I love the chocolate croissant dessert. Wasn't as impressed with this month's veg selection--the cauliflower. Really didn't like it. Last season's pasta was better. I wish they'd do more for the vegetarians! read more

Intimate setting, good service (Josh our server), great food! Tender ribeye steak and cooked just the way I wanted it to be Perfect for date night. Went there for Valentine's dinner. Kinda pricey but you get what you paid for from service to food! read more

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Napa who?....Mustard Seed proves that you don't need to travel into the "Valley" to get a delicious, high end meal with fresh local ingredients and great service. First of all our server, Kim was ON POINT! This guy was clearly a master of his craft and gave us a great experience. We started with the salmon carpaccio. The dish was perfectly balanced with smoky salmon, salty capers, juicy orange segments, fresh dill and crisp fennel. For our second course my guy had a salad and I had the parsnip soup. I don't know much about the salad except he absolutely loved it, but speaking on the parsnip soup; it was like a warm bath and a good book on a rainy day. Like a hug from inside. It was silky smooth and bursting with flavor. For our mains he had the steak which was perfectly cooked. My rack of lamb was executed perfectly. It was like butter it was so tender and succulent. I highly recommend trying this restaurant out. We will definitely be back! read more

HAVE AGAIN: HAVE AGAIN: The shrimp po'boy was excellent, fries just lukewarm and ok. Service inattentive but not bad.

This was our first time eating here under the new ownership. The meal and atmosphere were all good with two notable exceptions. 1. My son's $60.00 steak was riddled with fat. 2. As we had 6 people in our party, they automatically tacked on a 20% tip. The service we received for our 20% was marginal at best. Several times we wondered where our waiter was. I contacted the owner shortly afterward to share my thoughts. Zero response from the owner. I will be hard pressed to darken their door in the future. read more

An overall solid place with a few quirks. The small indoor dining rooms are cheery and clean, although it is possible to have a table from which you look directly into the pot-cleaning area of the kitchen. Service is extremely friendly, and possibly even the tiniest bit too friendly -- our water and wine refills had to wait while lengthy conversations went on between servers and customers. On the night we visited, our server seemed to have tables in all three seating areas, requiring somewhat more bustling and longer absences than might have occurred with a more traditional method of assigning tables to staff. Our dishes were truly tasty and nicely presented; scallops and risotto were stars, and the country paté was very good. But, something has to be said about the puzzling stumbles whenever grains were in play. An otherwise solid cheese board is served with what might be Trader Joe's gluten-free crackers, and the rosemary dinner rolls seemed less than fresh. I don't know if they bake in house or use a vendor, but a change is needed. On the whole, this feels like the best option in Davis for higher-end cuisine and special-occasion meals. read more

Perfect date spot in Davis. Doesn't try to be over-the-top like too many restaurants these days, and instead just serves good, simple food. I like to start with crab cakes and/or a tomato bisque. For the main courses, you can't really go wrong anywhere, but I'll usually swing for the lamb, the ribeye, the scallops or the pasta. About a year ago I tried a pasta dish with lots of parmesan and it was truly memorable but unfortunately it doesn't seem to be on the menu anymore. The restaurant is not directly in the middle of town so parking is a little bit easier. read more

Great food, friendly service, and delightful ambience for both indoor and outdoor seating.

So surprised this place is rated so highly. We had dinner here, had the steak, scallops and salmon - everyone's meal was just ok. We all walked away feeling it was VERY expensive for what we were served. Expensive doesn't necessarily equal high quality. . . . read more

Wow! I've been searching for great food and ambience in Davis and I've found it. This place is so cozy and the staff is wonderful. To start off, I had a lovely bottle of wine, followed by crab cakes and Caesar salad. The crab cakes were perfection! Perfectly cooked and good overall flavor. The sauce that came with it was so good I had to resist dumping the whole cup onto it. The Caesar salad was just to my liking- the greens were crisp and fresh, su dried tomato and plenty of dressing. The croutons were also homemade which is a small detail that makes a huge difference. For my entree I chose the scallops with saffron risotto. The scallops were pretty good but the star of the show was the saffron risotto. The saffron flavor was strong and the risotto was rich and velvety. I could eat it by the plateful. For dessert, creme brûlée which was pretty good, I wish the top was more caramelized b read more

