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Club Raven
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
70 reviews for Club Raven
Review Highlights
"I love the Dirty Bird and I love Jimmmmmyyyy."
(in 16 reviews)
"Good jukebox and friendly bartender."
(in 21 reviews)
"Everyone is very nice and Jimmy knows how to make a drink..."
(in 17 reviews)
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70 reviews in English
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Review from K A.
Sacramento, CA
2/5/2012
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this place one of my Favorite places to decompress. Dave and Shannon are fabulous and all the bartenders are Fabulous! I always have a great time here. An awesome mixed crowd of all ages makes me feel comfortable and welcome. I recommend this place to anyone that needs to relax and decompress.
K -
Review from Alex G.
Sacramento, CA
1/23/2012
The Dirty Bird is a small, awkward, unimpressive bar.
I love a good dive bar, but this is just not a good one. Yes, you can get cheap drinks ($2-3 for a Coors Light or well drink). Beyond that, nothing impressive. There's limited seating, and it's not like there is a whole lot of room to stand around.
Granted, I am neither a regular nor in my 40s or 50s, so I suppose this may put me outside their normal clientele.
Nonetheless, there are much better dive bars that I'd rather spend my time and money. -
Review from Michelle D.
Fair Oaks, CA
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
I used to work at the law school on the same block as the Raven. I fondly remember NOT going in this place when I turned 21. For some reason I was always drawn to the Limelight. Probably explains my addiction to playing cards now, but that is not the point.
I brought my friend into the Raven the other day because we were doing some day drinking and I figured fk it, I am sure we can get saucy for pretty cheap.
We go in and it looks surprisingly different than what I remember. No more booths and doesn't smell like pee pee and poo poo.
We have some drinks, act obnoxious and I get on my trusty iPhone and start playing some music on the iTouchTunes (love those things).
Not shockingly the owner (who was also the bartender- COUGHS) tells me she blocks a wide variety of music. Just to test it out I put on some Rodney Carrington and she giggles. I guess "show them to me" isn't on her blocked list. Don't try to play anything from a hip-hop artist. Won't happen. Doesn't matter to me because Adele is my business right now. -
Review from Courtney D.
San Francisco, CA
1/16/2012
Dive as in Greg Louganis!
BUT! The cocktails are stronger than olympic athletes, ad cheap! I'm from SF & dam you can drink good for way less in Sac town, take advantage if you're in the east sac hood. -
Review from Tiffany K.
Sacramento, CA
7/8/2011
First dive bar I've been to where I really dig the women's restroom! Yeah, these things are important. It's purple and covered in framed mirrors if I recall.
Came for a happy hour on a weekday. Having not been here in about 18 years or so, I forgot what it was like.
Narrow but comfy, I just remember it being kinda dark and laid back. Good jukebox and friendly bartender.
The crowd was friendly, I made some new friends and you never know who you'll run into. I opened the door and lo and behold, there sits my BOSS. I watched my potty mouth and made sure not to have too much to drink.
Drinks are cheap. Probably cheaper at happy hour. It got to the point that people were arguing over who would pay the tab. In the end, I didn't have to pay for my two vodka tonics. I don't know who paid for them, but they hit the spot. -
Review from Alex L.
5/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Thinking this is yet another dated, dingy dive? Quoth the Raven, nevermore...
Reasons to rave about the Raven:
1. It's cozy. The small space is inviting with its handsome bar, cush chairs in the back end and warm ambiance.
2. Great for sports viewing. I watched the Giants game the other night. The crowd was positive and really into it. I loved how I could belly up and choose my angle from about five different screens.
3. An awesome jukebox. They have one of those state of the art wall jukeboxes with an endless selection of music. It really sounds great and adds a little modernity to the classic setting.
4. Good beer on tap. Guinness. Jameson. Blue Moon. Yes please!Listed in: Best DIves
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Review from Brittany N.
