Mustard Seed

Contributor

Citysearch

The Scene
This diminutive house in the heart of Davis looks like the kind of place you'd expect to find in a small mountain village. Chairs fashioned from tree branches, cozy nooks and a fireplace give the restaurant rustic charm. A serene back patio surrounded by trees and tropical plants, tables stocked with flowers and flickering candles add to the ambience.

The Food
The California menu is brief but dishes are lovingly prepared with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. Sherry vinaigrette highlights each element in the baby spinach salad: caramelized walnuts and bleu cheese, accompanied by slices of ripe pear. The grilled Hawaiian swordfish with chardonnay, artichoke hearts, leeks, capers and pine nuts is cooked to moist perfection. A dish of Dungeness crab cakes on Asian noodles mixes a subtle sea flavor with sweet red peppers, shiitake mushrooms and scallions.