Great place for beer, hang out, and watch some sports. So far I haven't tried many things on their menu. I've tried the crispy wings (bone-in) and I didn't like it. The boneless ones were better but still didn't like it since it is they use the same hot sauce. I dislike the hot sauce it is salty and sour. I prefer spicy and a little bit of sweetness. Boneless was better and the crispy wings just tasted like it's been re-fried. You cannot go wrong with the cajun burger and the strips&chips (chicken strips and your choice of fries.) Cajun burger has a nice chipotle aioli sauce which I also request for my strips & chips as my dipping sauce. Chicken strips are crunchy on the outside. If you are a vegetarian and like beer but not the pub like food they have salad options. I do get confused when the cobb and pub salad says mixed greens when they don't serve mixed greens (arugula and spinach etc.) it is just a mix of different type of lettuce. Not the usual mixed greens I guess.
(5)
Angelo D.
On a cold Friday evening I was craving crappy bar food and beer. So what? Sue me. My girlfriend suggested The Hopyard, having gone there a few times for company happy hours. Crappy bar food and beer is what I was craving, crappy bar food and beer is what I was promised, but I have to say I was surprised by my generous portion of beer with a side of pretty decent bar food. You could say I came into it with low expectations, but the food was not half bad, the service was great regardless of how busy it was, and they had a sizable selection of beers. All in all, exactly what I was hoping for.
(4)
Loni A.
I only gave this a 4 star because they do not have a good selection of pub grub, but they do have a great beer selection. The service was great and was very fast. My favorite is their hot wings, crab sandwich, and the Parmesan garlic fries.
(4)
William S.
Here is the deal...great place, plenty of beer, great food, nice atmosphere especially outside. The sweet potatoe fries are excellent, as was the salad. The service was prompt, and correct. Prices were average for the area, not exhorbitant, but not inexpensive either. I would definately return. It was more casual than not.
(4)
evan a.
Beer selection: great. They have Pliny. Nuff said. Food: Great burgers, great fries, coleslaw very good. Can't say much about the other options, because I only ever get the burger. Service: Hit or miss. Usually it's fine, but the wait staff needs a little help with the attitude. When half the patio is wide open, don't make people wait. Set a new table. Scene: Families and sports bar crowd. The bar is clique-y. Not a place you can really start a conversation because the people at the bar show up with friends and then stay glued to the game on TV. Bathroom: Yikes. Hope you don't have to sit down.
(3)
Christina B.
Omg! Just left the Hopyard completely baffled! My family and I were eating dinner. Noticed several of the televisions were tuned into soccer games and one into an SF Giants game, two into the Yankees and Red Sox game. We politely asked if one television could be turned to the Oakland A's game. Could not believe it when our waiter came back and said, "I pled my case and the bartender would not change any of the stations to the A's." What??! Out of 12 or more televisions, they refused to turn one to an Oakland A's game? I've never heard of such terrible customer service! A customer asks for one out of twelve televisions to be changed and they're refused! It will be a looong time before we go back to the Hopyard. We don't care how good their beer is! We'll stick with traveling to the Alehouse in Livermore, which actually accommodates the customer, not the bartender.
(1)
Jaime O.
such a variety of craft beers. Must visit.
(5)
Max K.
I attended a business mixer here given quarterly by one of our National Distribution partners. So I can't knock it too badly. If I were a sophomore or junior in college, I'm sure I would love this place. About 30 different ales and pilsners on tap. The appetizers were pedestrian at best. I'm sure the bar food deserves another chance. The burgers I hear are pretty decent. Sadly, I don't drink much anymore and 1/2 down the 580 back to Oakland I sniffed my shirtsleeve which was now Thomas Pink a la Au De Fryer Oil.
(2)
Niall M.
Ah, it is OK. I had been here quite a few years ago, I remembered it as being good and we were in the neighborhood so stopped in. Of course, first we checked the beer menu. If you are an IPA fanatic, this is your place. They have TEN of them. That is fine by me but Judit has her preferences and they have Anchor steam on tap so she was happy. Still, I would have liked to see more variety. They have one stout (Moylans) which must have been chosen by someone who does not like stout. When it comes to the food, we can only comment on the fish and chips. Not bad but not great either. Service was decent, not great. Ah, it is OK
(3)
Bryce P.
Friendly staff great beer I had a quesadilla it wasnt very good but I saw what other people ordered and it all looked really good! If only they sold liquor though...
(5)
Larissa T.
This place is great! The hubby was in search of Pliny the Elder on tap locally and they had it!! 4 stars just for that. The atmosphere is laid back and unpretentious. We didn't experience bad service as other reviewers had mentioned. Our server Veronica was friendly, fast and she always checked in with us to see if we were doing ok. I had the pork nachos, yummy, the Sierra Madre Burger, yummy, cheese fries, yummy, Black Velvet Beer and my night is complete! The End, can't wait to go back.
(4)
Denise C.
This place is solid. They had a decent craft beer selection, and we were able to choose from a couple of different IPAs. Unfortunately, they were out of our first choice, Pliny. Tends to happen at a lot of places though. The food was typical American style bar food. Everybody liked their meal, and we left full. The garlic parm fries were delicious. My chicken wrap was good. Other orders at our table were the burger - rated good, and the wings - which got a good rating too. Not gourmet food, but I didn't expect it to be.
(3)
Sean I.
Good food, and accommodating for a lunch time business meeting. I called the restaurant as I was trying to find a place where I could seat 12 people for an 11 am business lunch in which we had to be out of there by 12 to make a plane. The GM assured me it would be doable and he would make it happen. Worked out great, all the food came out in a timely manner and everyone made their flight. I'll add this place to my list of places that I take customers for lunch. The place was getting loud by the time we left, so it may be better to do earlier or later than 12 for a business meeting that isn't casual.
(5)
Fabrice H.
We live in Castro Valley and were craving for a good, quality burger - not a step-up from In-And-Out or Nation's, a really decadent. creative burger with fresh ingredients. After wandering around quaint downtown Pleasanton and finding mostly wannabe fancy Italian restaurants (this should be an oxymoron), we ended up at the Hopyard Alehouse. While not a big fan of sports bars myself, I had a very, very satisfying burger experience. just what the Doctor ordered. And their hard apple cider was dynamite too. Of course, if you're into beer (which sadly I am not), you've come to the right place, I am sure. Solid service, fast in spite of the Friday night crowd, and again, an excellent burger selection.
(5)
Ami P.
I live around the corner and enjoy this place as a general rule. Today I called in for take away for the first time and was very disappointed. First, the price for a burger was $3.00 more than the online menu listed. Second, sweet potato fries were $1.00 more than regular, which is fine. Only there were only about 15 in the box, compared to three times as much of the other fries for my companion. Lastly, both burgers were ordered medium, but were well done. Perhaps they don't care since you won't be dining in, but that's a mistake... especially in the age of Yelp ;-)
(2)
John Y.
Come here for the large selection of beer or the sports on the TV. That's it. But, you can get that at home very easily. Not much else to get me to come here after my 3rd and hopefully a redemption visit. My prior visits were all quite blah. Every now & then, I come back here to see if maybe I just experienced a bad night. No problems there-everyone/every place has them. But, I just can't seem to like this place no matter how hard I try. There really isn't much to make this place stand out or to compensate for the price of the food/drinks etc. The restaurant itself is o.k. but everything, tables, chairs etc are all very dated. Hard wood tables and chairs-not very comfortable at all. Service was o.k. My particular server didn't seem to know the beer selection very well or was fairly new-that's o.k. though. Can't fault someone for being new, but for a place that is a brewery, I would expect a little more. Beer-Samples cost .25? Come on! You guys spill more beer than the amount that you give out on samples. Maybe it's become common practice. IMHO, a 'sample' would be something that would be considered part of doing business and part of customer service...you know, keeping customers happy and coming back for more? The food was quite pathetic. How hard is it to get fried chicken or mashed potatoes right? Tasted like frozen food. Honestly, KFC or Popeye's would be better. The french fries? Ugh. Just odd that this place has survived until now. Hopefully, writing this review will help me to remember what a horrible experience I keep having here and I won't come back.
(1)
Greg H.
Enjoyed some fine STONE IPA with some friends last night at the Hopyard. Service was great, food a little bland.
(3)
Shawnacy N.
Great place to hang, get a good beer and a burger. Bar tending staff are great too... Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Ying W.
I like this place a lot, the fact that they have Pliny the elder on tap keeps me coming back. Plus they have a lot of other great beers on tap, although the brewers night seems to be better at the San Ramon location. Food is good, not amazing but it's above average for pub grub. This would be my favorite bar in DP (that's dublin pleasanton for all you perverts who think like me out there) if last call wasn't at like 9:30 pm!! I mean, First street ale house in Livermore is open until midnight! Come on, you can at keep the bar open and the kitchen closed if you want to clean up early!
(4)
Travis T.
Holy beer selection. I've been to Ale houses where there's more on tap, but just like my women, it's quality over quantity. Unfortunately I came for the food since I was on my lunch break. I ordered the Sierra Madre burger. This comes with bacon, cheddar, and avocado on it. and OMG it was heavenly......one of the best burgers I have had in the Bay Area since I moved here almost 6 years ago. I ordered it Medium Rare, which in the Bay means Med Well, but this one was actually cooked correctly. Each bite was juicy. The only thing giving The Alehouse a 4 instead of a 5 was that I felt like I was at the kids table while sitting at the bar counter. It was at a good height, had I been standing, but since I was sitting, It was a little to far up there.
(4)
Cherie T.
This is my stress-feel good-comfort food spot for sure. The garlic fries are out of control amazing! Add a Sierra Madre burger to that and your in pub food heaven. They offer outdoor seating which is very nice as well. Overall, one of my fav spots to eat in San Ramon.
(4)
Brandon A.
Very impressed with The Hopyard. Our waitress was very knowledgeable about the beers and described them perfectly before I ordered. The food is really greasy and you can't eat too much of it but what can you expect from an American Grill. Its good food, just not so much my style. Wish they had a better wine selection. Really cool that they let you sample beers before buying one. Great servers/bartenders. Awesome place. I had so much fun I think I felt the right side of my body going numb....or maybe that was just a stroke...
(4)
Drew B.
Bus Trip stopped here for Lunch. They gave us a nice large sideroom. One waitress for 30 people was inadequate. They had Pline the Elder on Tap so that's always a win but $6.75 put it past the friendly zone. Founders Burger was lacking, heft and bacon. It was served with 11 fries. Weak. I would reccomend the bus stop somewher else next time.
(3)
Alie Z.
I love the hopyard in San Ramon but the pleasanton location just isnt up to par. When we went here for dinner the other night it took us about 25 minutes to get our first drink and the waiter forgot one when he did finally bring them out. I almost went up to the bar to ask for a second round because our waiter was completely ignoring us. I guess i would understand if they were really busy but there wasnt even that many people there.My boyfriend made his own turkey burger and asked for a lettuce wrap instead of a bun and no fries. Somehow that substitution means you have to pay $15 for a plain burger. When it came time to pay, the waiter charged us for a beer flight that we never even ordered but we almost paid for it just because it took forever to get it taken off our bill. I probably wont be going back to this location. The decor could use a little updating as well...
(2)
Candice B.
Came here with the girls for a long awaited Sunday Funday.. I had the creamy tomato soup, which was good. But what all the girls were talking about was the crab sandwich. They said it was the best they ever had, crab was good and tasted even better with the avocado. I didn't get to try it, but they made it look really good so if I ever go back I will have to order that. There's a bar and plenty of tvs to watch all types of games.
(3)
Rich Cha K.
Couldn't get past the starters to even order dinner. Was not good at all. Closed out our bill and went next door to Sato Sushi for dinner. Also we ordered a pitcher of beer and it was $25 dollars I believe. We were shocked at the price and that the waitress did not inform us before we ordered it. It was the only beer that did not have a price on the menu and thought it would cost the same as the rest. Apparently it was the most expensive beer on the menu. Would not come again.
(1)
B B.
The Hopyard American Alehouse and Grill has to have some of the worst customer service EVER. I called about scheduling a group party since they have a banquet room. The girl on the phone said they have a banquet room that I can schedule. Well they were "busy" when I called so the girl on the phone asked that I leave my name and number (as she was rushing me off the phone). So I left my information. A week goes by and I have not heard anything... So I call yesterday and they say the banquet room is now booked and has been for two weeks... Ok either someone lied to me or not every emplyee has been informed that the room was booked when I asked over a week ago. So the girl manage says to me "well I believe we can put your party up against the wall." I said ok that would be fine. She says she needs to check with another manager... ok... Male manager picks up the phone and says we CAN'T accomodate you." WOW. You guys need to learn to call customers back when you take a message and you need to call them back that day or the next day. Not the next week or NOT at all.. Really shitty service. I am sincerely disappointed in the Hopyard. I'll just go ahead and eat at the Ale House in the future because no matter how busy they are, they are able to ACCOMMODATE me and friends.
(2)
Dave F.
pretty dead for what used to be a "happening place". Happy hour is quiet, the selection of food and wine is limited, but the ambiance and menu are "tired" and the place has a "suburbia feel". (Maybe, that's because it's in the heart of the suburbs. On the positive side, there is an excellent selection of beers----and, service was good
(2)
Megan V.
The husband loves the selection of beers at both Hopyard locations, and of course we had to go last weekend to get Pliny the Younger (he normally gets Pliny the Elder). I'm not a beer drinker so I wish they had a slightly more diverse choice of wines, but water still works for me. The food is generally fine - not horrible, but nothing memorable either. Three and a half stars overall.
(3)
glenn w.
I have been going to the Hopyard since it opened. I usually like the food, I always like the beer selection, but I just can't get past the service. It's really bad. The server seemed to be friendly when you get there, then forget it. The sandwitch I ordered was a Adobo Pork something, I couldn't eat it! I was really hungry and had no time to tell the manager that he should pull the sandwitch from the menu. It was like 1/8 of an inch thick of dry leather, with a sliver of avacado. Please! There are pleanty of other really good brew pubs in the area! Don't bother with this one...I'm done!!!!!!!
(1)
Eric D.
Outstanding selection of brews!
(5)
Bill H.
What should be a booming business - ala 1st St Ale House in Livermore - limps along because of poor food, high prices, and hit and miss service. The beer selection is good - they seem to have solid connections to breweries such as Russian River. But the pint price is high - $4.75 - 5.75 for baseline beers. Higher for low volume brews. But the beer isn't the problem. Last night I ordered a Caesar salad with blackened chicken. It came with plain chicken. When I got it back they had taken the same chicken and dusted it with seasoning and heated it. Worse they laid a steaming whole piece of chicken onto the salad wilting the lettuce and melting the cheese below it. I set it on a napkin to cool and the server really didn't care when I told her what was happening. I won't even talk to the lady that ususally manages the place because she just gets an attitude and does nothing. I've tried this place a few times hoping it was an anomaly but no, the food and the service remain below par. Time to take my money elsewhere.
(2)
Sarah L.
Valerie P.'s experience must have been a fluke, because I had an excellent experience recently at the Hopyard with Jennifer. I used to visit the grill when I was in high school, though I think it might have gone by another name at the time (age is taking its toll on my brain). I recently stopped in for a meal and some memories with old friends and had Jennifer as a server. The sierra madre burger with sweet potato fries that I ordered came out quickly, and cooked perfectly to my specification (my cow was mooing). Jennifer was full of smiles as she provided extremely quick service to our table. She even helped me choose my beer when I was overwhelmed by the selection. We were honestly so please with her service that we bumped up the tip to 20%. I'll be coming back around next time I'm in town.