Sacramento, CA
5/16/2011
Dive bars are my favorite kind of bars. After a lovely evening of watching The Golden Cadillacs play at Concert in the Park and going to a fabulous dinner at Centro, we all just needed a chill spot to relax and enjoy. After tossing out all of the usual hang-outs, we decided to check out Raven.
This place is a dive, through and through. Loud music, drunk make-out sessions and scummy bathrooms...gotta love it.
We sat in the back area and watched all of the happenings while Kid Rock, Kenny Chesney and Aerosmith blared over the speakers. No creepers harassed us and we were bumped around by a million people crammed into one little space. I'm a fan :] -
Review from Jeremy W.
4/28/2011 8 Check-ins Here
Oh Raven-
Guinness!
Jameson!
Rinse, repeat! -
Review from Che G.
San Francisco, CA
5/31/2011
This place is rockin. Everyone here is great, friendly and the music is kickin.
Deff a good place.
Just wish they had more draft beers. -
Review from Cyndi L.
Sacramento, CA
1/31/2011
I moved a block away a little over a year ago and this has become my neighborhood bar. And that's pretty much exactly what it is....a nice little neighborhood bar. I wouldn't exactly say it's a dive bar....under the new ownership it's cleaned up and a little more comfortable than it was a few years ago.
From the first time I went in, the bartenders have been nothing but totally sweet and nice. Like everyone else says, they pour a good drink and they have great prices. Which is nice because you can pretty much just park your butt all night and not go broke.
The digital jukebox actually has some great music on it.
I think the best part is that there is always a really diverse mix of people there and the regulars are all actually friendly and nice.
I *heart* you, Raven. -
Review from Alexander C.
San Francisco, CA
11/4/2010 1 Check-in Here
This place has everything you could want in a dive bar: decently strong drinks served by a pretty and friendly bartender, a jukebox, and a wacky but pretty harmless clientele.
It's pretty crowded at the bar when every stool is filled, but there are a few tables in a more open area at the end of the bar. If it's really too crowded, there's a little patio out back that's good for some fresh air or a cigarette if you're into that sort of thing.
Having spent a little while in the midtown bar scene, I'm used to frequently having to huff it a few blocks from my car, and since this place is getting over there toward the East side of town, I was pleasantly surprised to find off-street parking in the back.
This place is definitely shooting way up in my shortlist of nightlife. -
Review from Rachel Z.
11/4/2010 5 Check-ins Here
Ok....so it was friggin' hot in this mother!
However, the little dive bar was a nice treat to the end of Humpy Hour. I quite enjoyed the people in there.....not to mention the folks I was with!
Then, to top off the night, a decrepit old man made the bartender ring her bell....(not in a sexual way...although that would have been funny to watch) she then said "WHO WANTS A DRINK, IT'S ON THE HOUSE BECAUSE OF THIS GUY" (she really said his actually name, but I can't -for the life of me- remember. How shameful. Oh well.
Took one sip of a whiskey and almost gagged, but at lease the atmosphere was great! I also had a great bartender night, she was a hoot!
Oh Raven, you're an enjoyable son of a bitch! -
Review from Olivia L.
Sacramento, CA
9/25/2010 5 Check-ins Here
The story you are about to hear is true. But before I get into that, know that Raven is rising like quicksilver to the top of my go-to spots. For a number of reasons. Like ...
The bartenders and owners -- all freaking awesome, attentive, cool, nice. Shannon and Nina, I kind of love you a little bit. They remember your drink.
The price of a drink: Well is $2.50. Yeah, I know.
They take credit cards, which is awesome since I don't know what cash is.
And last, the jukebox and the patrons (who run the gambit of elderly to nerdy to cute to hawt) are also part of why I like coming here.
Now, it was one patron in particular that makes the color in this story. And holy geezus. We are talking about a rainbow here.
I will only give you the highlights:
He offers to buy us drinks (that's nice), delivers them to us (so nice) and spills a little on the table. Then he starts to wipe it off and into his other hand. Huh? And then ... he drinks it out of his hand. We knew at this point, things were only going to get better. And they did.
