On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Breweries, American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Little Italy"Holy crap, they have good ass ahi salad lavash wraps - and they are HUGE! I mean bigger than a chipotle burrito huge. That wrap was worth…" read more »
Loading...
I don't like frequenting franchise type restaurants. Simply because I prefer to support the small guy. We found this place by accident. Our futile attempts to find a cab in Little Italy contributed to our entrance here.
The place has vaulted ceilings and is set up quite nicely. Located right around the corner of the W hotel. Pretty safe area of the city. Our bartender was pretty awesome. I ordered a pint of the Octoberfest. It was smooth with great taste. My second pint was recommended by the bartender. It was a Hef with a hint of banana. Yes, it sounds weird. The taste was great and refeshing. Almost tasted like a semi frothy dessert.
We munched on some Cajun fries. They were cooked and seasoned very well. The bartender also recommended some other spots in the city that we tried the following day. I'd say this is a restaurant to frequent if you're in the San Diego area.
Service = not so great. I was given no napkin or coaster. When I have to ask for these basics, I feel like I'm a nuisance to the staff. Seriously, I do not want beer all over the table. OK, yes this is a pet peeve of mine. But there are stacks of coasters available, so why am I not provided with one when I'm served a drink? What is so hard about this? Also, I ordered the black bean soup, which was a little watery, and given no napkin. So now I am eating my soup, with no napkin, and on table with beer rings. I feel so cheap. Damn, am I in college? Noooo, I'm at a brewery where the minimal level of service is simply not met.
I was here for Monday Night Football and game 5 of the World Series. There aren't a ton of TVs but you can situate yourself in a location to see the game. Oh, also the crowd is 45+.
+++ Ironically, Karl was the brewer at Pabst in Wisconsin before he came to our town. He wanted to show Americans true bavarian wisdom, by way of four ingredients you can drink. Take that, hipsters! History is a real piece of work.
This is the place we decided on going to for our first night of the 9yr celebration fest. We always get upper crust service, and really like their beers. Gus (mgr) actually grew up in Germany, and he is a wealth of information when it comes to beers, lore, and company history. We both love a lot of the choices on the menu, and we always have a hard time picking what we are going to eat. They try (sometimes too hard) to incorporate their beers into a lot of the sauces, dips, and even desserts! It works well for a good portion of the menu.
A must have, if you want to skip the usual brewery fare of burgers and steaks- Black Garlic Fondue. BLACK GARLIC. It is barely describable. A delicious deep plate of soft cheese and all the magic of fondue, and cloves of sweet black garlic. Served with their wonderfully toasted tasty bread. We could have just eaten that. It went very well with their Oktoberfest pints, and the Imperial Amber Lager.
But, you know me, gotta try other foods, and taste them with other beers. Good idea.
Double Barrel IPA yes. Oktoberfest yes. Red Trolley ice cream float, yes! Rye IPA yes. Karl's favorite- Amber Lager, always a great session beer. You want light? The Woodie Gold is a tasty blond, and the Endless Summer Light is SD's lightest without tasting watered down. Great company that was smart to add food to their repertoire. Yummmmmy floats for dessert.
I love this place... They have the best beer around! The food is great as well and Happy Hour is always fun! I live a few blocks away so I always take my gallon jug for a fill to bring home! The staff is always so amazing and kind as well.
Great beer, pretty good fish tacos, and a very nice seared ahi tuna salad. Great service one night, but one afternoon they missed delivering both dishes to the table at the same time by several minutes. The waitress blamed the ordering system, but no compensation was offered and her apology was flat. The other member of my party had to stare at his salad for almost 10 minutes before mine finally made it.
Excellent food, beer, and happy hour
Founded in 1989, Karl Strauss has been serving great beer in San Diego County ever since. The original location on Columbia Street has a wide selection of handcrafted beers and restaurant with a weekly happy hour. Having eaten great bbq across the country, I can definitively say that Karl's bbq ribs are up there with the best of them. For a filling and hearty dinner, try the bbq ribs, Cajun fries, coleslaw, and wash it down with a couple pints of beer.
