The Virgin Sturgeon
1577 Garden Highway, Sacramento
(916) 921-2694
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday
Happy hour: 3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday
The real steal: The Sturgeon, as the regulars lovingly call this floating Sacramento landmark, may not have the biggest happy hour menu in town – just two items are offered at special prices – but what they lack in quantity, they make up for in meticulous craftsmanship. The sliders, 3 for $5, are as tall as they are wide. The hand-formed beef patties are topped with cheese melted just so, thick slices of juicy tomato, shredded lettuce and thinly sliced red onion and served open-faced on a soft, slightly chewy French roll that is grilled, then spread with the house secret sauce. The other special deal is the tacos. They're $2 apiece during happy hour. The regular drink prices are about the same as you'd find them on happy hour at many restaurants: $3 domestic beers and $4 imports and wells.
The vibe: Hugs and grins and good-natured ribbing abound, and although most people show up separately or in small groups, commingling is inevitable, until it feels more like a party than a night out at a bar. The downstairs floating bar runs along a dock, and customers arrive by boat frequently. Laid-back and looking for fun, the Sturgeon's customers are a perfect example of life along the Sacramento River.
Signature drink: The dangerously refreshing Pink Lemonade tastes just like its namesake, but has an extra kick added by the generous pour of Absolut Citron vodka. This just-for- grown-ups take on a childhood classic is $6.50.
Bathroom break: The two single-occupancy, unisex restrooms are right next to the front door. If you're spending your evening on the outside floating deck, a trip to the facilities means a trip down a ramp, over a mighty little gap leading straight into the river, up a flight of stairs and through the restaurant. You have been warned: Plan accordingly.
Take a seat: Naturally, a summer evening out at the Sturgeon really requires some time at the outside bar, opened just weeks ago for the season. Here, customers get a panoramic view of the river, the buzz of activity growing with the rise of the mercury. Belly up to the bar or grab one of the tables for four and let the gentle rise and fall of the wooden deck rock the stress of the day away. The only drawback to this setup is that the drinks are served in plastic cups, which is a shame from an environmentalism standpoint.
Something extra: There are two ways to get to the floating deck. Through the quick back entrance may be tempting, take the long way. The route to the front entrance is through a repurposed airplane gangway, "Welcome," cheerfully painted above its opening. This same quirkiness is found throughout this Sacramento landmark.
HAPPY HOUR ON THE CHEAP
Do you know of a bar that has amazingly good deals on drinks and food? Share the scoop with The Bee, and we'll highlight it as part of this new Night Life feature. E-mail sacbeenightlife@gmail.com.
MALABAR
2960 Del Paso Road, Sacramento
(916) 574-9072
www.malabaramericancooking.com
Happy hour: 3-7 p.m. Monday-Friday
The deals: A long list of draft beers, including Guinness, Fat Tire, Stella Artois and Widmer Hefeweizen, along with well drinks and house wines, are $3.75. Tacos are $1.95 each, and select Malabar specialties are $5.95, such as the Mexican cheese skillet, a chicken, chorizo and cheese dish simmered with red chile sauce and served with warm tortillas, or the togarashi and kaffir lime rare ahi.
CHILI'S GRILL AND BAR
3870 Truxel Road, Sacramento
(916) 285-8703
Happy hour: 3-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 p.m.-close Sunday
The deals: $1 off draft beer – Newcastle, Widmer Hefeweizen, Coors Light, Bud Light, Budweiser and Sam Adams are on offer. Single liquor drinks, including margaritas, are $1 off. Wings are 50 cents each, chips and salsa are free, and chips and queso are $3.
CAPITOL GARAGE
1500 K St., Sacramento
(916) 444-3633
Happy hour: 3-7 p.m. every day
The deals: House wines and draft beers – Newcastle, Widmer Hefeweizen, Coors Light, Bud Light, Budweiser and Sam Adams – are $1 off. Well drinks are $2.75, Shock Top is $2.50, margaritas are $3 and Long Island iced teas are $3.50. Five-dollar food specials include nachos with black beans, olives, jalapeños, cheese, guacamole and sour cream; onion rings topped with parmesan and herbs and served with honey bourbon BBQ sauce and ranch; and cheese quesadillas with red peppers, black beans and corn.
DAVE AND BUSTER'S
1174 Roseville Parkway, Roseville
(916) 772-3400
Happy hour: 4-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 p.m.-close Sunday-Thursday
The deals: Cocktails are half priced, domestic pints are $2.50 and 22-ounce drafts are $1 off. The drink specials should make playing all those arcade games pretty interesting.
HAWKS RESTAURANT
5530 Douglas Blvd., Granite Bay
(916) 791-6200
Happy hour: 3-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
The deals: Though Hawks has an ever-rotating menu, recent happy hour delights included housemade garlic and fennel sausage served with spicy tomato braised onions ($8) and BBQ pork steamed buns served with kimchi ($6). Drink specials include select house wines for $5, Hawks Brown Ale for $2 and inventive specialty cocktails like the Blood Orange Gimlet and the Vanilla Bourbon Sour that hover around the $7 range.Do you know of a bar that has amazingly good deals on drinks and food? Share the scoop with The Bee, and we'll highlight it as part of this new Night Life feature. E-mail sacbeenightlife@gmail.com.
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