Patron:
"I want to crack you open over some hash browns and eat you for breakfast"
"We should have a relationship right after I stop f*cking my ex girlfriend."
And ... he was the first out of two errr men for lack of a better word that night that suggested coffee AND after-coffee sex. What is going on people?
Hey, hot stuff. (And he was a looker) you had me at "hello." You had me at "hello."Listed in: Hipster, hippy or yuppy? Get…
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Review from Sophia S.
Sacramento, CA
6/24/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I have only been to the Raven a few times but I love it. I don't know what it is about dive bars, but they make me happy inside and out! Nothing wrong with strong drinks, and having room to walk around a little. I am looking forward to checking out Karoake night. This part of midtown/east sac has a lot of crappy douche drinking spots, so the Raven is a breath of fresh whiskey.
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Review from Rob L.
12/7/2010 25 Check-ins Here
This place used to be in my repertoire when I attended Sac State many years ago. It has always been a hole in the wall dive and I don't think that will ever change. It's long, narrow, dark and dingy. The regulars are on average, the over 50 crowd.
This place recently made it back into the fold for me because I started school at Lincoln Law a couple buildings over.
This bar is a great retreat for after class banter and post midterm and finals debate and bitch session.
Nice, friendly bartenders and the regulars like to chat it up, makes for a relaxing, unpretentious atmosphere sans the douchey wanna-bes and hoebags looking for free drinks. -
Review from Debbie P.
Sacramento, CA
9/26/2010 13 Check-ins Here
Meeting Anastacia for the first time here, awesome!
Getting free drinks from a really drunken guy here, awesome!
Watching him hit on my friend with pick up lines such as "I want to crack you open, fry you up and brown you like hashbrowns", amazing!
Getting my ass slapped from a stranger while he tells me I should be "illegal", i n t e r e s t i n g......
I'm still a little scarred from that night. Like a puppy that got yelled at by their owner for the first time.
It's going to take a little while before I can go back there.
Just saying.Listed in: Drink Up!!
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Review from T S.
Sacramento, CA
11/21/2011
I miss jimmy
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Review from Karen S.
1/9/2011
It was a Saturday night..
There were people drinking, lots of random music in the background, and my Widmer was $3.50.
Chill. I dig it! -
Review from Sy D.
Orangevale, CA
6/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Club Raven was our final stop for the day - and same as the others, clean, quiet, drinks were a bit short. The Raven was not short on the geriatric crowd crying in the beers at all their misery. It is doubtful we will stop in during the week day - maybe try a Friday or Saturday some time see how that crowd rolls..
Listed in: Dive Bar
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Review from Eduardo C.
Sacramento, CA
3/6/2011
Raven reminds me of the dirty little local taverns in the German communities of midwest middle America. The people are white. They like to watch NASCAR and play Bass Fishing or Buck Shot. The drinks are cheap. AA groups hold their after-parties there when they can get out of their meetings. People, who a few years from retirement, sit on stools and order a PBR or a Budweiser (never a light beer) with a little salt sprinkled at the bottom of the glass before the beer is to be poured so that there would be extra fizz to make up for flat beer. Gotta love the working class midwest. However, the Raven gives me this feeling that it's actually a midtown hipster and yuppie bar in dive bar clothing. It's the bar version of gentrification. Once a dive bar attracts enough young men and women who wear tight jeans and who own cats the bar no longer constitutes a dive bar and instead becomes a midtowner slumming bar. I suppose I could hold to the fiction and say the place is a dive bar. But really, it's a midtowner bar.
I like the Raven. I'll go in and grab a quick beer if I'm around and waiting for someone. Cheap booze is good booze. -
Review from Emily W.
Sacramento, CA
Updated - 1/10/2010 1 Check-in Here
Went here last night for the first time since the new owners offically took over and I have to say I was less than impressed.
The dirty bird is no longer..