Service is prompt and friendly.
This downtown location does not have a parking lot, so it is sometimes hard to find a space later in the evening. Try to arrive right after 6pm: all parking meters in the city are free from 6pm-6am and the yellow curbs are also free (except 24 hour yellows).
Karl Strauss Brewery are one of the finest beers in SoCal. In my opinion, they brew some of the best tasting darkest beers. What is the secret for them being so good? Perhaps it's the tap water from the city give it that unique flavor?
I love to come here and check out the seasonal beers. After a few beers, the alcohol content will make you a bit buzzed and forgetful on where you parked your car at.
The food here goes well with the beers. I do enjoy the creamy clam chowder with bacon bites on them. It has a great taste and kick when added just a dab of Tabasco sauce.
This is a great place to go on a sophisticated date, lunch date or even an evening with your buddies. Next time you are here, make sure you take a look at the SD Water Line coming from the front of the building and lined into the crates of brewing beer.
Here they will tell you that they only pasteurised the local tap on hot. Even a waiter admitted that is where they distinguish their taste from the others. So much for golden rockies Colorado spring fresh water!
The fat: Beer and food here are good.
The skinny: Parking situation is not the best!
This is a first...reviewing a restaurant WHILE I'm still there. How's that for technology?
The winds brought me here in search of a new happy hour and, I gotta say, I can see myself coming back for sure.
Their happy hour, from 4-6:30pm Monday through Friday, offers up some of Karl Strauss' better known brews in Red Trolley, Woodie Gold and some of their special releases & seasonals for $3.50 a pint. Considering I had a torrid love affair with Red Trolley in my youth, I smile at the thought of knocking these back on the cheap.
Of course, I'd be a fool to drink on an empty stomach. So, in keeping with my search for the best hot wings in town, I ordered a plate of boneless buffalo wings. Technically they're chicken strips but, all the same, they're still pretty good. The chicken was tender and the sauce was spicy without overpowering the flavor. Not too shabby and definitely worthy of padding my stomach while I imbibe heartily.
This particular locale seems to cater to the locals. I noticed the waitresses saying "hi" to and catching up with the regulars. Remembering your customer by first name is a sure-fire way to bring 'em back and they'll, no doubt, learn mine soon.
Service? Quick with a smile.
Worthy of mention is their music selection. As I drank and typed away at this review, I caught bits of the Smiths, the Kills and MGMT. They get the Edgartronic Seal of Approval here.
Also, if you're like me and find yourself working for the man past quitting time, they've got free wi-fi. Drinking good beer + working = win.
I'm sure I'll find my way back...but on a Thursday when they rock their Cask Night...$3.50 beers 'till they're gone. Be sure to look for me...I'll be sloppily coding away on my MacBook as I swig from a pint glass.
oh karl. our love affair began years ago. you probably didn't know, but that's ok. i met you and your wife (hurmphf!) at a san diego gulls hockey game. but my heart has been broken. when did the Downtown After Dark have to become seasonal? what did i do, why would you hurt me so.
ok, enough lamenting. the downtown after dark is/was the bomb of all beers. but i have never had a bad one.
the food here is right on. great happy hour (think nachos and calamari).
but whatever you do, don't leave without trying the tomato bisque soup. ugh, too good.
r.i.p. karl. i will have one for you!
I wish I didn't even have to give them one star cause they didn't deserve it. My server Joel completely forgot our appetizer. Instead of writing the three things down we wanted to eat, he decided to try and impress us with his memorization skills. Unfortunately, I'm not there to be wowed by your ability [or inability in this case] of memory. Just stop talking and trying to act funny; write down my order and bring it out, your job is not that difficult. They have absolutely no concept of fundamental customer service. Because even after he forgot the appetizer, we got a 'sorry' from him but obviously he never told the manager about his mistake because a manager did not even stop by our table to make amends and try and fix our issue. There was no explanation how it happened. There was no explanation how it would be avoided in the future. Just 'sorry,' 'thanks for coming,' and 'here is your bill.' That's not what I expect from Karl Strauss. That's TGIFridays crap service and I had to vent my frustration somehow.