I made reservations at the last minute and got outside seating on day of the dinner. A bit cold outside even with their heating. Waitress is really nice and accommodating. Food is delicious, but not overwhelming delicious. The salmon carpaccio is ok. It was just smoked salmon to me. The duck breast could have been good if we had it cooked medium instead of medium rare(poor decision on us). The sauce was too sweet for our liking. The scallops was nice, tender, and plump. The dish is asian fusion with the rice and coconut curry. The lambs were my favorite of all because I love to eat lamb. The potato croquette on the side was delicious as well. Note, most veggies are practically the same in every dish and it depends on the season. Overall, it's ok to try if you want to take your date or family out for a nice dinner in Davis. read more

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During a a recent stop through Davis, via the train (so CONVENIENTLY stopping within walking distance of my hotel), I wanted something a little 'better' to treat myself with. So, The Mustard Seed answered my taste bud's call! I had the encrusted rack of lamb and it did not disappoint. I'm so glad I found this place and look forward to going again on my next visit through Davis. My meal, the ambiance, and service were all worth the slightly higher cost of just any other food place. I thought that this restaurant is a rarity in these days of 'less'. What a treat! read more

Upset because parties who came in 30 minutes after us have been served before us. There is a parties who came in before us who have been waiting longer than us. I don't understand why three parties who came after us are eating and almost done with their food and we have yet to receive our food. read more

the cutest hidden little gem in downtown davis! The service was amazing and very welcoming. We sat outside which was a cute patio area with fairy lights strung on top. I got the sea scallops which were really good with the crispy onions and asparagus! Would definitely come again read more

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

This is definitely what I would call a special occasion restaurant, or "fine dining". The ambiance inside of the restaurant is very relaxing, service is impeccable which is what I would expect with these prices. The food is so well done here, seasoned perfectly and I have never been more satisfied leaving a restaurant! I ordered the pork loin meal, and my boyfriend had the scallops. Everything was tender, juicy, and cooked to perfection. There is a really lovely variety of wines to choose from, as well as delicious appetizers. The crab cakes and tomatoe bisque soup are definitely a must! Will most definitely be coming back here when another special occasion arrives! The desserts looked phenomenal but I was too full to order any! A hidden gem in Davis for sure. read more

The Mustard Seed - Grilled Pork Loin - New American Near Me - Davis, California

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Always one of the best experiences in Davis! Delicious and great servers. The place is so cozy and my kids ask to go there every time we're here. read more

The only reason I am giving any stars for this place is due to the service and ambiance which was wonderful. The food is overpriced, flavorless, and lack luster. If you charge $40 minimum for an entree you best have Michelin star quality and that is not the case here (at least for dinner) read more

Delicious food, quiet atmosphere and kind and attentive staff. I had the fig spinach salad which was fantastic, my son had the rack of lamb, and my husband had the prawn pasta. We were all happy with our choices. I would definitely recommend, and you can split the plate for a small charge if you want to share with someone. read more

Food ambiance local wine collection service all great. Price is $$$. It looks tiny but I here is an outdoor

I had a large party. The guests had every main dish on the menu. They could not have been more impressed by the food, ambiance, and service. There is even a vegan option - zucchini pasta with walnut pesto which was delicious. I offer high praise for the pear and spinach salad. The steak lovers loved the steak. We also enjoyed every dessert with the crème brulee as the favorite. The Mustard Seed is not just a stand-out experience in the Davis / Sacramento region. The ownership and staff of The Mustard Seed have achieved a world-class level of excellence. read more

