Paul Martin's American Bistro was started by the same company that started Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and P.F. Chang's China Bistro. I think it's fair to say both concepts are very successful and aim to please diners without taking any risks.

Does Paul Martin's American Bistro follow the same philosphy? Sac Bee restaurant critic Blair Anthony Robertson gives us his review.

On plate after plate, we encountered mainstream mediocrity at premium prices and packaged as something special, with our server interrupting us repeatedly to remind us how delicious everything was. They made it sound like the second coming of Bouchon instead of what it seemed to be – an Applebee's with better adjectives.

I ordered the flank steak. I'm guessing the marinade was hand-whisked. I ordered the steak medium-rare, because I wanted to reveal myself as a serious foodie. Nevertheless, our server went on to talk to me like I was 11. "OK, medium-rare, which is warm and dark pink toward the center, right?" After serving the steak, she returned within seconds to ask me how everything was tasting. It was clear I had yet to take a bite, so she answered for me. "Delicious..."

The meals at Paul Martin's were not a disaster. They were simply uninspired and ordinary, over-sold and overpriced. Its biggest mistake is serving OK food in a category where the real bistros are serving superior food – house-made, with passion, and without so much hype.

Read the entire review in the Sac Bee.

More News:

Namaste Nepal offers plenty of spice in Rancho Cordova - We like Indian food, but we're quick to admit we're not well-versed in its subtleties or many of its basics. However, we do know what's good, as in: Everything we tasted. Like every world cuisine, Indian is regional, differing in style and content from place to place. For instance, what comes to the table in the north often contains tomato; in the south, it's tamarind. The food is generally spicier in the south, milder in the north. Namaste Nepal's menu is divided between traditional Indian and Nepalese dishes. Nepal is in the Himalayas, bordering India and China. Allen Pierleoni in the Sac Bee. 

Rudy's Hideaway soon will operate food truck - Rudy's Hideaway, a popular steak and seafood destination in Rancho Cordova since 1972, is getting into the food truck business. Steve Ryan, owner of the restaurant at 12303 Folsom Blvd., said he aims to have a gourmet food truck rolling by mid-May...Ryan said the truck will serve traditional Rudy's Hideaway favorites, including lobster rolls, fish and chips, lobster bisque, clam chowder and calamari. He said he's also working on other dishes that will be "specific to the food truck." Mark Glover in the Sac Bee.