01
Best overall pick
Merchant & Main Grill & Bar
Downtown Vacaville • Lively American Grill And Bar • Best Overall Pick
A downtown Vacaville standby with a broad menu, full bar, and easygoing, buzzy atmosphere.
About ten minutes from Allendale, Merchant & Main is the kind of place locals use for everything from casual burgers to birthday dinners. The menu runs from hearty salads and pastas to steaks and seafood, so it works well for mixed groups and families. Sit on the patio when the weather is nice to watch downtown life roll by between the creek and the historic buildings.
02
Best date-night spot
Mäksē Restaurant
Vacaville Town Square • Upscale Farm-To-Table Restaurant • Best For Date Night
A polished, chef-driven spot focusing on seasonal ingredients and thoughtfully composed plates.
Set just off Vacaville’s Town Square, Mäksē feels like a small-city restaurant tucked into a suburban downtown. The menu leans modern American, with changing seasonal dishes, craft cocktails, and a wine list that rewards lingering over a second course. It is an easy choice when you want a special night out beyond the usual chain options near Allendale.
03
Best Italian classic
Fuso Ristorante & Bar
Creekwalk, Downtown Vacaville • Classic Italian Restaurant And Bar • Best For Long Dinners
Old-school Italian comfort with creekside charm, generous portions, and a relaxed pace.
Fuso sits right along the Vacaville Creekwalk, which gives the dining room and patio an almost resort-like feel on warm evenings. Expect familiar Italian favorites—pastas, chicken dishes, and pizza—along with a full bar and plenty of red wine. It is the spot locals book when they want a lingering meal before or after a show at the nearby performing arts venues.
04
Best for groups and margaritas
Los Reyes Restaurante & Cantina
East Main Street, Vacaville • Festive Mexican Restaurant And Cantina • Best For Margaritas And Big Groups
A colorful, high-energy Mexican restaurant known for combo plates, big portions, and strong margaritas.
Los Reyes is where Vacaville locals head when they want a lively table, plenty of chips and salsa, and zero fuss. The menu covers all the expected combo plates plus sizzling fajitas and house specialties, making it easy to please a crowd. It is an easy swing off I‑80 from Allendale when you want something upbeat after a long day on the road or in the fields.
05
Worth-the-drive small-town spot
Bud's Pub & Grill
Historic Downtown Dixon • Casual Small-Town Steakhouse And Pub • Worth-The-Drive Comfort Food Spot
A classic, no-nonsense grill for steaks, burgers, and hearty plates in a friendly downtown Dixon setting.
A short drive north of Allendale, Bud’s feels like the kind of place that anchors a small farm town—wood-paneled, welcoming, and packed on weekend nights. The kitchen turns out straightforward comfort food, from ribeye steaks and prime rib nights to burgers and big sandwiches. It is ideal when you want a laid-back meal and a beer in a room that feels full of regulars.