The Abridged version:
- Good Neighbor will open Wednesday in Midtown Sacramento, replacing Beast + Bounty at 17th and R streets.
- The restaurant comes from Urban Roots Hospitality Group, known for Urban Roots and Bawk, and features live-fire cooking as its centerpiece.
- Menu highlights include pizzas, glazed pork chops and a chicken parm sandwich, along with cocktails such as the garden Negroni.
One of Sacramento’s favorite restaurant groups is opening in a signature midtown space. They hope you’ll stay awhile.
Good Neighbor will open Wednesday at 1701 R St., the former Beast + Bounty space in the Ice Blocks development. It’s the newest restaurant and bar from Urban Roots Hospitality Group, the cultural architects behind Urban Roots Brewing & Smokehouse, Bawk and Cervecería at The Shack.
Beast + Bounty’s exposed brick and tall windows remain, but the space has shifted darker, moodier and more casual. For co-owner Rob Archie, the idea behind Good Neighbor is simple: Take care of people.
“All I ever wanted was to be a good neighbor,” said Archie, who also owns Pangaea Bier Cafe in Curtis Park. “You serve good food, you take care of people and you bring them together.”
At the heart of Good Neighbor is the wood-fired grill. Chef Greg Desmangles and chef de cuisine Zach Schechtman center much of the menu around live fire, which drives many of the dishes coming out of the kitchen.
Pork chops ($29) hit the grate and come off lacquered in glaze, pizzas ($21-$25) blister in seconds and half-chickens ($27) develop that perfect crackling skin. The team does what they do best, putting quality proteins at the center of the menu.
But there’s plenty beyond the flame. Crispy mushroom arancini ($12 for three), a classic chicken parm sandwich ($19) and hand-cut pasta Bolognese ($21) round out the mix. It’s a straightforward, flexible menu, Desmangles said, built for however guests want to use the space, be that sharing a few bites, opening a bottle of wine or settling in for a full meal.
The bar, on the other hand, pushes further. Urban Roots beers ($8.50) pour on tap alongside cocktails with real character: the garden Negroni with tomato gin, an old fashioned made with beef fat-washed bourbon and hay, and the King Kong, a mix of rum, rye, banana and root beer bitters (all $17).
Even the zero-proof options stand out, with house sodas ($7) infused with turmeric, cucumber or mint that feel intentional rather than secondary. The playlist ties it all together, mixing Lucy Pearl, Jill Scott and Outkast into a soundtrack that keeps the energy relaxed and familiar.
“Good Neighbor takes what our guests love about Urban Roots — the casual vibe and a sense of community — and adds a touch more polish,” Urban Roots Hospitality Group COO Joshua Blackman wrote in an email. “It’s wine and spirits-forward, chef-driven and centered around live fire. Same heart, same values, just a little more finesse.”
Guests start their order at the counter, then grab seats inside or on one of the patios wrapping around the restaurant, including the former bocce court-turned-outdoor dining area. Each table has a small device that allows diners to reorder food or drinks without returning to the line, and servers stop by to bring everything out. The setup might surprise traditional diners, but Archie says it’s designed for freedom, a place where people can eat, drink and stay on their own time.
Inside, the design reflects what Archie calls a nostalgic home, inspired by the warmth he remembers from the homes of his mom and grandmother, where family, neighbors and food were always at the center. That spirit carries through the space with rich orange and blue colors, soft lighting and a bar that anchors the room.
Good Neighbor will also take over the former Milk Money doughnut shop next door. It’s been reimagined as Side Hustle, a walk-up window serving espresso martinis and spiked milkshakes alongside Belgian waffles and quick bites like hot dogs and fries.
“(It’s) the adult version of a lemonade stand,” Archie said.
Good Neighbor will open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, with brunch to follow later in the year.
Archie said he hopes guests treat it less like a restaurant and more like an extension of their own living rooms. “You tell us when you’re ready,” he said. “Stay, linger, talk to your neighbor. That’s what this place is about.”
Good Neighbor
Address: 1701 R St., Sacramento
Phone: 916-758-6194
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Website: goodneighbor916.com
Vegetarian/vegan options: Appetizers, salads and cheese pizza
Drinks: Full bar
Reservations: No
Keyla Vasconcellos is a Sacramento-based freelance journalist.