(4)
Michelle M.
Nice afternoon, the patio is awesome.
(5)
Jenn H.
Excellent beer menu!
(4)
Ralph C.
Been a fan since 2010. One of my favorite IPA selections in the Bay Area. And decent pub food-my recommendation in the winter the black bean chili should be a daily item.
(4)
James C.
This place is great. The atmosphere is very comfortable and the staff is really friendly and laid back. The beer selection is seriously endless and the root beer is amazing. The beer food is good ...not great. The fries and wings are good and so are the nachos and chicken tenders, but the burgers need attention. Too much bun. The salads are delicious especially the chicken salad. Overall, very happy with this place. Needs slightly better chow and they would be a five starer.
(4)
Stephanie H.
A favorite local bar/restaurant. Love the selection of beers and the all around family and/or singles appeal. We come here after a Saturday morning game of Ultimate playing or just recently, St. Patrick's Day. You will never go wrong if you come here to see some funny eye candy. Local Pleasantries, as I like to call them, can be so entertaining. Garlic fries. get the garlic fries to start. Topped with mounds of garlic, and served with ranch, I could eat just this with a Smithwick's and be satisfied with content. burgers and pub grub good, service, friendly and down to earth. What I like best is the outside patio area that is packed with people. huge outside area that frankly I would eat at every time. No use in eating inside if it's hot and the sun shines perfectly above over the porch awnings.
(4)
Patrick D.
Excellent place for good beer and good food! I could explain in more detail, but why waste your time? Go check it out for yourself!
(5)
Jon T.
Good selection of beer. I don't recall the food though. A bit tucked away in a business park.
(4)
Joe L.
I just moved to town and love this place. Great beers, food and the best for watching a game or three. My favorite!
(4)
Carmen T.
I enjoy going to Hopyard for the past several years. Great place. The food quality has been declining....they need to re do the menu and improve the quality. For beer...you can not go wrong.
(3)
Matt R.
Honestly I wish there was a 3.5 star rating for this one. I feel like i am betraying them a little bit with the 3 star, but the fact is you go here for the beer and not necessarily the grub. The beer selection rotates often with many different varieties on tap. Food is ok, nothing too spectacular. Sierra madre burger is a solid choice, as is the cajun popcorn chicken salad. Best decision i made here: To join the beer club (gets you trying new beers you possibly wouldn't otherwise and has rewards at 30 beer intervals) Worst decision i made here: opting for the refied beans as a side with the quesadilla (NOT good: seemed like they emptied a can straight into a little cup, however i have been recently informed that they are homemade) Come on Tuesday night for pint night, they feature a special brewery once a week and you can pay 1.00 extra to keep that brewery's pint glass. Ok, i guess i have talked myself into the 4 star rating.
(4)
Brian W.
A great selection of beers and good food. Nice outdoor patio. Tried a BBQ bacon cheeseburger. Really good. Others had fish and chips, and had good comments. Service was friendly and helpful.
(4)
S K.
Loved their burger. A friend who lives in Pleasanton took me here for a lunch today, and it was a nice surprise~ The burger was well cooked and so was the bun. Fries were just right. Next time I am up there, will definately stop by again~
(4)
James N.
On the warm evening, we chose to sit outside. The outdoor seating was quite comfortable during the evening. The menu consist of mainly greasy food definitely food that goes well with beer since the Hop Yard has a lot of brews of beer including their own microbrew. I scanned the beer menu for my own favorite beer, Grolsch, but sadly they didn't have it. However, they did have a fairly large selection of beer. Including Trumer Pils, had some from the Elite Yelp Event @ Five, Berkeley. The whole evening was quite casual, even the gal who served up our food asked about my camera. I always love talking about photography, so the discussion was more than welcoming. I took a couple shots of our dishes then went onto enjoy our dishes. Since I had some greasy food during lunch already. I opted for something that seems a little more healthy. I went for the Mango Chipotle Salmon, There's not much on the presentation of the dish. The salmon was pretty good, the mash potatoes wasn't anything special, and the Broccoli were not bad. But I can tell this dish isn't ordered as frequent. We also have ordered the Hop Yard Fries garlic and parmesans cheese to share. Wow this fries were really strong. If you are eating the salmon, I recommend fries should be moved away from the nose. Smell of the fries and the salmon doesn't mix well at all. The fries and the salmon were great individually but their scent doesn't. Looking over at my table my friend's Grilled Crab Sandwich looks the most tastiest. The sandwich also came with fries on the side. His own review of the sandwich was positive, the side fries was slightly powder with some chili powder was also met with positive review. ------ + Pro: Great place for beer! - Con: Menu is full of greasy food. ( ^_^) Overall: A awesome place to get your drink on.
(4)
Monika C.
Facts: 1. I waited 47 minutes (literally) from the time I ordered to get my food. 2. There was a party of ten people in addition to 8 other people in the establishment. 3. My food (a turkey burger and vegetables) was actually cold. 4. I sent the VEGETABLES back and got sweet potato fries which were BY FAR the best thing this place had to offer. 5. My waitress was a gal named Christina. 6. I paid $50 for this crappy experience. 7. I will never return. Highlights: 1. The alcohol (can't screw that up) and the sweet potato fries.
(1)
Rob G.
Location: off of Hopyard/Valley - in the shopping center across the street from the CVS. The location is great, especially in summer with a huge outside patio. The restaurant is also bigger than the San Ramon location, but bigger isn't always better. My friends and I are Tuesday Brew Night regulars. We used to flip flop between San Ramon and Pleasanton locations based on the brew of the week, but are sticking to the San Ramon location due to the service - which is far better. Several times we've ordered a round of the same brew, but then got a mix of different brews when served. We're there to drink, so we pound the beer anyways and try another round, but servers aren't as friendly as they are in San Ramon - no small talk. We'll probably chance it again based on the brew, but that's the only saving grace for us at this point. -r
(2)
Jennifer L.
Great food, even better beer selection, but the staff is the BEST! From the cooks to the host(esses), you're guaranteed to have a friendly experience. Recommendations: sweet potato fries, crab sandwich, queso rolls (when they have them), tortilla soup, Pliny the Elder, Kona Longboard, and the Knee Deep Tanilla Porter (when they have it).
(5)
Caitlin M.
I came here last weekend with my boyfriend. I like beer, I like bar food, and we were in the area and hungry so we thought we would give it a try. I have mixed feelings about this place. We got the crab cake appetizer and a basket of garlic fries, both were quite yummy. The crab cakes were drizzled with a chipotle mango sauce and the fries were not at all lacking garlic, both delicious! The service was iffy, the hostess was extremely rude and acted like we were bothering her when we came in and asked for a table for 2. Our waitress was OK, I had to ask 3 times for a glass of water before I ever got one and it was never refilled when it was empty. AND the worst part of our meal... my beer wasn't cold! That's a crime to me, I am at an "ale house" and you bring me a beer that's just below room temperature, uhmmmm yuck! Another thing that bothered me is the constant vacuuming. While we were eating there was an employee moving all the tables and chairs around us and vacuuming. I came here to have a nice relaxing lunch time snack with my boyfriend and instead got musical chairs with a side of vacuuming. Very irritating! From now on I will stick with The First Street Ale House in Livermore.
(2)
Kimmie M.
This place rocks, love the outdoor patio. It's super spacious, compared to Livermore's alehouse whose patio you often wait a long time for an opening. Wish the location was better, it's sort of in this dead little shopping plaza. It would do great in a downtown location. Grabbed the fish taco special, my sister got a grilled crab sammy. Tacos were pretty bomb but I wish I got her crab sandwich. Also got some deviled eggs appetizers. Haven't seen that on a menu anywhere before, and I love deviled eggs, but these weren't as good as homemade ones, so I was a bit disappointed. All in all, solid food, solid beer, solid service.
(3)
Kurt O.
The food was disappointing. The soup-of-the-day was tepid. It arrived in a promisingly large bowl, but the bowl was so shallow, you could rest your spoon on its bottom and see the rim of the spoon standing proud the soup. The meal-sized salad was saturated with dressing. The salmon dinner was OK. The beer selection is extensive and the servers were eager to please. So skip the pub grub and enjoy the meal-in-a-glass stout.
(2)
Jared M.
Bacon burger was bomb as heck, fries tasted dope and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. The staff was friendly too. Plus the food had a great value, it wasn't a ripoff for the portion I got.
(5)
Todd C.
Ran lots of errands today so I thought I'd treat myself to lunch somewhere I hadn't been before. I remembered that many Yelpers gave good/great ratings here so I trekked across the freeway for the Alehouse! Glad I did, because I like real beer and this place definately likes it too. It was an uncrowded bar inside, with most people sitting outside but I wanted to get a chance to see how the bartenders were - and Keith was on top of things, with lots of tips and friendly answers to all my questions. I had the nachos, without meat/chili, and it was a huge portion, easily enough to share and still fill me up. Very tasty....yes nachos are easy to make but it's surprising how many places screw them up regardless. Anyway, the two beers I had were both high grav, one an Imperial Stout and another something called Pliny the Elder. Well let me tell you, they were delicious and very strong indeed. These were really worth the trip! Someone else's review summed it up very well I think: Great beer selection and unpretentious American pub-style food. I'll go again and try a veggie burger with fixings and if my opinion changes I'll reply here. I'm not so crazy about what sounds like frat-night chugging contests? Keith the bartender said it was Tuesdays after 5pm, like a beer club sort of thing where one buys a glass/mug and gets refills for a discount. They do raffle off t-shirts and beer and such....
(4)
Lisa L.
worst meal of all time!! i literally wrote the server a note on a napkin telling her though (not her fault) the food was downright disgusting. we'll never go back! i guess if you want to have a beer and watch a game this would be the place but the food is just BAD
(1)
Brad D.
***Lunch Review*** Went with the team for lunch, nice atmosphere and pretty good food. Had a salad and it was a decent size and followed directions pretty well. Our only snafu was some of the other lunches came out missing parts and pieces that we had to ask for. They felt a little under staffed but but over all not bad.
(3)
Lauren A.
If you feel like clogging your arteries, this is definitely the place to do it...trust me. Their strips and chips with cheese fries make me actually want a heart attack. Let's get serious. I love this place. I've been going there for years, and although I have been banned by the waiter with the tattoo on his wrist (who gets a tattoo there anyways?), I continue to go back incognito. I can't help myself............I just need a Hopyard Burger every once in a while. GO there. Just don't order anything healthy or you'll regret it. But please...go to the gym after. I don't want to promote this obesity epidemic more than it already is.
(5)
jack q.
4 stars for the beer and burgers, 0 stars for the rest of the food. Great selection of tasty brews and quality char-grilled burgers, but everything else we've had there truly sucked. It seems like they had to go out of their way to make the food taste horrid. Most of it looked okay, but was either very bland or had some kind of nausea-inducing chemical mixture that was supposed to be "dressing" or "sauce". "You'll just love our radioactive ammonia-409 salad dressing; it's our house specialty!" I think not. I'd rather lick the gutter. But give me a cheeseburger and a few beers and everything's alright with the world. The service can be spotty, too. Seems to depend on some random force rather than the server, because we've had great and lousy service from the same person and it didn't seem to matter if they were busy or not.
(2)
Herb H.
I love this place. The food and the beer are on point! Their garlic fries are to die for and the BBQ chicken salad is hands down the best one I have ever had! Cool atmosphere and the food always comes out quick! Tons of beer on tap too. Did I say I love this place yet?
(5)
Michael B.
OK I've been around the block a few times in these beer houses. 5 stars may be a bit much but 4 stars didn't seem like enough. The food was very good. My daughter got the Sierra Madre Burger and said it was the best burger she has ever had. She let me have a bite and I do believe it is in the top 5 you'll ever have. The staff was great. Quick to accommodate and friendly. Our server seemed like he had dealt with difficult patron's (like my mother-in-law) before. He listened to her concerns, ran to the kitchen and came back with samples. He must be a psychology student because he seemed to know exactly how to handle any situation that came up. For this reason alone I give this place 5 stars. And the great beer selection doesn't hurt either. It is not 5 star dining but it is everything you want when going out to an Alehouse with the family.
(5)
Sadie G.
This place is a fun place to go w/ friends. The servers have been friendly every time we have gone. Not an awesome vegetarian selection, but the garden veggie sandwich is super good (oh no! I almost wrote "supes good"!), and the nachos are tasty. Cory says they have a "better than average" beer selection and they let you tastes a beer in a cute little taster cup if you want to try before you buy. I say yes to The Hopyard when in Pleasanton (and I don't even drink beer).
(4)
Meghan R.
This place has a nice porch and is a nice place to just sit, drink a beer, and hang out with your buddies, but the food is nothing special. It's ok. The service, too, is nothing special, but adequate.
(3)
Tyrone V.
If you're looking for beer, this is the place to go. Their domestic beer list is extensive, with a number of lesser-known "eclectic" beers, ranging from lagers to stouts. It's a bar and grill through n' through, with the bar being the main focus of the restaurant. The seating area is rather wide-open, such that they could have placed a few more tables in there to make the place feel a bit less empty.... The food is your run-of-the-mill bar food. You've got your fries and burgers, salads, and soups. The burgers aren't bad, albeit somewhat on the dry side. I also tried the patty melt, and the rye bread is a bit overwhelming, masking the taste of what would have been an otherwise tasty patty melt. The cajun chicken sandwich is uninspiring; I could have mistaken it for a spicy chicken sandwich at a fast food restaurant. Besides the food, the service is quick and you won't be left with a long wait for your beer or food... I don't know of very many alehouse/grill-type places in the tri-valley, so this place wll do for now, especially if you don't want to drive across the bridge to eat at BJ's...
(3)
Ed H.
Service was good. We did not try the beer, but I hear the beer is good. We ordered a couple the Grilled Crab Sandwich and the Beef Brisket Dip. Both were lacking flavor and the Garlic Parmesan Fries were not that good either. I fet it was overpriced considering the lack of flavor i the food.
(2)
Neal B.
We always have a great time at this place. Good food, great beer, and friendly staff. Jen is our fav waitress - sit in her section if you can. Tuesday nights are brewery nights and are a total blast!
(4)
Matt A.
Best beer list in Pleasanton. The food rocks too. Tuesday night is pint night featuring beers from a single brewery.
(5)
Rich M.
Good pub grub. Decent to slightly lacking craft beer selection. Looks like they do rotating taps. Good spot for a post work oat soda.
(3)
Christina C.
Came here after a 7 hour death hike so we were STARVING!! A friend was raving about this great burger joint. So... after burning so many calories in the mountains, BRING IT ON! One of us ordered some clam chowder for an appetizer. I had a taste and it was aweful - totally bland! Even Campbell's does better than that. But they aren't known for chowder so I let it slide. We also ordered mini corn dogs and they were very yummy. Came out piping hot and the breading was soft. It is served with some mustard sauce, but I prefer ketchup. Decided on the Sierra Madre burger and it was meh... and I was HUNGRY. So I will not be coming back. Even if it was worth 3 stars, it would still be too far for me to come back. They do, however, have a great selection of beer.
(2)
Denise F.
Why have outdoor seating when you don't allow dogs??? Stupid policy.... I'm sure the beer and food are fine but I won't be enjoying the outdoor setting without my pooch.
(1)
nicholas s.
