Lido Bar & Grill Offers Family Fare

Shawna Rivera has been serving up dishes to Carmichael residents for nearly two decades and says her customers feel like family. And she sees a lot of her "family."

"We have some people come three times a week if not more and some who come for lunch will come back again for dinner," she said.

Rivera owns on Fair Oaks Boulevard in Carmichael, and while it does have a full bar, Rivera says it's more of a family type of atmosphere.

"I love the Sunday mornings, the breakfasts, the kids running around," she said.

The customers also seem to love the food. The most popular breakfast items on the menu include the homemade cinnamon rolls and Eggs Benedict, both of which you can order until 3:00 p.m. Sandwiches, soups, burgers and hot dogs are offered at lunch.

"Our soups are all homemade and are very popular," Rivera said.

The dinner menu includes meatloaf, salmon, steaks and pasta. Desserts like the carrot cake, German Chocolate cake and bread pudding made from day-old cinnamon rolls, are also homemade in the Carmichael kitchen.

Rivera has worked in the restaurant business for 18 years, grabbing a culinary degree along the way. Before Lido Bar & Grill was incorporated in 2005, the space was divided into the Lido Cafe and a hair salon.

Evidence of the old salon can be seen in its long mirrors adorning a wall, which have been covered with painted canvases and now look more like windows overlooking the sea.

"I wanted an evening ocean setting, like if you were in Tuscany," Rivera said.

Ultimately, the two businesses combined into one larger restaurant. Rivera and her daughter, Nicole, manage the front end of the business, while her husband, Don, takes care of accounting. The restaurant gets it's name "Lido" from a cafe Rivera once saw in Paraguay.

"I carried that name forever," she said.

Although the restaurant was inspired by a far off place, Rivera says she feels at home at it's location in Carmichael, having grown up in the area herself and having attended El Camino High School. She and her husband now live in Fair Oaks and belong to the Carmichael Chamber of Commerce. She says she enjoys giving back to the community by supporting local schools and donating to many of their fundraising efforts.

On sunny days, dogs are welcome to join their masters on the outside patio and order off the 'doggie' menu which features such goodies as chicken, beef, eggs, and a good old-fashioned bone.

The restaurant also books private parties, caters to nearby families and hosts live bands on Friday and Saturday nights.

This year, Lido will celebrate Valentine's Day on Saturday, Feb. 12, rather than Monday, Feb. 14. A date, Rivera says, will surely appeal to her working 'family members,' looking for a good meal closer to home.

"I think it would be easier for my families to celebrate on Saturday instead of Monday" Rivera said.

Valentine's Day dinner will consist of a $25-30 fixed menu. An appetizer, soup, salad, and entree with choice of prime rib, baked halibut, or raviolis and dessert are all included. Reservations are now being accepted for 5:00pm and 7:30pm seatings.

Lido Bar & Grill
7739 Fair Oaks Blvd.
Carmichael, CA 95608  
916-944-8243
http://www.lidosbarandgrill.com

Hours:
Sunday - Wednesday 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Thursday - Saturday 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.