In the summer of 2014, after 30 years in the Bay Area restaurant and bar industry, Jim Fales decided it was time for a change. As luck and timing would have it, the location that once housed Po’Boys Bar and Grill in the American River Canyon area of Folsom became available, and that summer, Jim opened the doors to The Canyon Grill and Alehouse.

This is an authentic “neighborhood” locale where folks gather over a pint of craft beer, enjoy one of Chef Steve Neal’s gastropub-style dishes and listen to live music. I sampled both food and drink on a recent visit, which coincidentally, just happened to be during Sacramento Beer Week. (OK, so I knew it was Beer Week when I detoured on my way home from Tahoe.) If you’re a beer lover, Canyon has you covered, thanks to an abundance of bottled selections like Pliny the Elder, Anderson Valley Bourbon Barrel Stout, and Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout. On tap, you’ll find 20 more reasons to stay for awhile: Drake’s 7x70 IPA, Loomis Basin Mandarin Wheat, Drake’s Hella Fresh Pale Ale, Napa Smith Hop Java Coffee Infused Pale Ale Nitro, etc.—so many choices, that a return visit (or several) is mandatory.

Oh yes, the food. How about one of their signature spring rolls like pulled pork, chicken cordon bleu or Philly cheese? The latter offering resonated with all the flavors of a traditional cheesesteak but had the added bonus of being deep-fried in a wonton wrapper. 

I’m a Cuban sandwich fanatic, so next I was obliged to try Canyon’s version featuring pulled pork. It wasn’t the South Florida classic, but a keeper for sure. I sampled the Buttermilk Soaked Fried Chicken Sliders next and discovered they were moist, crispy and addictive. 

Another must try is their homemade Pesto Cheesy Bread served warm and gooey, which, when accompanied by a pint of beer, contains all of the ingredients necessary to sustain life on planet Earth. (You can mix in a healthy and delicious Fuji Apple Salad if my science seems flawed.)

Come for the beer and the food, but stay for the live music and special events…the neighborhood just got a little more interesting.

The Canyon Grill and Alehouse, 9580 Oak Ave Parkway, Suite 8, Folsom, 916-987-8700.

Article by Lorn Randall // Photos by Dante Fontana