Took my boyfriend here for his birthday thanks to the good reviews on yelp. It wouldn't be my first choice for a romantic dinner due to it being pretty loud and lots of people standing around. We even had some people asked if they could sit with us at our table which was kinda weird since we were trying to have dinner. hmm. But besides all that the food was really good. We will definitely be back but maybe for lunch to try some of their sandwiches.
Review Source:My wife and I had our first night out in along time together and I was referred to The Shady Lady by some friends. Â First impression the red couch and copper ceiling! Â Awesome I defiantly liked the look of the place. Â The drinks were speciality drinks that I have not heard of, guess I am not that cool....yet ;)
Everyone one was ordering an "old fashion" so we asked what it was...sounds interesting... If you don't know you will have to order one and see for yourself. Â The bar ready had me when I saw a fountain on the bar and a liquid being poured sugar, I was not expecting the Shady Lady to serve Absinthe! Â I will definitely try that next time! Â
The band there was good. Â The Golden Cadillacs! Â I will be back to see them! Â The best part about the live music no cover! Â But also no real room to dance. Â
Check it out Sacramento! Â
I heard a rumor that if you know the secret password drinks are half off?!?!?
Or did I!?!?!? Â :)
Great atmosphere, well-made cocktails, and a nicely diverse crowd. The hush puppies were delish: bread, cheese, pork--what's not to like? My only frustration was that the bartender insisted they don't validate for parking...but there was a sandwich board outside the Ace Parking garage listing the restaurants that validate, and the Shady Lady logo is included. I found that irksome. Still, I'd probably return for happy hour the next time I'm in Sacramento.
Review Source:Visiting from San Francisco, I was looking for a little slice of home, but of course with a Sacramento flavor of its own. Shady Lady stands to deliver. Bringing an ambiance of I would have to say Victorian/Western saloon, Shady Lady serves up bespoke cocktails mixed with a list classics you can't go wrong with. One good thing about that: if you're local and looking to get your cokctail/spirits IQ up, this looks like it would be the easiest place to do it.
I personally stuck with traditional: I had the Gold Rush (bourbon, lemon, honey), the Scofflaw (rye, sweet vermouth, lemon, grenadine) of which I was impressed they even had on the menu being a classic of classics though still little known, a Vieux Carre (rye, cognac) and their Basil Cocktail (which I did find slightly heavy on the basil side....). All however were made perfectly and without fuss. Well done!
The service was very good as well: Bartenders are attentive and non-pretentious. I always got the vibe that they do what they do because they love to.
Happy hour is pretty rad: $6 specialty cocktails from 3-6 should be more than enough inspiration to swing by and have a drink or 3.
I can't attest to their grub as I was wrapped up in their cocktails, but I hear it does the job.
I will most certainly make this a go-to spot every time I swing by Sacramento! Cheers!
I will give this place 3 stars for now since it was my very first time actually coming in here even after everything all the good things I hear about this place from people I know.
Unfortunately, I came here with some friends and this was the fourth stop of our bar hopping night, therefore all I remember was that we weren't about to go here because the bouncer told us there was cover, but then a minute later the manager or whoever just let us all come in for free. From then on, I was getting pretty "buzzed" so I decided to sit at a booth, which was huge and very comfortable! My friend bought me a drink, but I don't remember what it was, but I liked it since I drank it.
Basically, I love the actual place. I enjoyed the vibe very much; it made me feel like I was in the 1920s and I wish I wore a flapper outfit. The artwork and decorations were cool and yeah. However, I still need to come back and do an update.
I really approve of this place. The atmosphere is great with a nice quiet buzz during happy (expect it to get noisy on weekend nights). They offer good food and drink (the white linen is a must) and they often have entertainment. Try it during happy hour as they can get pricey. The clientele is perfect for older twenty somethings as there is a cover for those under 25 (at night). Go with a group and go on a weekday happy hour- you'll love it!