I've been to the Hopyard twice before and have regretted it every time. Unfortunately, this time was no better. The usual crew headed out for Bear Republic Brewery night with high hopes for hops. We're big IPA fans, and the Bear Republic Racer X is SO hard to find. Plus on these brewery nights, you typically pay $1.50 extra and get a brewery mug. SO. We sit down and immediately order the Racer X with the mug. "ohhhhh, sorrryyyyy, we actually don't have any mugs..." WHAAATTTTTTTT. OK, we sit very disappointed for a second then brush it off. No problem, at least we still have our glorious Racer X and the Giants gaa....wait, the A's are playing on the only TV we can see. No prob, we look around for at least 5 minutes to make sure no one is watching that screen, then track down our waitress and ask to change. She says no prob. I watch her go up to the bartender and ask, and he gets this huge attitude that he's got the Giants game on all 293 TV's so he's not changing that one. She mentions it's the only TV we can see and he gives the d-bag shrug and walks away. Awwweessommeee! Next time, young bartender, you proving a point is not worth customer dissatisfaction. The service overall was definitely lacking, BUUUT, our waitress did split the bill after sassing us, so that's great. And the food....ehhhhh, my sweet potato fries were OK except half of them were still frozen. Cajun melt was spicy but didn't really have flavor. Everyone else was OK with their food. Overall, the Hopyard has SUCH HUGE potential, but every time I've been, they've bombed in one way or another. Service needs some personality and attentiveness. Some people DO come to watch the Giants. AND the food should be cooked. One star because I've been disappointed several times, BUT, for having great brewery nights and for the AMAZING Racer X, I give it an extra star.
(2)
Daniel M.
First of all, let me say I am a HUGE fan of the Hopyard. I have been scores of times, I would give it a solid 4 star+ review most every time I go. My wife and my visit this past Sunday is an example is that it doesn't take much to slip, and I am posting as I don't want this place to slip food or service-wise. On this visit, it did slip in both areas- Food- Wings- REALLY good, buffalo-style, meaty, good sized. I think the price is a little high, $11 for 8 wings, no side (fries or chips would be good). But they are very good Kettle Chips - LOVE these- as long as they come out hot, they are MONEY! Again, a little steep at $5 for a basket, no dips- though they will bring dip(s) if you ask. Cajun Chicken Sandwich, add Avo- this one slipped for me. I had on a wheat bun, which was a little dry and very crumbly- should have been fresh- sourdough bread would have improved greatly as the bun was weak- ordered the wheat bun trying to be healthier (after wings & chips, lol) but the bun let me down. Also, the breast was skimpy, smaller than usual, minimum of cheese. All in all, I looked at the sandwich size, presentation and flavor as underwhelming. And I should know, I've had this sandwich at least 50 times. Fries- the bomb- came with the sandwich, very good. Salmon with mango glaze- my wife was happy with that. Overall, the miss was the sandwich, the first time I've been disappointed with it. Service- Our server, Kristyn was nice enough, but her service lacked quite a bit and she seemed a bit clueless and made lame excuses when I asked her about some of the service issues- the issues were- Wings came out quick, but no chips. I assumed they were coming right behind, since they were both ordered as apps. My intent was to have them together. After my wife and I had finished half the wings, perhaps close to 10 minutes had passed, still no chips. I flagged her down (she wasn't stopping by to check on us, despite the fact she was close by with another table and the place was dead). I asked her if/when they were coming out, and she said they took longer to cook than the wings- REALLY? How is that possible? I mentioned that I intended to have them together, she didn't seem to care about that. She went off and within a couple of minutes they finally arrived. I wonder when/if they would have if I had not asked. When they did arrive, again, no apology or empathy- A complete miss. The meal went on, the hostess actually brought our food out and I asked her for a few condiments (Mustard, ranch, wing sauce), she was very prompt and friendly- wished she would have been our server. Kristyn eventually came by, right after our food arrived but before we started eating and asked how everything was. Huh? We told her we asked the hostess we were needing some condiments, and instead of her following up to be sure it was handled she wandered off to another table- my impression? She was glad to not have to be the one to go get them. When we would have liked to have her stop by and check on beverages and other needs, frequently I would hope, Kristyn was nowhere to be found. Very uneven and unconcerned service. I do want to say that the service we have had at the Hopyard has been very good for several years now, after not being so for many years prior. This improvement has brought my family, friends and I to the Hopyard many, many times. After this visit, I'm sure it will be less often. With the miss on the food and disappointing service, this visit was letdown and a bummer on my father's day. Additionally, I always want to go the Hopyard, my wife usually does not. I now will have a lot less leverage to get her there. Bummer for me, bummer for the lost revenue for the Hopyard- hopefully management reads this stuff and cares more than Kristyn seemed to care.
(3)
Freedom M.
Slow inattentive service. Party of three and there was no wait with tables available. We waited 20 minutes at the door before asking a busboy if we could seat ourselves. We sat and 25 minutes later a server finally acknowledged us and realized we did not even have menus. When we finally got our drinks the server said she will be right back to take our order. 20 minutes later after she dropped if checks to large parties surrounding us she took our order. Food came out 15 minutes later and was decent. Could not find our server to get our check, and when we finally did she took another 20 minutes to pick it up. The worst part of this whole experience is that I saw this happen to other smaller parties. When a large party arrived a server would run over to seat them and take their order immediately. 2 large parties over 8 people came and went before we where able to leave. Server said they where short handed with two servers got the inside dining area. I viewed 4 servers taking orders though. Been here before but this is most likely the last time.
(2)
Rick L.
three words. SIERRA MADRE BURGER. that was a mighty killer burger. i regret ordering that and ordering the boneless chicken wings, splitting them down the middle with my friend =( i shoulda eaten the whole burger myself. do get that. dont get the wings. they're literally overcooked chicken nugget breasts. wait a second... i thought they were wings. BAH! the parmesan fries weren't bad, but i thought they could have had a little more flavor. so this four is for the burger itself. i think its one of the best burgers ive had in the bay area. yum, yum. did i mention they were nice enough to change the channel to the warriors??
(4)
Gary A.
What's happened to the Hopyard...very disappointing. It seems like they have taken all the regulars for granite. To bad, the menu is now stale, even the specials remain the same forever, and they are pretty week. Gone is the day you could find a couple of new tasty items on the menu to go with the decent beer. Service isn't quite the same recently either. To bad, we have been coming here pretty regular for 5 years but have now moved on to downtown.
(2)
Knickerbocker R.
It is a great place to have a drink with friends or after work. It is loud and full of drunk people.
(4)
James G.
Go here. This place has excellent food, decent service, and good beer. If you go, get the crab sandwich with sweet potato fries. Their beer menu changes and it pretty fairly priced. The service is a little hit or miss, but for the most part the service is 3 star to 4 star.
(4)
Kirk V.
I met a business associate here for dinner. Big mistake. We could not even hold a conversation due to the bartender standing on the bar SCREAMING beer songs and rants. The burgers were average, but unless you are in college and like doing nothing other than drinking and singing drinking songs you will not like this place. It used to be more of a restaurant when I first came here years ago.
(1)
Valerie P.
We are all Hopyard regulars (San Ramon) however we finally got a good win and decided to celebrate at The Hopyard Pleasanton. MISTAKE!! Our waitress, Jennifer, probably the worst waitress I've ever had! Not only did she completely forget one persons whole order, she gave me a drink that wasn't what I ordered but said it was the closest thing they had instead of seeing if I might have wanted something else. The drink wasn't the same and I drank about 1/4 of it and couldn't drink anymore and still paid $5.50 for it. Then the person who's meal she forgot...nothing comped or taken off and she tried to charge us for a beer no one ordered. We asked to get separate checks but was told she couldn't do that (I think she knew she didn't deserve an 18% tip and that was her way to make sure she got it). Right from the beginning you could tell she didn't want to wait on a large group and her attitude totally sucked! Also the menu is different from the San Ramon Hopyard, I personally think the SR one has better/more options. And SR has very friendly service (at least every time I've been there). Needless to say we won't be celebrating at the Pleasanton Hopyard unless we are guaranteed to not get stuck with Jennifer again!!
(1)
robb p.
Went here for dinner last night. I don't like to dine out much because I am a chef and usually a meal out is hit or miss. This was a miss. Service was fine, very friendly. The food, not so much. I had the crab melt sandwich. I asked first what type of crab they use and I was told Alaskan snow crab. I guess I should've asked if it was the frozen kind that came in a bag. No flavor what-so-ever. All I could taste was bread and cheese and almost all my fries were soft and greasy. My girlfriend had the chicken tacos which were on special. The rice was clumped into a ball and cold. The beans weren't any different. I guess that's her fault for ordering a Latin dish in an American Ale House? However there is no excuse for the lack of elementary techniques like this. The beer selection looked great and the ambience loud and fun like a place like this should be. I will stick to the beer for now on.
(2)
Tenny W.
Beer and wine only. I do have to command them on the extension list of beer that they offer, they even have one of my favorite beers! ( The Great White). However the food was pretty disgusting and extremely greasy. I know bar food is not necessarily the most healthy food for you, but it seemed like they seriously drizzled grease on the food. Oh, and the crab sandwich i got gave me a stomachache that lasted 2 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The service was alright but the place left a lot to desire for, the table that we at still had crumbs from previous customers. Go for the beer, but you would probably enjoy your food more if you went to Mcdonalds.
(1)
Christina H.
I've been going here a few times. The food is decent and the people are nice. There's TV so if you want to watch some sport in the middle of the day, this is a great place for business and pleasure.
(5)
Raji R.
Nice little outdoor spot - I ordered boneless chicken wings - they were a bit overhard in my opinion - but they were good. I ordered a salad as well, which was cool and pretty simple. He ordered the chicken melt with fries and really liked it. Service was good, and we were able to find a table outside in the sun which was really nice. Overall, the food was okay though.
(3)
Chris G.
I followed the Yelp reviews to the Hopyard and they did not fail me. This is a hometown beer and food stop. The garlic fries are amazing as was the gyro. Service was good, and the place was crowded. I was here to watch the A's versus Giants game, and the crowd was loud, and happy with the A's thrashing of the Giants. You can eat inside or outside, but there are no televisions outside. The beer selection is vast, this is a stop worth making.
(4)
Edi H.
I came here after a long day of work. The boneless wings look like frozen nuggets you pick up from Walmart or something. The beer, on the other hand, tasted good so I'll give this place 3 stars. I'll probably come back again because the location is convenient.
(3)
Chad P.
Had lunch and beer here yesterday. My fish and chips were average I guess. I was expecting something a little special for $12. My wife enjoyed her steak salad. Nice larce pieces of steak. I assumed they would sprinkle smaller pieces around the plate. Enjoyed a Guiness Stout ( great) North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout (great) Speakeasy Porter (I would pass on this next time) and a Golden Road IPA (need to try this one again to make up my mind). The wait staff was great at keeping the beer glass full which is always great. The management was very classy when they comped our food because the chef had made a mistake that slowed down the food service so I will be back and will tell anyone who will listen that this place is A OK.
(4)
Chris B.
Seems the stars weren't aligned for my customer I took to dinner (who in their defense doesn't drink unless it's a Greyhound, which they couldn't make the way he wanted). We then had a comedy of errors in ordering something he might be interested in eating. A couple of us found the beer we wanted also sold out or some such noise. The outdoor eating is where it's at, well shaded, traffic not too loud, and the weather there of course (it's California, after all) was great. Food was tasty, can't remember what we ordered (been too long!)
(3)
Jerrod M.
Love this place! Sure it's not the most fancy of joints, but the service is always consistently friendly and on top of things. It has a very family feel, which can be a little different for an ale house, but that is one of their qualities that I can appreciate. Of course that is when parents let their kids take over the dart board area... Seriously people darts and kids don't mix, leave that for the adults who actually want to play the game. Also a great place to catch a game! For the food it has always been delicious as I am addicted to the founders burger. Their fried chicken is like Mom used to make good and their garlic fries are seriously legit. This is a great go to place and I love bringing friends and family here when their visiting as I always know we're going to get a great experience.
(5)
Adam A.
Had dinner. Nice place. The brews are good. Nothing too impressive. Got the grilled crab sandwich. Not great. Watery and tasteless.
(3)
William M.
Good food, great beer on tap selection and kids friendly! Ribeye steak for $16, reasonably priced!
(5)
Alena W.
How do you get free bacon? Invite a Catholic to lunch on a Friday during Lent and suggest the Salmon BLT. Genius! I've been coming here off and on for years and never wrote a review for some reason. Anyway, today a co-worker and I thought sitting on a patio in this gloriously sunny March weather would be a great idea and she chose The Hopyard. She ordered the aforementioned sandwich and I had one of the daily specials which was Shrimp Ceviche. I wanted something healthy, tasty and somewhat filling and it fit the bill. Our server was sweet and attentive and customers seemed happy (probably because most of them were drinking beer on a workday). Jerks!
(4)
Ryan C.
I stopped in here for lunch with co-workers based on the recommendation of a friend. The location is large with a large outside seating area. The inside is a little dark and old, but it is flexible to accommodate larger parties. The initial drink service was fast, but coming back to take the lunch order was a little on the slow side. Food was served at a reasonable speed, but I would not recommend this place to someone that has a 1pm meeting. The food was not bad but it was also not great. I ordered the french dip sandwich, fries, and a side salad. The salad seemed to have bagged lettuce sprinkled with fresh cut lettuce and cukes. The sandwich meat was a little on the thick side. I guess that I expected it to be much better considering the person that gave the recommendation. I would come back, but I am not in a hurry. What did I learn today? Xanthan gum is a bacterial extra cellular polysaccaride secretion that is often used to increase viscosity of liquid products. It also works as a way for gluten free products to trap more water making them better to chew. They grow this bacteria in 250L fermentors.
(3)
Tosha B.
I came here with some co-workers for dinner and we opted to sit outside since it was a nice California night. They had a good beer menu and of course I couldn't decide on what to order, so our server recommended that I sample a few beers, which I did. That definitely helped me make my decision. But what she didn't tell me was that she going to charge me 25cents per sample. The price isn't a big deal, but that's the first time I've been charged for a sample and it would have been nice to get a heads up. On to the food.....I went with the salmon BLT and garlic fries and was very happy with that choice. The salmon was cooked perfectly and bacon on anything makes it amazing. The garlic fries were great and it must be a California thing because I never see garlic fries on the menus in DC, so I always feel obligated to order them with I'm in California. This is a great American restaurant with good food and beer that I'd definitely come back to. Their patio is a decent size and they even have TVs outside which is nice.
(4)
Jesse C.
Came with a bunch of coworkers from my team to send off an employee of ours. Pretty much your typical bar atmosphere with TV's and lots of beer and wine. We ordered some appetizers and I got to say the fried zucchinis were good. The deep fried mac and cheese was also a hit amongst my coworkers. For dinner I got the crab sandwich. It didn't have much flavor to it. I would probably get the Salmon BLT next time.
(3)
Cladley D.
Burgers and beer selection are good. I wanted to order something different than I usually get and got a crab sandwich. The description was warmed crab with avocado, melted pepperjack and scallion aioli on sourdough. Sounded delicious, and most of the components were, but the crab tasted like wet confetti. I was expecting a crab melt type thing. I would not order this item again, but I still loved the sweet potato fries and the chipotle aioli with which they are served. Our server was super nice and kept busy. Her name was Molly, and I found her very personable. My boyfriend loved his Sierra Madre burger. It did look seriously tasty. Anyway, I'll come here again and probably stick to ordering burgers and beer. The atmosphere is pleasant, and I've never had a problem with the staff.
(3)
Clarence C.
Great selection of beers. Good food. Attentive service.
(5)
Steve T.
Loved this place with nice people and great food. The fried chicken was crispy and the gravy was tasty. Wife liked her ahi salad and they were really nice about bringing her more greens as she likes her veggies. Even the ice tea was brewed well and was delicious. Casual place with an upscale crowd.
(4)
brian p.
