Top Pub Grubs From El Dorado to Roseville
Cheerful environs, an abundance of alcohol, and stick-to-your-ribs food—what’s not to love about pubs? Luckily, they run rampant around these parts. Enjoy the plates below with a pint, and let the good times roll.
The aptly named Loaded Nachos at Bar 101 in Roseville are the perfect shareable before a night of imbibing. A heaping helping of crispy chips are coated in cheesy goodness and piled high with a bevy of tasty toppings: black olives, fresh guac, sour cream, pico de gallo, jalapeños, refried beans, green onions, and your choice of protein (shredded chicken, carnitas, or ground beef). With so many fresh fixin’s and just enough guilt, it’s a dish you’ll regularly return to. bar101roseville.com
Comfort food, for me, has always meant a freshly baked meat pie with a savory exterior and indulgent interior, and that’s exactly what I’ve found in the Cottage Pie at 36 Handles in El Dorado Hills. Every forkful is chock-full of minced meat (Certified Angus Beef) and English peas enveloped in a rich, tomato-based sauce with a buttery mashed potato topping. If my mom wasn’t always my dinner date, I’d think she was in the kitchen! 36handles.com
The Fat Rabbit Public House in Folsom has been serving up Fish & Chips for quite some time in their traditional English pub environs, and they’re a great catch (pun intended). The generous portion of cod is always fresh and perfectly fried; and paired with the crispy, lightly salted, thick-cut chips, malt vinegar, and tartar sauce, I’m never sure what to dig, or dip, into first. facebook.com/thefatrabbitpublichouse
An entire foot-long beer dog coated in hot, gooey pub mac & cheese and dressed with potato chips and ketchup is enough to make anyone’s day (or year). That’s why I always get the Whiskey Tango Footlong at Placerville Public House. It’s made me smile on enough occasions that I’ve stopped asking for a menu altogether! Can you blame me though? placervillepublichouse.com
I always drool when it comes to anything with blue cheese and bacon. That being said, I recently tried the The Bleu Cue Burger at The Breakroom in Shingle Springs and departed incredibly satisfied and satiated. It was every bit as heavenly as I’d hoped. The 1/3-pound patty was juicy and fresh, and the combination of blue cheese and applewood smoked bacon with lettuce, tomato, fried onions, and mayo was a messy mouthful that I’ll gladly order again. breakroomeatery.com
There aren’t enough words to describe the aptly named Blind Pig Mac at Rocklin’s Boneshaker Public House. But that won’t stop me from trying. The sweetness of the pulled pork, al dente penne pasta, and creaminess of the melty mozzarella-cheddar cheese combo makes for quite the sinful delight. Did I mention it has bacon and bratwurst, too? It’s official: I’m never eating plain mac & cheese again. boneshakerpub.com
By Isabella De Garza // Photos by Dante Fontana