-a new internet jukebox was put in (huge disappointment)
-everything was taken off the walls
-super clean (not that this is a bad thing)
-2 women were drinking cosmo's at the bar
-some bro was wearing an Affliction shirt at the bar
I loved Raven since it was one of the best dive bars in town but now it seems like they are trying to appeal to a different crowd.
I am going to have to find a new dive bar again..and that is no fun!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/8/2008
Oh..the good old Dirty Bird. You see the neon street as your driving down J street at night.
This is… Read more »
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Review from Johnna B.
9/22/2008
I like Club Raven. There is always someone interesting here, the location is outstanding (you can run to Safeway and get a bottle 10 minutes before 2,) and there's always a cab available. And Jimmy the bartender is my little love bunny. I love this guy. He does all the fancy bartender tricks totally mindlessly like he came out of the womb doing them (Ouch!) You know I can't get enough of that shit.
Drawback: horny hornets and worse (they're just like horny hornets only they won't be getting degrees in this lifetime.) That sh-t is annoying. Every time I go here, someone asks me to go home with them. I think that's because every time I end up here I'm already wasted or well on my way toward being wasted. It's times like these when a girl really needs a taser (sp?)
But Club Raven is definitely worth a try. -
Review from Anastacia C.
Sacramento, CA
Tentatively 4 stars due to the no Jimmy factor. However, so many other lovely good things!
Great light fixtures to make my 36 years look closer to 31.
Great mirrors for checking my now close to 31 year old face.
Lock on the women's restroom (Hell to the YEAH!) so the idiot non-regulars don't open the door on me.
New paint job, so pretty!
Finally accepting credit and debit behind the bar instead of having customers suck up the stupid ATM fee. Hurray!
And last, but certainly not least, AN INTERNET JUKEBOX! Sweet baby Jesus and hallelujah!
Mostly great improvements to my favorite home-bar hangout, except for the no Jimmy thing. That sucks.
Full Disclosure: I went to high school with the new owner but I haven't seen or spoken to her since she took over the Raven. Well, except a couple times on Facebook. But that doesn't really count right? I mean, it isn't like I talked to her on Yelp.
I heart you Dirty Bird!Listed in: In My Hood
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/21/2008
Let me start off by saying that this bar would get 5 stars but for the fact that they don't take… Read more »
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Review from Yvonne C.
12/10/2008 1 photo
I love the Dirty Bird and I love Jimmmmmyyyy!!
It's the Cheers of East Sacramento. Just a great place to meet up with friends and shoot the shit. I just moved to San Diego and I made sure to visit Jimmy and the Raven before leaving town.Listed in: My Former East Sacramento…
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Review from Jacqueline W.
Sacramento, CA
1/5/2010
Still an awesome place - and detailed perfectly in other reviews. The Raven was sold a couple of months ago, and not much has changed - which is great. Also, the new owner is Shannon (don't know her last name) the awesome bartender from the Hilltop! I can't imagine she'll do anything stupid to the place. Another bonus: Becca (Beckstar!), the other awesome bartender from the Hilltop, is her sister and is working at The Raven now.
I am only sad for the Hilltop. -
Review from Sam S.
Byron, GA
3/4/2008
My totally original review (later "borrowed" by Guy D.) is: nevermore.
Is this bar a dive? Yeah. Like jumping off a cliff. But like other reviews mentioned, it's on the clean side, with the exception of some of the weird patronage (one guy in there was drinking with his mother and she was wreecckkeedd). Other than that, there was some nice people in there, just a little on the clique-ish side.
Prices? For what I was drinking, they weren't too bad. That really adds to the ambiance of a dump for me.
On a jukebox note, because anyone who wouldn't consider the music in a bar review might as well be Helen Keller: the jukebox wasn't too bad. There was some decent music dripping out of it when I was there and the bartender looked like he could've been a roadie for Interpol.
Massive plus side: It's near several other bars (Limelight, Round Corner, Monkey Bar, and possibly some place called R15?). Find decent parking and just go on a drunken walkabout of sexy fun! -
Review from robert c.