Review Source:Classy joint. Old-timey feel. One of my favorite Downtown Sacramento bars!
Cocktails can be served with one giant ice cube to help avoid a watered down drink.
Many pictures of shady ladies on the wall. That's my favorite kind!
$2 beer anytime. It's Oly, but heck...it's cold.
Sometimes there is a live band and I have seen people swing dance to their music.
They sell cigars, which is different but interesting.
Stop by for a good time!
OMG.."Honey, I shrunk the glasses!!" what happened to their glass size? Did they get smaller or did the owner have amnesia and forgot he had a bar?. For $10 bucks, you get less than 4 sips, if you are lucky. I think their popularity has made them become greedy sun of a beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.
Overall, I have to say though, they make good cocktails. I love love their Summer in Scotland drink. Has rosemary in it and very refreshing. I am not a fan of liquor with rocks (which means, with fat and thick ice cubes). But they were good (sorry, I forgot the name of the drink).
Anything on their menu is worth the try..even for the price. We need more bars like this using fresh ingredients.
If you want to sit down, expect to order food. They only reserve the booth areas for customers ordering food. We were kicked off and the mean waitress was rude about it.
Not a dancing place. They have a band with a mini dancing area, which is used more for walking into the club and out. Expect everyone to stare at you. Everyone is starring at someone in this place because the lighting is bright for a bar.
Overall, go for their drinks, great live bands and to drool over hot girls on a Saturday night =)
Oh and importantly, free entrance.
The decor kicks ass here! Deep sexy red damask wallpaper & baroque inspired theme. Sexy old follie nudes adorn a wall. Good pre prohibition cocktail list made to order using finest ingredients & wonderfully crafted mixology. I loved my tequila cocktail that one of the bartenders invented, however the name escapes me but I will be sure to order it again!
All that is missing is some classy live burlesque.
A full on bar, stopped to meet my other half and a friend for a cocktails after the French Movie festival in town and was pleasantly surprised.
Their choices of pours was good, and the service was good. Â Prices seem okay. Â The Absinthe came with a cold water drip dispenser that kept your drink cool.
Not my kind of place, but it was okay. Â I hear they have music at nite. Â Might have to come back.
See my review for Death and Taxes. Â And Death and Taxes--please see the Shady Lady. Â This is what you want to be. Â You can be hipster without being smug and off-putting. Â Fantastic cocktails made from top-notch ingredients, a beautiful room filled with well-dressed bartenders, and live dixieland jazz! Â Drinks are reasonably priced (if I recall, my Bulleit old fashioned was $8). Â Don't know what the first round cost, because the really cool bartender bought it for us. Â The music was outstanding, played by a 5-piece local group. Â Hit this place up if you're in Sacramento!
Review Source:This is great for a laid back girls' night out type of place. Ample seating inside and out (although everyone seems to smoke out in the front patio). It's got a slight speakeasy vibe but more modern in a way.
The pastrami sandwich was good with a side of fries. As well as their fried green tomatoes. I would certainly come back here for their cocktails though! Big fan of the refreshing White Linen and their French 75. Probably one of the best champagne cocktails in town.
Would love to come back for a date night here with my fiancé. :)
Every time I stop by with a friend to grab a drink, I always end up getting three or four of their features Drinks. I love the Basil Cocktail, the white Linen and their Rosemary's Regret. I love how much work they put into for just a cocktail.
You can't forget the Fried Green Tomatoes too! They're so delicious. Â
It's sometime hard to grab the Bartenders attention because they seem to be all over the place. But the drinks are what keeps me coming back!
Shady Lady,
What can I compare this to? The Dresden in LA comes to mind; it attracts a different, mature crowd. The sense of fashion here was a little different (more creative, with a dash of elegance) compared to,oh I dunno, Social (night and day).
The decor is tasteful and the staff was personable.
