Pretty damn impressed with this place. Love the selection of all the whiskeys they have available…read more You can try so many which makes it nice instead of just going to the liquor store and guessing to see if it's gonna be good or not. The food was surprisingly delicious. The cheese curds, egg rolls, tacos and steak skewers were all delicious. The steak skewers were a little too salty for everyone but it was still decent. It has a very relaxing ambiance with nice couches as well as comfortable high top tables with comfortable high chairs. They bartenders are all very attentive and friendly. I'd definitely go back since they have happy hour until 6pm on Saturday.

I am a Scottish Highlander. I drink whiskey. And, as any proper Scot knows, whiskey is the water of…read morelife. So when I tell you that The Locked Barrel in Sacramento is one of the most impressive whiskey bars I have ever experienced, understand that I do not say that lightly. I have traveled extensively, including throughout Scotland - and I have never seen a Macallan flight like the one they offer here. That alone would make the visit worthwhile. But then you look around and see what appears to be 30 feet of whiskey bottles lining the place. Ye gods and little fishes. I am a 6'6 Scottish Highlander, and I look UP to 30 feet of whiskey bottles. That is impressive. There is history here. There is character. And there is whiskey. Period. Serious whiskey. And then there is Ricky, bartender extraordinaire--knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly someone who understands that serving whiskey is more than pouring a drink ... it is an institution. I do not get to Sacramento often - but finding the Locked Barrel was one of the unexpected highlights of my trip. The Locked Barrel is one of the most remarkable whiskey experiences I have encountered anywhere--including Scotland. If you appreciate whiskey--or simply appreciate a place that takes it seriously--put this one on your list. Slàinte mhath! #TheLockedBarrel #Sacramento #Whiskey #Whisky #ScotchWhisky #Macallan #WhiskeyBar #Scotland #ScottishHighlander #SlainteMhath #RustyNail #WhiskeyLovers #SacramentoBars

Great little hole in the wall tavern in old town Folsom. This place always finds great beers and…read morehas fantastic food! When you enter, just proceed to the back near the register. The menus will be near you - just make your food selection of food off the menu and select your beverage off the wall on your right! The Steakhouse Dip is my go too - along with an IPA which I usually ask the great staff to select. I tried the Urban Roots Juice Rush and I think is the best IPA I have ever had - give it a try. Great place to stop in and enjoy the food and beer. It can get busy in the evenings with limited seating - they do have some seating outside to help!

This one hurts to write because this has always been one of my favorite little old bars. I've been…read morecoming here for years and the Johnny Burger was always my go-to. Unfortunately, this last visit was a total bust. The burger was not the same flavor or quality it used to be. Not sure if there's a new cook or what changed, but it was disappointing for the first time ever. That said, I still love this place and the atmosphere -- it has such an old-school local charm. I honestly miss the old staff and the consistency it used to have. Hoping this was just an off night because I'd really love to see it get back to what made it so great.

Have been a few times and every time feels unique. Great drinks, and recommendations from staff,…read moreand great menu. Our go to spot to take friends from out of town. We look forward to going back again!

Found this place while visiting Sac Loved it this speakeasy…read moreis truly a gem and I really enjoyed the tasting menu they have that included two drinks . The drinks were awesome and the food shout out to the chef . We sat at the bar so the service was speedy and staff are super friendly . The vibe of the place was cool and a lot bigger than typical speakeasy . I will definitely visit when in town again

My friend took me to a few events here (in bar area)we loved their appetizers!My mom wanted to…read moretreat us to a nice dinner so decided on Back Bistro. We decided to skip Yard House and that was a wise choice.(If you want better quality food just go to Back Bistro!) We had Beef short ribs,Steak blue cheese salad,Cobb salad and Truffle Mac n Cheese entrees. For dessert we had toffee sticky pudding,burlee and chocolate pot de crème. It was just amazing!Great service too !