Awesome Sunday beer brunch. Wasn't busy at the time and so the bartender's showed willingness to help with choice of selection.
(4)
Kristi R.
This was my first (far from last) visit to this establishment. Sat outside b/c when you grow up in the Midwest, you can only eat outside 3 mths out of the year so when you move to CA, you do it every chance you get. My boyfriend and I met up w/ two other friends and settled in. Our server was Molly and she was great because of the following reasons- she was personable, she had some great suggestions, and she checked in several times to make sure we weren't in need of anything. I really enjoyed the Salmon BLT w/ steamed veggies- I threw some of their salsa on top and added some Tapatio- so good! I will order the bacon extra crispy next time- rookie mistake. My boyfriend ordered his Sierra Madre just like Molly orders hers w/ double bacon, avocado and grilled mushrooms- they charge a $1 for each additional item so beware- it can add up quick but he liked it and it looked really good. Their garlic fries are pretty good looking too. Can't wait to return!
(4)
Carolyn K.
A great family place to just sit, relax and have a beer on the patio! The staff is ALWAYS friendly and never ever do I feel rushed to order or finish my meal. Food is comfort food and the prices are right along with the size of the portions. Enjoy the atmosphere for simplicity. It's a great place to meet people, have a meeting with friends, relax after a day at the County Fair!
(5)
Zach W.
Great beer selection on tap, they even have Pliny and Blond Pig. The burgers are above average, but every other menu item is not good. Classic bar food, over cooked and over salted. Decent ambience, outside patio is okay but faces a parking lot. Service is very hit or miss, younger servers, some are terrible and some are awesome, it's a roll of the dice on who you get. All in all - a nice place to grab a beer or two but not a location to eat dinner, there are much better options for this price in Pleasanton than Hopyard.
(3)
Katey R.
Amazing food! And I love how everyone that works there is polite and try's to give you exactly what you would like.
(5)
Solly808 C.
Looove their beer selection and the rib eye and chips is to die for ! The best place for lunch in PTown
(4)
Melissa P.
Order the Pliny when they have it! It's the best. & get the sweet potato fries, they are pretty much what makes or breaks your Burger. This is my second time here, this time I ordered the Cream of Chicken soup - it was delicious. I was pretty impressed by the food. What really makes this place unique is the beer selection. It changes either every week or every day (Probably weekly). They have an awesome beer club membership for just $25 bucks. This includes: a shirt the day you sign up, a neat check-off book to mark off beers, and your unique number to identify you. What is this even for you may ask? Well of course- if you are a beer snob like me, this is another cool way to earn rewards! Every 30 beers you get a free gift and when you hit the big o' 300 mark you get your name on the beer foam wall (on a plaque)! Totally worth it if you plan on going here for lunch 3 times out of the week like my coworkers. Any who- service was great both times. I would rather sit inside because they rock some pretty great jams inside. (New-wave 80's both times). Try out the dart board, located by the woman's bathroom. Enjoy.
(4)
Theo T.
Hopyard is one of those small town restaurants that only the locals know about and frequently go to. My friends and I had an extremely exhausting day and all we wanted to do was get a nice cold beer and some quick food. My friend's dad recommended this little treasure and we were so happy he did. We were a party of 8 and they were able to accommodate us immediately. The best part about this place was the beers. I ordered a black velvet, which is a stacked beer of Guinness and a pear flavored ale. We were craving these beers and almost right after we ordered them at our table, another server came over with them for us. Now that's quick service or maybe they just thought we were really thirsty. I really wanted a burger, but none of the burgers really peaked my interest so I decided to go with the French Dip sandwich with sweet potato fries. My food came out great, I mean, how can you go wrong with a juicy french dip sandwich? I dunked it into the Au Jus, the juices of the beef, and my mouth was in heaven. However, some of my friends' food did not look that great. Nikala, our server, was very attentive and fast. She even recommended a chipotle mayo dip for my sweet potato friends, which I did not want, but she insisted and brought it out for me anyways. Thank god she did. That sauce tasted great on EVERYTHING. I even slathered it on my french dip sandwich after I dunked it into the Au Jus. I thought this french dip was good, but once I put that sauce on it, man oh man did it take it to the next level. Overall, the place was great! I can't wait to come back next time for the great quick beers, great service, and delicious French Dip sandwich.
(4)
Ben M.
Pliney the elder trap! A rare find indeed. Sort of sad the food couldn't be better. Its not horrible, it could be better. I sort of felt that most of it was out of bag, can or box. The fish and chips, from what I understand when I asked are not battered in house. This would suggest that they come in some package ready to fry. But the beer selection is killer.
(4)
John S.
ordered the buffalo burger with fries The service and food were great I have patronized the Hopyard for 10 years and have not been disappointed The Altamont IPA was cold and did the trick Sometimes I drink too much IPA and need an Uber ride home
(4)
Spencer C.
As a former PeopleSoft employee, this was the after hours watering hole for a lot of us. Peoplesoft is long gone but I remain a loyal patron. The food is bar food - it's burgers and fries folks. If you're looking for rack of lamb, go somewhere else. One nit - they don't put a price for the chicken wings (bone in) on the menu - it ended up being $11!! Ok, dinging you for that. When I do eat there I get the Philly cheese steak. I'm staying away from the wings unless it's boneless. The wait staff is largely good. Obviously you can't get a home run every time but most of the times I'm fine with the service. The daytime bartender is Keith who's fantastic, always on it, high energy and friendly. I have to say I'm disappointed if I come in and he's not there. Many people have already pointed out the Pliney - yes - they have that and Race 5 and 15. I'm an IPA guy and I can usually find something I like. The optional outdoor seating is also nice for when you want to relax at the end of a warm day. One more nit - they close on Superbowl sunday and New Years Eve. Strange - one year they had a sign on their door "We can't compete with your big flatscreen TVs!" That's an odd business choice. Sunshine Saloon, a real dive across town, is more than happy to take that business. It just offers inferior food and service. I will continue to come here and enjoy this great pub in Plesasanton.
(4)
Geneva W.
Good little spot with inside or outside seating. Service was slow waitress blamed it on the cook. But the wait wasn't bad plenty of tv's to watch while you wait or look at the pictures on the wall. Everyone enjoyed what they ordered I had a chicken wrap with garlic fries they were good.
(3)
Mike H.
Ratingwould be 4 stars if it were just beer. Food was average at best. Service and beers were good though.
(3)
Chris R.
Pretty good. Fun place to hang out, and kid friendly. Just not my kind of joint. But if it was ...
(3)
Tim K.
Fantastic beer selection and low quality food leaves me wondering how this place stays open.
(3)
Stacy C.
Love the beer flight option, it's four 5oz pours of any beers you want for $10. Great deal for people who want to sample multiple beers. I've eaten here twice and liked my meal each time. I ate a veggie burger with fries each visit, one I selected the topping for myself and the other was a modified Sierra madre burger. Both were good, and I recommend getting a side of BBQ sauce. The ambience is rather boring. They have several tv's, which is nice if there is a game on. Also have a large patio in front so you can eat outdoors.
(4)
Chris S.
This place is okay. I had a few expectations that were met and not met. When we first arrived there were about 10 kids (all under 10 years old - not an exaggeration) outside the front door patio area playing - kind of strange. Pros - -Calm, not loud -Garlic fires were good -Sliced fried Zucchini was good -Many TVs -The waitstaff waited until I left to claim their receipt with tip. Something I appreciate. -The staff was polite and nice. They checked in with us the perfect amount of times. -Food was okay. Not unnecessarily greasy as you might expect from some pubs. Cons - -Meat on the pork sliders was dry -The fish strips from the fish and chips were 3 inches long. Very small. -I walked in with a sharks jacket and a sharks t-shirt; one of the waitresses also had a SJ Sharks shirt. They didn't have one TV playing the sharks game. There were about 10 TV screens in the place. All of them were playing one of 2 basketball games. Not everyone was watching those games, and the place was far from full. -Beer list was overly complicated. They have a menu with $ indicating the price level of beers. $ for over $6 and $$ for over $7. They could have just listed the price. They do a similar thing with the ABV. Also, the beer list has bottled beer and draft beer mixed together, which isn't a great idea.
(3)
Krishna Y.
The beer selection is awesome, the bathroom sucks and I mean it, love the attitude of the bartender and the place is pretty old.
(3)
Laura F.
The food iis average. I had the crab sandwich and it was not very good. They need to update the place and improve the menu. They survive on good location to the sports park and the beer on tap. My kids had burgers and those were ok and the service is friendly.
(2)
Raider S.
Pretty impressed with the food here. Came here mostly for the beer and didnt expect much for the food but the nachos were DELISH! Get them with chicken. The chicken is freshly grilled and goes perfect with their nachos. The Sierra Madre burger was good as well. Our waitress disappeared for a while and it was a slow night. Overall great food and beer!
(4)
Skate K.
3 words: Russian River IPA...Another 3 words: a must, folks... now the food: - arrived to the table all at once as ordered so everyone could start eating at the same time, much appreciated - all proteins were prepared to the right doneness. I hate overcooked shrimps and always dread the first bite fearing that I am going to bite in to a piece of rubber. Not here, shrimp pieces was plump and succulent. Burgers were done correctly and the meat actually had flavor. - Special props on the sweet potato fries. I will come back just for that.
(5)
Joyce C.
warm beer but good service.
(4)
Steve L.
Food is pretty good. Like the wrap and wings. Nice selection of beers. Nice to sit outside during a warm day.
(4)
Elizabeth Q.
I went here for dinner with a few of my friends. The beers were great! They have a wide selection of beer on tap. I ordered the Russian River Blind Pig IPA, as suggested by our waitress. It was needless to say, amazing! Can't go wrong with a nice cold IPA in your hand after a long and rigorous day. For dinner I wasn't feeling carbs so I went for the buffalo wings instead. The wings came out quite dry/ not saucy enough. I'm a scooper when it comes to sauce, so I love my food extra saucy. So I had to ask for extra sauce on the side. Overall, our waitress was great! The beers were awesome! The food was okay, nothing out of the ordinary. They offer salads, burgers, and sandwiches. But I would definitely recommend/ come back here with friends for HH or a chill evening. Always Twerkin for Jesus, E. Quachie
(3)
Kathy J.
The hubby saw a bug crawling on his plate as the server was putting it on our table. He pointed it out and she apologized and brought it back to the kitchen but brought a "new" one out way too fast. Was it a new one or did they just replate??? I'm thinking they just replated and for that reason they get a one star. If it was a new burger, she should have said so but her silence speaks volumes of guilt. Won't be eating here again.
(1)
Danna C.
I recently started working in Pleasanton. On a cold and rainy day this past month, one of my co-workers suggested we go somewhere to get grilled cheese and soup. Being new to the area, we weren't quite sure where to get that. My co-worker did some research and found Hopyard American Alehouse & Grill online. We decided to give it a shot. I ended up ordering the grilled crab and a cup of clam chowder. The Grilled Crab sandwich was okay, but nothing special. The clam chowder was a little watery but quite tasty. All in all, I'd go back to the Hopyard since it's pretty close to my work. It's decent, but not something I'd go out of my way for.
(3)
Tom J.
I guess you could say the Hopyard Brewery was unoriginal by naming their establishment after the street it's on, but with a street name like Hopyard, you can hardly blame them. Now if they only served yards of beer... Maybe they do - I didn't really ask. Anyway, the best part of this place is their big outside dining area, far enough off the street that it's not noisy, plenty of shade...we were lucky to get a seat for dinner. The beers were fine and the food was also fine. Service was very good. I had the Sierra Madre with grilled chicken (instead of a burger), this sandwich includes bacon and avocado. The chicken and bacon were both cooked perfectly. On one of my previous visits, I had the garlic fries, which had approximately three times more garlic than I would have liked. But I've learned the locals practically pop cloves of garlic like the rest of us eat popcorn. Okay, a bit of exaggeration, but anyway, this time I had the sweet potato fries and they were great. Nothing was really amazing here, but it was solid. The fact that they brew beer means I round up to four stars.
(4)
Ivy R.
My mom wanted to go to Zorn's again for some Crabby Sandwiches but they were closed around dinner time on a Saturday. I saw this place and thought it sounded familiar. Thy have two locations one in San Ramon and one here. The dining space is huge and they have a very large outdoor patio. We were sat along the wall kind of near the bar. All around us were families and children. So obviously it's kid friendly an a destination that parents seek out. Service was fast. Which is always a plus with cranky kids. We also didn't have any beers. I'm finding that if I go to a Ale House its really about the beer and not the food. One with out the other is missing something. Zorn's definitely makes a better Crab Sandwich but we had a good experience and would come back again with the kids.
(3)
Brian F.
Come on guys. Where's your pride? It's not that hard. First, buy quality hamburger meat. You know, the kind that's soft and juicy, not dry and filled with tooth breaking gristle. Then gently form into a patty, not squished into the density of a rock. Then cook until just right, which means perhaps some pink, not beef jerky brown. The extra pennies in cost would be more than offset by higher reviews, more customers, and the satisfaction of producing a great product. Two stars just because the beer selection is great.
(2)
Brian B.
I've been back several times in the last month and a half. The service has been great for a bar and grill and the new Tilapia sandwich has made me a believer. Really tasty. Wish they consistently served Altamont Left Coast but I appreciate what they're doing with the taps.
(4)
Shannon M.
the service could be more attentive, but yes the food is yummy. They deserve more stars!!
(5)
Ron C.
I love to "Yelp off" at the mouth! And I'm kind of shocked I've never written anything about this place! So, here goes! I've been eating at this pub for almost ten years now and I have to say that the place is consistent! It's not often I hunger for pub food, in fact, dare I write it, I'm actually finding myself enjoying vegan food! But don't get me wrong, I love pub food! And The Hopyard does the trick when I need it, save for when I want something English! This place has burgers down well. And those Hopyard Fries with tons of garlic and cheese...let's just say they are enough to give a person gall stones...but my, oh my, they are good! The beer in this place varies often and washes down most everything else on the menu. And even when it get's busy, I never worry that I'll be ignored for long or that the food will be worse because there are a lot of people...it continues to remain good. In the end, any place you go it's a must in having a base-line good experience. You'll get that and more at The Hopyard!
(4)
Allison F.
I was pretty disappointed on my recent visit here. Two stars because my waiter was helpful with the beer selection and helping me choose what I wanted. I ordered the Sierra madre burger and didn't end up eating it while I was there and got it to go. I love avocados and they forgot to put the spread on my burger. My boyfriends food was cold when it came out. He also ordered a large beer and they gave him a regular instead. I understand it was a Friday night and they are very busy but I have always had really good experiences prior to this visit. Now I know for next time I need to check all my food. I will continue to visit this establishment but I will definitely be much more attentive to the details of my order.
(2)
R S.
Was disappointed with this place. For an ale house you would think the beer would be cold. Everyone in our party complained that there beer was not as cold as it should have been. Ordered a burger and the forgot the cheese. Was served a burger with meat and bun only. Can't imagine how they could forget the cheese when nothing else came in the burger. The only positive about this place was they have Pliny the Elder on tap even though it was warm. There are many other options out there. Would not recommend this place.
(2)
Stephanie S.
Second time coming in, love the different beer specials they have for the local breweries. Finally going to try the food, can't wait!! The servers have always been cheerful, always energetic about what they like for recommendations. Very clean facility and many beer to choose from!!
(4)
Courtney K.
Hopyard has the BEST beer selection in Pleasanton, hands down. Also, their food is great. The burgers are amazing, love the crab melt sandwich, and definitely enjoy the garlic fries. Looking forward to some nice summer evenings and drinking beer on the patio!
