Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Sacramento / Sacramento Valley

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Sacramento / Sacramento Valley? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

House Kitchen & Bar - Sacramento

4.8

4.8 (45)

$30 and under

American

West Sacramento

About the restaurant

House Kitchen & Bar in Sacramento is a classic comfort food restaurant with an upscale and casual atmosphere. The staff and chefs at House Kitchen & Bar have been working tirelessly to provide high quality customer service and exceed expectations since 2010. By creating a home-like environment and serving fan favorite comfort foods, House Kitchen & Bar makes each and every guest feel welcome. The contemporary food with a twist won�t disappoint. Try the double dipped fried chicken and waffles with country gravy, the steak tacos with guacamole, corn salsa and chipotle sour cream or the beer can chicken with smashed potatoes and chicken au jus.

Top review

Zak

Dined on Dec 19, 2024

The best French dip and food around .High recommended going for a great time !!!

The Independent Restaurant and Bar

4.8

4.8 (685)

$31 to $50

American

Placerville

About the restaurant

OPEN 5 days/week for INDOOR & EXTENSIVE OUTDOOR Covered Dining and Take-out Orders.

The Staff will try their best to accommodate all seating requests, but cannot guarantee all specific table requests will be available. Current Hours are: Wednesday - Saturday: 11:30am - 9pm Sunday: 11:30am - 8pm (closed Mon/Tues)

The Independent Restaurant and Bar offers guests and neighbors in Placerville, California a place to gather and enjoy refreshing fare and drinks. To start, peruse their famous craft cocktail menu and local beer and wine selections, then check out their creative appetizers, including turnip fries, flash- fried calamari, tempura prawns, or their famous ahi tartare. Main courses at The Independent Restaurant and Bar include Buttermilk Fried Chicken, CAB Marbled Rib Eye, Lemon Caper Salmon, Sous-vide Prime Rib (Sundays Only), Molasses-brined Pork Chop, and House-ground Burgers. Voted BEST OVERALL RESTAURANT in the Sierra Foothills 11 YEARS IN A ROW.

Top review

James

Dined 7 days ago

The Chef’s Special Dessert Apple Crumble? was way too sweet. We love closing out our meal with dessert but this was super sweet we couldn’t even eat it between the three of us:-(

Polanco Cantina

4.8

4.8 (331)

$30 and under

Mexican

Sacramento

About the restaurant

Polanco Cantina is a festive, contemporary Mexican restaurant and bar. Serving Mexican-inspired familiar favorites and celebrating the bounty of central California, Polanco is located in Downtown Commons, overlooking the Golden One Center.

Polanco Cantina, turns into a Late Night Lounge on Friday and Saturday nights from 11:00pm-1:45am, Cover Charge Applies

Top review

steve

Dined on Dec 25, 2024

We stayed at the Kimpton Sawyer nearby on Christmas Eve and had our dog w us. Polanco was one of the few restaurants that was both dog friendly and open that evening. Although they closed early (understandably) we were able to get 5:00pm reservations and sat outside in their covered area with outside heaters and we were completely comfortable. Although we were the only outside diners, they provided excellent service. The food is truly exceptional too. We’ve eaten they before and every time we were all very happy with our meal choices. OpenTable enabled us to secure the reservation (somewhat last minute) so we were had no worries for our Christmas Eve dinner plans.

Alaro Craft Brewery, Restaurant & Cocktail Bar

4.8

4.8 (479)

$30 and under

American

Midtown

About the restaurant

Alaro is an award winning Modern American & Spanish Inspired Farm to Table Restaurant & Craft Brewery in the heart of Midtown Sacramento. Owners Ray and Annette Ballestero invite you to enjoy the beautiful but casual interior & lush outdoor patio area of this historic location. Featuring a diverse selection of creative seasonal dishes showcasing fresh seafood, tapas-style small bites & full-bellied burgers that border on sublime, our team has curated one of the most unique restaurants on the grid. In addition to Sacramento's most awarded craft brewery we feature a full cocktail bar, a well curated wine list including Spanish varietals and house made Sangrias, Fair Trade Sodas & Teas and Organic Soft Serve Ice Cream! Open for Lunch and Dinner daily. More at AlaroCraftBrewery.com

Top review

ChrisVIP

Dined on Dec 17, 2024

Casual environment with great selection of beers and a menu with many comfort food options. They offer generous flights of beers and let you choose those you wish to try. Service was prompt and friendly. Food was very good. Would recommend the veggie burger and the fish and chips.

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Shangri-la Fair Oaks

4.7

4.7 (37)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Fair Oaks

About the restaurant

Reflecting the charm of its surrounding neighborhood, Shangri-la is a distinctive space in Fair Oaks that serves seasonal, contemporary American fare, along with handcrafted cocktails in a unique setting.