Another tip for the manager. Stop flirting with your staff and talking to the bartender when customers leave. We are the reason you have a job, the least you could do is turn around and thank us as we leave but now it doesn't matter because I'm never going back and I hope any of you never do.
It was similar to most other brewery's I've been too...
Pretty decent food...my boyfriend had a great steak. My burger was a little dry.
I don't think I'll be back, not because it was bad...just because it wasn't good enough to forgo trying a bunch of new places for the same ol' same ol'
I had the pork chops last night (Monday night, 6-8-09) and was well satisfied. Tasty and served fast.
The dining room at the one in Sorrento is tucked away with a man made swamp, er, I mean, lagoon, but all these people seem to find it. White people mostly. Qualcommunists prolly.
Much better than the food at Gordon Beirsh (sp?), which I won't even honor with a review.
I love this place. I live within walking distance so I frequent it quite a bit.
This past Friday we took some friends and had a great time. Everyone's food was excellent and the beer was good!
I only gave it four because their service is hit and miss. Sometimes it is great and sometimes it is just okay. Like Friday our server disappeared for a long time. We would have ordered another round if she had returned prior to us being done with our food. No worries. We just went somewhere else to keep drinking.
My fiancé and I went here last night for a couple of fresh Red Trolleys (we love those) and ended up eating dinner. The Red Trolleys were the freshest and most delicious I've had since I arrived in SD in June, and the food was great. We thought we loved Henry's on 5th for the atmosphere and good pub food, but Karl's is much better. First off, the outdoor eating area was totally empty and private (surprisingly romantic); secondly, the service was great; and lastly, the food was stellar. I got the seared ahi-tuna salad and my fiancé got a pulled pork BBQ sandwich. We split a cup of chili as well. Absolutely delicious. We can't wait to go back! I'd definitely get the chili and salad again...
My girlfriend and I enjoy hitting this place up from time to time because it is within walking distance....and she loves the mac and cheese! They have a few beers that I enjoy, but I'm not really a huge fan. Currently they have Pin Tail Pale Ale which is really good. Its a nice medium body pale with hoppy/citrus taste. What really keeps me wanting to come back here though is the Cotija avocado turkey burger. It is phenomenal!
The ambiance is not too shabby. I like that it is large enough that there is plenty of seating, but not too big to where you feel like you are in a huge cave. Usually there are sports on the tv's as well so its nice if there is a Padre game on.
For all you beer lovers in San Diego, pour one out for your patron saint of hops and malts, Karl Strauss.
OK, for the longest time, this was the place to get beer in San Diego. In their own way, they started the beer experience in what is becoming the microbrewery capital of the world. Name another city that has as many quality breweries as San Diego??? Buzzzzzz...times up bitch! It doesn't exist.
The restaurant food is OK, the prices are way overpriced for the what you get and the quality of the presentation, but if you are coming here for the food more than the beer, you deserved to be gouged and like it.
I come here for the beer, and always leave pretty happy. Come here for happy hour for $3.50 pints and cheap eats.
If you are coming for lunch, I suggest you take an early one, come at 11:30 to beat the suit rush.
The rundown:
I got the Chopped Salad - average.
I got the Tripel - awesome.
I got treated to lunch and beer - priceless.
I had a HOT date here last night. When I say hot, I mean Sahara in August hot. I mean wrong side of the pillow hot. I mean habanero hot!
Well, I guess it wasn't a date, as much as it was burping, farting, drinking beer and eating buffalo wings with good 'ol Ryan R from the friendly confines of Yelp.
I used to come to this Karl Strauss ALL the time! Mostly, it was because when I was an intern at 91X, I didn't make real money... I was paid in Karl Strauss Monopoly money. Which means, for a week's worth of pouring my blood, sweat and tears into that place... I'd be given $50-$100 worth of gift certificates to Karl Strauss. It might sound kinda janky now, but when you're working part time for minimum wage, and doing a part time internship for free at 18 years old, $50 in play money can go a long way.