This bar is a great place for a drink and conversation, or if you're in the mood to get dragged into someone's court and fill in a role as Wing Man for gents you've never met (Guy Code!). And be rewarded, later, when the women buy you shots. See, a mature crowd ;)
I ordered the Bacon and Avocado Omelette. Not pleased at all.
They placed a large glob of mashed Avocado in the center of the omelette. I do love bacon but the amount of bacon bits inside this omelette was a bit ridiculous....
My fiancé had the chicken fried steak and biscuits. It definitely looked better then it tasted.
I have been here before and loved their brunch. The service was good but the food quality has dropped a bit.
Time can stand still.
You walk into a bar, high ceilings reflecting light off their crenulated silver edges, soft rock playing in the background, shades drawn over large windows to keep the heat of the day at bay, dust motes dance gracefully in the still air of the afternoon. Paintings and photos of legendary Sacramento women of sin gaze inquisitively from their perches, immortalized in time. It is 3:00. You have a train to catch at five.
You order a cocktail from the giant, gorgeous wooden bar, and sit at a booth with an old friend, conversation ebbing and flowing like the time and tides that kept you apart, and inexplicably brought you back together again, a shared drink is a ritualized moment, somewhere between a handshake and a hug, yet one which allows two kindred spirits to meet in a shared moment of a nearly holy significance; Â drowning former strife in the waters of Lethe, and tempering bonds of friendship by a sacrament which transforms an otherwise etherial, fitful future into one possessed by an almost sanguine clarity.
The cocktails arrive, both infused with thyme. Both handle this finicky ingredient well, one by melding it with a hint of blackberry, Green Chartreuse and citrus, the other making it a full fledged member of a citrusy flavor profile amidst a sea of gin, aftertaste lingering for days. As the alcohol enters your bloodstream, you relax, shrugging off the worries and pains of the week, slights and faux pas growing less important, the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, formerly firmly lodged in viscera, melt away like sugar cubes in a Sazerac.
Perhaps a beer next from an excellently curated list? A cigar out on the front patio? Probably just better to get a house Martini, made with St. George's Terrior Gin, heavily herbaceous, the drink itself pale golden and served with a twist of lemon. The aftertaste transforms from citrus to pine at a moments notice, frolicking unbidden across your palate for a delightful instant.
Happy hour leaves you a bit peckish, so you order some fried green tomatoes. Uniformly sliced, the sweetness of the tomato compliments the slightly salty breading, a moderately spicy remolaude style sauce deepening the flavor profile, sliced un-fried cherry tomatoes artistically sprinkled on top providing a sharp asthetic and textural contrast to the rest of the dish.
You finish the tomatoes, and your waitress (who has provided excellent service) Â asks you if you would like another cocktail, what a man from The City is doing in Sacramento. You reply that you are waiting for a train with a friend, realizing as you answer that time has overtaken you, and you are running late. You settle your tab quickly (which, because of extraordinary happy hour pricing comes in under 30$), and make a madcap dash through the streets of Sacramento, your friend behind the wheel, driving as if possessed. An entirely-too-short farewell at the station, culminates in a wild dash to platform 6b briefcase swinging, hand holding hat to head, suit rippling in the wind. As you jump aboard the train, it cries out like a tormented beast of burden, and lurches out of the station with a visceral groan, leaving you to wonder where the time had gone, and why every drinking experience could not be like the one you had at The Shady Lady, perfect cocktails, outstanding ambiance, and wonderful conversation encapsulated in a moment of crystalline perfection that lasted for hours.
Best Food & Most Creative Artisan-Crafted Drinks, But My Experience Is Marred By A Cover Charge Policy
SITREP
Shady Lady consistently provides this area's best swanky lounge scene action, scrumptious food & refreshing drinks. On Fri or Sat night, many people forgo a trip to the Bay Area and stay here to entertain guests, because Shady Lady has it all here.