I've lived in the Davis/Woodland/Sacramento area for well over ten years, and this was the first time I had ever been the The Mustard Seed. I have always heard about it, but never had I experienced it before. My expectations of this restaurant were pretty high as it has a very good reputation as a great local place to dine. My friends and I came for a special birthday brunch. The environment at The Mustard Seed is top notch. The dining areas are decorated elaborately, and the entire restaurant has a cozy 'home' feel to it. Though I say it's cozy, there is an elegance to it that really enhances the dining experience. The menu we were given had two sides to it - one for brunch, and the other for lunch. The lunch side of the menu featured salads and sandwiches. Being at The Mustard Seed for the first time, I didn't really want to go for a sandwich, though in the end I may have enjoyed it more. I ended up ordering the french toast and eggs with a side of bacon. I've been pretty disappointed by brunch place in Davis, so I was hoping that this would be a winner. We had a large party, so the food came out pretty slow, which is to be expected... but I noticed that there were very few workers in the restaurant. Several times diners showed up at the entrance only to be greeted by an empty hostess station. I wouldn't have liked that if I were one of those diners. After a while, the food came out. It looked great! The french toast was a good size, and everything seemed in order... but the taste wasn't anything special. In fact, I felt that the french toast was a bit on the dry side. I was fortunately to steal a bite of the pancakes, which I thought were much better. But even better looking than that were the sandwiches. Wow, they looked good! It made me wish I had gotten one. All-in-all The Mustard Seed is a nice restaurant to eat at... I probably wouldn't go too often given the price and the taste I had of it during my visit. Is it bad? No, it's good... but I'd hesitate to say it's great. Maybe for dinner.... I might have to check that out one of these days. ***EDIT*** I just came back from the Mustard Seed for dinner. I've got to say that the food was definitely tasty. The appetizers weren't so great as they had smaller portions and some of the flavors just weren't there (asparagus bruschetta I'm looking at you!)... but the entrees were large and delicious. I had the rib-eye, and it was cooked exactly how I ordered it. My wife had the pork loin and it was also cooked perfectly. Yes, the Mustard Seed is a pricey place to eat, but the entrees are top notch. read more

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Best place in Davis to celebrate a special occasion! They are excellent at accommodating allergies and dietary restrictions. Excellent ambiance and service; food was delicious! Highly recommend! read more

The Mustard Seed was excellent! First, it's located in a house which looks like something that could be found in the Shire. Just not built into a hill. Then, the food is very delicious. We started with the cheese plate because we all love cheese...tasty and a solid selection. The rolls (complimentary) were warm and soft and tasty. We ordered the salmon, the steak, a pork chop and the short rib pasta and all the entrees were delicious and generously sized. We ordered profiteroles for dessert and they were VERY large and wonderful. No hard alcohol (wah) but the wine and beer selection worked well....will definitely return! read more

We went there for dinner. You can easily reserve a table via Google. Great service, amazingly tasteful dishes. The meat was tender and well seasoned. They also have a small outdoor dining place that is heated. I'll definitely go there again to try some other things on their menu. read more

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Very nice and quaint place. The service was superior. They asked if we were going to the Mondavi Center and once they knew our order came right up. We had crab cakes, they were tasty. The tomato bisque with crust super delicious and the salad with pears, blue cheese, and pecans with a vinaigrette dressing...nothing but goodness. read more

My husband and I love coming here! It's amazing and I'm shocked at the bad reviews. I get the rack of lamb, and my husband does the scallops. They're truly chef's kiss!!! Our server was also amazing and we were seated in such a sweet little spot. It felt so cozy!! read more

The food was excellent as always, the service impeccable, and the ambience is very comfortable and quaint.

Came here to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary. We started off sharing the tomato bisque with a puff pastry top. it was so creamy and delicious specially with the puff pastry top. Next I had the duck breast which I had the last time as well. It's very mild flavored with a sweet currant sauce and served with a yam puree grilled asparagus. It soooo delicious. cooked perfectly! Wife had the lamb chops served with a mashed potatoes and asparagus. Also very delicious with a slight hint of rosemary. I really wanted desert but was so full I couldn't do it. read more

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Unfortunately what a disappointment. I'm a out of towner visiting family and my niece wanted me to have a nice dinner, a quaint dinner, well it ended at quaint! I ordered the rib eye and what a huge disappointment, gravy was smothered all over the top which in my opinion the restaurant used to disguise a poor excuse for a rib eye, the mashed potatoes had no flavor and the tomato soup was cold. We mentioned to a few locals our experience & we weren't surprised by the awful reviews and that the restaurant has declined. I never write reviews but this experience was unexpected and down right felt like I burned my $$ which in todays times near to a recession doesn't feel good. The short is we will not be returning and even at Chucky Cheese, Chucky and his crew celebrate with you when a birthday celebration is in order. read more

