I’m a big fan of the sleepy little towns that lie along the Delta, and the little town of Freeport is one of my favorites. Its moniker is “The Gateway to the Delta” and you enter it by taking Freeport Blvd all the way south, past Meadowview, toward the river, and through what the locals call “the tunnel of trees”. Driving in really does make you feel transported away from the urban sprawl and like you are going back in time. The town of Freeport is situated on the Sacramento River, just minutes away from Elk Grove and South Sacramento, but you feel like you’re in a completely different world. If you ever want to feel like you’ve left Sacramento, but are still within minutes of it, I highly recommend a visit to the small towns along Highway 160. A great place to start would be a visit to the Freeport Bar and Grill.
Nestled in among a few bait and tackle shops, across from the marina, is the Freeport Bar and Grill. A popular spot for people to stop into after a long day of fishing, Freeport Bar and Grill serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, offers a full bar, indoor and outdoor seating, and lots of easy parking. It’s a laid-back, family-owned place, with a lot of regulars and a friendly vibe. The physical set up is nice and allows for a lot of different options. If you want the feel of a bar you sit up front, if you want to have a nice meal service you sit in the back, and if you want both you sit outside on the patio. You’ll encounter some salty fisherman and some friendly, hard-drinking locals if you sit at the bar, and boy do they have some stories to tell if you get them going.
They have good happy hour specials from 5-7pm ($2 domestic drafts, $3 imported & microbrews, and ½ off appetizers) plus, every weeknight they offer some type of free munchies. This last Thursday when I went with co-workers, they offered a make your own taco bar. Very simple, just warm tortillas, ground beef, shredded cheese, lettuce and salsa, but it was great to nibble on while waiting for our whole group to arrive. Other nights include free snacks like chicken wings and hot dogs. There is also an old fashioned popcorn maker in the bar area that is always popping and they put out small baskets and scoops so patrons can help themselves.
There is seating at the bar with a few large flatscreen TV’s, a dining area in the bar, a back dining room which is a little fancier and more secluded, and a beautiful shady back patio with a fountain in the center. The staff is attentive yet very busy, so don’t expect a lot of personal attention. The bartender is friendly and fast and eager to please, yet he always seems like he could probably use an extra hand. There is no real stand-out décor or theme; it’s kind of like a basic hotel bar, clean, innocuous, with lots of wood accents. The dining area is a little fancier, with a stone fireplace like a ski lodge. If you’re looking for a place to chat with a date or a group of friends, I’d suggest the back patio.