The Virgin Sturgeon Restaurant & Marina — Restaurant in Sacramento

On Saturday, July 16, 2022 our nephew visited with us and we needed a new place to dine, so we selected The Virgin Sturgeon Restaurant and Marina. We arrived just before noon and we parked nearest the outside stairway. We walked the incline to the host section where we were politely greeted by the staff. This was our first visit and already we could feel this was going to be a great first visit at a great restaurant. For reals people - it had a wonderful feeling!

The hostess was very kind and she seated us right away. There were three of us so we had a nice table where we were able to see the passing boats along the Sacramento River. Our drink orders were promptly taken and we made our food selection. Oh my goodness...the appetizers we ordered were delicious. And we haven't even gotten to the best part. My wife had the chicken fried steak and eggs, and our nephew ordered the "Virgin Sturgeon" dish. I on the other hand ordered the crab omelette.

I must tell you; I have NEVER had such a delicious dish as this crab omelette. Now I understand why Helen Mirren said "Oh" when she tasted the omelette prepared for her in the movie, "The Hundred-Foot Journey"! I was in a Michelin Star dining experience and I didn't even know it! Fresh crab and fresh avocado with cheese stuffed into this dish. I was sooooo satisfied I almost felt I did not deserve such a royal meal.

My wife and nephew had amazing meals as well. The price for our meals was appropriate and the service was "bomb-diggity" good. I loved this experience.

Folks, we stopped by the bar and the bartender was so sweet and there was plenty of room to have a quiet and romantic time while watching the river.

I cannot wait until we go out again and I highly recommend everyone to go to The Virgin Sturgeon Restaurant and Marina. The management and employees deserve to know that we think they are...

Oh where to start?! Well, I guess we could begin with the atmosphere. I would describe the entry as pretty cool! You have to walk through a steeply sloped tunnel which I must say is pretty original; however, wheelchair users will be FLYING into another dimension! Once you make it into the restaurant it has a very open lake bar feel about it permitting seating for indoor and outdoor preferences all with a lake view. Over all, the tone set in this establishment is very laid back and welcoming.

On the flip side- the service and food was subpar. Befinning with the service, we found ourselves asking for things multiple times and above all, one of our party's order NEVER came and was completely over looked; the waitress never even came back to the table to see if we recieved everything. In fact, finding her in this small establishment was seemingly impossible.

Secondly, the food was slightly less unsatisfactory. the menu is hard to discern upon the initial glance, everything seems sporadic and unorganized. Beyond this fact the food itself was merely average. We ordered the sampler appetizer, my inlaws had the steak sandwich, and I had the trout. I have no real complaint with the appetizer nor the trout. Both were actually cooked and served correctly however nothing to wrote home about. As for the steak sandwich it is literally JUST THAT... steak on some dry bread was exactly how it was served. Do not expect cheese, do not expect mayo or any form of condiment on your sandwich at all- not even butter for your bread. If you want anything at all, prepare to pay extra. I just find that ridiculous.

All in all- was it horrible? NO! was it the...

This restaurant caught my eye while searching for a place to eat in the area, and the idea of dining right next to the water while enjoying seafood sounded perfect. Located along the Sacramento River, you reach it by walking down a tunnel-like pathway that leads directly to the entrance.

The moment you step inside, the humidity hits you. All the windows were open and the ceiling fans were running, but it was still uncomfortably warm and sticky. Most of the diners appeared to be in the 60+ crowd, giving the place a more mature, relaxed vibe.

For drinks, I tried the Sturgeon Whisperer. It was so light it tasted like it barely had any alcohol in it. The smoked sturgeon appetizer came on a bed of greens but was underwhelming—bland and lacking character. The house specialty, grilled sturgeon with Cajun seasoning, was moist and cooked perfectly but needed a serious boost in flavor—salt, hot sauce, anything to wake it up. The side of rice was tasty, but the steamed vegetables were just average.

I imagine this restaurant would be a much better experience on a cooler day. Adding misting systems or stronger cooling fans would make a big difference. The space itself could also benefit from some updating, especially for a spot with such a prime riverfront location. On the plus side, the bathroom was clean, and our server was pleasant and attentive.

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