Dam good eats: New Folsom Dam Grill dishing out delicious fare and fun

The newly-opened Folsom Dam Grill is treating patrons with an eclectic menu, music, outdoor dining and a full bar to quench your thirst.Items include "Good Behavior" (a grilled chipotle and black bean burger with lettuce, tomato and avocado) "Felony Fries" and "the Last Meal" (a tasty Maine lobster roll, or lobstah as they call it, made with tarragon, lemon and mayo). The play on words is a likening to the infamous Folsom Prison. Street tacos, salads, and even root beer floats are also available. If you're not getting food to go, enjoy a table under the large tent, umbrella or awning (with misters)."We wanted to have a theme that was fun. Even before COVID, we felt there was a need for lightheartedness, a break in stuff we go through day to day," said resident chef Garrick Penn.Penn and Kerri Howell, longtime Folsom City Council member and Boston native, owns the food side of the establishment, while Dominick Bellizzi, owner of Corner Tavern and Grill, runs the bar side. Both come together to bring locals and visitors alike a clean, expansive space to relax, with art on the wall that pays homage to the late Johnny Cash. The space, which formerly housed City Slickers, underwent a remodel before opening its doors to the public.Penn has three decades of experience and expertise in the kitchen. Penn's roots are in Louisiana, but he has traveled and worked all over the U.S., from Miami to San Francisco, and is now "in the best place of all," Folsom. His love of culinary arts, Penn said, "just came natural." Both Penn and Howell have a meeting of the minds to come up with the menu, with new specials appearing not on the menu, including gumbo. "My favorite menu items are either the lobster roll or any of the burgers; I have always been a foodie. I have been a small business owner since 1998. This place happened serendipitously. I think I have really enjoyed interacting with the customers," said Howell. She shared that explaining to her friends about her new restaurant adventure was met with a lot of "you're doing what?!" The news came as a surprise to some, but it seems the Folsom Dam Grill was a great idea that came tofruition.Folsom Dam Grill is located at 97 Natoma Street in Folsom and opens at 11:30 daily. They can be reached for orders at 916-849-6420. Check out their menu at www.folsomdamgrill.com. *Take advantage of a special offer at Folsom Dam Grill in their advertisement in the print and E-Edition of today's Folsom Telegraph