go for drinks, not the food. choosing between several restaurants i wanted to try in sac, including the grange, waterboy, mulvaneys and biba, i looked forward to fine dining at ella because of the reputation of selland.
shoulda gone with one of the others. the service was attentive. the food highlights were the fresh bread, cauliflower soup and the celery/date salad. our waiter was in training to be a sommelier, so i allowed him to select a wine. he just hadn't been in school long enough and after bringing a dry sauvignon blanc which clashed terribly, he quickly exchanged it for a riesling. my main course was sea bass with a lemon beurre blanc and artichoke. the sauce was great. the fish was pretty, but flavorless. i had to add salt to find any flavor beyond the sauce. the waiter brought a nice oaky chardonnay which, again, clashed with the lemon of the sauce. strike 2 on the wine. moved to the chef's suggestion of a pinot and all was fine from there.
my wife's dish, the handkerchief pasta, was again, pretty, but shy on flavor. the porcini mushrooms didn't come through and the pasta was past al dente - not mushy, just squishy.
altogether, a $150 meal that coulda, shoulda and oughta have been better.
aric gives it: ambiance ***
service ***1/2
food **1/2