Expectations, unbottled

Barber booze: Spotlighted in the Los Angeles Times, Details Magazine and other publications, Bottle & Barlow (1120 R Street) was easily one of the most anticipated Sacramento bar openings in quite some time. The bar-slash-barbershop, located in the new Warehouse Artist Lofts building, is open now, with a grand opening scheduled for Saturday, July 18.

It’s the vision of mega-popular barber Anthony Giannotti of Anthony’s Barbershop and San Francisco star bartender Jayson Wilde. Wilde rose through the ranks at famous San Francisco bars Bourbon & Branch and Wilson & Wilson before recently returning to his hometown. Kimio Bazett and Jon Modrow (Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co., the Golden Bear) round out the ownership team.

The bar and barbershop are divided by a wall—and connected by the bathrooms—but both are beautiful, spacious destinations with a swanky, art deco design. It’s the work of Whitney Johnson, who also designed hot spots Hook & Ladder, Shady Lady Saloon and others. Barbershop patrons receive a free beer or—starting next week, cocktail—with an appointment-only cut. Those cocktails aren’t as fancy or creative as what’s available in the formal bar area, but still: free Jayson Wilde-approved cocktail.

Considering the complexity and quality, bar-area cocktails are reasonably priced at $9-$12. The Ponzu Scheme boasted smoke and tang with scotch, lemon, ponzu, Cocchi Americano and orange marmalade. Anise shone through the semisweet Drive-Bye, with rum, gin, absinthe, lime, Mexican coke, nutmeg and egg white. Every single cocktail intrigues.

Get fancy: Localis, the concept replacing Trick Pony by the Broderick Roadhouse team, also opened last week at 2031 S Street. Chef Christopher Barnum, most recently at Cibo 7 in Roseville, crafts stunning plates with European and Asian influences at this fine dining spot. Localis invited many area chefs for test dinners, serving plates such as rabbit roulade with root vegetables; cured white bass with soy and black garlic; pork belly with uni and apricot; and a farm plate of different vegetables in different preparations. Snag a table by emailing reservations@localissacramento.com.

Alcoholic boba: If you’ve ever wished you could get drunk on tapioca milk tea, get ready to find fulfillment at Lazi Cow (407 G Street in Davis). The boba shop remodeled and reopened last month with a full kitchen—tacos, fried snacks, brick toast—and tapioca tea cocktails. They go for $6-$8, and starting in the fall, the boba itself will be alcoholic too. Think vodka gummy bears.