The owners seem like the worst type of people, yell at their employees and think that that behavior is appropriate. They over charge during graduation by 60% for the exact same food. The food is not good enough for any of this to be acceptable. I definitely am not going to support this business anymore. read more

Pretty disappointing price to quality ratio. The steak was overcooked, and the sauce was lackluster. I should have sent it back even though I hate being that person. Unfortunately, I didn't even have the chance to send it back because the server neglected to check on us a single time after the food came, even though the restaurant is very small. Davis doesn't have very many "fancy" options so you might wind up going here, but I'd look elsewhere if you want a celebratory/expensive restaurant meal. read more

Honestly this place has never failed us! I live in the bay area and this place is as good as some of the Michelin stars I've been to. The atmosphere is excellent, tables are spaced out very well and service is as good as it gets. A casual feel with a high end experience and the owners are wonderful people. Pictures are dark but we ordered the scallops and ribeye which really outdid most other restaurants I've been to near this price point. I used to always get the duck which is also excellent. Portions were also very good, I was even a bit on the fuller end just from one entree. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Love this little gem. Exceptional food, service, and ambience. Enjoyed a lovely wedding anniversary dinner.

Overpriced, I'm afraid. $46 for an unexciting dish of baked cod and potatoes. I'm OK with $50/plate entrees, but this is not it for me.

We have diner at The Mustard Seed a few times over the last couple of years. It been a wonderful and delicious experience each time. Our most recent visit this weeks was no exception. We had very attentive and friendly service. All the staff were wearing masks and taking proper safety measures. We had the cheese plate (loved every one of the cheeses) and the duck and the scallops (done in a new way). We cleared every plate it was so good. We will be back! read more

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Such a cute date night spot! We enjoyed the smoked salmon carpaccio and rosemary bread to start. For our entrees the Braised beef ragu was perfection. My husband's pork chop was a tad overcooked but over all a decent dish. For dessert we had the chocolate cake. Our waiter was great as well! Definitely coming back. read more

Dropped in without a reservation the night before Valentine's Day and the staff was able to get us despite it being a packed house. Great staff from start to finish. Started out with the Cheese Board, followed by the Asian Pear Salad and a wonderful Daou Cabernet Sauvignon. For the main course I had the Rack of Lamb and my wife had the Pan Seared Scallops. Took a Warm Chocolate Soufflé Cake home for desert. Overall a fantastic evening. read more

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

The Mustard Seed has been one of our choices for entertaining guests at our department at UCD. Generally speaking, the experience has been positive and, although slightly priced, the value for money is good. This week, however, I got food poisoned with the scallops entrée. Worse than that, when I called the restaurant to report, an employee (or the manager, I don't know), defiantly said that it was not possible; that I surely got sick from eating elsewhere. When I said that I did not appreciate them casting doubt on my report, she responded with this pearl: "what do you want me to do?" Well, I'd like you to take responsibility and report this incident to your patrons. Because I doubt you will, I'm doing it for you. read more

I hadn't been to the Mustard Seed for years because I was not impressed the last time we dined there but we decided to give it a try last night for our anniversary. It was great on many levels. The ambience for a quiet meal was just what we needed to reminisce our past 41 years. The server, as we discovered later, is the current owner of the Mustard Seed along with his wife who is the hostess. The service and food was great. More often than not, fresh ingredients in the right combination presented in a straight forward and unpretentious manner result in a superb dish. The Asian Pear and spinach salad with blue cheese checked all of criteria. We both had the pan-seared duck breast with sweet potato puree, huckleberry sauce, seasonal vegetables. The huckleberry sauce, slightly on the sweet side, positively complimented the duck. I enjoyed the sweet potato puree but was not overly fond of the seasonal vegetables which were too bitter for my taste. All washed down with Sterling Vineyard Merlot. Given the special occasion we chose ONE order of the Profiteroles plus coffee. Plan on splitting the dish since the servings were ample and nicely prepared. We're definitely looking forward to returning and trying some of the other dishes. read more

Been here for dinner several times; they've also hosted a holiday party for us on their back patio. Easily the best fine dining in Davis. Have had seared ahi, ribeyes, and the pork chop here. All were outstanding. I love having a nice dining destination here in town. Haven't been there for lunch yet but it's on my list. read more