Located at a fork in the road, the Rescue Roadhouse lives up to its name.

It’s a little place with big character; well worn like a favorite pair of boots. On a warm Friday evening, this laid-back bar and grill was just right for a cold drink and sandwich. At 7:30 p.m., only half of the small dining room’s six tables were filled, but my husband and I were assured that the local crowd would be arriving later for Friday night karaoke.

We smiled at the eclectic wall art, which included meat cleavers, sports memorabilia and a “Friends Gather Here” sign. Our easygoing waiter handed us the TV remote (there were three flat screens) encouraging us to choose something to watch, then reeled off the ample selection of draft beers, featuring local microbrews. A light ale by Folsom’s Lockdown Brewing Company hit the spot.

The menu covers all of the pub food groups – snacks, salads, burgers, specialty sandwiches and pizzas, plus tacos, burritos and wraps. We started with the Stinky Chips appetizer – fresh potato chips sprinkled with feta cheese. The chips were crispy and lightly seasoned, with just the right amount of yummy feta melted on top. The Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich, the restaurant’s own “Roadhouse” version, featured smoked tri-tip, sautéed onions, bell peppers and melted Swiss on a toasted roll. The generous portion of thinly sliced tri-tip was smoky, tangy and flavorful. The “2nd Threat” Pizza, named after one of the hair-raising rapids on the South Fork of the American River, was topped with salami, tomatoes, sausage, onion, garlic and herb seasoning. We loved it, but beware – the spicy red sauce has “enough heat to make your eyelids sweat” as my husband says.

Rescue Roadhouse doesn’t offer dessert, but we suspect most diners follow up their meal with beers, karaoke, and, on Saturday nights, live music. The three-tiered back patio is set up for fun barbecues and sports with a basketball court and competition horseshoe pits. The hands-on owner and chef even introduced herself when we paid our bill, sending us off full-y satisfied.

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