(4)
Ben C.
Good food, atmosphere, pricing, and service. Bathrooms were dirty and entire place needed some TLC, but overall it was a fun place to eat and watch a game. Yo Yo
(4)
Rebecca B.
Found this place on yelp, decided to try it with my boyfriend. When we first walked in we noticed it is very loud inside from the place being full of people talking and having a good time. I also think sound echoes in there from the layout being so open. We were seated quickly. The beer menu is pretty extensive, with some pretty obscure specialty craft beers, which was great. We both got what they call a flight, which is a 5 oz. Sampler of any four beers. The menu has a few dinner plate options, good burger and chicken burger options, as well as different types of sandwiches. They have a pretty good appetizer menu as well. Our food was really good, the beer was good and our waitress was very efficient. The food came out quickly. Our only feedback is the layout of the restaurant could be better.. We will be back to this place again.
(4)
Michael W.
This is a bar. They serve bar food. We only had some appetizers so I can't comment on the extent of the menu, although it isn't vast. The beer selection is better than average and we managed to be here in time for some pints of Pliny the elder (very exclusive). The rest of their beer selection focuses on the super hoppy side of things, which I love. The infrastructure is shabby, but the service was great. Friendly, fast and present whenever we need them to be. I would return and I would recommend you come by and grab a pint.
(4)
Kristen I.
A friend asked me to go to lunch with her here last Saturday. I had never been before. We sat outside with our young daughters, and waited a very long time to get menus. My friend finally went up to the hostess desk and picked up menus herself. It follows that service was very slow. The place was packed, and I suspect they were short on servers for how many people were there. I ordered the chicken breast sandwich with fries. The chicken breast covered a paltry amount of the bun, so I was left with a huge amount of bread when I was done with the chicken. And I can say this is the first time in my life I have turned down fries because I did not like them. How do you mess up fries?
(2)
Jimmy H.
Beer selection is fantastic and that's really the main reason for coming here. Waitstaff was nice, though nearly ten minutes elapsed between getting menus and placing orders. Wings were pretty good. Low point of the evening was the crab sandwich, served between two giant pieces of bland white toast. The crabmeat had too strong of a "fishy" flavor, and it needed some vegetables beyond just avocado. (In fairness I should have looked closer at the menu description.) I finished the first half but left the second on the plate. I don't get out this way often, but I will definitely come back to Hopyard when I do--I'll just stick to Pliny the Elder paired with very basic pub grub.
(3)
Gennie G.
Whenever I'm in the mood for fried chicken this place hits the spot!
(4)
Tony A.
Came and ate linner (lunch/dinner... I just made that up) tonight with our daughter's winning soccer team. They won the championship and deserved to be taken out to dinner! There was this one play... oh wait. This is about the restaurant..... So...service was spectacular. Our server was amazing and handled our little private room with ease. Everything was correct, and we were waited on VERY attentively. The problem we had was with the food. For a place that serves mainly burgers and sandwiches, they really need to make sure they're good. Well, they were VERY dry. Including the bread. I had a chicken caprese sandwich - flavor was there... but the main part of the sandwich... the chicken... VERY overcooked. Very hard to eat, luckily I had plenty of root beer refills to help swallow. My wife had a burger, and it also was very overcooked. I know she asked for it medium well, but there's a way to make medium well, and not have it taste like it was blended with sand. My other daughter had a chicken burger, and she didn't like hers either. She said it was hard to eat, and very dry. At this point, I'd rather have sub-par service, and at least feel like I got my money's worth with the food. I did not. Our bill was $75 and I could have had better food at The Habit.
(2)
Mike V.
Great place for a casual meal. Love sitting outside in the summer months drinking their Hopyard Hefe and enjoying a good burger and fries in the sun. Not a fancy place but a great one nonetheless. I'd recommend a few more Belgian beers on tap and some tvs outside but otherwise a great local spot.
(5)
John K.
Great food, really! Great Beer, obviously!
(5)
Lizardp P.
The beer was good. So much potential, but clearly owners and management don't care about the quality of food. Nuff said.
(1)
will l.
One of our regular spots--mostly because it is within walking distance of the house. Typical pub/bar food with occasional specials that are excellent (bring ack the Sole and the chicken piccata!) Great selection of beers on tap.
(4)
Patrick L.
Great selection of beer in a dated, kinda beat-down atmosphere. I've stopped eating here, just not good enough. Did I mention they have a great beer selection? Yeah, the strength of their rating is about the BEER, not much else. I try to make regular stops at both Hopyard locations - San Ramon & Pleasanton for a pint of Pliny or Lagunitas on tap. Beer me - 3.5 stars.
(3)
X X.
I come here when I am in town. The Burgers are great, I got the blue cheese burger and it was huge, super tasty especially on the onion bun. The apricot beer is great and is really why I like to come here. Lots of adult sports teams come here in season to celebrate and hang out. One thing that is annoying, the place looks like romper room on the weekends meaning lots of kids running everywhere and screaming. I guess when mom and dad can't find a sitter, but need a drink they come here with the kids. The place is over run by kids on Sundays. Don't get me wrong I really like kids, I swear! Maybe its just me, but when I go to a Alehouse I don't feel its a place for kids.
(2)
Shianne D.
*I'll throw out the disclaimer that my bf saw me writing this and said he'd have given them 4 stars because he loved his sierra madre burger and fries with dip sooo much. He also liked that it came on a wheat bun. He got the apricot ale which was tasty as well, so that's why it gets 2 stars instead of 1* Back to my 2 star - I got the cobb salad, which was gross. Please do not get this salad. My avocado was dirty, It was just generic iceburg lettuce, nothing really good about it. Just bland. There was a baby hair in my salad which was small and black (I have long, lighter hair), the place itself was pretty dirty. I remember looking around thinking, "how is this place still even in business?" I felt bad for the workers there, too cause it seemed a little unorganized. I probably will not be returning here again.
(2)
Bryan B.
Love going here for lunch! They have a good selection of beer to pick from and they switch it pretty often too! Along with their selection of beer they have good food for a price that good! I would recommend this place to my friend and I have!
(4)
Shreya G.
This review is based on a LUNCH experience. Came here with a small group of coworkers for lunch. We asked to be seated outside and were promptly given menus. After sifting through the salads, burgers, and sandwiches on the menu, I ordered the buffalo chicken salad, which was a daily special. The salad was tasty yet light, just the way I like it! The buffalo chicken pieces were cooked perfectly. I was actually impressed by how good the salad was. The service--slow, but the servers were friendly. They were definitely understaffed. Our server actually gave our table a lot of attention even though they were understaffed. I have a feeling I'll be back, although probably not for lunch! I want to try some of the burgers and fries on their menu.
(4)
Ashley J.
Slow service, kind of dingy and the food was only so/so. On the up side, they have a TON of different beers and it would be a really fun place to watch a sports game.
(2)
Mike D.
Update: Wow, how things change. The Hopyard has hired a slew of new servers, and apparently they are saving on training costs by just giving these people a ticket book and imploring them to go forth and serve. They must also be saving on food costs because it's a crapshoot ordering off the specials menu whether they actually have the advertised food or not. Appetizers and soup/salad served with the entrees. Yeah. Good. Drinks sitting empty on the table for the duration of the meal. Check. Having to wave flags or shoot up flares to catch the attention of your "server" to ask for desired items. Check. Where am I? Bennigans? Beer selection is still good, and if by chance you get one of their veteran servers, all is well again with the world. If I wanted to be aggravated when I eat a meal, I would go to Jack in the Box. Get it together, Hopyard.
(2)
Rachael M.
Felt out of place. The interior looks pretty run down and dingy, they should really think about getting rid of that carpet. Asked to be seated outside, but halfway felt that was a bad idea because it took quite some time for the waitress to ask us what we wanted. Meanwhile, a lot of the customers seemed to find us interested, caught a few glares. Food was ok. Not worth coming back for, many other spots to hit up.
(3)
Morgan Richelle M.
We made it here on a perfectly gorgeous Friday afternoon and were fortunate enough to be able to sit outside and enjoy a few [new] beers. The food was wonderful (great portion sizes), and we tried a few new beers which is always a good time. Will definitely make it back this way!
(4)
R H.
Very limited menu. Waitress who doesn't know her menu, or can't articulate it, ended up giving false information, such that the order was wrong. Burgers with some one fancy thing about them, nothing special even so. A few sandwiches, all with a "special twist" of some sort. Again, nothing special. But in almost all cases completely uninteresting to me. Food not that great anyway. Fries - way over salted, and may be spiced, I couldn't tell through the salt. Yeah, for a chain they have a number of beers in the suburbs. So if that's what you want, go do it. Eat before you go.
(2)
Yelp Y.
I have been here a few times now and I will say the beer and garlic fries are good, about the same as going to a ballpark.
(2)
Megan L.
This is one of my favorite burgers & beer haunts in ptown. They never disappoint - friendly, attentive service, a generous beer list, and consistently delicious burgers. This is the kind of place where you know what you like and you keep coming back for the same thing and it will make you happy every time. What I usually get: 1. BEER: Pliny the Elder 2. BURGER: Rajin' Cajun Burger w/ sweet potato fries (subbed for the regular fries) -This is one of the best cajun burgers I have had. It has just the right amount of spicy kick and the sauce isn't unmanageable. Props for my burger NOT falling apart when I attack it. Also, props for being a dog-friendly place. On warmer nights, you can bring your pup to sit with you at the patio tables outdoors. :D
(4)
David F.
I'm local to the area and only stop in when I'm thirsty for a good micro brew. The problem is I'm usually hungry also...and I keep making the mistake of ordering something. I have been disappointed every time. Look inside their burgers and you can see the white filler the fries are always over cooked. Keep that beer full cause you will need it to wash down that food.
(1)
Michaela R.
Wow - I can't believe how all over the place the reviews are for this place! I've only had good experiences when I've been to The Hopyard in Pleasanton. My coworkers and I specifically went there today for lunch because we knew they are very accommodating to large groups --- even though we had 9 people and no reservation we were seated right away! Our server was nice (young guy with tattoos) he gave us all separate checks, no problem! One friend was allowed to sample beers before she made her choice which was nice. On to the important stuff - the food: people ordered Boneless Buffalo Wings, the Caprese Sandwich, Chicken strips and fries, deviled eggs, chicken sandwich, and the BBQ chicken salad. Across the table everyone's food looked delicious and everyone was very satisfied with their meal. I chose the Build your own Burger option and made a chicken sandwich with bacon and honey mustard dressing, it was very tasty and exactly what I wanted. I especially enjoyed the sourdough roll the sandwich came on! If you don't see anything on the menu that interests you I would strongly suggest building your own sandwich --- how could you go wrong when you create your own meal?? Bottom line is that The Hopyard serves good food and has a great selection of beers. I will continue to dine here and definitely recommend this place!
(4)
John K.
What a disappointment! I have been going to The Hopyard on and off for 15 years, though it's honestly been about two years since I have been there. We ordered boneless wings, crab cakes, and beer. Same old story that is becoming all too common. The wings portion was paltry, they were over-breaded (read: The breading to meat ratio was clearly in favor of the establishment) and Jesus--salty enough to kill snails on the front yard. I did my best to eat the dried out chicken bits that were entombed within heaps of "breading." What was left on the plate after I completed this process wasn't pleasant to look at. In short, the wings bordered on gross. I'm not saying what side of the border. The crab cakes were accompanied by a completely flavorless cucumber salad. Well, at least it wasn't over-salted. Always a bright side. Right? The crab cakes themselves? Again paltry servings and my friend commented "The crab didn't taste fresh." I know it's a sports bar and I am not expecting fine cuisine, but seriously dudes. The food was a rip. Seriously. How does a restaurants management rationalize charging the prices they do while putting crap on the table? I'm good with paying good money but put some decent food down. Hopyard, lower your head in shame. The beer was fine.
(2)
H V.
Good craft beer selection - but I felt that maybe it does not rotate so much (i.e., six month later - same three imperial IPAs are on the menu). No happy hour - no special pricing. 25 cents per taste - maximum 4 tastes (still better than what other places charge for a "flight" - but quantity is really small - 1oz?). Food is OK.
(3)
Dani Z.
Great beer selection and fabulous service. Can't ask for too much more. 28 of us rolled in by tour bus to have lunch before the remaining 7 hour drive from Frisco to LA. Hopyard set us up in thier event room, and though we only had one waitress, she was quick, efficient, honest, and managed to get each one of us our own tabs! The food was tasty - I enjoyed a pulled pork casadilla, and eyed the nachos, sliders, and sandwhiches ordered by others. Very generously got me 3 oz samplers for 50 cents each. If I lived closer to Pleasanton, I'd return -- I might anyway!
(5)
Raj D.
as other reviewers have said this place had decent food, but a great domestic (craft) beer selection. don't come here if you are satisfied with drinking bud light (and really don't come here if you think coors light is a good beer...ouch!). great thing to take advantage of is that you can order up to 4 tastings from the draft beer selection for $0.25...that's right, a $1 to taste 4 beers before making your selection...how can you beat that! only thing that would make this place better is to expand the selection to include more european beers.
(4)
Angela S.
Last Night I Went To The Hopyard. Kind of a date but not really, I dunno. Anyways, The Food Was Pretty Good. I Recommend The Turkey Sandwich. NICE BEER SELECTION!!! (but the waitress didn't know Jack about Beer). The Only Thing That Struck Me As A Little Odd, Is That They Didn't Card Me Or My Friend At All. I Mean I'm 25 And He Is 27, But The Thought Of My Little Sister Who Looks Old Than She Really Is, Could Have Gotten A Beer Without Being Carded... (Hell I've been drinking since I was 6, so drinking is not an issue for this German-Swedish-Irish Chick, BUT STILL) Granted It Is An Ale House, But At Lease At O'Kanes In San Ramon (R.I.P) --- They Carded Me All The Time - Until I Was A Regular...
(3)
Victor B.
good taps. average greasy pub food. cheese friez are cheap. they have a good selection of beers which is supposedly rotated everyday. a few cask ales and always a plentiful choice of hoptown brews. the staff wasn't too knowledgeable about the beer, but you can't expect much when you're a beer snob.
(3)
erica G.
Good food, friendly staff. There's a bar and darts, and there's always a game on. It's a totally family friendly place, but it's also a great place to grab dinner with friends late night.
(4)
Crissy M.
After a crazy day of commuting or just hanging out with friends, this is the spot. I'm not a beer fan (although many a friend loves their beer, I cannot judge), but the food is yummy and well priced, especially at lunch time.
(4)
Chuck D.
love the food here. great atomsphere. tvs on all the walls, great beer and awesome garlic fries. i've tried most of the burgers and can't complain about one. if you want great bar food and of course beer, this is the place in pleasanton!
(4)
Tanya P.
When it's deadline time, we're hungry, or we need ale and lagerish beverages, we only do food and pint runs downstairs. Right below our east bay studio is one of the only late night places in the Tri-Valley where everyone has their teeth and their dates aren't paid for. Ok, I kid you. Great staff, great and creative pub grub -- famous for their Garlic & Parmesan fries. Their Diablo burger is a favorite in the office (although the senior media director likes chicken strips and Roy Rogers while working on his Batman screensaver). Except for the mass waves of Peoplesoft/Oracle folks at lunchtime, it's a cool, easygoing crowd. Ask about their beer club. Live entertainment. Darts. Jukebox. Advertisements in their bathroom stalls. TVs for the latest news and games/ Crazy events all of the time. The owner is just so cool. And our clients always swing by pretending to be visiting us when they really just want us to buy them beer. People used to the oldstyle pubs may find it lacking in character.