Sacramento, CA
3/8/2011
I used to live near this place back in the early 90's and loved it back then. Moved back to Sac after an 11 year stretch in Portland. One of my first stops was the dirty bird..... While it has changed ownership I didn't notice the vibe all too different. Non pretentious and a good place to visit on the weekends when the burbs descend upon Shady and the like.
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Review from Jessica S.
Sacramento, CA
Updated - 7/23/2010
Okay, so I had to check out the new Raven, with all of the rumors and the gossip and the new owners and everything. Honestly, it's oookay.
Anyone who's read my reviews knows how I adore dive bars. Sadly, I don't think I can classify the Raven as a dive anymore. First of all, it's clean. Like, CLEAN-CLEAN. That is SO not divey. Ain't nothin' wrong with a little bit of grunge when it comes to the dives.
Secondly... wait a second, are they playing Michael Jackson's greatest hits? At the Raven? REALLY? And are those 3 frat boys sitting at the bar actually singing along? It was like I fell asleep and ended up at the Pine Cove. And I don't DO Pine Cove.
The bartender with the crazy low-cut shirt also wasn't a selling point for me. I mean, obviously, I have boobs so they're not that appealing to me in general... but it just so not the Raven! WHERE'S JIMMY?!
It's just lost some of the... je ne sais quoi that I so loved. *tear*1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/12/2009
I went here for the first time a couple of weeks ago and heard it referred to as the "East Sac… Read more »
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Review from MAX D.
Sacramento, CA
8/10/2008
could not suck more.
Unfriendly, cliquish, rude, and snobby.
We walked in as a group of 5- it was like the music scratched on the record- we were obviously new. I asked what they had on tap, and was told water- then blown off standing at the bar for 5 minutes.
This was not a busy night, most of the stools in this dive were taken, all by trust fund kids with full sleeves of tats-so cool!, but still some seating open.
The rest just gets worse...
I like a dive bar. I really do- but skip the Raven and go to the Limelight.
Absolutely no reason to go to this bar. -
Review from Erinn L.
Sacramento, CA
5/24/2007
One of my favorites. I'm still trying to figure out what my friend's signature is doing on the bathroom wall. It's her handwriting, most definitely, and I've never known her to vandalize anything so it's a bit mysterious. She lives in NY now so it's nice to have a little part of her around town...
Because I've blown some serious cash in here I don't think the drinks are necessarily cheap, but the're not expensive. Average I surmise. The bartenders also don't "buy you a round" even if you tip well and have had many. Not to say they aren't cool cats, cuz they totally are. Come to think of it, very few bartenders "buy a round" these days. With exception of the Monte, God I love the Monte.
Aside from being one more reason why my liver hates me The Raven has some of the best Bar Decor around town. From the neon dirty bird out front to the pleather stools to the booths to the glass behind the bar and winding bar top. It's lit like a bar too, dark and broody. Patrons are appropriately eclectic ranging from professional drunks to just plain professionals to college kids. -
Review from Stan O.
Sacramento, CA
12/27/2007
I came in about two weeks ago to find a rather corpulent girl falling out of a "sexy santa" suit that was about 2 sizes too small. Every time she tried to climb up on the bar, her tit fell out and everyone cheered.
The drinks here are the most modestly priced in Sacramento. A glass of Jameson's goes for 4 bucks, while its less esteemed cousin Early Times goes for 2.
The bartenders are a class act and the Raven is the only place outside the Back Door Lounge you'll hear Dean Martin played randomly throughout the night.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Eastsac G.
Sacramento, CA
4/26/2011
Been coming here for 30+ years. A regular for the past 10+. Adore old owners, adore new owners. Finally got the bartender merry-go-round figured out. Cheap drinks. Excellent pour. It is my "go-to" bar.
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Review from susan b.
Sacramento, CA
8/8/2008
This is such a great, welcoming, friendly place, I almost hate to see it called a Dive. Well, almost.
