Giusti’s is a century-old family-friendly roadhouse about a half-hour south of Sacramento. According to the restaurant’s website, Egisto Giusti emigrated to Walnut Grove just after 1900 and soon after set up Millers Ferry Saloon, soon to be known as Giusti’s. Egisto’s grandson, Mark Morais, currently operates the establishment. His mother Dolores was a Giusti. His daughter Katie is the fourth generation to work at the restaurant; she works as a waitress and hostess.
Today, Giusti’s attracts both families and bikers.
Giusti’s sits at “the confluence of the Snodgrass Slough and the Mokulemne River.” You have no idea what a “slough” is? Neither did I.
Apparently slough is an obscure British word for “an inlet or backwater.” Sounds about right. A deck in front of Giusti’s looks out on passing boats, which dock at the nearby marina. Lush fig trees line the banks. It took all my self-control not to pluck one plump green fig.
A sign next to a walkway to the dock warns that “Alcohol impairs judgment.” Fair enough, but what interested me about this sign was the image of the man making out with the fish. Is that what happens if you Boat Under the Influence?
Hundreds of ball caps hang from the ceiling in the bar, many donated by local businesses, often representing businesses that no longer exist.
Hundreds of ball caps hang from the ceiling in the bar, many donated by local businesses, often representing businesses that no longer exist.
Giusti’s advertises itself as a “Hunters and Fishermans Paradise.” Judging from all the mounted deer heads and blue marlin, it’s no paradise for fish or game. This deer on the right suffered further indignity, fitted with a ball cap.
Given the name, I expected a more Italian menu, but only Thursday nights are truly Italian, featuring dishes like carpaccio, bruschetta, chicken piccata, ravioli, lasagna and fettuccini Alfredo. The menu was surprisingly simple, sporting a few steaks, fried chicken, a couple seafood dishes, and a couple pasta dishes. There were also daily specials on the board, like broiled lobster tail, rack of lamb, baby back ribs and grilled oysters. Giusti’s dinners are served family style, and no matter what you order, include plenty of complimentary accompaniments.
We were served a basket of fresh baked Puglaese bread, which was soft, yeasty Italian bread.
We received a big blue bowl of vegetable minestrone soup. Carrots, beans, grains and herbs all imparted flavor to the excellent broth.
We received another blue bowl containing tossed salad with “special house dressing,” which Allison compared to 1000 island. Seemed to be the case.
Thin-sliced salami had the consistency of bologna and was average at best.
Garlic and olive oil-soaked garbanzo and kidney beans were tossed with herbs and absolutely addictive.
Prawns ($15.50) were available fried, grilled or baked. I ordered them baked, and they were large butterflied specimens, juicy and dusted with paprika. They came with a dish of house-made cocktail sauce, a simple but tasty concoction of ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and horseradish. A baked potato also accompanied my meal.
Allison wasn’t hungry, so she limited herself to a child’s portion of lightly-breaded white veal cutlet ($8.75). It came in a gravy and was served with a baked potato and dish of sour cream.
Considering how well Giusti’s fed us, we never even considered dessert. Overall, the restaurant was a worthy stop, for the hearty food and for the interesting atmosphere, both inside and out.
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