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    The Lock & Key Tapas + Bar

    3.6 (213 reviews)
    Open 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

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    THE LOCK & KEY TAPAS + BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

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    Chicken Pesto Flatbread.
    Gary J.

    After work, my girl and I decided to check out The Lock & Key for happy hour. When we walked in, it wasn't many people there, I'm guessing because it was raining and the weather wasn't the best. The waitress greeted us right away and seated us at a booth, which was nice and comfortable. I ordered the chicken pesto flatbread, and my girl got the chicken tenders with fries. I kept it simple with a glass of water. The bartender, however, surprised us with a complimentary drink they were testing for the summer. I believe it was a vanilla, pineapple, coconut rum cocktail and let me tell you, it was really good. If that's one of their upcoming summer drinks, it's definitely going to be a hit. While waiting for our food, I noticed they were playing a mix of old-school and new-school R&B. As an R&B fan, I loved the vibe. A few times, my girl and I even caught ourselves singing along. It made the whole experience feel fun and relaxed. The food was solid. My chicken pesto flatbread tasted good, but I do wish it had a little more pesto and maybe a light oil drizzle on top to boost the flavor. Still enjoyable overall. One downside was that the restaurant felt pretty cold inside. I understand it was raining, but it would've been nice if the heater was on to make it more comfortable. Sadly, I didn't want to take my jacket off Before we left, my girl and the waitress had a fun conversation about the restaurant which was cool. The waitress also mentioned they host events and have one coming up called R&B Bingo. Since I'm a fan of both R&B and bingo, that definitely caught my attention sounds like a perfect future date night. Overall, it was a good experience. The food was enjoyable, the staff was friendly, and the vibe was on point. I'd definitely come back especially for R&B Bingo night and hopefully next time the weather (and the temperature inside) will be better. And I might just order that summer cocktail.

    Husband at the Place. Celebrating our Anniversary!
    Denosa M.

    I learned about the Valentine's Night event through a social media advertisement that promoted the evening as a great experience for couples. Based on the description, my husband and I decided to attend since we were looking for something simple to do on a weekday. The food was enjoyable, the tacos were well prepared, and the drinks were good. The server who took our order was attentive, professional, and provided excellent service. There were, however, several concerns that impacted our overall experience. While I understand the importance of security for safety, it should be applied consistently. My husband was patted down while other guests were not, which made him feel singled out. Whether intentional or not, inconsistent practices can create a perception of profiling, and perception matters. We were assigned a table in the center of the venue, which initially seemed fine. However, the chairs were very thin and uncomfortable, causing me to slide forward while seated. When my husband politely asked if we could move to another table with better seating, he was told it was reserved. Later, we observed guests freely moving and sitting at that table, indicating it was not reserved as stated. Our waiter kindly addressed the situation by bringing a more suitable chair, which we appreciated. Additionally, we felt overlooked as guests. A staff member appeared to be taking photos for social media but did not ask if we would like a photo. As it was also our wedding anniversary, a photo would have been a meaningful keepsake. Overall, we felt less engaged with compared to the younger crowd, which gave the impression that older couples or non-regulars were not a priority. In summary, the food was good and our waiter provided excellent service. However, inconsistent security practices, seating issues, and a lack of inclusive customer engagement negatively affected the experience. One star for great Tacos, drinks, music, and Waiter. Husband was disappointed. I made the best of it; I was with hubby; Asawa!

    Douglas Y.

    We met friends here for happy hour and dinner. The Lock and Key has HH from 4p-7p an hour longer than most establishments. We had the guacamole /chips and Empanadas from the HH menu. Both dishes were tasty. For dinner we had the Family Feast selecting Skirt steak, Prawns and Pork belly. The prawns were some of the biggest I have ever seen. The pork belly had a mango habanero sauce that was to die for. The skirt steak was tender and tasty. The feast included pickled onions, Shishito peppers and rice. For $63 the feast was awesome. We were too full to order the caramel apple empanadas but hey there is always next time lol.

    Sad,  expensive, dry rice balls (Arancini $8).
    Sara E.