This was always my favorite of the Karl Strauss restaurants. Emphasis on WAS... I'm a huuuuuuge fan of the Sorrento Valley location, but this Karl Strauss is still up there with the best.
I don't care what beer snobs say about Karl Strauss being brewed in Michigan. I don't even know if that shits is true. I like the stuff, always have. I suppose because they have quality control over the cleanliness of their lines, they can ensure that every beer poured at their restaurants tastes better than Karl Strauss at any other bar in the city. The beer always tastes better AT Karl Strauss.
Plus, for an establishment that was founded on beer, their food has always exceeded my expectations. This is some of the best "pub grub" around. They're one of the only places I've been to in San Diego that can actually cook a quality portabella mushroom. I've had some terrible portabellas in my day, and there's nothing more disgusting. You can trust the 'shrooms at Karl. The mac 'n cheese has always been pretty good, if you're in the mood to ingest 78,000 calories... and the salads are winners too, if you're looking to eat lite.
Parking can suck ass at this location, so if you're gonna head out for dinner, try to get there RIGHT at 6:00pm. That's when it's legal to park in the yellow commercial loading zone. There is an abnormally large strip of yellow curb located right outside the front door. Try it sometime!
If your not a beer person, well, you should be. Karl Strauss is one of the finest, most consistent brewery's in San Diego. They always have something on tap for everyone's taste buds, from those who just refuse to give up drinking the Bud's of the world to those who truly appreciate a very finely handcrafted micro brew beer. You can never go wrong with the Amber Lager (You have to say it in broken English with a German accent). The food here is always good, even though its the typical brewery food and can be a little pricey. I've been to multiple locations and they all seem to be the same as far as good service and consistency go, I just happen to frequent the downtown one the most. The best thing about Karl Strauss is they are constantly releasing new beers and experimenting.
So I thought I reviewed this place. Came here back in June. Went here after my brother in law was sworn in as a lawyer. Ha. I was sitting with my hubby and daughter and mother in law and her friends. My brother in law had a ton of other friends there. We took up several tables full of people just in time for Happy Hour!
Their happy hours prices are pretty good. My husband and I decided to order several things off the happy hour appetizer menu. We ordered garlic parmesan fries, canjun fries and boneless buffalo wings. Then we shared a meal of a BBQ Cheeseburger. We didn't want anymore fries so we asked to change our side order of fries to garlic mashed potatoes and there was a charge for that which I think is dumb. My daughter got some noodle thing off the kids meal which I think was expensive for the tiny portion she got. At our table we tried what others ordered as appetizers which was the Nachos and Spinach Artichoke dip...I think both of these were on the Happy Hour menu too. And guess what...none of us at our table ordered any beer! Haha.
BUT...my brother in law and his friends ordered enough and drank enough beer for us all. Lol. They said they loved the cheap prices (during happy hour) and quality of the beers there.
All the food we ordered was ok. Both fries were good, but depends on your taste buds. Garlic ones had way too much fresh garlic on them. Canjun ones were a bit salty. But if you do like them, they give you a ton! Boneless buffalo wings...not too good to me. Burger, again I've had better. It was realy bland. The Spinach Artichoke Dip and the Nachos were really good though. Oh and I tasted my mother in laws food which was a Sesame Ahi Steak Sandwich. Not good at all...very bland and tasteless. What my husband did end up loving was one of the sides...the housemade potato chips and the side of garlic mashed potatoes were really good too.
As for service, it was good considering our huge party.
All in all...our experience was ok. Will we be coming back? Probably not unless its with a big group of friends and/or family who choose to come here.
Our December Nights experience basically ended up standing in the beer garden drinking Karl Strauss beer. At some point or another, the husband suggested hitting up one of the restaurants, as they're known for solid food and, of course, beer.
We like beer. We also like not having to cook dinner after an afternoon spent battling crowds of bloodthirsty Christmas zombies. Er... shoppers. Same thing.
