher-end dining spot in Davis, a college town full of casual eateries, and Mustard Seed fills that spot beautifully! My favorite dish here is the pan-seared duck breast ($45), you just can't go wrong with it! The duck is cooked to a gorgeous medium rare and the huckleberry sauce pairing is perfect! The sweet potato puree was perfectly smooth, but I personally could have done without it. The smoked salmon carpaccio ($20) was also delicious as always, the lemon dill sauce was great. The asian pear & baby spinach salad ($13) was also tasty! I never thought about how well blue cheese and asian pear go together, but I'm glad the chefs at Mustard Seed did! The cauliflower steak ($36) wasn't anything super special, but the veggies that came with it were tasty! I wish the cauliflower had been a bit easier to eat, as it was rather hard to chew and just had what seemed like a slather of harissa on it before being grilled. It's nice to get some vegetarian options on a menu regardless though! Service was amazing as always. Everyone is very attentive, welcoming, and kind. Our server was very upbeat, making jokes and giving us recommendations for the night. It's so lovely dining at Mustard Seed, I'd highly recommend it. read more

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As a Ph.D. student at UCD, I've had the pleasure of frequenting The Mustard Seed, and I was thrilled when my mom and daughter visited during Mother's Day week. The restaurant, one of the few fine dining spaces in the area, never fails to impress with its warm ambiance and delectable menu. Our meal was a celebration of flavors, featuring lamb chops, a perfectly cooked ribeye steak, and a savory pork loin. The diverse menu offered something for every palate. To sweeten the experience, we indulged in a variety of desserts that were a delightful conclusion to our meal. Addressing a concern raised in a previous review, I must emphasize that my interactions with the staff have always been positive. Far from being unkind or racist, the staff at The Mustard Seed has consistently been accommodating and genuinely curious. The inquiries may be numerous, but they stem from a Davis vibe that I've come to understand during my time here - a community that is keen on getting to know its residents. It's not intrusive; rather, it reflects the unique charm of Davis, a blend of high-level research and a downhome feel. For those fortunate enough to be in Davis, whether attending the university or exploring the area, The Mustard Seed encapsulates the essence of this one-of-a-kind experience. The restaurant strikes a balance between sophistication and warmth, making it a perfect spot for special occasions or simply a delightful evening out. Also, check out my photos! Look at how cute everything looks! read more

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Service is not shabby. Purpose of visit our friendship group wanted to hang out for a "just because its nice to get together and visit for a while" reason. We arrived and were seated quickly. As said, great service! read more

One of my favorite sit down meals in Davis. I had the halibut last time I was there and it cooked to perfection. It's located in a cozy little building in downtown Davis. Staff is great at offering suggestions and very friendly. read more

We went there on our 10th anniversary and the service by Josh was incredible. The steak and scallops were divine! Highly recommend.

My family and I went to the mustard seed this evening, based on some recommendations of a friend when we entered unfortunately the Resy app messed up the number of folks in my reservation from 5 to 2 thankfully though the hostess was very sweet and quickly was able to figure out a seating for us outside in their patio area. Over all the the staff the waitresses were very sweet very kind and but they rarely came to check on us. We had to ask for more water for the teas we ordered. They checked on us once to see how we were doing. They were on top filling our waters for a while. As for the food, my family and I started with the salads. My siblings and I had the Asian pear and spinach salad, which I enjoyed however, I noticed that the endive in the salad were not the freshest (looked old). I asked my parents about their Caesar salads and they said that they also noticed that the lettuce was not the freshest and seemed a bit old. We then went on to have two plates of the pork, one lamb plate, one short rib pasta plate and a duck breast. The pork was the best plate of them all however, my sister and my dad said that the sauce was a little too sweet for their liking, but otherwise the meat was well cooked. They also said the mashed potatoes were under seasoned. My brother thought the duck plate was good except his veggies were too salty. The pasta was bland, we would not recommend that dish. I had the lamb chops which I thought were cooked precisely at medium so that was great. However, once I bit into the lamb it tasted as though the wine sauce it was in was not fully reduced, I did not like the taste. Not the best taste. Although the lamb was cooked perfectly, it was under seasoned. I think that's what the sauce was for, but again the sauce was not great. Although I was very thankful they were able to accommodate us initially, I noticed on the inside of the restaurant there was a table for six that had not been used the entire time we were there, which I wish they would have sat us there instead of the patio. On the patio we were seated next to a table of 17 or so, which was very loud. So loud in fact that it was hard to hear each other without semi-shouting. With being seated outside, they had the heaters on which made it very stuffy and uncomfortable. Once we asked for them to turn it off it was better. While, the staff were nice, the food was underwhelming and for the price of dinner I would've expected better execution and flavor of the food. Also, we all noticed that the food was lukewarm. Overall, the experience was a disappointment. read more