    Lock and Key? More like Hit or Miss. Made reservations on a Tuesday at 6pm. Dine Downtown week but we ended up ordering from the happy hour menu. We split four small plates. We tried to order the slider trio, which was out, so we opted for the John Smith burger and fries $11 happy hour option. This tasted like your best backyard BBQ burger. Juicy, perfectly medium rare in the middle, toasty grilled bun, cheese sauce and pickles. Fries were hot, crispy on the outside and delightfully fluffy on the inside. Next, (ranked in order of preference) was the ceviche $12. Lots of chopped shrimp pieces, bright, fresh Pico and house made chips. This was a nice portion for the happy hour price. A few of our chips were burned but served to us anyway (?!?). Sadly, our other two items ranged from disappointing to gross. I'm from NYC where my corner pizzeria offered golden brown arancini balls the size of a softball for $4. Lock and Key offered three tablespoon- sized clumps for $8. They looked burnt- dark brown on the outside, but had the satisfying crunchy shell that ofsets the creamy interior (usually) beautifully. I thought these were pretty dry with minimal flavor. When the dish is basically deep fried leftover rice, I would expect more for that price. But the Mojo Pork Belly $10 happy hour was bad to the point of gross. 5 fried pieces of pork belly...or actual three pieces of nearly pure fat. I literally spit out three mouthfuls of fat. Only one piece had a decent amount of meat. I get that porkbelly is fatty, but usually it's cooked better. When food is hit or miss, service makes all the difference. I get that this is not a high end place but the hostes was in leggings, slippers and a hoodie from a different business. Bartender was also our server, taking care of the whole place... really kind of slowed the pace of the meal. So overall, there are some nice items on the happy hour menu, but not enough for me to come back and order from the full dinner menu.

    Hey y'all
    Cassandra B.

    Lock & Key, you treated us right. I didn't get to try the food because you sold out, but it looked delicious. Something told me to grab food when I first arrived, but I was too busy enjoying the music. Next time, I'll make sure to get food first. Besides the food, the drinks were delicious.

    Mojo Pork Belly and Patatas Bravas
    Susan B.

    Lock & Key took over the old Red Rabbit. There is no actual sign outside but you will see a Key logo at top of their entrance. They are right next to Barwest. Street parking only. You can find both meters and non meters parking around the area. Came here with friends on weeknight so they were not busy. We ordered Mojo pork belly, Patatas bravas, Coastal Ceviche and Slider Trio. All were pretty good. Food came out pretty fast. Service was attentive. They offer happy hour so that is a plus!

    Kiss & Tell drink
    Anissa R.

    Okay Lock & Key, I see you! I recently visited this tapas bar again with my friend and we had a totally different experience this time around! The staff were AMAZING, the food was FABULOUS, and the drinks were PERFECT! We were the first of a bunch of Halloween pub crawlers to visit L&K and we had a blast. We were even able to do a little taste testing of their espresso martini in the works! Can't wait for it! Their bartenders know their stuff! I'm excited to come here more often and can't will bring the husband soon! Cheers!

    Arianne C.

    Went here with a group of friends for Sunday brunch, we were the first ones there when they opened. It didn't get really busy, we were the only guests there until we left. Service was fine, food was fine. We got a mimosa carafe, they only had cranberry and orange juice. Maybe social media hyped this place up, and potentially why we had higher expectations as far as the vibes and experience.. However, it was fine.. we ate, we sipped, then we went next door to barwest.

    Bingo
    Nadia M.

    We went here for R&B, bingo, and had an amazing time like it was great. The staff was great that was hosting our waitress. She kept forgetting our food and we got the wrong drink, but we wanted it with Jamison and they gave it to us with vodka the food was really nasty. I got a mushroom empanada, which was you We got the pork belly no seasoning. It was it. It was nasty. Maybe it was an off day, but the people that was giving the event were absolutely amazing so I had a really good time it just needs to work on the food and the service. Maybe it was who we got I don't remember her name And but we had a lot of fun. The place was nice spacious lots of dancing.

    Patatas Bravas and Coastal Ceviche
    Melissa G.

