Founded in 1975-Fox & Goose Public House, this pub and eatery has white brick walls with high ceilings and is usually quite crowded. Even early in the morning many customers wait for a table. The creative omelets are especially memorable, stuffed with just about any vegetable, cheese or meat you can imagine. The lunch and dinner menus feature such English treats as kippers, and fish and chips. During the evenings, the bar features alternative rock and English folk groups. More than 15 ales and micro brews are available.

Sunsets are especially picturesque from the outdoor patio at Rio City Cafe. The interior features creamy plaster trimmed with blond wood, a long bar, white tablecloths and tall windows. In harmony with the natural beauty of the restaurant and its location, the menu features seafood entrees such as Roasted Salmon and Dungeness crab cakes as an appetizer. The beef lover will want to try the New York Steak or Prime Rib. The wine list is extensive and you can purchase wine by the glass or bottle.

If you are missing your friendly local pub, a visit to Streets Of London Pub will take you there faster than a trip on the Concorde. Go for the beers, selected from 17 brands like Grolsch and John Courage, but stay for the fish and chips, bangers (sausages) and mash, or other tasty examples of British cuisine. A few vegetarian dishes are also available along with a wide selection of wines. Snacks are served from opening to final call. The place is warm and bright and the crowd polite and friendly.

Tapas are the Spanish equivalent of appetizers, and the tasty treats that bring a capacity crowd to Tapa The World. The decor, atmosphere, traditional Spanish cuisine and homemade Sangria transport you to Old World Spain. The Empanadas (meat pies) or Patatas Bravas (spicy potato cubes dipped in a delicious tomato sauce) are just an example of the many tapas on the menu. For a main dish, try the delightfully presented paella or one of tapas seafood dishes.

Taste the "Big Easy," New Orleans, right in Old Sacramento. Hot & Spicy is the only place in town to get genuine Louisiana-style Cajun cooking. Authentic meals include choices like alligator, crawfish, and yes, even turtle soup. The decor, authentic food, and music brings the bayou to the delta. Live bands perform jazz, reggae and zydeco from 9p until midnight Thursday through Saturday and all day on Sunday. If the music moves you, take to the dance floor. Be advised, Cajun cooking is, indeed, hot and spicy.

Fast, friendly service and a varied and tasty menu make Cafe Bernardo an increasingly popular spot. For a quick meal, the Salmon BLT (bacon, lettuce and tomato) sandwich with a crisp, cold salad on the side is hard to beat. Of course, the Rosemary Pasta with Seared Chicken and Toasted Pine Nuts might sway you. Be sure to get the lemon-olive dressing for your salad. For a hearty start to the day, try good old reliable eggs and bacon, or branch out a little with a breakfast burrito.

If you want to really impress a guest who likes plenty of red meat served in a clubby environment at wallet-busting prices, take them to Morton's. This elegant downtown spot features a wide variety of excellent meat dishes like filet mignon (with Bearnaise sauce and potatoes Lyonnaise with caramelized onions), or just a good old steak. A full service bar offers a variety of beverages including the special house Martini.

This dining spot called River City Brewing Company keeps diners cool with its high ceilings, and its earth-tone decor is relaxing. Through the front door, a host waits to seat you at one of the dining tables. The menu ranges from pizza-which the chefs deftly toss in the open kitchen in the rear, to steaks, chicken and other entrees. Along one wall is a full bar, which is a pleasant place to try one of the house special microbrews while waiting for a table.

Fanny Anne's Saloon is an old-fashioned beer and burger joint. The saloon features a Main Bar on the ground floor and a game and bar area on the floor above. But there is no way to describe the memorabilia hanging from the walls and staring at you (like a moose head!). Besides beer, mixed drinks, and shots, the place makes a really good hamburger. The crowd is friendly and often pretty loud.

The Torch Club has been a landmark for the blues scene since its establishment in the 1930's. Conveniently located in midtown Sacramento, it offers patrons the chance to get their drink and dance on to live performances from popular blues bands almost every night of the week. Check the website for information on upcoming shows.