But having said that, I make it a point to avoid establishments with any cover-charge targeting a specific age-bracket. I acknowledge a right to price differently for the under 21 crowd since there is a legal precedence for this demarcation, but not for the 21-24 year old bracket. Â Yet unfortunately, I only became aware of this situation because of a recent run in with it. Â [I will return to this later.]
SETUP
On a recent trip here back in Nov, one of my best buddies Mike P. and his sisters, mom, friends, etc. celebrated a wonderful reunion and post election-jubilation, and Shady Lady delivered. Â We had both large plate and small plates of appetizers items and their exceptional hand-crafted drinks. Â
Their Romaine Caesar salad and Reuben Sandwich is still the best in their class that I've had in Sacramento. Â And while dining on these refreshing brews and our delicious munchies, none of us noticed that 3 hours passed us by. Â It was a great evening at Shady Lady.
TIMES CHANGE
Yet on my most recent stop with out-of-town guests, including my niece and her hubby from the East Coast, we were suddenly confronted with a policy I had never seen before: a cover charge to 21-24 years old.
LACK OF FOUNDATION
What cost metric is this based on?
* Certainly not age to vote, since that is 18.
* Nor is it the drinking age either, since that is 21.
INSURANCE METRICS
Yes, the Insurance Industry has their own statistical foundation about "driving-risk" to back their actuarial tables for charging 18-24 year olds higher rates than 25 & over. Â But I believe the hospitality industry has no business using another industry's unrelated metrics. Â Bottomline: Â Drinking Behaviors do NOT equate to Driving Behaviors.
COVER CHARGE PARTICULARS & VARIABLES
Reasons cover vary:
(A) Â Some cover-differentials are based on CLOCK TIMES - for ex, $3 before 10pm / $7 after 10pm.
(B) Â Other cover-differentials are based on special events - for ex, Halloween Balls - there may be a differential based on attire ($5 in costume, $15 not in costume).
(C) Â GENDER & SENIOR PROMOTION ANALOGIES - on a related discussion, many like to analogize specific-age bracket charges (ie. 21-24) to clubs & restaurants that have "Ladies' Nights" & "AARP Senior Specials." Â But these are based on a pre-stated-cover - for ex., $10 - that a business is then free to give discounts - or waive entirely - based on those precise conditions that are advertised.
So in these examples, NOTICE IS PROVIDED at the door / register, and also on flyers, websites, promo-ads in papers, etc. Â [More on "notice" in a bit.]. Â So when a policy is NOT stated like the above, it is an avenue for abuse.
PUBLICIZE YOUR POLICY
When this policy is SECRET until the individual is ambushed with it at the door with it, THAT appears to be an obvious case for a deceptive practice on a discriminatory pricing. Â A policy like this is best brought to the light of day. Â So when this policy is kept secret, individuals like me will utilize the service of Yelp to provide a heads-up when no other notice is provided in advance.
CONVERSATION WITH SHADY LADY
I had an opportunity to converse about this policy recently with Carl from Shady Lady. Â It was productive and he took the time to give me insights on safety issues he made me aware of for possible confrontrations with certain patrons. Â Also, at 14th & R where Shady Lady is located, the businesses on this block work in conjunction with each other to cut down problems with drunks, douchebags and bullies. Â
Carl asserts the cover is a proven mechanism to cut down on problems. Â I'm not on the same page with Carl on his assessment - we have to agree to disagree. Â But I'm willing to defer leeway on this matter. Â Again, though the policy bothers me, I see the failure to "provide notice" of this exclusionary practice in advance as the primary toxin poisoning what is otherwise a wonderful well.
THE LOWDOWN
You have awesome service and quality food & beverages. Â But this targeted cover practice is ill-conceived. A visceral gut reaction of 2-Stars is raised to 3-Stars based on our rational discussion of this situation. Â But the concern remains. Â
[Not that my opinion counts for a hill of beans, but I would totally re-raise my rating to 4-Stars if "notice" was provided in advance of this cover practice on your website, and back to 5-Stars if this cover-practice was abolished.]
