Nightlife in Rocklin

Pause Lounge & Kitchen urges diners to take a break from sprinting after fast food by slipping inside its elegant eatery and enjoying a luxuriously chewable selection of contemporary chow and beverages. Start off by noshing on a pile of beer-battered asparagus flanked by a dedicated entourage of lemon aioli ($4), then proceed to chat with pals about baseball scores and solutions to the Entscheidungsproblem over a helping of crispy monterey calamari ($10) washed down with Terra Alpina pinot grigio ($8/glass) or a mug of Pause’s house-brewed ale ($3). While using one hand to grip a glass of basil-mint or thyme-lime lemonade ($4), guests can order the other to fork-feed them dainty bites of hanger steak ($20). The dangerous twists and turns of a busy day slowly fade into a liquefied rollycoaster as the palate draws a bath of zesty Bridgetown daiquiri spiked with rum, apricot liqueur, lime, and bitters ($9). For dessert, tickle the tongue’s sweet spot with a plate of chocolate-chip cookies and a chaser of milk ($6).

La Huaca Restaurant's chefs prepare elegant presentations of Peruvian cuisine in a sleek space outfitted with imaginative decor. Waiters hustle dishes of citrus-infused ceviche made with fresh fish, shrimp, or octopus past shelves of glass jugs filled with rainbow-hued liquid, and carry glasses of Peruvian wine to tables set along a wall of knotted ropes. The pachamanca tres carnes pairs a medley of slow-cooked chicken, beef, and pork with Andean tubers and a Peruvian corn cake, and the lomo saltado seasons pieces of filet mignon with a sauce made from pisco, a South American brandy made with grapes too bold to become mere jelly. The smooth-tasting liqueur also makes its way into the dessert menu and steeps into the rich layers of the tres leches sponge cake.

As Bunz & Company embarks on its second quarter century in business, owners Julie and Jim Sweet aim to uphold its position as a family-friendly establishment. "It's comfortable and familiar, like the 'Cheers' of Roseville," Jim told the Roseville Press-Tribune, which profiled the bar and its origin as the brainchild of former San Francisco 49er and Roseville native Dan Bunz. Once a postpractice hot spot for the 49ers—including football greats Joe Montana, R.C. Owens, and Bobby Boucher—the English-style pub now serves local, and very loyal, clientele. The restaurant’s more than 17 televisions broadcast popular sporting events while servers ferry trays of casual American fare and giant vats of sports drink.

From hand-selecting all of the restaurant's produce at a local farmers' market to testing recipes to ensure authenticity, the owner of My Thai Table influences every dish that emerges from the kitchen. Each platters carry an additional personal touch from the chefs, whose close ties to Phetchabun, Thailand ensure that their entrees simmered, stir-fried, and spiced according to the country’s culinary traditions. Noodle staples such as pad thai and pad see ew accompany four types of curry and three kinds of fried rice, as well as signature house specialties such as shish kabobs that bookend beef, shrimp, and chicken with mushrooms and pineapples.

A chic lounge attached to the dining area beckons guests to recline on sky blue ottomans and benches. The square tables set throughout the space play host to glasses of Napa Valley wines and frothy bottles of imported Chang and Singha beers. During private events, the rhythms of smooth jazz float from the restaurant’s live ensemble, enticing passersby to glance through the floor-to-ceiling windows and try to catch the echoes of a fading bass line with their bare hands. Starting December 20, customers can revel in live jazz every Thursday from 6—9 p.m.

Card sharks place their bets at Lucky Derby Casino's smoke-free blackjack and poker tables before heading over to Rounders Sports Bar for hearty steak dinners, billiards, and darts. Appetizing niblets ready hunger pangs for their fate, as couples sip on selections from the beer and wine list. A 12-ounce cut of tender rib-eye steak or tilapia whispers sweet nothings to taste buds, as a potato and veggies skulk on the side, always the bridesmaid. After dinner, chalk up some cues for eight felt-pelting rounds of pool or test precision tossing skills at the dartboard. Fifteen high-definition TVs rain down sporting events pumped into the pub by ESPN GamePlan and NFL Sunday Ticket, and comics make with the chuckling during open-mic Tuesday. The athletics-themed venue fills up with the sounds of amateur crooning on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights as singers take the karaoke stage.

Corner Pocket takes its title as a sports bar very seriously. Hooked up to 15 satellite receivers, the nearly 10,000-square-foot bar's 35 flat-screen televisions constantly air games, from baseball and hockey matches to ultimate-fighting bouts. The TVs surround eight balls sinking into the pockets of 16 billiards tables and darts striking the bull’s-eyes of six dartboards. Not to mention balls rolling into goals on a foosball table, pucks gliding along a shuffleboard and gamers competing on Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation consoles.

But amid all its emphasis on sports, Corner Pocket never loses sight of its bar duties. Domestic and imported beers from 14 taps pour into pints, mugs, pitchers, or directly into patron’s mouths. Along with wine, the brews complement Corner Pocket's classic approach to bar food, which includes Angus beef burgers, chili-cheese corn dogs, and housemade potato chips. The bar stays open until 2 a.m. daily, so patrons can celebrate their team’s win until the wee hours or dance the night away to karaoke on Sundays and Thursday or live music on Saturdays.