The location itself is beautiful - I love the high ceilings, curved to make you feel like you are sitting inside a windowed wooden barrel. The crowd was an odd mix of businessmen drinking away their per diem and eating pasta (every one of them - seriously) and wannabe dbs and db-ettes getting their groove on. Oh and us, of course, who didn't fit in with either category.
Our server was basically apathetic - it's like she was a serve-bot programmed with witty bon mots and comments so responded appropriately, but never managed to shake the overall automaton aura. The food and drinks were delivered quickly and were tasty.
Neither one of us really felt inspired to linger, though, which isn't like us when we go out for dinner. Usually we can sit and drink beer and amuse the heck out of ourselves, but the atmosphere just seemed... I don't know. All the elements for a cool place to hang are there, but they don't mesh together well, maybe?
Anyway - nice place to grab a quick burger n beer; prices are decent; and food is good. Not my favourite place, but the next time a business-dude asks me for a recommendation I know where to send him. He'll feel right at home.
I used to really enjoy Karl Strauss. They've recently raised their prices, and on this past visit we had five different waiters. It took a ridiculous amount of time to get anything (even a beer refill). The food is delicious, the beer is great, and the atmosphere isn't bad. The prices are absurd and the service at this location was poor.
This is a "go to" spot for our small family. It's kid-friendly, especially weekends when the work crowd is gone. The food is great - I usually go for the honey lager chicken salad or the beef dip sandwich. The wait staff are very professional & friendly. They always seem to go out of their way to make sure we're happy with everything. Before we became regulars, one of the manager would almost always stop by and ask if we were enjoying the food and how our waiter/waitress was doing. This is my favorite Karl Strauss & would recommend it to basically anyone.
I love Karl Strauss, for their food and their beers! I'm always tempted to get one of their tasters, but usually end up just ordering a pint.
Their food is always good, and I had one waitress that was so nice and sweet she brought me and my date at the time free dessert because she said we were so cute and nice. Of course we tipped her well that evening.
If you work downtown, this is the perfect place to have a quick lunch. Just to be sure to sit at the bar for quicker service, and for the best view of the television screens.
I wish they would franchise out to other states, but I guess that wouldn't make it a local San Diego favorite anymore. I like it better that way.
I had the club sandwich plate and it was o.k. The beer was good, but I am giving it 2 stars for there crappy customer service. In all fairness I have had decent service there, but it has been crappy more times than not. If you go in a group they will automatically charge you 18% gratutity, which is fine if you get good service, but we did not. It was almost like the server new he was going to get the tip, so he did not care. Forgot items, never came back for refills, etc.....all they usual stuff that makes service crappy.
Came here while my brother was staying at a downtown hotel on business. When I asked where he wanted to eat, he said he didn't care as long as it had beer and we could watch the game. Since this place was just a block or two away, we walked over.
I was happy with my burger and he enjoyed his steak. We both love the garlic fries. The service is friendly, but what I like about this spot is that it's not in the middle of douchebag central. It's amazing what a difference being just a few blocks down the road can make.
It has been a while since I've been to Karl Strauss, and I finally went back this past Saturday night. As usual though, they didn't disapoint. I've now been to 4 of their locations: Sorrento Valley, La Jolla, Carlsbad, and Downtown. Quality control wise, I think their Dowtown location is the best (Although their Sorrento Valley location has a really cool Japanese gardens/pond area). We were a large party of eight, including a couple kids, and they attended to us rather well. I ordered the drunken shrimp with garlic mashed potatoes and spinach, and it was well worth the $18 I paid for the dish. When in Rome, do as the Romans and always order a beer here. My favorite beers at Karl Strauss are the hefenwiezen and the red trolley. You definitely can't get beer this good just anywhere. Most of the dishes on their menu deserve a 3 or 4 star rating. They serve pretty standard brew house American fare: yummy salads, seafood, steak, sandwiches and burgers.Their mac and cheese entree (the adult version!) is a note worthy option as well as their firecracker sirloin strips appetizer. A few years ago I remember ordering up a steak at this joint, it was good. Even the kid's mac and cheese is good. There staff is pretty knowledgeable and can help you pick the right beer to compliment your food. Taken as a whole Karl Strauss is probably one of the best brewery joints in San Diego.