So the only real gripe is that the place was so busy early Saturday night that the bar staff could barely serve anyone in a timely manner, yet the place was barely full.
Don't get me wrong, the staff was great, it just seemed to talk an awfully long time to get to the amazing drinks they serve. It was worth it for a few drinks, but it kept us from ordering food...
The management contacted me based on this review. Always good to know they are listening! (reading)
Classy! Sacramento style! Â My friends and I had a great experience at The Shady Lady. The Shady Lady truly represents Sacramento in the best way! Â Drinks are perfectly prepared and artistically appealing. The decor takes you back to the Gold Rush days, but the food and bites are as modern as it gets!
Everything we had on and off the menu was worth putting on the "To try list:"
-The Horse Neck
-Fried Green Tomatoes
-Cheddar & Bacon Bisquits
-Jamieson & the Giant Peach
-The Fried Chicken
-Shrimp Po' Boy
Oh man, I'm getting hungry again!
Located on one of my favorite corners in midtown (sounds worse than I intended, I know), The Shady Lady is a favorite place to end the night. Â Relaxed atmosphere, large comfortable horseshoe booths, lots of room at the bar, a little stage off to the right as you enter for live music (or grandstanding, if you feel the urge), and my favorite place to hang out: front and center, the luxe red couch with armchairs and coffee table...makes me feel like I'm at home, but on stage, with the warm spotlights on me, the first thing people see when they walk in the doors. Â (No, I am not a diva, but I play one at night.)
My girlfriends and I were there late on Saturday night, St. Paddy's weekend (because, really, he deserves more than a day). Â As I walked in the door, the warm lights, the red glow from my favorite above-mentioned seating, the buzz from the crowds, the music from the trio (appropriately, they were singing happy birthday, you know, for me)...all washed over me and surrounded me in this cocoon of welcome. Â Instant relaxation.
As though they knew the couch was mine and they were trespassing, the occupants immediately got up and made room for us...somebody bought me a drink, and all was right with the world. Â I checked in on yelp, and whaddya know, Johnna was there too! Â So I ran over to talk to her and she introduced me to her sweet bartender friend, Brandon who quickly made me another drink: a Seraphim. Â Appropriately divine.
We spent a couple hours there, meeting and talking to various people, made some new friends (you know who you are!), watched the bouncers dispose off a few overly demonstrative and inappropriately affectionate clientele (thanks!), and left feeling relaxed and satisfied with the knowledge that we had done everything we could to eke every bit of pleasure out of a beautiful night.
I sat in front of the Shady Lady today talking with one of my oldest friends in Sacramento and I immediately felt guilty about my last review but I am a woman who will change her mind frequently about things I feel strongly about. That makes no sense. Here, here!
It was a really beautiful day out. The patio is rather nice in the daytime.
Plus I REALLY, REALLY wanted about 5 Seraphins with all the wanting I have in my body. I was practically horny for those drinks. These people make great drinks, it cannot be denied. Beard or no beard, they make good drinks.
But Zoey falling off the patio table was my cue to hit the road. On to different, not necessarily better, things a little further west.
Stay tuned for an update in 1-2 weeks.
Omg I love this place! Such an awesome setting in quite the best location if downtown. Just the ambiance in the building is amazing by itself! So gorgeous! All of the bartenders are absolutely knowledgeable about the drinks and any sort of questions you might have.
I have yet to try the food, but I'm a regular here so it's definitely in the books to do so!
Shady Lady used to be a place where the cocktails were crafted by bartenders who took the time to prepare each drink to perfection, and the food was memorable. The last couple years I've found that it has gotten busier and busier while the service has bottomed out to the point where they resemble some kind of mixology sweat shop. People are crammed up to the bar, clearing a path to the bathroom on a weekend evening is a chore, table service is either excellent or totally absent, and the last 2 cocktails I had were extremely basic and utterly abysmal.
