Where does one even start with Sheldon Inn Restaurant & Bar? It’s hands down one of Elk Grove’s best restaurants. From the atmosphere to the food, it’s a must that residents of Elk Grove should experience. Now, with the special deal, they are offering this week, you can try a few of their signature dishes. Fill your soul with their delectable 4-course meal for $40, valid only January 20-26!

The Restaurant

Pulling upfront, I would never guess the building is over 100 years old, but it is. For those who are unfamiliar, Sheldon Inn Restaurant & Bar is located out on Grant Line Rd. near Sheldon, in Rural Elk Grove. It was originally owned by Doug and Barbara Silva but now belongs to Jeffery and Jona Adkins. While Sheldon Inn offers a fine dining experience, they do have a bar and lounge area as well for those who prefer a more casual atmosphere. I took a quick peek and could see several customers enjoying themselves and their drinks. Who can say they went to a bar at one of the finest restaurants in Elk Grove?

The Menu

Their $40 Four Course special for Elk Grove Restaurant week.

The regular offerings are available at Sheldon Inn Restaurant & Bar.

Aside from their space offering something for those who desire a more quiet, fine experience or a more laid-back vibe, you can find yourself immersed in their menu. Sheldon Inn offered more than just your typical “Steak and Potatoes” menu items. Cuisine includes French, American, and Portuguese influences. Additionally, their menu items can vary according to season, and the owners consider input regularly from their team of chefs. For example, the fruit cobblers they offer for dessert can change depending on the season. They also have a few nightly specials, and for the evening, Fried Chicken was a course offering. Other popular menu items include Fried Calamari, Baked Brie, Black Angus Ribeye, Stuffed Chicken Breast, and a North Atlantic Lobster Tail.

Aside from the scrumptious food items, owners Jeffery and Jona operate a winery as well, so the wine list is extensive! There are plenty of options for diners to choose from, whether they are there to have a glass of wine or to experience the food. The bar adjacent to the main dining area also offers Happy Hour, which runs Tuesday to Friday from 4:00 P.M. to 5:30 P.M.

The Food

As mentioned above, the food all seems absolutely divine! However, I wanted to try as many items as I could. So, I opted to order the four-course meal selected, especially for Elk Grove Restaurant Week. Shane, our attentive and courteous waiter, also suggested we try the Fried Chicken with snap peas, mashed potatoes, and bacon gravy. Bacon gravy? That was enough to sell me! We ordered pretty quickly, knowing what we wanted. First up, however, was the fresh Sourdough bread and the Cranberry bread. I have to say, I can usually tell the rest of the food will be delicious based on how good the starter bread is. And let me tell you, both the Sourdough and the Cranberry bread were perfect with a good slathering of butter!

After we devoured the bread, our food rolled out quickly. As you can see, everything looks incredible. We started on the Fried Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Apple Gastrique. Admittedly, while I am not big on brussel sprouts, I had a huge helping of this! The bacon was a superb touch, and the apple flavor added just the right bit of sweetness. Next, I had to taste the Fried Chicken and Bacon Gravy. Is it as good as it sounds? Probably more so. I could have drank the gravy; it was that good! For this dish, you need to bring your appetite. It is practically four pieces of chicken with a crisp batter.

The Fried Chicken with Bacon Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, and Snap Peas.

After tasting the chicken, I moved on to the popular “Niman Ranch” Stuffed Pork Chop. The apples and its tartness mixed with sage and gravy was a perfect mix of sweet and salty. While pork chops can sometimes be overcooked and dry, not this one: brown on the outside and juicy on the inside. By the time we were done with this, I was full but needed to try the Portuguese Bean Soup. The bits of linguica and kale made the soup seem light, which went well for how stuffed I was already. The soup was flavorful and prepared me for the last course of the evening: White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Bread Pudding. I cannot put into words how lovely this is. The nutty sweetness all mixed into a warm, sweet bread topped off with vanilla bean ice cream just dances in your mouth and finishes you off so well.

“Niman Ranch” Stuffed Pork Chop. Stuffing is made of Granny Smith Apples, Sage, and Applewood Bacon. The cream sauce is composed of Sparkling Cider.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Bread Pudding.

Overall, I will be returning to Sheldon Inn Restaurant and Bar. The service and food were both exceptional, especially the “Niman Ranch” Stuffed Pork Chop. I must admit, though, that the White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Bread Pudding is worth returning for alone!

When you get an opportunity this week, I highly recommend taking advantage of their four-course special!