Order the portobello mushroom burger - trust me! The mushroom was soo juicy, it was perfect. It came with homemade baked BBQ potato chips, which were delicious. We also ordered some really tasty garlic fries. :)
A strange thing happened though... a waitress came out with an extra order of garlic fries saying that because our food was going to take a few more minutes, we'd get the extra order for free. Except we had only been waiting for around 15 minutes, and our food came out shortly after the garlic fries. I definitely didn't mind the free fries though!
Oh and I also heard the Red Trolley is really good.
I work a stone's throw from this Karl Strauss, so I end up here frequently on weeknights for dinner or drinks and am quite satisified with both. I love the Heff, unlike a previous reviewer, but it's got a strong and unusual flavor, so I can see why others may not be so into it. I've had the fish and chips several times and it's quite tasty. No, they aren't really chips in the traditional sense, just regular fries, but they're delicious, so I don't mind. I also like the mac & cheese, although it's even more terrible for you than your average mac & cheese, it's tasty. Salads are good too, my coworkers get them all the time.
We've always had good service, so I'm not sure why others have had trouble, but we are there on weekday nights and it tends not to be busy. Waitresses have been friendly and prompt.
Great food, great service, great beer, great wine. Just Great all the way around. I don't live in the area, but next time I am in town I will be going back!
Just give me a half gallon of Munich Dunkel, some garlic fries and boneless hot wings, and you can take my wallet. I'm leaving drunk as a skunk, but my breath can certainly protect me from any vampires in the city.
Good beers and above-average food, but this downtown location is truly hit or miss with service. OK location. A little off the beaten path, but close to the W. It would seem that they would focus a bit more on providing quality service. Instead, this place is adrift.
A gentleman, presumably a floor manager, made his way by our table to give us a perfunctory "how's everything?", and when we replied with a short list of stuff we needed, he seemed genuinely thrown off by the request. As if his question was a rhetorical one, and we were the first to provide an answer. An answer that he was apparently unable to provide on his own, leaving him to go in search of the server who had left us wanting in the first place.
So my boyfriend is on a brewery kick and has decided to scout out and test everyone in San Diego and San Diego County. While he wets his whistle with a sampler and an extra beer or two I'm designated as the driver and end up with soft drink and the food. While I can't speak for the beer first hand I would say it must be good, because we keep going back. The staff is extremely knowledgeable about the beers and is always able to offer suggestions based on your taste. I can speak first hand about the food and I must say it is good. I have had their turkey burger, honey lager chicken salad, crunchy bbq chicken salad and hot pastrami sandwich. I'm willing to eat my way through the menu if he's willing to drink his way through the menu.
I went for appetizers with some new friends, and I was not disappointed.
All the appetizers we ordered were delicious, and some were particularly hearty. The Ahi Poke was bright and fresh. The Firecracker Sirloin Strips was tender and spicy without being unbearable. The Nacho Stack came in a gigantic plate full of huge tortilla strips and fillings - it was enough for the three of us alone.
The beer was also good - Amber Lager was flavorful without any bitterness.
The service can get a bit absent-minded, which might be the only detraction I noticed. Definitely worth a trip back to try out their entrees.
This is literary next door to W hotel. Very convenient and good food especially for hungry crowds. It's not much of a view comparing to the one on Mira Mesa with a Japanese garden. It's smaller comparing to other Karl Strauss.
I had their special Pin Tail Pale Ale for 4th of July with tilapia pasta. Very tasty and satisfying.
Service was awesome. Our wait patron was quick at picking up those straw wrappers.
We went here after a disappointing time at the neighboring spa. I had only been to the Karl Strauss is Sorrento, so I was looking forward to coming to this location. I don't drink beer (sorry!) so I can't comment on their beers, I hear they are good though! I ordered a Turkey Bleus Burger which I must say was very tasty. I've had many a turkey burger and usually it's bland and dry. This was very flavorful and juicy, I loved it. I paired it with their garlic-parmesan fries which were great as well, since I don't eat cole slaw. Our server was nice and accomodating, even when we made her give us 5 separate checks...great place to get together with friends!
