Dining Guide

Intimate, personal, fun but refined: It’s not easy to find a restaurant in Rocklin that answers to these descriptors. But The Chef’s Table – a petite venture from chef David Hill (a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and former executive chef of midtown’s G.V. Hurley’s) – is it. The place feels like a secret hideaway for those who are in the know; reservations are recommended for table service, but it’s just as much fun to sit at the bar (just get there early). Either way, you’re likely to get at least one visit from the chef-owner himself as he chats about what’s farm-fresh in the kitchen. The menu changes often, but it might include appetizers like beer-battered pesto fries, grilled chicken soft tacos, pork “wild wings” with hot sauce and blue cheese, and main dishes like fried chicken, shrimp and grits, juicy tri-tip or daily fresh fish. For dessert, look out for the innovative, house-made cinnamon roll with bacon chocolate gravy and buttermilk ice cream—way, way better than it sounds.