The Almond Tree Grill and Lounge has been an icon on the entertainment scene of Roseville, CA for many years, and is know as "The 'Cheers' Bar of Roseville," as the lounge features live music, dancing, karaoke four nights a week, and a variety of entertainment. It's a neighborhood "dive bar" and a favorite with Roseville locals. As an added bonus, the restaurant offers "bar food," but their fine cuisine is more on the likes of fine dining. What's more, the restaurant and bar opens at 8:00 in the morning, every day of the week, and now offers breakfast!
The dining room is large, spacious and very comfortable. You can sit at the bar, or at the many tables, some of which are elevated, in true "barstool mountain" fashion. There's a cubicle for a DJ, along with a small stage, as live entertainment events also regularly occur. There are also numerous television monitors, normally tuned to sporting events, but as of this writing, "Coronavirus" is all in the news, and there aren't many sporting events taking place.
The menu is two-sided, and offers lots of "bar food," along with selections of more upscale cuisine. I was all set to order carnitas "Street Tacos" from the other side of the menu, until my friendly server told me the restaurant serves breakfast, from a "hidden menu." In other words, breakfast is not on the menu.
Breakfast choices are limited to a couple varieties of sandwiches, omelettes and a plate of bacon and eggs. Home style potatoes and sourdough toast are the only sides offered on the "hidden" breakfast menu. I debated... but I went with "Bacon and Eggs," along with a couple of draught beers for enjoyment.
I went with the "Bacon Egg and Potato" breakfast. My breakfast was delicious, but basic, as it included two eggs, fried to my liking - over easy - country potatoes, two strips of thick bacon, along with a piece of buttered sourdough bread. Breakfast choices are very limited - and not on the menu - and if you order anything besides a sandwich, you'll be limited to basically what's on my plate. That's not a bad thing, as this is the kind of breakfast that I long for... especially when it's enjoyed at a neighborhood dive bar. Service was rapid, as my breakfast arrived about ten minutes after I placed my order, and I'd only taken a few sips of my first beer.
The breakfast starts with two pieces of thick bacon, cooked to perfection. I didn't tell Julia my preference with bacon - I prefer my bacon soft, and almost "rubbery" - and my bacon arrived just the way I like it. If you like your bacon crispy, let your server know... It's been a long time since I've enjoyed such fine bacon at a restaurant.
I ordered my eggs fried over easy - my de facto standard - and my eggs arrived just the way I ordered them, except one of them had a little yolk peaking out. No worries on my part, as like my bacon, I prefer my eggs on the "runny" side. The home fried potatoes - hash brown potatoes aren't available - were cut to just the right size, and deep fried to an almost crunchy golden brown on the outside, and chewy on the inside, which are the mark of great breakfast potatoes. The potatoes were neither salty or greasy, and cooked to perfection. The sourdough toast - the only toast available - was toasted, buttered, and great.
My compliments to the chef, as he has talent, as this was a delicious breakfast. At $12.00 plus tax, it was a little on the pricey side, but considering the "divey" atmosphere, the quality of the food and the friendly service, it made a fair price to pay for a delicious breakfast.
Does it get any better than to enjoy a perfect breakfast of bacon, eggs, potatoes, toast... and a draught beer? Almond Tree Grill and Lounge opens every morning at 8:00, and breakfast is served until noon. Great food, cold, draught beer, live music, great entertainment, along with super friendly staff make Almond Tree Grill and Lounge a great choice for fine dining, and great entertainment.
Almond Tree Grill and Lounge isn't upscale dining, as it's a dive bar, but the food is delicious, you can enjoy a beer anytime the restaurant is open, and the staff is super friendly. I might be sticking my neck out a little on this one, but I'm going with 5 stars, as I LOVE this bar and restaurant! read more