Between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m.,

The Porch Restaurant and Bar holds “Social Hour,” during which

there is a small specialized food menu and drink specials that are

hard to pass up.

Although the restaurant has been

open only since Dec. 8, there were so many customers it was hard to

find a seat. The bartenders were running around at high speeds to

make sure everything was going smoothly.

Co-owner John Lopez looked more than

pleased with the outcome for this Friday evening’s “Social

Hour.”

“We aspire the place to be like a

home,” said Lopez. “Very comfortable and relaxed.”

The warm and neutral colors inside

The Porch make it very welcoming. Modern-looking chandeliers hang

from the ceilings and fill the room with a perfect amount of

light.

Chefs at this Lowcountry restaurant

rely mostly on local providers that deliver all of their produce

and meats, making their menu constantly changing which does

drastically with the seasons. Lowcountry food is derived from New

Orleans and Cajun cuisines.

As Lopez is also one of the owners

of Capitol Garage on K Street, he wants to make sure the

restaurants remain different from one another.

“We book live entertainment at the

Capitol Garage,” Lopez said. “When people come here (The Porch), we

want them to feel like they are sipping on wine at home.”

The Monterey jack chicken quesadilla

came out of the kitchen quickly after ordering, and looked

extremely presentable. Unfortunately, it lacked flavor. Additonal

spices and sauces inside the quesadilla would have made it more

flavorful, but it was tolerable due to the sour

cream and delicious tomato relish slathered on top. 

The two other appetizers offered

during “Social Hour” are pimiento cheese fritters and sweet potato

fries, both priced at $6.

At about three pages long, the drink

menu seemed to be most popular with customers. With hand-crafted

cocktails having names such as “Southern Sunday,” “The Charleston”

and “Blue Kentucky,” it is clear the Porch wants to emphasize a

country feel in every way possible.

It is a great restaurant. But for

struggling college students, the prices might be too much to

handle. Cocktails range from $7 to $8.50 and the dinner menu has

items priced up to $27.

The best time to check the

restaurant out, especially for students, is probably during “Social

Hour” for good drinks and lots of mingling.

The Porch Restaurant and Bar is

located at 1815 K St. near Capitol Garage. For more information

visit www.theporchsacramento.com.

Candice DeVries can be reached

at [email protected]