My New Secret Hideout!
SITREP
There's an awesome cocktail bar that's a new spot on the GRID for me, and it totally rocks! But seriously, STAY AWAY! This is MY bar now, for ME ONLY! "harumprumprump *cheek jowls moving*. "Don't come encroaching me in mah hood! .......Aw dam. Well OKAY....
[Thanks to Alex L. for clueing me into Frank.]
IN REMEBRANCE
On a beautiful sidenote, my lovely friend & fellow Yelper Jennifer S. shared that "Frank" is named after her friend Frank Loret De Mola, who passed away in a car accident a few years ago. Sacramentans thought of Frank as a great human being and he was also a fantastic writer. His friends - including Jennifer - always thing about him whenever they walk by this way.
THE SETUP - FINDING FRANK!
To give my drinking friends a reference point, remember how much we loved the ole "Pre-Flight Lounge" underneath the Downtown Mall before they tore all that up to make way for the Golden 1 Arena and all adjacent (new) businesses? Yeah, it's a LOT like that! Including the "not finding it easily part".
GPS gets a bit wonky. You can be standing right on the corner of 16th & R Street, and I swear it's pointing me to walk into the furniture store there right on the corner: DON'T DO THAT. Instead walk down 16th Street, pass the first walkway on the right, and then about mid-block, turn right and walk down that 2nd walkway. You find a Brewery on the left facing FRANK which is on the right.
SOME VENUE DEETS!
Although not subterranean, it is all dark, and cozy, with a chill speakeasy vibe! I absolutely love it! A nice long stretch of bar stools and tables: plenty of room for 15 people. Comfortable for 30. Not sure how it would do with 50 (I gonna go back and find out sometime)!
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/frank-sacramento?select=aQyBk3wG3SEBuUl5ECpYfw&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w
The door is classic old school club door, looking imposing. The only thing it is missing is the *sliding peephole* to give it that true gangsta feel!
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/frank-sacramento?select=6iPZweByMo90wUrjVaTOPA&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w
*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*
"Yeah, whadaya want?"
"We want to come into the bar!"
"What the password?"
"G. Gordon Liddy!"
"Alright, in you come!"
#RichardNixonNight :D
THE STAFF AND DRINKS
On this last outing I enjoyed the bartender prowess of Damien, and he wowed me with his Espresso Martini (the ONLY way to enjoy coffee & alcohol: a wondrous dark elixir topped with creamy froth and some roasted coffee beans ($12).
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/frank-sacramento?select=4Sq1a-9EZdABiAAEpA05og&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w
We were also doted upon by Jasper who took the best care of us, always managing our tables for us, keeping them clean, and keeping the drinks coming.
CASH-ONLY
So this part is important: they are only a CASH business. No credit cards. Make sure you bring your cash.
There IS one of those private ATM machines at far end of the bar, but if you don't want to get hit with a possible aggregated fees-charge of $6-$10 just to take out a $20 bill between their ATM and your own bank, then stop at your own network ATM first.
And, BTW, this is on you and NOT the bar: Pay attention and know what the requirements are. Don't go complaining in your review you (1) didn't know they didn't use cc and then (2) don't complain because now you understand how painful out-of-network ATM fees are like.
And at this point, if you use their machine, you might as well take out $40-$100 to make sure you have enough for more than one drink. [Don't be that poor sod who didn't have enough for his 2nd drink and so had to use the maching to take out another $20, leaving his account to get hit with $20 worth of fees for the 2-separate $20 ATM transactions.]
THE LOWDOWN
A great new hiding place with awesome drinks! read more