(4)
Anon I.
Normall favor the San Ramon location, but I work in SF and this one is a straight shot from BART so we come here on occasion The beer selection is great. Can always get Drakes or on occasion my fav Snowshoe. The food is average at best. But whatever. I think most people come for the beer. The service can be pretty spotty where some servers are rude or forgetful or inattentive but sometimes it can be great. I think the spottiness makes it all the more frustrating. I would recommend the SR locale no doubt.
(3)
Brandon T.
I'd often drive to Hayward or Livermore for a good alehouse, not knowing that this place was in my own backyard. It's small and conspicuous, but once you get a peek at the beer menu size it's irrelevant. From homemade hef to paralyzing IPA's, this menu has it all. I started with the Hop Yard Hef, then washed down my burger with a Pliny the Elder. The menu seems to change daily, so I am excited to get back and see what they will have next. The burgers are cooked as rare as you would like with great fries and fresh toppings. Based on the food, I would rate The Hopyard a 3. I've definitely had better, more flavorful burgers, but the beer selection, wait staff and atmosphere make up the difference.
(4)
Jason F.
I came here to get a quick bite before my band started at a place close by. The decor needs some work as its worn and some places were dirty and dusty. I ordered the cheese steak sandwich. It was one of the best cheese steak's I have had!! Good Job! The service was friendly and fast. If I'm in the area, I'd come back. Thank you
(3)
Meg N.
Been here quite a few times and the below are the plusses. 1) they let you try EVERYTHING before making you decide on a beer. I am not a beer drinker and was trying tof igure out what to enjoy and i got a lil tipsy just from trying the litte sips they gave me. I finally found their ciders and have not been dissapointed at all with the variety of ciders they have. 2) HUGEEE beer selection that changes up alot so you can always try something new. 3) I have had a variety of their appetizers and they are all so far delicious. Their nachos are huge and their bufflo wings are delicious favs so far! 4) the staff here is super attentive and you feel like you are always been waited on even though the palce is pretty large. A very welcoming and sort of homey atmosphere (like your drinking in a buddies garage but with better digs) 5) they have an awesome pint night on tuesdays with a quaint and festive raffle where everyone in the bar gets involved. 6) Large patio that makes summer night drinks perfect. 7) Plenty of tvs to make watching any game easy. They only reason I didnt give it five stars is while yes I know this is a beer place their wine selection really is not enjoyable (thankgod for those ciders!) and the womens restroom is terrible. May not be that important to some but for us girls afer a few beers that restroom is obviously necessary. Alot of times there are no towels or toilet paper will be out in one stall and you have to awkwardly stand in the darts area if there is more than two people in the bathroom.
(4)
JesseLynn L.
Boom Sham Slam a Cold One! Diamond in the Rough at a Strip Mall!!! I love this place. I have been frequenting the Bar with my boyfriend for years. The Beer selection is worthy, Jason and Natalie (Bar Tenders/ Back) are adorable and know their BEER, and the Burgers are Screaming. We have gone through Super Bowls, Heated Elections, St. Patty's Day, and watched a local make it back alive from Burning Man all while simply showing up to a place we love. What the Hopyard does so well is create a space for everyone: I see Mom's and Dad's with little ones, Family's with Teenagers, First Dates, Blind Dates, Retired Folks and all the Athletes from the Sports Park. Any one can fit in 24/7. Cheers to the Hopyard, well done to the Owners.
(5)
Joey M.
Specifically went here to watch the San Francisco Giants game on a weekday afternoon. The game started around 4 or so and they happened to sit us in the corner next to the TV with the game on. The San Jose Sharks playoff game happened to be starting too, but there were only about 10 people in the restaurant, and they were all facing the bar TVs watching the Sharks. Perfect ! - or so I thought. Well the bartender decides to change the TV we are watching the Giants game on to the Sharks game (even though we are the only people obviously watching this particular TV). We ask her to change it back, and she said she won't while making a snide remark. We got up, and went to a bar that was showing both the Sharks and Giants. Also, the server never came up to us to take our orders so who knows how the food is? "Sports Bars" should have all the local games on at a minimum, and not change them once they are on. My friends and I haven't been back and won't be back.
(2)
SR Y.
I still dream about the Peruvian Chicken and the Chicken Satay......oh how I miss you! The staff is great and attentive and the beer......the BEST!!! I would recommend the other people who commented to research their brews before commenting. After one tours a few breweries local and abroad, then you can appreciate and respect the fine beverages here. In the end...you cannot please everyone but they do try as they have soooo many beers to choose from.
(5)
Melissa B.
We're on our way to try a new brewery opening in Livermore & decided to stop by the Hopyard for lunch. Being beer week they were doing all local beers, awesome. Saw a few that sounded tasty & was having trouble deciding... so I inquired about doing a flight (menu, printed up for this event, said to ask about exceptions) I was told they weren't doing them :( Wasn't offer a taste of anything to help me decide. I ordered a stout, forget which, was drinkable. After our waiter brought our beers, I saw a neighboring diner had been served a flight WTF! Do they only have 1 flight tray in the whole place??? I order the grilled crab sandwich... super bland. Menu said was served on sourdough & had pepper jack cheese.... wasn't either, unless your from outside CA. The cheese had zero spice & the bread was basically just white, they should be ashamed to call it sourdough in CA. The crab tasted bland, like can without seasoning. Didn't come with enough lettuce or pickle to make it better- 1/3 piece of lettuce & 2 pickle slices. Hot sauce made it a bit better. There was hardly any fries, maybe a handful. There was a brandy aged pech on beer menu... had no idea what it was (either did the husband, who's a beer nut). The waiter again wasn't very helpful, said it was a sour, no sample offered. Took a gamble & got it, luckily it was really tasty... real peach flavor & very refreshing. The waiter, minus above, was nice & service was quick. Would prob. be back for some beer, if in the area, but not for food.
(2)
Jade H.
Like to try different beers? Then this is the place to go. A great, ever-changing selection keeps me coming back on average, once a month. Great place to meet the guys after work for a few; good grill / bar food as well. I go here often and have no intention of stopping anytime soon.
(4)
matt d.
my family and I have been frequenting this place since I was 12 years old. Love the laid back hometown atmosphere - and I love to sit outdoors in the spring and early summer when its not too hot =) the waiters are awesome and the owner Rob is truly a great guy. If you are going to go, try the diablo burger, or the tostada salad is also one of my favorites. My dad really enjoys there fish tacos and my sister would get the crispy chicken salad. Good times and memories at this place!
(5)
Robert A.
OK, the food's not the best, but it's a pub, people! Great beer selection (be warned: it rotates), good pub-style food, and the servers are knowledgeable. If you have a friend who is new to beers, or would like to expand their beer palate, they serve samples, too. Note the name: "Alehouse & Grill". They're not going to be known for their salads and wine selection, so those that are complaining about that, grade it for what it is, and be thankful they tried to accommodate you. The last time I went was on a first date, and the waitress was flirting with me. While the servers are knowledgeable, they are not entirely professional. Go for the beer; eat some grub; drink more beer! You go for the beer.
(4)
Linda M.
The food was just okay. But I never go to a place specializing in beers expecting to have great food. Our server was excellent, knew a lot about the brews and was helpful on the recommendations. The other folks delivering our food were also helpful and enthusiastic. The Daily Menu of beers was very cool, and you can get four small samples per table for a mere quarter each. It was weird to see "Bud Light" hidden among all the interesting brews on the menu though. Bleh. Their wine selection was small but seemed to be good quality. After our meal and a beer, we headed to the back and played a few rounds of darts. Got my ass kicked, but it was fun. It gets pretty loud in there, and this was a Tuesday night. I imagine it gets a little nutty on the weekend.
(4)
Kevin W.
Fun place, sweet potato fries are awesome. I prefer my burgers rare here, because their medium is really more like med-well. We always sit in Jennifer's section if it' open, 'cause she's friendly and fast. The goofball that gives out tshirts is hilarious!
(4)
Erez K.
Pretty good burgers. Friendly service. Huge beer selection. Most of the specials are ok as well. Awesome place in summer when you can sit outside. Children/Family friendly. What else do you need?
(4)
Ryan B.
I haven't had any food here, but the beer selection was one of the best I have across. About 25+ varieties on tap to choose from.
(4)
Peter K.
The two stars is for the food. Its good. The service sucks. We went when it was crowded. They cannot handle a crowd in this restaurant. Service was shit. They got our beer order wrong and argued it was right because that is what the ticket said. Hey moron, I did not order a dark beer why is it dark? So they realized someone poured the wrong beer, duh!! Finally and reluctantly they brought the right one. Next they screw up the burger order. I mean we are only 2 people. We had to find someone to correct it because they drop the plate on your table and leave like a rocket. The waitress came by once and asked if we needed a refill then the next time we saw them was when they handed us the bill. Not even a free beer for their screw ups. Guess they do not expect customers to return.
(2)
Steve C.
Please place to hangout after work or a ball game, lots of beers on tap.
(4)
Kimberly T.
You never get a second chance to make a first impression! And our first impression will bring us back very soon. Inside is very relaxing , and the perfect temperature on a sunny spring day. Outdoor seating was also impressive with a sunny, friendly, set up. Delicious food, excellent beer, and a wonderful server who made us all feel welcome. (I appreciate how he helped me with my beer selection too) Not only is it delicious...but you won't pull a muscle in your wallet either!
(5)
Zulu Q.
Oh, I get it. If you haven't outgrown your frat boy days, you can chug beer at pint night for the Hopyard. No really, you get a raffle ticket and get to chug free beer. Wait....most people are into that....*realizes probably only non-beer-drinking loser.* Their garlic fries were sooooo not worth cheating on my no deep-fried food diet for. Meh.
(3)
Drew A.
This is for the pulled pork sandwich ONLY (looks like a cool place to hang and drink after hours): This might possibly be the worst pulled pork in the world. I know my mom gives her boxers pig ears from time to time, and that is what this shitwich looked like...and had the same amount of moisture. It was like pork jerky on a toasted bun. I had to drink 3 glasses of water to rehydrate it in my stomach. The 2nd star is for the promising beer selection.
(2)
Stephanie S.
Came to the Hopyard for dinner with a friend. We sat outside, and enjoyed the summer air. There was a laid-back, friendly sort of atmosphere. Good beer selection, which is why I assume most come here. I liked how they had ciders for those with lighter palates. For dinner I had the Sierra Madre burger with HopYard fries. Pretty alright for an alehouse and grill. I'm not a burger snob, and from what I could tell the patty was juicy, there was the right amount of toppings, and I left pretty stuffed. I'd come here again and make sure to bring a beer enthusiast.
(4)
Eric M.
Great selection of beer and good pub food at a decent price. Also a good atmosphere, I had a great time there. Since I have come back many times when my friends were living in Pleasanton, I even got to try Pliny the Younger during beer week which was awesome. They always have a great tap list, and it's great for the beer drinking. The food isn't that amazing, but it's pub food so what do you expect.
(4)
Chris K.
What a great way to celebrate the historic election...with good food and friends. Truly was a darn good burger and fries! You get a choice of bun (whole wheat, sourdough, reg). Hubby said the beer was good as well (I'm not a beer drinker). Service was very fast. They had high chairs and I wasn't worried the whole time about DD making a mess. Definitely will return!
(4)
Lea B.
Wow, I think this place was totally one of my early reviews. Especially obvious since it's only, like, three sentences. Anyway. If my future grandchildren ever ask me, "Grandma, where were you when America's first black president was elected?" I will say, "The HopYard Alehouse, dearies." This just didn't seem like the kind of election where you stay home and sit on your couch (though, really, that would've worked too), so we met some friends at the HopYard. It was busy, but not crazy busy, so we were able to sit and eat and drink and enjoy. On top of it being Election Night, it was also pint night or special beer night or something ... so they were giving out free Gordon Biersch t-shirts and free beers. And I totally won one of the free t-shirts. Because Nov. 4, 2008, was a winning kind of a night. Honestly, I'd remembered the garlic parmesan fries being better than they actually were ... kinda hard or stale almost (IMO). The tuna melt wasn't bad. Enjoyed the beer and the atmosphere. Glad I didn't stay home.
(4)
Anthony C.
A nice selection of Beers! Good food and a nice staff. The dining area outside is perfect for a sunny day. They just added a nice overhang. Kid Friendly for family time and a nice happy hour spot to blow off some steam after work. Worth the return everytime.
(4)
Rebecca H.
Burgers, beers....it's a place to get both, and not much else. It's usually mad crazy busy with servers that hustle but can't keep up, and the food isn't great. I haven't been super impressed with anthing I've had there. Sadly, Red Robin or another burger chain has very similar food, and usually better made. I don't drink beer, maybe it's good, people seem to drink a lot, get loud, and enjoy it. When the place is slow the service is gracious and pleasant, but when it gets busy, it's every server for him or herself.
(2)
Dave J.
I love this place! I always go to the Hopyard when I go to Pleasanton. The beer selection is awesome and changes frequently, so there is always something new to try. The food is just your standard pub house fare, but is tasty. I love their fish and chips with garlic fries. (The garlic is pretty strong, so don't get this on a date.) The only thing that could make this place better is if they had dessert. Tuesday nights they have specials on beer where you can buy a pint glass of their featured beer in a special logo pint glass. You can keep the glass and get refills for $1 less that night. It's more crowded on Tuesdays, but fun. They also have a great patio section for outdoor eating/drinking. Don't miss this place when you come to Pleasanton!
(4)
Julie F.
The cheese steak sandwich with chicken is SO GOOD. I love the casual atmosphere here. The service is good enough, food is good and they have a wide selection, and they have a ton of beers. I haven't even been totally overwhelmed by the food here, other than the chicken cheese steak sandwich with Parmesan garlic fries, but it's definitely good enough and one of my favorite Pleasanton places, and I'll keep coming back for sure.
(4)
Mayank R.
Great place for beer..friendly waitresses, nice atmosphere and some good selection of beer. Went there to meet up with old colleague and had a great time. Wondering was it the company or the pace..i guess both :-)
(4)
Ernie D.
The HopYard is one of those restaurants that never lets you down. Great burgers, great fries, easy atmosphere.
(4)
Peter G.
As a Pleasanton resident and someone who has lived in the Tri-Valley for 20+ years, I've been politely "forced" to Yelp. This is my first review. This review and future reviews will be short and to the point. I am not an aspiring writer or someone who wants my review count in 3 or 4 figures. My reviews will sway on the positive side; I don't want to be "that guy" who poops on local businesses just because he has an outlet to do so. That being said.... The Hopyard. Great beer, Nice burgers, and live atmosphere. Want a few pints and some good pub food? Consume at this establishment. Want a quiet gourmet meal? Stay home or spend $100. I like this place. "Yay! I'm a fan"
(4)
Danny W.
Great Staff, great beer, good food. It's just an awesome friendly place to hang.
(5)
John M.
Finally, a worthwhile Patty Melt. Not on the traditional rye toast, but good, onions done right, not greasy, and the sweet potato fries with the aiolie cap it off nicely. As does a Guinness.
(4)
Katie M.
The Hopyard is a great place to go on a warm, sunny day to enjoy good beers and pub food out on their big patio. Their burgers are particularly good and satisfy my cravings when nothing sounds better than a hamburger. My personal favorite is the Sierra Madre...mmmmmmm...Their fries are good as well -- lightly seasoned. When I am feeling indulgent I order the onion rings, which are the best! Their chicken (or yardbird) subsitution on the burgers are good as well -- for those not red meat inclined. I also had their turkey burger which was nicely seasoned. The only disappoinments I have are around their salads. I have learned my lesson with a couple of attempts. A pile of iceberg lettuce does not constitute a salad. Come on, people, don't we live in California? Where are the mixed greens and fresh veggies? Their selection of beer varies, but they always have a nice assortment that should be able to satisfy many different tastes. Bottom line: Great burgers and beers!