With modernist architectural design, fire pits and classic cocktails from an indoor/outdoor bar, Shangri-la is a full-service restaurant and private events venue that feels like a Palm Springs resort. We have two beautiful indoor dining rooms as well as a 6,500 sq. foot patio featuring bocce ball (adults only) and corn hole (all ages) and full-service seating inside and outside. (Voted Best patio and Best restaurant by Sac Magazine). Well behaved pups are also welcome on our patio when weather permits.

Come visit us, and enjoy an escape from it all!

Top review

Nanci

Dined on Dec 14, 2024

Our server was excellent, and so was the food and ambience. I can’t wait to come back in the summer time.

Chevys Fresh Mex - Elk Grove

4.6

4.6 (297)

$30 and under

Mexican

Elk Grove

About the restaurant

Making the best Fresh Mex food from scratch, daily! Whether you’re with friends or family, there’s a fiesta waiting for you. No one beats our Every Day $4 Happy Hour, $3 Taco Tuesday, Kids Eat for $1 Wednesday & Weekend Brunch with Bottomless Mimosas! Join us for Good Food & Good Times.

Top review

Larry

Dined 4 days ago

wonderful spot for a family dinner. Chips. Margaritas and salsa. oh my!

Range Kitchen & Tap

4.5

4.5 (402)

$30 and under

American

Roseville

About the restaurant

Located in The Palisades Plaza, RANGE Kitchen & Tap is a purveyor of Rustic American dining brought to you by owner Kevin Kokoszka. He is bringing a new taste and look to Roseville.

Top review

James

Dined on Dec 14, 2024

Great experience except for an adjacent part that got pretty loud. Excellent service, excellent food.

Hard Rock Cafe - Sacramento

4.4

4.4 (145)

$31 to $50

American

Sacramento

About the restaurant

The menu at Hard Rock Cafe reads like a greatest hits album of international favorites. Choose from all the popular items Hard Rock is known for, plus a few Sacramento exclusives. Bite into our legendary signature burger, enjoy a sizzling steak, or try one of our fresh salads. However you satisfy your culinary cravings, you'll find a lively atmosphere that's perfect for lunch, dinner, or late-night bites.

Top review

MikeVIP

Dined 7 days ago

From the moment we walked in, the warmth of the staff set the tone for an exceptional evening. A welcoming and engaging hostess greeted us, creating a positive first impression. Our server, Amanda, elevated the experience further with her attentiveness, charm, and efficiency. The meal itself was nothing short of extraordinary. I ordered the New York strip, which was expertly prepared—likely on a wood or charcoal grill. The flavor was impeccable, the texture tender, and the overall taste rivaled some of the best meals I’ve had in years. To finish, we indulged in the cherry cheesecake, which was a standout. Rich, creamy, and perfectly balanced, it provided the perfect end to an unforgettable dinner. If you’re looking for a top-tier dining experience, this place is a must-visit.

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - Natomas

4.4

4.4 (83)

$30 and under

American

Sacramento

About the restaurant

Time counts at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse. Since our humble beginnings back in 1978, we’ve continued to refine our brewhouse experience to make BJ’s a place where you can make the most of any meal. We want BJ’s to be a place where the moment you leave is the moment you plan on coming back. We pride ourselves in our craft and attention to detail. Our guests come here for our award-winning handcrafted beer. They come here for the Southern California twist we’ve put on the Chicago-style deep dish pizza. And they come here for our Pizookies®, our world-renowned dessert. But above all we know people come here to make their good times better. So in many ways we haven’t just crafted a brand, but a mindset. And our guests are the reason for this. And it’s because of them we’re continually striving to make sure every moment they choose to spend with us counts. Welcome to BJ’s, a restaurant with a Brewhouse soul.

Top review

Afton

Dined on Dec 21, 2024

Food was good. Service was a little behind due to how busy the location was. Our server tried.

Sauced BBQ & Spirits - Sacramento

4.2

4.2 (727)

$30 and under

Barbecue

Sacramento

About the restaurant

We are so excited to have the opportunity to bring authentic BBQ to Northern California. Our goal at Sauced is to provide excellent food with unmatched southern charm and ambiance. Axe cages, crafted cocktails, 40 beers on tap, 200 whiskeys, bourbons, scotches or ryes and of course our award winning bbq will surely get you Sauced.

For axe throwing reservations please visit www.saucedbbqandspirits.com.

Top review

June

Dined on Dec 23, 2024

Food was good, drinks were delicious! Great servers. Prices reasonable.

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