Jimmy and Brad and Greg (and Danimal!) are professional bartenders, folks. They know how to pour, they are enormously friendly and great fun to be around. Other area bartenders should come in and take notes. I'm not even joking.
The Raven was the first place I went drinking when I moved to Sac, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. Even now when I go months without stopping in, I will see people who miss me and want to know what's up and where I've been.
I would definitely recommend coming in at any time of day or night, unless you have a low threshold for crowds and craziness, in which case, don't go after about 11pm on Friday or Saturday night -- it's a little too nuts then even for me. -
Review from K. D.
Los Angeles, CA
8/17/2009
The best bartenders in Sac!
Many of my favorite bars have changed for the worse over the years in an attempt to appeal to a younger, douchebag crowd (god knows why!), but the Dirty Bird is still the same great little dive, with cheap drinks, fun bartenders, and the best jukebox in Sac. No touchtunes here so your ears won't suddenly get assaulted by some sorority girl playing Jessica Simpson! Bartender Brad does a great job at keeping a stellar music collection in the old box!
Dirty Bird is a place you can drink alone if you need to drown your sorrows, or come with a group and enjoy the interesting crowd. They definitely attract quite a few regulars here. Many East Sac residents like myself can't resist stopping in at least for one drink at some point during a night out on the town. Just don't forget to bring some cash! Fortunately, just a little is all you need here!
Recommended drinks: Domestic bottled beer (always cheap), Washington Apples (Jimmy makes the best in town!), and Hard Times (a yummy pineapple concoction!) -
Review from Katie T.
11/13/2006
I think the bartender might be insane (something about being stabbed...). Lucky for him I occasionally enjoy crazy people.
Drinks are cheap and strong too.Listed in: Booze and Breakfast
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Review from Linda Z.
Anchorage, AK
10/22/2006
Club Raven is very NARROW and when it's packed you have a feeling that you are standing in a line for something or perhaps a hallway to use the bathroom. The drinks are easy to get despite the crowd, they are cheap and good.
I just wasn't overwhelmed with this place. People were nice, bartender was cool, I think it was just a combination of the narrow layout and super loud jukebox that keeps me from giving more stars. -
Review from SHANNON A.
Sacramento, CA
2/23/2007
I like going to a place where Bon Jovi gets booed when he starts to croak and croon through the juke box. The music is way too loud but when it's Bon Jovi screaching my ears start to bleed and I get the crazy eyes. It's not the best place to chat because of the noise.
There are a few small seating areas but most people stood around or tried to sit on the bar stools. Their "leather" seats made me look more intoxicated than I was when I repeatedly slipped off of them. Maybe I'll wear pleather pants next time to blend in with the decor and keep my butt in place on my chair too.
Whisky and coke was about 2.50$ and so was the beer. -
Review from lauren m.
Sacramento, CA
Updated - 1/27/2010
Still a fan, but The Bird is now without Jimmy.
Star subtracted. :(Listed in: Watering holes to Dive into...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/6/2009
i don't even know where to begin with the Dirty Bird.
let's just say it's a home away from home. i… Read more »
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Review from Greg B.
Sacramento, CA
Updated - 10/17/2010
The neon bird beckoned. We wandered into The Raven after the Giants game on Saturday and much to our surprise they had karaoke. Some regular named Hugo foot the bill for the karaoke. It was a good time. sang a few tunes, had a few Longboards for $3. Some stinky lady with a ballcap sang too much, but other than that, it was a good time.
Listed in: Dive Bar Karaoke
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/26/2010
Went to Club Raven to see all the changes and do some writing. The place has definately changed. No… Read more »
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Review from Erin N.
Sacramento, CA
3/19/2008
Well, I must have come on the wrong night. I really wanted to love this place. It's actually a cool looking bar, and the drinks are cheap enough. But it was wall to wall frat kids when I was there. I did see some older patrons who looked as annoyed as I was, so maybe it's not normally like that?
I'll try again soon and adjust my rating accordingly.