(3)
Randy C.
If you are looking for lunch that can turn into dinner if you aren't carefull, then you came to the right place. From the taps all over the walls and the informal whiteboard with beers of the month, it's all about the beer. The service is quick, freindly and a bit on the eccentric side. Obviously there is no dress code for the servers - so you could get anything from pierced tounges to tatoos a plenty. But that's no big deal, all part of the ambiance. They have a great selection of beers from everywhere. The lunch menu is pretty varied with burgers sandwiches and salds. The fries are good, be sure to try the garlic fries. They don't skimp on the garlic. Vegie burger substitutions are available on all the burgers. I'm partial to the "Kahuna", a burger with pineapple, teriyaki sauce and jack cheese. If burgers aren't your thing, the Baja tacos with a side rice and beans is quite good. You might also give the cheesesteak a rip. It's tasty. And don't forget to wash it down with a cold one. Or two. The Kemper root beer is good if you are tea totaling.
(4)
Sid M.
It's rare to get a neighborhood vibe from an ale-house - this place pulls it off. The wait staff is attentive and friendly, the nachos are killer, and the onslaught of their variety of cold beer hits the spot. It's best to soak in this place on their outdoor patio. I need to go back here soon!
(4)
Nicholas H.
As somewhat of a brew pub aficionado (family owns/operates one) it's say this place is pretty damn good. The quality of the ingredients in the food is barely mediocre, which is exactly what YOU SHOULD EXPECT. It kills me to read reviews about how the beer at the brew pub is great, but the food at Gary Dankos/Prima/Boulevard is better...no kidding? When Gary Danko's starts brewing their own IPA and serving it with a Philly sandwich and garlic fries for $10 I'll be impressed. Don't go to the Hopyard if you want to taste flights of Opus 1, go there to have good beer, ok food and to watch a game or chat it up with friends.
(4)
Ben W.
Came here for the first time after living in Pleasanton for over 10 years. This place is great for watching live sports while grubbing to american pub food and brew. Their brew selection is pretty good, ranging from Sierra Nevada to Russian River. The pub also features a weekly brewery day on every Tuesday. Be sure to come and check it out as they offer a raffle for t-shirts and FREE beer! Overall, the local staff is friendly and the crowd is rowdy - as a pub should be.
(4)
Vero V.
It was ok typical pub food... nothing to be to impressed about. Good selection of beer but a huge irritating point from me... How the hell does a place that is a restaurant and a bar not have orange slices? This is just a pet peeve of mine. Food was ok, service was good. What can I say, not terrible memorable in a good or a bad way.
(3)
John M.
Great food -- LOUSY service! If you get "Alicia" for your waitress, get another waitress or LEAVE! Bad attitude to the max. She pissed off that you're impacting her day by being at Hopyard! I eaten at both Hopyards (San Ramon and Pleasanton). I like them both. Good beers, burgers and such. Great place to eat outside. Somebody needs to do something about the crappy service! The additional questions asks: "Waiter Service" The answer is: "Yes, unfortunately!"
(1)
Katie M.
I'm a big Livermore alehouse fan and as a Livermore native I'm sad to say that hopyard alehouse food put ours to shame. First of all, anywhere that has deviled eggs as an appetizer is amazing in my book. Good appetizer selection, build your own burger as well as signature burgers and sammies. I liked the fact they have a banquet room and a lot of space on the patio. The food was amazing. My burger was perfect, the sandwich I tried was also excellent. If you enjoy a nice dark beer go for the Moose Drool...its amazingly refreshing and tasty. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Boppa B.
Been here plenty of times over the years, and haven't had an experience like the the one my group (6 total) encountered this afternoon. Showed up at 12:30, decent amount of patrons, not totally packed. Waitress took our drink orders promptly; meals were ordered after drinks were delivered. Then it took nearly 30 mins to bring out our lunches! WTF? No waitress or anyone else to explain the long wait. I asked for a drink refill, waited almost 10 mins for that. When one member of our party went to inquire about the status of our orders, he was told that it would "only be another minute" and that "their computer went down." Meanwhile, we watched as several other tables (who were seated after us) received their orders. Typically, my experiences here have been at least 4 out of 5 stars. Today's debacle knocked it down a couple.
(2)
Bill C.
The Hopyard is a decent place to meet up with some friends for a drink or two. Generally the food is mediocre and the service is hit or miss. The one redeeming quality is that they have a decent beer selection. This place makes for a good backup plan in case your first choice is way too crowded. *** Update 19-Dec-06 **** Was there last night trying to get into the Christmas Spirit (and let the Christmas Spirits get into me). Only to find out they close at 9 PM. Geez! That's barely enough time to get a few drinks. Still, it's not a bad place but at least stay open until 10.
(3)
brett m.
Good food, cute waitresses, Great beer selection....a little pricey
(4)
Keith K.
I've been coming here for the past 6 years and I was just here last night with my wife and some friends. The food has had it's share of ups and downs but the beers never disappoint. The burger last night was the best I've had here and the garlic fries were excellent. The buffalo wings are also another favorite. They have just the right amount of heat. This is a great place to hang out and catch up with friends.
(4)
David C.
Nice relaxed atmosphere, drinks are cold and inexpensive, food is decent. Bartenders go out of their way to accomadate your needs. Nice little brewpub.
(3)
linh d.
Average food.
(3)
Jimmy K.
Did not get to try any of the food, but the beer selection was awesome. We came late around closing time and they stated "last call" however I got like 4 beers after it was announced. The bartender was awesome providing great service and great sampling's of the different beers they have. A solid place to grab a beer and talk with the locals about anything... especially craft beer :)
(4)
Albert W.
As with any brewer-like place, you'll find the American classics - burgers, sandwiches and brew. They're all "alright", nothing that special (I'd rather go to in-n-out) BUT it's a place where everyone can find something on the menu that's fit their needs. I would go there if you'd like a local Pleasanton place where you can chat with friends in a casual place.
(3)
Joe Y.
Great selection of beer. I'm a beer snob. However, like others have said, the food was AWFUL!! And Service? What service? I heard rumors they were going to open a new location in Livermore. Thank gawd that rumor died...
(2)
Catherine S.
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. We had a graduation party on June 11, the food was awesome and our server was perfect! Management was incredibly helpful and let us drop off cake, balloons, and decorations hours before hand! If you are going to have a party Hopyard is definitely the place to have it!!!
(5)
Andrew L.
I have never seen more douchebags in one place before in my life. If you don't routinely wear sandals, capri pants, your company's softball jersey and a ski cap at the same time, stay the hell away from this place. I knew that Pleasanton was full of white trash, but this place makes Kevin Federline look like the coolest guy on earth. WOW!
(1)
Lisa L.
My husband loves the beer here, although why they only had 2 Lagunitas beers on Lagunitas brewery night is a mystery, but the food is hit or miss. I tried the special, chicken mole enchiladas. Worst.Dinner.Ever! There was less than an ounce of plain chicken inside each terribly hard, impossible-to-cut corn tortilla. The mole sauce was good, but there was just the tiniest smear of the sauce on top of the enchiladas. On to the salmon tacos. My husband will eat almost anything, and he had to push these aside after one bite - too fishy and gross! A fun place to hang out with friends and family, and I appreciate the kids menu, but I think it will be a while before we try it again.
(2)
Barry A.
Walked in about 4:30 for a burger. Was immediately socked in the face with the smell of mustiness.... ...you know... that dirty mop bucket smell. We retreated back out front to the patio. Service was excellent. Surprisingly I had no beer, although they have a good selection of brews... Had the Hop Yard burger on onion roll. Ordered medium, received well done. Burger was still juicy, so it was fine. A little too much bun for your burger. The garlic and parmesan fries were passable. Thankfully for me, living in The City means I have a large selection of places to grab a great burger. We're spoiled like that
(2)
Alvin W.
The Hopyard is a good place for lunch and a great place for happy hour. Probably one of the best alehouse and grill in Pleasanton. They have a large selection of beers on tap and the price of pitchers are very reasonable. If you're there for happy hour, try their garlic parmesan fries. My co-workers and I enjoy sitting on the outdoor patio on sunny days.
(3)
jessica h.
Came here with some friends for appitizers and drinks. The service was quick and friendly with good suggestions. The food was good for drinking snacks, but I really enjoyed just sitting outside on a nice day with good company. would come back.
(5)
Margaret S.
I have eaten here for years and I have to say NO MORE! The food is gross (i had the Chicken Apple salad last night and the apples were actually moldy and rotten) and our waitress could care less about it - when she bothered to come by and check on us that is - which i might even over look if the food was any good at all. Save your money and yourself from potential food poisoning and go anywhere else.
(1)
Aaron K.
A great place to hang out, drink from a great selection of beers, and eat great pub food. This place has an impressive menu of beers. Of course you can try a sample of one before you commit to buying a pint. I usually go for the ones on the menu with the picture of a bomb next to it (high alcohol selections). They also have at least a couple beers tapped with nitrogen instead of carbon dioxide. This gives a different experience, and the beer is much smoother and creamier - quite a treat. The food I've had there is really good - burgers, fries, nachos, sandwiches. If you're looking for grilled Tofu and a seafood salad, then you've come to the wrong place. If you want a good beer and food with your friends - go to Hopyard.
(5)
Amanda M.
This place is my Cheers! We are here almost every Tuesday. Awesome beer selection. The servers are totally cool and actually remember you week to week. Yes, the food could be better but it's a pub! Get over it! The sweet potato fries are delicious!
(5)
Deborah W.
I'll give it 2 stars for atmosphere and great beers. Our crowd had a great time but it wasn't the food that made it fun. Don't know what all the talk about the burgers is. They were dry and hard to find under all the extra bread. Great selection of beers though--hubby hadn't even heard of a few and that's rare! Waiter was great.
(2)
Janice S.
The food was okay barfood- like sandwiches and stuff. The parmesan garlic fries are the draw. Not a beer drinker but the husband said their brew was good. I didn't realized people actually hangout in Pleasanton regal-beagle style-j/k. Our server was in training and he was super-friendly like almost too nice but he was good and no complaints. Would go back to watch games or something.
(3)
David I.
Good beer, decent food. I have had a meal or two that I would order again such as the burger. After that it's not that great. However the beers are very good and Tuesday nights for beer of the week is a fun evening!
(3)
Douglas L.
Hmmm...Well, this is my place of worship. I thoroughly enjoy the atmosphere, the people, staff and the beer. Many to choose from and the menu always changes. Approximately 25-30 beers on tap. Food is fine - standard pub-fare. Although, they do have specials everyday that change daily (although again standard pub food). But a very nice place to get a nice beer, hookup your computer (free wifi), and enjoy a game on the TV. Alternatively, sit outside in the sun, or shoot some darts, play liars dice. Good family place - I take my kids here all the time and they enjoy the food and location. Just a fun place to hang out!!
(4)
Danielle S.
I went here thinking it was the same as the San Ramon Hopyard.. No, it was not. The food was not very good. The service was ok.
(2)
Ashley M.
Good service, good place for those who love beer, but the food for me is just forgettable. It's not gross or anything, it tastes fresh, but honestly i have been here 5 times, got 5 different things and was never impressed. don't think i'll ever go back
(2)
Lynds H.
Folks...it's a pub! If you're looking for fine dining, peace and quiet, and a menu that extends beyond your typical pub-food, this is not it! If you are, however, looking for good beer, burgers, and fries, this is the best place in the area. A great selection of beer and great deals on Tuesday night pint nights. Garlic parmesan fries are intense, but oh so good. Food and service is good most of the time, but can drop on busy nights, but let me stress this again...IT'S A PUB!!!
(4)
Scotty D.
the hopyard is a place that means alot to me in many ways! it was the place that made me love beer and met my best buddy dave at the hopyard. both the pleasanton and san ramon locations are great for food, fun, beer and great people watching. as for myself i love to hang out more at the san ramon hopyard because of the great staff, regulars and the cute ladies. the beer is fantastic and changes daily with the best micro brewed beers around. i really love the collages of pictures on the walls of all the old employees and friends i have met along the way. as for the food its your typical pub kinda food and i prefer the sandwiches and burgers over anything and next time your in town stop in and tell em scottysauce sent ya!
(4)
Amanda R.
Fantastic beer menu!!!! Food is great. My Fave is the crab melt my fiance's is the mushroom burger. Mini corn dogs and the zucchini is great. This place can seat a lot of people. I have NEVER had to wait for a seat... even on a saturday night. The people who work there are so nice and helpful. Great deal nights (every tuesday special beer night). We highly recommend this place! Hang out eat and have fun!
(5)
Sam H.
This place is pretty cool. Standard bar menu for the most part, although they do offer some non-standard fish dishes. I have not had a hamburger yet, but they looked really good. Service was fine, and the beer selection is around 30 beers. They have a hopyard Hefeweizen that is light and refreshing. They have an outdoor patio area where you can smoke. This bar is right on my commute home and it is difficult not to stop in and catch a beer.
(4)
Carol B.
Had a bad experience at The Hopyard today. We were ignored by our waiter. I had to get up and hunt someone down to take our lunch order. When our food finally came, my burger was rare and barely luke warm (e-coli anyone?). When our missing waiter finally showed up with the bill he asked how everything was and when I reported that my beef was still mooing he made no attempt to adjust the bill just asked if I wanted to send it back. I explained at that point I didnt have time to wait as I had to get back to work. This is the 3rd time I have received crappy service. The last time was around Thanksgiving and the waitress was snooty.
(1)
Marvy A.
I've added the Hopyard to my "Places to go when in Pleasanton". And the main reason? Garlic Fries! Mmm....I love that it has chunks of garlic AND parmesan cheese sprinkled all over them! I've already forgotten what I ate with them the last time I was here...but man, those fries sure were good!
(4)
Carla T.
Casey's take: hopyard hefe and garlic fries...nuff said. i'm craving it, just thinking about it :-) the hopyard hefe is not lack-luster in flavor, as most witbiers tend to be (for me, at least). the hefe is smooth, almost buttery, and does well in cutting the residual fry grease left in your mouth after devouring a basketful (yes, i said a basketful) of their savory, garlic fries. nutritionally obsolete? yes! absolutely satisfying? without a doubt! let's just say you're guaranteed to leave quite full after chowing down on this snack of champions. hey, i never said this was a healthy meal... a deadly combination of beer and garlic breath, be sure to drink lots of h20 and come readily equipped with an arsenal of gum if you're headed to aura to partake in pleasanton's nightlife festivities...if not, you're sure to ward off any potentials. LOL... p.s. - the blue cheese burger is YUMMY, too! if you're with a group of friends, the nachos are a good choice because they're humongous!
(4)
Andrew K.
The Hopyward has a great selection of beers on-tap and great burgers. It does get busy on Fri. and Sat. nights; however, we've never had a problem getting a table. When the weather warms up, the front patio is a great place to get a table. Also, very kid-friendly.
(4)
Ken V.
I used to have lunch here quite a few years ago when I worked right down the street. Every once in a while, I'd meet up with some buddies here on the weekend. What I remember--Impressive selection of beers on tap, you're sure to see something you don't know about. Burgers and sandwiches are decent, fresh ingredients, good flavor--a notch above average pub grub. The service is kind of spotty--at times, it's great, others, you'll feel like you're invisible. Overall, I'd go back if I'm in the area again, if only for the tap beer selection.
(4)
Josh R.