Had a nice dinner with my bestie here today... the restaurant is beautiful! We opted to sit outside…read morebecause it was such a nice day .. the outside seating area was cute.. we shared our appetizers .. the steak & potato and fish & rice plates .. the steak and potatoe was delicious! Steak was made well done though when we asked medium well .. the potatoes were soft and yummy. The fish & rice was great! A fried ball of flavored rice topped with a thick cut of seared tuna with some I believe unagi and spicy mayo sauce.. it went well together! I loved it! My main dish was the braised short ribs .. it was so tender you did not need to cut it with a knife! 2 thumbs up! My friend's main dish was the seasonal pasta add shrimp... I didn't try it but it looked delicious Our server was great! He was attentive and made sure to come by to refill and ask if we needed anything ever so often. Perfect place for a nice sit down and chat and enjoy some delicious food

A finale spot with friends on a recent visit to Sacramento, Frank was a great time! This is a tiny…read morespeakeasy that my friends love. The bouncer was super friendly, as was the bartender despite the place being packed. It's tiny, with a few tables, bar seats, and some standing room. The music was great. A signature drink are their pistachio cocktails, which I really loved! If you like unique places, this is worth your visit!

Frank hit all the right notes. The vibe and decor are really cool, the kind of place that feels…read moreintentional without trying too hard. And yes, there is a SpongeBob themed fish tank and yes, I loved it. Cocktail menu is creative and the drinks are actually good, which is not always a given when a bar leans heavily into aesthetics. Service was great too. One heads up though, cash only! But they have a no-fee ATM inside so it's really not a big deal. Just good to know before you go.

Fantastic Spot To "Pregame" Shows @ Goldfields Next Door…read more SITREP We descended upon the Tack Room an hour before our show for "Ally The Piper" (both the classical AND heavy metal bagpiper extraordinaire) began her show! THE SETUP Goldfields is a charming, rustic country-western stylized saloon that serves up beer at good prices. But we weren't interested in beer and wanted quality cocktails. Hence, our pivot next door to the Tack Room! QUALITY COCKTAILS & DRINKS! The Tack Room specializes an amazing array of martinis, bourbons, and other deLISH cocktail drinks at really really reasonable prices! So this was an excellent choice to chill, thus avoiding the tremendous *noise pollution* we were immediately subjected to upon entering Goldfields an hour later for our show. THE LOWDOWN This is a quality bar with plenty of comfortable seating to relax and have quiet, intimate conversations. So if you and your later friend(s) want some privacy, cocktails at a reasonable price, etc., this is a good way to go.

What an absolutely fantastic place to duck into and chill for a bit on a hot summer day. It's about…read moreas classic as you can ask for from a small bar. It's themed around horse racing, but not in an overbearing or... tacky way. The mixologist was delightful and had great recommendations, the lights were dim, and the drinks were all on point. The highlight was the espresso martini, which is among the best I've had. It was reminiscent of the one I had at the Starbucks Roastery in NYC, which is high praise. The other coffee drink that surprised me was the Revolver. I always forget about what a good pairing orange and coffee is, and I'll be taking this one back home with me to try! Every other drink we tried was delicious in some unique way. The Pho drink was savory and surprising, the New York Sour was rich and flavorful, and the Practical Move was refreshing. Will definitely return here after dinner to sip an espresso martini for dessert!

Good is always great, service is excellent, thank you and your team for all your hard work.read more

The vibe at House of Oliver was great good music, fun atmosphere, and overall a nice place to hang…read moreout. The bartender Steph, deserves major credit. She was absolutely amazing and working incredibly hard, making drinks for the entire restaurant and bringing out food. I sat there for about an hour and a half watching her nonstop hustle, she truly deserves recognition. Unfortunately, the food wait was extremely long. We waited about an hour and a half before our food finally came out, and by that point we were starving and very frustrated. The wait really took away from what could have been a great experience. If you're looking to grab a few drinks with a great bartender and enjoy the vibe, this is a good spot. Just be prepared for a very long wait if you plan on ordering food.

