The Mustard Seed, Davis CA

Comparing The Mustard Seed restaurant to fast-food joints, I'd generously give it 5 stars, but in the fine dining arena, it's more of a 3-star experience. Our reservation for 7 p.m. Was honored without a hitch, and the server was attentive initially. However, this review veers towards the critical side.

Our meal began with warm rosemary rolls, a pleasing start. The goat cheese butter was delightful, but the tomato bisque soup left a lot to be desired, being overly sweet and in dire need of salt and pepper. The crab cakes, on the other hand, offered a pleasant burst of flavor.

The most significant snag in our evening was the painfully long 45-minute wait for the main course, with no sign of our server for half an hour. This lapse in service was unfortunate and dampened our spirits. When our main courses finally arrived, they were
underwhelming. The braised duck leaned towards the saccharine side, and the braised short rib was just plain uninspiring. The accompanying pasta with the short rib was overcooked and rubbery.

In our quest to sample the menu, only a couple of side dishes impressed us. The pricing of the dishes left us questioning the value for money, and had gratuity not been included, we would have been hesitant to leave a larger tip.

In summary, The Mustard Seed offers very few culinary delights and many disappointments. While it shows promise with its unique offerings and initial service, it falls short in terms of service efficiency and the consistency of its dishes. A solid 3 star rating reflects the overall experience, with room for improvement in various aspects.

We ate dinner on the patio which was very nice. Competing music (TMS piped in vs.live music next door) was a little annoying. Opinion: restaurants should turn theirs off when a band is playing.

The food was prepared well although my rack of lamb dinner had too much rosemary, which can overpower flavor. The salads were excellent.

Our waiter was outstanding, which is why he got a big tip.

Total cost for two (no alcohol) was $160.

The food was fantastic. We had the lamb, duck and short rib pasta main courses and each of them were excellent. The atmosphere is quaint and the service top notch. We sat in the outdoor patio which was very nice, but there were some persistent flies (part of being in Davis).

What an amazing restaurant! The food was exceptional. I would definitely recommend the lamb. It was cooked to perfection! The wait staff was extremely attentive and excellent in recommending a wonderful bottle of wine.
What a wonderful spot to enjoy great food the location is peaceful and relaxing.

Went for Dinner with my wife for dinner, for the starter we ordered crab cakes and a Caesar salad, which both were good. Wine was good, service was good. Dinner was horrible. We both couldn't finish our meals. I ordered the halibut with rice, both were flavorless the halibut seemed like it may have been frozen. For a $50 dish I would expect seasoned, fresh fish. My spouse ordered the pesto prawn pasta and the pesto tasted store bought with an overwhelming amount of lemon. The prawns were rubbery and also the dish as a whole was under seasoned. I would not go back for dinner, especially since the meals were all over priced

The service was great and the lamb was the best I ever tasted. My colleagues loved the fish (Halibut). I will be back.

Food wise, the cooks here are calling it in. For the price, the entrees are mediocre. The service was good, though somewhat intrusive and the dining room is pleasant. They start with good ingredients, but there is a lot of lost potential here

Good food with nicely sized portions. Food was nicely presented and served with just the right amount of time between courses.

Wasn't sure what to expect. Long day. Late. Tired. Fantastic and just what I needed. Quiet dinner with friend. Delicious lamb chops with carrots, Brussel sprouts, asparagus, and potatoes. Beautifully presented. Professional server.

The food and service was excellent. Fully enjoyed the Halibut dinner, the other people in my party enjoyed their food as well. Nice place to go for a special occasion.

Great place to go to if you want a nice atmosphere. The cabin looks really nice inside. Good service and the food wasn't bad. On the pricier side for downtown Davis but worth the money if you are looking for a good time.

Very mediocre corporate chain.

For instance, I ordered the veggie-ten, and the chef’s choice special, which is … wait for it… another veggie-ten… they just brought two of the same roll.

On the whole, the sushi is a bit sweet and just ok.

This restaurant is an amazing place to eat. Everything is handmade, the wait time for the food was amazing timing. I would eat there again and there desert is a ten put of ten. Its a good restaurant for different occasions.

They were quite busy and we arrived without reservations. Their staff immediately checked with management and were quick to accomodate us once they confirmed they could. We were welcomed by friendly and professional staff and were treated to a thoughtful (and delicious!) meal. Our waiter was exceptional and we had a very pleasant evening. If we are in the area again in the future, we will be back. Thank you for a wonderful evening!

An amazing place for an intimate dinner. The service was exceptional, the food was absolutely delicious and the desserts were perfect! Their wines are all amazing but I think definitely the service was what made this dinner extra special! We will definitely be back!

First time back after pandemic. The food seems/tastes of higher quality than before. Menu is limited, and cost went up though. Service was superb and friendly. Will keep in mind for special occasions.

Extremely friendly and accommodating staff. We had the pastry tomato soup, the pork and the steak, and all were delicious.

I had guests visiting from Seattle and tried to book a table on a Friday night. The manager was so kind and got us on the list even though their reservation list was full. We came at 6: 00 PM, got right in and had a really well cooked dinner with excellent and personal service.

When we attend Mondavi events our first choice is The Mustard Seed. Their dedication to fresh food and variety is apparent. They never cease to amaze me, when we tell them we have an event they will expedite your orders!