A Nevada City Table Since 1973
SherwoodRestaurant & Tavern
For more than 50 years, Sherwood has been part of the rhythm of historic downtown Nevada City — a place for games, dinner, music, wine, cocktails, celebrations, and nights that turn into memories.
The Origin
Games, music, and
gathering around
the table.
Sherwood began in 1973, when the restaurant opened at 111 North Pine Street with a vision rooted in wine, music, and gathering around the table. From day one it drew people in and kept them coming back.
In 1982 the kitchen and bar expanded, a full liquor license was added, and the experience grew into what it is today - a full dining room, a proper bar, live music Thursday through Saturday, and Nevada City's premier destination for watching sports in a setting that refuses to be ordinary.
For fifty years the restaurant carried the name Friar Tuck's - a beloved institution in the Sierra Foothills that became part of the identity of Nevada City itself. The same building, the same kitchen ethos, the same live music Thursday through Saturday. The same owners. The same soul.
"Sherwood is not a new restaurant. It is Friar Tuck's, grown into what it was always becoming."
The rebrand to Sherwood reflects a new chapter—one that embraces both the heritage of the room and the way guests use it today. Catch every game on five HD screens, with the Forest Room available for playoff parties and other sports gatherings. Enjoy a rotating selection of craft beers on tap and a cocktail program done right.
Thursday through Saturday, the focus shifts to live music—now supported by an upgraded stage and state-of-the-art sound system, with no cover charge.
The Rebrand
Friar Tuck's
became
Sherwood.
The Room That Came Back
Not just restored.
Remembered.
In 2002, a devastating fire gutted the building. The loss was significant - but the response from the Nevada City community became part of the story. Firefighters, local agencies, artists, neighbors, and loyal guests all played a role in bringing the restaurant back to life.
"This is not just a restaurant that survived. It is a restaurant rebuilt by the people who loved it."
Sherwood runs five HD screens across the full bar and dining room. NFL Sunday Ticket, NBA League Pass, and every major cable sports package - whatever's on tonight, it's on here, with sound at the bar and a room full of people who actually care about the game.
What makes it different from a standard sports bar is that you're watching in a room with original 1860 brick walls, a mahogany bar, and a kitchen that takes food seriously. You don't have to choose between a great game and a great meal.
The Screens
Every game.
Thursday through Saturday.
The Music Table
Dinner with
a soundtrack.
Live music has been part of Sherwood since the beginning. Thursday through Saturday. No cover charge, ever. Acoustic folk on a Thursday. Blues on a Friday. R&B on a Saturday. The music wraps around whatever else is happening - your dinner, your game, your conversation.
You're watching sports on five HD screens in a room that's also hosting a live performance. We've been doing it for fifty years and it still surprises people every time.
The Sherwood kitchen runs a full dinner menu sourced from local Sierra Foothill farms and the Sacramento region. Seasonal rotation. Long-standing guest favorites. A kitchen that takes its job seriously whether you're here for a game or a milestone.
The game day menu runs alongside the full dinner menu every night. Wings, sliders, nachos, the French Dip. You're not stuck ordering bar food. You order what you want from a kitchen that knows how to cook both.
The Kitchen
Classic, generous,
seasonal.
An Authentic Nevada City Experience
The Tavern
& Cellar
A place to gather, connect & unwind — where exceptional drinks, genuine hospitality & a sense of belonging define the Sherwood Tavern experience.
The Sherwood Forest Room offers one of Nevada City's most distinctive private dining settings. A glowing fiber-optic tree and trellis installation - built by local Nevada City artists - fills the space with an otherworldly warmth that photographs can barely capture.
The room seats up to 60 for private events. Playoff parties. Fantasy league dinners. Corporate events. Milestone celebrations. It has HD screens for game-day bookings and the full bar and kitchen at your disposal.
The Sherwood Forest Room
Private dining with
a little theater.
The Society
A place in the
ongoing story
of the room.
For guests who have made Sherwood part of their life, the Friar Society offers a deeper connection to the restaurant. Membership is limited to 100 people and includes a personalized hand-blown artisan wine glass, member recognition, dining discounts, private event access, and exclusive benefits.
Members get early access to playoff party reservations, first priority on watch party booth bookings, and invitations to events that don't appear on the public calendar.
The Visit Card
Find us in historic
downtown Nevada City.
Before You Come In
The questions
people ask before
the night begins.
Do I need a reservation?
Not required, but strongly recommended on weekends and game nights. Booth reservations for featured games fill by midweek.
Is there a cover charge for live music?
Never. Live music Thursday through Saturday, no cover charge. It has been that way since 1973 and it hasn't changed.
How many screens do you have?
Five HD screens across the bar and dining room. We carry NFL Sunday Ticket, NBA League Pass, and all major cable sports packages.
Can I reserve a booth for a game?
Yes. Groups of 4 to 15+ can reserve a booth section with dedicated screen assignments. Contact us to confirm availability.
What's the dress code?
Come as you are. We have guests in jerseys sitting next to guests in dinner jackets and everyone looks like they belong.
Can I bring a special bottle of wine?
Absolutely. $20 corkage fee. Bring something from the cellar or bring your own - we're happy either way.
The Last Pour
Come for the Music.
Stay for the Game.
For more than half a century, Sherwood has been a Nevada City gathering place - a historic room filled with sports, dinner, wine, cocktails, live music, and the kind of hospitality that keeps people coming back. There's a game on. There's a seat for you.