I ordered take out yesterday. I have eaten in the restaurant many times before and ordered the…read moresame thing: just the cheeseburger and fries and a gluten-free bun. When I got there I got the food, went to my car and opened it to find semi-toasted bread, not a bun. Went back in to make sure it was gluten-free, they said they ran out of gluten-free buns. Disappointing, but I went with it. When I got home and cut the burger, I discovered that the inside was completely raw...not rare....RAW. So I had to cook my own burger at home, by which time the bread was even more raw. I felt ill later in the evening and I am still not feeling great today. Really disgusted and disappointed since I have gone in to dine so many times without issue. I will not be going back to 36 Handles ever. The lack of care and basic cooking is utterly sad. $26 for no bun and a raw burger. Waste of money.

- A Little Luck, A Lot of Vibe…read more If you're looking for that "this is why we don't stay home" kind of energy... this spot nailed it. Walked in on St. Patrick's Day and it felt like the whole place had been plugged into a good mood generator. Packed--but not chaotic. Lively--but not sloppy. Just that sweet spot where everyone's smiling, conversations are flowing, and you can tell people actually want to be there. The staff? Absolute pros. Fast, dialed in, and having just as much fun as the crowd. You don't always see that combo--usually it's either efficient or friendly. These guys brought both. You could feel the teamwork behind the bar... drinks moving, laughs happening, zero stress vibes. The crowd was all in too--green everywhere, patios buzzing, inside shoulder-to-shoulder in the best way. No weird tension, no ego... just good people having a good time. That's rare these days. And honestly, this is exactly why local pubs matter. You're not just grabbing a drink--you're stepping into a community moment. Something real. Something you can't replicate with a six-pack at home. Bottom line: If this is how they show up on a big day, you already know it's solid year-round. Support your local spot. This one's doing it right.

While visiting friends in Sacramento, I was taken on an unplanned adventure of some notable…read morecocktail bars. A favorite of theirs is The Snug; they thought we wouldn't be able to get in but thanks to a concert nearby they had free tables. It's primarily a cocktail bar, but I stuck with a beer. The decor is an awesome mix of contemporary, brick, old west, and 20s. It was a happy clientele too, with what seemed like a younger post-workday crowd. The server was also fantastic. If you like cocktail bars with character, this is worth the visit.

The name really does say it all. Tables tucked in the back, cozy atmosphere, the kind of place that…read morejust feels like a good night out before you've even ordered anything. The menu is great on two levels, the aesthetic and the actual cocktail options. Wine was solid too so whatever you're in the mood for, they've got you. The staff was attentive and friendly and made some really good recommendations, which I always appreciate. We went on a busy night and even with a packed house we never waited too long for anything. Really great spot to hang with friends. Already want to go back.

Popped in on a Sat and it wasn't too crazy. A live band setting up in the corner. Crowded with no…read morebooths open but we found bar seating after a short wait. 5/5 Red daisy 4/5 Midnight meztake Hubs got the old fashioned and liked it. Madison made our drinks perfectly and quickly! We got a couple rounds and all drinks were great!

This bar is phenomenal. I would like to preface this by saying I've never had food from this…read morelocation if they even offer food. You walk into the bar and it's massive. I don't think I've ever not been able to get a table or booth for longer than like 15-20 minutes. The music is at the right level if you still want to have a conversation. The bar is always clean and the bathrooms are lovely. It's not the type of bar where you have to go looking for a drink. From Lavender Martinis to hot toddy's they're putting out fantastic drinks. The Jamison and the Giant Peach is my personal favourite. The bartender wouldn't give me the exact recipe no matter what but he made one in front of me, after I proved I didn't live in the same state and had a completely different career. I was able to approximate it at home and it's still my go to cocktail. The ingredients are high level and the service is impeccable. 11/10 this place makes a delicious cocktail