It's high-end Davis in the shape of a sweet, modest country house, right in downtown. The intimate seating is complete with fireplace, mood lighting and definite homey feel. Staff is welcoming, and effusive. Country Pate with Black Pepper Accompanied by whole grain mustard. I don't understand dishes like this - particularly with pate/caviar that most people don't have every day. Why not serve it with something that looks better than plainly sliced bread, and why only three slices for a table of four? A fourth slice, and a few minutes in the toaster oven can easily complete the dish. Pate suddenly not as special. Missed the mark here. Sugar Snap Pea Certainly unique! It's unadulterated veggie bliss - that is, if you're a fan of sugar snap peas. Tastes like pureed straight from the garden, adorned with a few cuts of parmesean and finished with minty notes. I recommend a once-over. Not sure if I want this with the rest of my indulgent meal, or any dinner for that matter. Might be better suited for a breakfast smoothie. Caesar Salad A trailblazed version of classic caesar, but the sundried tomatoes sort of threw it off course for me. Dressing flavors are magnificent, the whitened romaine not so much, helps to be balanced by the single, rather narcissistic, parmesan chip. Fresh Atlantic Scallops Red coconut curry sauce, with wild blackened California rice. The scallops are Jumbo-sized, charred well and succulent. But what really elevates this entree is the curry which comes with just the slightest kick. This is an example of a well balanced pairing of nutty richness with well prepared fresh shellfish. *Highlight Item* Grilled Black Angus Ribeye Steak The steak was spot on - medium rare of course, and marbled as any ribeye cut should be. Served with roasted roots, regular mashed potatoes and er... a massive slathering of pan-seared onions and mushrooms. Blaaaawww... My thoughts of an old-fashioned grilled steak turned into English beef wellington in a high school cafeteria or microwaved beef stroganoff... I quickly used my butter knife to remove said 'add-on', and kicked myself for not reading the menu closely. After that, steak tasted great! Definitely shouldn't eat here on a college budget, but just make your visiting relatives pay for it and then you've got a story to tell. The Mustard Seed does well for itself as a definitive spot for special occasion dining. That's all... read more

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The food here was very yummy! It is a small restaurant so definitely make a reservation. The staff were nice and knowledgeable. There was no music playing when I was there so it was very easy to eavesdrop on the neighbors convos. read more

My husband and I came here on Valentine's Day. First time visit here and we loved the evening. Located in downtown Davis is a quaint part of the neighborhood in an old Victorian home. Super cute, funky and great ambiance. Service was friendly and enjoyable. We tried new wine and the added some pretty cool flair to our dinner including heart shaped food. Great place for a romantic night out l especially for couples. Very intimate with delicious local food. We really enjoyed our evening here and look forward to another visit very soon. read more

The Mustard Seed - Beautiful romantic quaint dining room - New American Near Me - Davis, California

Excellent food and service! We got the tomato bisque, ribeye steak, and creme brulee and all were amazing. The fresh rolls with the goat cheese butter were also extremely tasty! Our server, Kim, also provided great service! He was extremely prompt and always made sure we got what we needed. I'd highly recommend going to the Mustard Seed if you're looking for a great steak in the Davis area! read more

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We had to make a return trip. After all, it had probably been three years. We decided to celebrate our anniversary at the Mustard Seed . We made a reservation online and we were seated in the most adorable little table out in the courtyard behind the restaurant. So perfect! There was a cool breeze, and it was just beautiful. The staff was incredible. We felt warm and welcome from the moment we walked in the door. Our server was attentive and helpful. The menu was limited. I get it. It's not a big place. Unfortunately. I'm not a huge fan of halibut, pork, or poultry, so I didn't leave me with a lot of options, but since I had had a big lunch, I decided to order the crabcakes and a salad. And, of course, we had to top it off with a dessert. Everything was perfect. The crabcakes were excellent. They were made with blue crab and were served with a soy glaze. I had a salad with blue cheese. It was awesome! And then we followed it up with a chocolate soufflé cake, which was definitely something to celebrate! We will definitely come back when we have bigger appetites, but what a fantastic way to celebrate our anniversary. Five stars! read more

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