I have seen bartenders here struggling with the volume of cocktail orders to the point where I was watching a guy literally throwing ingredients around like he was making a chipotle burrito. It's the type of bar service you will never encounter at places like  Grange, Blackbird, The Porch, Red Rabbit, Hook & Ladder or even other "speakeasy-ish" spots like Pour House.
This used to be one of my favorite places to meet up with friends, and at the top of my list of recommended bars in Sacramento. Now, there are so many other more inviting options with better food, Â cocktails, beer selection, service, and atmosphere. Do yourself a favor and check out any of those previously mentioned restaurant/bars before considering Shady Lady for your next outing.
I went to Shady Lady for the first time last night for a birthday party and was pleasantly impressed. I loved the dark, mahogany, 20's theme and live jazz music playing in the background. Unfortunately,  I had eaten dinner before coming so I didn't get to try any of the food (which I am told is delicious). I did get to try the White Linen cocktail and found to to be refreshing, light and a perfect low-key drink for me; I'd recommend it. They have an expansive  drinks menu and experienced bartenders. I had a really hard time picking which cocktail to get because there were so many I wanted to try.
I knock off a star because when it get's crowded, there is a lack of seating. Since all the outer booths are reserved for patrons eating dinner, the only seats left are the ones around the bar, and those fill up quickly.
Dark wood, dim lighting, prohibition style setting. The Shrimp Po' Boy and fried green tomatoes are a personal favorite. The food is awesome, but the cocktails are where its at. The cocktail menu is extensive, separated by spirit; whiskey, gin, rum, brandy, tequila, vodka and absinthe. Every cocktail is artfully made with fresh local ingredients and the ginger ale and cola are made in house. I'd recommend the Old Fashioned or White Linen. They even have a great happy hour, with $6 cocktails.
Tip:
- Happy Hour: Mon-Fri, 3-6pm.
The fried green tomatoes are excellent, and worth a trip: <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=WghJ32LT7FtjzgoBZeivaA&userid=wG9d5TxOKKgbd8O08-kntA">http://www.yelp.com/user…</a>
super crunchy, great flavor, and perfect sauce.
The white linen drink is way over-hyped: <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=SmN-A_JX0svL8SmoUuVpGg&userid=wG9d5TxOKKgbd8O08-kntA">http://www.yelp.com/user…</a>
For the record, according to the menu, it consists of: Gin, St. Germain, fresh lemon, sugar, muddled cucumber. Â It is so dry that it has no flavor, and without flavor, it has no complexity.
The duck tator tots are good: <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=dqdiIdBGowBDcAIXlmwj2A&userid=wG9d5TxOKKgbd8O08-kntA">http://www.yelp.com/user…</a>
But, they are not quite up to the hype. Â Maybe if they had just a little more duck, or just a bit more duck fat, they could be a go-to item.
I'll be coming back to check out the happy hour menu: <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=sTEPlJNPHAAOcwrCYcGJmg&userid=wG9d5TxOKKgbd8O08-kntA">http://www.yelp.com/user…</a>
Big fan of the overall vibe and the crowd of pretty hipsters.
Plus one star for the guy at the door, who was super rad and made me want to scratch our plans to bar-hop and just hang out with him all night.
Minus one star for the guy behind the bar, who asked my friend and I to move because we were in the line of fire from the kitchens to the floor. Totally understandable, and I was on board and not offended until he waited LITERALLY LESS THAN THIRTY SECONDS to ask us again, but with the shitty attitude ramped up to over 9000, while we were visibly picking up our stuff to move somewhere else.
Stars averaged out at three. I'll give it another try because I liked the feel and the crowd so much, and I want to give it a shot on a weekend night when (hopefully) they'll be less busy and I'll be able to stand somewhere that isn't in that fucking guy's way.
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