    I came for a friend's birthday during happy hour, and we ordered a round of tapas and drinks for our table of four. The service was lackluster and the food was decent at best. We ordered the kale chopped salad, coastal ceviche, arancini, and patatas bravas. Menu descriptions sounded more appealing than the plates we were served. I was most excited for the coastal ceviche, but felt let down with the lack of fish throughout. The arancini was a pleasant surprise and the only tapa that I'd recommend. The atmosphere was quiet and intimate and might be a better fit for a different occasion other than a birthday celebration. Overall, lots of potential, but there's better options nearby.

    Correct hours as of 08/02/24. Yelp hours are not correct.

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    Ask the Community - The Lock & Key Tapas + Bar

    Do they have a Happy Hour?

    Yes!!! happy hour Tues - Friday 3pm- 7pm

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    Tack Room

    Tack Room

    4.7
    (154 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    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!

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    Tack Room
    Tack Room
    Tack Room

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    The Roost

    The Roost

    4.4
    (211 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    I love the idea of speakeasies. The way that suddenly you are transported to a hidden space that…read moreyou think no one else knows about but then you open the door and it's like you share a secret with other like-minded people. I had been to Bawk before but little did I know about the hidden space behind it. You do need to make reservations, which I did not do. Instead I got on a list until there was a space, close to midnight and way past my bedtime, to discover this hidden gem. Once your reservation time comes up, you are escorted to a booth or bar area and given a menu. We had welcome drinks upon arrival and could choose from a cocktail list. Drinks average about $20 each, so be prepared to spend some cash. You should definitely experience this at least once! Great spot for date night or a fun girls night out.

    The Roost in Midtown Sacramento is such a great hidden spot and one of those places you go for the…read morefull experience, not just a quick drink. The space is small and intimate with serious speakeasy vibes that remind me of some of the cocktail bars in San Francisco. The drink presentations are gorgeous, and you can tell a lot of thought goes into both the flavor and how everything looks when it arrives at the table. They have a great selection of gin, rum, champagne, and whiskey, and I often lean on the staff for drink suggestions because they're really good at recommending something you might not normally order. A few times now they've pointed me toward a drink that ended up being a hidden gem. I've been here a few times and it's always a great time whether you're catching up with friends or doing a date night. The food is also surprisingly good and pairs well with the cocktails. It is definitely on the pricier side, but that's part of the experience. Also, because the space is small and intimate, reservations fill up quickly and they do require a deposit, which goes toward your final bill. Helpful tip: make a reservation ahead of time and don't be afraid to ask the staff for drink recommendations -- they're excellent at guiding you to something special. Final verdict: absolutely worth it.

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    Equanimity, beer and rum
    Equanimity, beer and rum
    5-9-24   I am ruined for ever having an Old Fashioned anywhere else.
    5-9-24 I am ruined for ever having an Old Fashioned anywhere else.
    Inside

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    Inside
    Oaxaca

    Oaxaca

    4.1
    (199 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Happy hour at Oaxaca = Amazing!…read more They had a great variety of margaritas and picking just one was difficult. I ended up getting the hibiscus margarita and it was so delicious! If they had a margarita flight, I would have gotten that! I guess I have to go back to try all the flavors instead. The chips and salsa were a must have. We tried the taco Al pastor and barbacoa. Both were so flavorful, delicious, and juicy! I will say the barbacoa was the winner of the two though! Their outdoor seating was spacious and comfortable. Can't wait to spend more time here this summer!

    Stopped by during happy hour and it was a nice little treat. I decided to try something new and…read moreorder a enfrijolada, it was so good. Glad I decided to try it! I did tell the server that was my first time ordering it and he asked me how it was so I appreciate him checking in. I also had the Al pastor taco, which was good but a little dry but I wouldn't hold that over them. Ordered a hibiscus margaritas well and it was delicious. I want to say they specialize in mezcal cocktails? So if you're not a fan of mezcal, there is beer as an option. I came around 4pm so it was a bit empty but the staff was welcoming. Place was cleaned and very cute. There is also plenty of street parking available. Would definitely recommend if you're in the area and want a quick meal with a delicious cocktail!