Good ambiance. Expensive food. Expensive beer. come here during the week when it's not packed. My fave is the KS Amber Lager. avoid the Heff.
A hidden gem in downtown/little italy.
I'd give this place a solid 3.5 if I could.
I wasn't feeling particularly hungry, so I ordered an appetizer and a soup in lieu of an entree, which was a good idea in concept. I very very very much enjoyed the tomato bisque soup that was served. It was hot and creamy, and all sorts of delicious. The bread that came with was also very good. Crusty, but not tough. The tomato bisque is a very good idea here :)
The appetizer I ordered? Not so much. I ordered fish tacos, and frankly, they were a little gross. Mushy tortillas. More pickled onion than I had ever hoped to see in my life. Grilled fish the size of guppies. Taco disaster! Never ever ordering that again.
The good news is that I did eye a rather appetizing-looking seared ahi tuna sandwich on my friend's plate that I will most likely be ordering myself in the future.
The Stargazer IPA didn't impress me too much. The Red Trolley Ale did better. The Windansea Wheat Hefeweizen was heavenly. I also liked the super super dark one that was slightly reminiscent of black coffee, but the name eludes me.
Edible food, great soup, and awesome beer, all in the company of my amazing friends. Life doesn't get much better than that.
Eh, I could take this place or leave it. I've been here a handful of times, and the salads-in a word-major disappointment. The service is hit or miss. I guess if you're into beer this is a good place for you, but as far as food, it's honestly not that great.
Even though I'm not a huge fan of micro-brews, this place has got some great ones. I like the Woodie and the Stargazer I.P.A., depending on how buzzed I want to get.
But...
I always head over for the food 1st, beer 2nd. Starting with:
Firecracker Sirloin Strips; These things are amazing! They definitely have some kick, which the beer seems to ignite!
Then it depends on the season. Summer time I go with the Seared Ahi Salad. Those won-ton's and dressing make it fantastic! Winter time, you've got to go with the Beer-Brined Pork Chops. Ain't nothing like some good chops and mashers!
If you happen to be by late on Saturday, they do $2 pints after 10...or is it 11? I can never seem to remember!
Hadn't been here for awhile. Went to drown our sorrows after Padres opening day against the Dodgers. Sad.
G had heard that the beer recipes had changed after dear old Karl went to the brewery in the sky. Wow, I think it might be true. A really good new IPA and a Double IPA! WOW! I love bitter beer. I am so happy. We just ordered burgers and beers. After chatting and sipping for awhile, the manager came over to apologise for the wait on our food and told us it was comped! Huh? We hadn't even noticed the wait.
When the food came it was mixed. I am a fry connoisseur and at most places will not even order them. These were great. Thin, light, crispy and delicious. Way to go. My veg burger was another story. Piled high with sauteed mushrooms it looked fantastic, but one bite and my mouth was rendered desert dry by the bun. Had to order mayo and apply liberally. I don't know if it was stale or that was the normal situation but it was a bad bun. After the mayoification it improved markedly.
G had a regular burger and was a happy little camper because they asked how he liked it and they delivered on the rare side of medium rare. A lot of restaurants are so scared of e coli that they won't cook burgers less than medium to medium well, so this was a pleasant surprise.
In the end, two burgers and three beers came out to $18 since they comped the food. Deal of the day since two beers at the ball park were $17. We went away full and happy.
50% Off All Drinks & Apps…
Neighborhood: Gaslamp
$25 Prix Fixe Menu
Neighborhood: Gaslamp
San Diego, CA
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: La Jolla
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Mira Mesa
Category: Venues & Event Spaces
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Tours
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Category: Burgers
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
damn you fried egg, i will stun you with my salt…
SD has become well established as a beer-drinker's…
Here are the places that are close to perfect in…
This is where you can find me when I'm hanging out…
We recently celebrated our nuptial bliss of 9…
Flew from the Bay Area to visit my brother in San…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
