This legendary Sacramento pool hall has a ‘must-try’ burger. Here’s what it cost me

About the Writer

Brianna Taylor covers affordability on The Bee’s service journalism team.

Behind tinted windows, a longtime Sacramento pool hall drips with nostalgia and delicious food.

Jointed Cue Billiards in Hollywood Park has stood the test of time, made apparent by the memorabilia that hangs like art on its walls and booming throwback music.

Spend enough hours in the pool hall and you could lose sense of time. That’s by design.

I enlisted Larry Lee, a Sacramento native, to guide me on my next reader-suggested activity on a $25 budget. If his name sounds familiar, he introduced me (and several of you) to South Area Market’s pad Thai.

“The Jointed Cue is a true gem in Sacramento,” he told me. “It’s a storied community gathering space where you can enjoy delicious food and a game of pool with good company, all at a reasonable price.”

“There is even a dedicated tournament room you can play in when it’s not in use for a tournament.”

Founder Terry Stonier opened Jointed Cue Billiards in the late 60s. Over the next several decades, it became a self-proclaimed “mecca for pool on the West Coast.”

In 2018, the billiards joint was hit with a lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act and forced to close its doors. Three years later, Katy and Shan Damani, a couple from the Bay Area who frequented the business, took over ownership and brought it back to life.

The duo has three kids all under 11.

“We just knew and loved the place as a legendary pool room,” Katy said, adding that the billiard reopened up to code in November 2021 with new carpet, updated kitchen appliances and a fresh coat of paint.

“It means a lot to a lot of people and there’s a lot of gratitude in our community ... for the fact that we did not let it die,” she added.

My time at Jointed Cue Billiards in Sacramento

Location: 2375 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento

I’ve completed a list of firsts with your help, but visiting a pool hall without any knowledge of the sport was intimidating. Luckily, my partner was excited to show me the ropes.

“Out of Touch” by ‘80s American pop-rock duo Daryl Hall and John Oates set the tone at the billiards hall on a cloudy Monday afternoon.

An employee greeted us before we were handed a ball set and pointed to an empty table in the back.

A flyer pinned to the counter said singles play for $10.80 per hour and two or more people play for $15.50 per hour.

Then there’s the “legendary” tournament room that Katy said has been left mostly untouched since the ‘80s. There, prices range from $12 to $20. The room, which is behind the main hall, is adorned with four high-end pool tables, stadium seating, past tournament boards and flyers, and photo collages.

“People sometimes come through the pool room who played there in the ‘70s and can find the picture of that on the wall,” Katy told me.

How I spent my $25 budget at Jointed Cue Billiards

The first thing I did was set a timer for one hour to make sure we didn’t go over.

After about 30 minutes of trying my best to shoot pool (but mainly watching others do better), I walked up to the food counter and ordered a cheeseburger because Larry said it was a “must-try.”

Then I remembered what Katy told me.

“The cheeseburger has been known and legendary in the Sacramento area and it started with the founder ... 75% of our clientele come in for cheeseburgers.”

I ordered that for $8.25. No sides.

Menu items, from breakfast platters and burger combos to small bites and salads, are made to order using one grill and one fryer.

My food took about 10 minutes, which felt like no time as I continued to lose. Lawrence Ramirez, an employee at the pool hall, delivered the cheeseburger straight to my table.

The losses (all three) were more bearable as I took the first bite of my burger and realized what the hype was about.

The meat had crispy edges and pickles added a perfect tang. I wished I could’ve eaten a side of fries and had a drink — but I was already busting my budget.

After I finished, I played pool for another 15 minutes before my hour was up.

Is Jointed Cue Billiards affordable?

I shot pool with my partner and ate a burger for just over $25. After taxes and fees, the $26.51 I spent accounted for the most expensive outing I’ve done for this series yet.

More affordable options for food at the pool hall include small bites, ranging from $1.75 lumpia to a $12.50 combo plate. Also available are onion rings, mozzarella sticks, fried mushrooms and jalapeño poppers.

The beer list includes tap, bottled and canned options.

A $100 monthly membership allows customers unlimited pool time and access to play in the tournament room. On Thursdays, ladies play for free.

Thank you for the suggestion, Larry! I crossed playing pool in a legendary pool hall off my list.

Hours: Jointed Cue Billiards is open from 11 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Thursday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday; and 9 a.m. to midnight on Sunday.