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    The start of the best mezcaleria in Sacramento!
    The start of the best mezcaleria in Sacramento!
    Hibiscus Margarita: Sweet, tangy, smoky--mezcal magic in a glass.
    Hibiscus Margarita: Sweet, tangy, smoky--mezcal magic in a glass.
    Tacos de pastor!!

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    Tacos de pastor!!
    The Butterscotch Den

    The Butterscotch Den

    4.5
    (407 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Private events

    07/03/2026 7:00 PM…read more Shout out to Christina, Sierra, and Bella! FOOD & DRINKS Steak and salad today. The grill here makes it easy to cook a perfect steak! I'm going to enter their first annual steak cooking contest! I think I have a good chance. Well, actually a GREAT chance!! SERVICE The staff is top notch. They are great at explaining the experience, food items and cocktails. They ask what you like and what you don't like and then make informed recommendations drawing on their experience and expertise. DECOR Dark, soft and cozy. Great 70's music playing. Not too loud currently. A nice chill vibe. Live music on certain nights of the week. Take a chance and come in to find out when and enjoy! CLEANLINESS Always clean! I have never experienced otherwise. They have pride in all that they do and it shows! LOCATION In the heart of Sacramento. Good street parking. A nice location! PRICE All in all, respectable. Comparatively speaking in our current financial climate, they are priced great! OVERALL EXPERIENCE Always enjoy coming back. I come alone, with another person, or a booger group. All are great experiences!

    Dude. Broooooo. This is as good as it gets for late night spots. Wanna impress your visiting…read morefriends? Bring them here! From some of the best service staff in the business (Kelley, Xtina, Kahlia, and Sierra are all top notch), to incredible high quality food (yes, you cook your own food), this is one of the most unique and rewarding experiences in the Sac area. Please come support owner Trevor (one of the coolest MFers you'll meet) and everyone else involved in this gem of a venture. Oh, and they can make a craft cocktail like nobody else in this city. Enioy! You'll thank my drunk ass later.

    Photos
    The best hospitality in Sacramento
    The best hospitality in Sacramento
    Grill Your Own
    Grill Your Own
    World Class Cocktails

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    World Class Cocktails
    Midtown Spirits

    Midtown Spirits

    4.4
    (393 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    I went with a couple of friends and the drinks were great! I got the mangonada slush and it was…read moreperfectly sweet, spicy and refreshing. The bartenders were friendly and quick with getting our drinks out. Overall the space is well lit and beautiful. Next time I will have to try to sit out in patio.

    Im a bit disappointed in the happy hour food…read more I've been here several times for their drinks, but something just didn't click in my most recent visit. I came here for happy hour and ordered a handful of their items. Chicken Lumpia - over all I was pleased with how piping hot, fresh out the fryer it was. A bit thin for my linking but I appreciated there were 6 pieces. The sauce did not pair well. There was something off about it that isn't your typical sweet and sour; maybe the sauce was made in house. Sisig fries - decent portion of fries but fell short on the pork. Lacked an egg and didn't really meet the sisig flavors that I'm used to. You can definitely taste the zestiness of the lemon - nice touch, but other than that it's just fries with pork, red onion and green onion garnish. Hot dog - a $9 happy hour hot dog was the biggest disappointment. Sure the bread texture was good, toasted with a nice chew, but that was it. The dog itself was charged to my linking but it really didn't feel worth the money spent for its portion. Fries - 100% would get again. Cauliflower bites - I liked this too, flavor was good but such a small portion our table has to order two. Similar to the hotdog, not sure if it's worth the spend for the portion size. Despite the food not satisfying my cravings, the service was great. The young lady was helpful and was working hard taking orders, making drinks and delivering the food. The place was pretty busy at least the indoor area. Plenty of seating outside, but in this heat not sure if it's a good idea. Didn't see any misters but would be a nice touch to draw in more folks. Side note: some of the cocktails are premade, and can be overly sweet.

    Photos
    Midtown Spirits
    Garnishes and edible straws
    Garnishes and edible straws
    The Spritz is amazing! 10/10!

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    The Spritz is amazing! 10/10!

    The Lock & Key Tapas + Bar - cocktailbars - Updated July 2026

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