Restaurant Insider
Inside Arden, Get into the Neighborhood
RESTAURANT INSIDER: Swabbies Restaurant & Bar The Sacramento Bee
Summer’s here, and it’s about time you got down to the river
By: Greg Sabin
Located on a quiet, almost desolate patch of Garden Highway, Swabbies is about as far away from Sacramento as you can get and still be in Sacramento.
Part “Beach Blanket Bingo,” part “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome,” it’s a world unto itself. With rock, blues, soul and reggae bands playing there almost every night, this riverside destination is a favorite with boaters, bikers and others looking to have a good time.
The indoor kitchen and bar are tiny, while the outdoor dining/drinking/dancing area is massive. What seems like a million tiny white lights are strung through the trees, giving an ethereal, otherworldly dimension to the place. The vibe is beyond casual. This is not a place where you wear your good shoes. The restrooms are suspect and the hard, packed earth under your feet smells of soils and beer and … beer. Most importantly, everyone is having a good time.
If you’re looking for the No.1 party spot on the river, Swabbies is it. But you will also find some of the best fish tacos around, and an incredible beer selection, and the kind of smiling, unhurried service that will keep you coming back again and again. 5871 Garden Highway; 920-8088; Swabbies.com.