This place is easy to sum up: Solid simple food choices at reasonable prices, wide rotating beer selection that is almost guaranteed to have something you haven't tried before on tap. Come here if you want a reasonably priced night of unpretentious food and good beer, definitely worth the visit.
(4)
NoCal S.
I had the sierra burger(name?). The meat was a thin patty that reminded me of the frozen pre-shaped kind you get at costco. Roll was a bit too dense and beat the poor meat to the background. Fries and beer were good, as were the burger toppings. Really needs better meat.
(2)
Tiffany T.
Bleh. Locals either love or hate this place. Frankly everything I have had here has been mediocre. Their chicken kabob appetizer was bland, the dipping sauce lackluster. Their burgers were bland, not enough meat or fresh toppings. Their garlic fries are probably the best item on the menu. If you drink enough beer this place is probably ok, or if you want to eat outside and get kind of rowdy. Eh. I just don't see the appeal of this place in many ways it just a big bar.
(3)
Joseph N.
This place is around the corner from my work. I typically don't go out to lunch but when I do, I have this place in my back pocket. The wait staff is very friendly, and the timing is right for the lunchtime crowd. I had the new Chicken Caprese Sandwich - very good!
(4)
Jason S.
Must say....got all excited about the pliny the elder and cheeseburger write up.....BUT....not so much. Cheeseburger was average at best....little on the cold side, just not very good. The nachos appetizer was pretty good...but the Pliny beer was brutal, had to choke it down. My friend had a firestone double jack IPA and to say he struggled w it is an understatement.....he nearly baRfed...but did catch a buzz via the hops and aromatic delivery of this stinky brew.
(2)
John Z.
This is my favorite sports bar in Pleasanton. The beer is great, the food is excellent, and the service is solid. The Hopyard is an excellent spot to hang out after work or on the weekends enjoying their patio in the sun.
(3)
Raee W.
Great Place. Down to earth not snooty or complicated. Servers are busy but do a great job. My last server did great! My iced tea was low and instead of filling my cup with iced tea from the pitcher she brought me a fresh cup, with new ice and new lemon wedge. Burgers and fries are very fresh and tasty. Salads very good. The beer selection rocks and if you are not sure what beer to order, try a sample for .25cents. Inside it gets to be noisy, with the televisions and sports fans. Great place to go
(4)
Stacey G.
Yum, had the turkey taco (special of the day) with fries - it was amazing! Match that with a Hopyard wheat beer and you have one great lunch!
(5)
Bryan K.
Every Tuesday, Hopyard showcases a particular brewery. For a dollar extra you can keep the glass. Then the 2nd and subsequent beers of the same brewery are $1 off (but you can't keep those glasses). As a bachelor, *that's* the reason to come here -- load up on fine glassware for when your buddies come over. The food is average so eat somewhere else then come here for a nightcap... its roomy, has a few tvs to catch the A's game, and a patio for those warm nights. In a nutshell, come here for the variety of beer but the food is not so good. Oh and the beer glasses! (not to be confused with beer goggles) :)
(3)
jenelle d.
My favorite restaurant in Pleasanton. I look forward to going there whenever it's warm outside! BUT i hate eating inside. It is all dark and dingy but the food is always good. Try the Cajun Popcorn Chicken salad. It is delicious.
(4)
Billy S.
I've got a friend that works here that i always seem to miss whenever i go in. The food definitely is run of the mill bar food. What makes up for that however is the staff and the beer. I'm fully aware that they have an open bar but they have a great selection of brews to choose from and friendly staff to serve it. It's a bit out of the way for me to go to all the time, but i try and make an appearance every once in a while.
(3)
Andrew B.
I love this place. Definitely more "Alehouse" than "Grill", but that was what I expected, and once through the doors there was no doubt. Sampled one of the many beers including a 25c 'taster' shot. I'd stick to the ample appetizers. Lots of character and a great local place to relax.
(4)
Gina R.
My husband and I went here last weekend - we took our 9 week old with us. The food was decent, so was the atmosphere. Good for kids. I had a bbq pulled pork sandwich and the pork was tender and there weren't hunks of fat in it (which I hate to find in a pulled pork sando!), but there was no bbq/smokey taste - just tasted like the meat had been slow steamed or roasted. The bbq sauce was also mediocre. My husband had the cajun cheese steak and liked it just fine. Fries were good, service was great. Beer selection was awesome.
(3)
Jocelyn F.
Unfortunately, this place isn't as good as the one in San Ramon. The people are loud, the food is prepared different. I tend to order the same thing the Sierra Madre, onion rings instead of fries, extra mayo w/ a side of ranch. The sierra Madre at this place didn't taste as good as the one in san ramon - I don't know, the avocado on this burger was mashed like guac instead of nice pretty slices, the bacon - it was one slice of bacon cut in half - I laughed - at san ramon you get 2-3 slices (cut in half - plenty of bacon to cover the burger) and asked for more, the server, very nicely brought me over a plate of bacon. Service was nice, although I did tire of the staff chit chatting loudly. I just wanted to watch Micheal Phelps tell the world what it felt like to kick some arse at the Olympics.
(3)
Chris S.
As far as Pleasanton goes, you have this place or the Main Street Brewery. There's usually some compelling beers to try (they do tasters) and the food is more than passable. It's always busy, to a certain extent. PROS: Thai chicken salad; just-about-the-right-number of TV's; lively CONS: Wish is had a bit more pub'biance
(4)
Patrick W.
This is a nice place to hang out and meet friends. If you're not on a date, try the garlic fries! It has a nice comfortable, atmosphere and is friendly to groups of people. This is they type of place to see families, people on dates and your local softball team.
(4)
Steven L.
Good food and a nice setting. Plenty of different beers on tap. Can get pretty busy.
(4)
Angela M.
Basic pub food and brews. The staff is friendly. The interior feels like a Cracker Barrel but they do have outdoor seating. We have been twice with larger groups - they provide one bill with gratuity already added. What I really don't like is if you want separate bills they charge you $2/bill - must be making up for whatever gratuity they think they are missing out on with a group bill and automatic gratuity.
(3)
C D.
Good selection of beers (and ciders!). Good food, and funny wait staff. Went on a saturday night with a group of friend and had the cheesesteak which was delicious. Also the mini corn dogs are good to.
(4)
Betty W.
So, the beer is awesome. I love how many different choices there are. It's a great place to go watch a game and drink a few pitchers of beer :-) However, if you're hungry...eat before you go. How they are able to screw up a burger, I shall never know.
(3)
blair k.
i hate giving this place such an average review because i kinda like going here. i like beer, not love it. their pliney is always good. but the food... it is always so average and last time i went my food came way before my date's. so then mine got cold cause i waited. so i sent it back to be re warmed, which took forever, so my my boyfriend finished his food and mine came back and we didnt get to eat together. :o( crummy but they have a large selection of beers and it is good for boys.
(3)
Robert L.
Good selection of beers but other than that just a run-of-the-mill so-called brewpub. If this is the best Pleasanton has to offer there's an opportunity for someone to open up a real sports-bar brew-pub and put these guys out of business. Decor and atmosphere is non-existent. Food is not good. Our french fries were like all the little nubs at the bottom of a bag of frozen fries. Fried appetizers were no better than you could make at home with frozen food from the supermarket. Wine selection is pitiful. They were out of the "house" $6.50 cab so the only red choices left were $10 and $9.50 a glass for wine that just isn't worth it. They should at least always have a cheaper alternative. All in all, we won't be back. This place was once good, has fallen severely, still taking people's money without giving much back to them. I say go elsewhere or open a better place .. there's obviously a market.
(2)
Marla M.
Basic pub grub. Only thing I can say, is that they do, do their own chips, twice fried every morning, a +, and the soups, some are really good, some are not so much. The burgers could be seasoned more, and a bit steep on price. But it is Pleasanton. + Hard Cider of different varieties on tap, a way in to any hard cider lovers heart... Servers tip out A LOT! So give them a break.
(3)
oliver e.
Synopsis - nice beer selection but way overpriced, ok food, fair service. I have been drinking craft beer and living in this area for 25 years. When hopyard first opened they offered a viable alternative to the competition. Now, with Dublin Sports grill and the newly expanded Livermore first st alehouse, Hopyard can't compete. Hopyard has always had a good selection of beers. Unfortunately, they charge premium prices - out of line with what is offered by the competition. Compounding this, their food has always been middle range and the service just doesn't seem to really care about the customer. You can get good beer here but why not get a better deal, better food, and better service at the other two local establishments?
(3)
Kiki G.
i'm not a big beer drinker and when I do, it's Guinness. My Irish heritage prohibits me from drinking anything else. That being said and out of the way, I am reviewing the food. One step above the regular pub grub. Plus it's Oktoberfest, so head on down!
(3)
Pamela S.
The food is ok, but the only thing I really liked was the garlic fries. I like the garlic fries better at the San Ramon location. One thing I really do not like about this place is that every time I went here, the beer was served warm-cool. I prefer ice cold beer in a cold glass.
(2)
Raj M.
If this place hired a real chef, or even some talented line cooks, it would be a fun spot for dinner. As is, it's nice for some daytime beers in the summer, but the food is somewhere between applebees and frozen TV dinners... not a good place to be.
(2)
Michael W.
I had a tough time thinking about how to review this place, since I am not a fan of bear or ale. The best way to describe it is as a nice suburban pub. When I used to live in Chicago, it was common place for each neighborhood to have a local pub that was a bit dingy, but had lots of character and friendly staff. This is a bit more manufactured with less character, but a decent supply and variety of beer. Food is what you would expect; burgers, fries, chicken fingers, etc. Nothing out of the ordinary, and nothing I would find myself craving. Yet, if their is a sporting event on that I would want to watch with a couple of friends while sampling various brews, this might be worth a shot.
(3)
Tiffany M.
Good selection of beer and always a friendly staff! The zucchini sticks are delicious and so are the boneless buffalo wings. They also have a huge patio area so it is really nice to sit out there on a warm evening.
(5)
Casey C.
hopyard hefe and garlic fries...nuff said. i'm craving it, just thinking about it :-) the hopyard hefe is not lack-luster in flavor, as most witbiers tend to be (for me, at least). the hefe is smooth, almost buttery, and does well in cutting the residual fry grease left in your mouth after devouring a basketful (yes, i said a basketful) of their savory, garlic fries. nutritionally obsolete? yes! absolutely satisfying? without a doubt! let's just say you're guaranteed to leave quite full after chowing down on this snack of champions. hey, i never said this was a healthy meal... a deadly combination of beer and garlic breath, be sure to drink lots of h20 and come readily equipped with an arsenal of gum if you're headed to aura to partake in pleasanton's nightlife festivities...if not, you're sure to ward off any potentials. LOL... p.s. - the blue cheese burger is YUMMY, too! if you're with a group of friends, the nachos are a good choice because they're humongous!
(4)
Michelle G.
The only thing I remember about this place is their HUGE fish sandwich, the Moby, which anyone in the know would always have to call ahead for since it's not a regular on their menu. Often times I would only eat the fish because the bread is just overkill. But that sandwich paired with their tartar sauce, fries and beer pitchers is enough to put me into a coma for the rest of the day. Hopefully if you order a Moby, they won't overcook it. I have fond memories of my ex boss bringing me here for my first few lunches.
(4)
Bay A.
Clarification, the Hopyard is not a brewery. For some reason everyone kept telling me they were a brewery and I checked it out. As Bryan K states they "showcase a particular brewery". Which they way I see it, they just offer beer. The same way Applebees or anywhere else does. I really don't like The Hopyard, but my damn buddies keep wanting to come for some reason. The food is OK I guess, actually I do like their garlic fries. I dont know what it is, maybe because it always so damn dark in there and the fact that people refer to it as a brewery that keeps me from liking this place. Oh well.
(2)
Mike L.
This place has a great selection of beer and I love the friendly staff. The only reason this place only gets 3 stars is that their food is a little below average. Not terrible, but not good. I like everything else about this place.
(3)
Allisson K.
What a fun place to go on a hot night, after a run, when you need a beer to cool things off. There's a patio outside - not a great view, but a patio nonetheless! Greasy food, friendly staff and beer, beer, beer. Oh and if your kiddies like greasy food...they have highchairs too!
(3)
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Address :3015 Hopyard Rd,Ste H
Pleasanton, CA, 94588
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Donna C.
Great place for beer, hang out, and watch some sports. So far I haven't tried many things on their menu. I've tried the crispy wings (bone-in) and I didn't like it. The boneless ones were better but still didn't like it since it is they use the same hot sauce. I dislike the hot sauce it is salty and sour. I prefer spicy and a little bit of sweetness. Boneless was better and the crispy wings just tasted like it's been re-fried. You cannot go wrong with the cajun burger and the strips&chips (chicken strips and your choice of fries.) Cajun burger has a nice chipotle aioli sauce which I also request for my strips & chips as my dipping sauce. Chicken strips are crunchy on the outside. If you are a vegetarian and like beer but not the pub like food they have salad options. I do get confused when the cobb and pub salad says mixed greens when they don't serve mixed greens (arugula and spinach etc.) it is just a mix of different type of lettuce. Not the usual mixed greens I guess.
(5)Angelo D.
On a cold Friday evening I was craving crappy bar food and beer. So what? Sue me. My girlfriend suggested The Hopyard, having gone there a few times for company happy hours. Crappy bar food and beer is what I was craving, crappy bar food and beer is what I was promised, but I have to say I was surprised by my generous portion of beer with a side of pretty decent bar food. You could say I came into it with low expectations, but the food was not half bad, the service was great regardless of how busy it was, and they had a sizable selection of beers. All in all, exactly what I was hoping for.
(4)Loni A.
I only gave this a 4 star because they do not have a good selection of pub grub, but they do have a great beer selection. The service was great and was very fast. My favorite is their hot wings, crab sandwich, and the Parmesan garlic fries.
(4)William S.
Here is the deal...great place, plenty of beer, great food, nice atmosphere especially outside. The sweet potatoe fries are excellent, as was the salad. The service was prompt, and correct. Prices were average for the area, not exhorbitant, but not inexpensive either. I would definately return. It was more casual than not.
(4)evan a.
Beer selection: great. They have Pliny. Nuff said. Food: Great burgers, great fries, coleslaw very good. Can't say much about the other options, because I only ever get the burger. Service: Hit or miss. Usually it's fine, but the wait staff needs a little help with the attitude. When half the patio is wide open, don't make people wait. Set a new table. Scene: Families and sports bar crowd. The bar is clique-y. Not a place you can really start a conversation because the people at the bar show up with friends and then stay glued to the game on TV. Bathroom: Yikes. Hope you don't have to sit down.
(3)Christina B.
Omg! Just left the Hopyard completely baffled! My family and I were eating dinner. Noticed several of the televisions were tuned into soccer games and one into an SF Giants game, two into the Yankees and Red Sox game. We politely asked if one television could be turned to the Oakland A's game. Could not believe it when our waiter came back and said, "I pled my case and the bartender would not change any of the stations to the A's." What??! Out of 12 or more televisions, they refused to turn one to an Oakland A's game? I've never heard of such terrible customer service! A customer asks for one out of twelve televisions to be changed and they're refused! It will be a looong time before we go back to the Hopyard. We don't care how good their beer is! We'll stick with traveling to the Alehouse in Livermore, which actually accommodates the customer, not the bartender.
(1)Jaime O.
such a variety of craft beers. Must visit.
(5)Max K.
I attended a business mixer here given quarterly by one of our National Distribution partners. So I can't knock it too badly. If I were a sophomore or junior in college, I'm sure I would love this place. About 30 different ales and pilsners on tap. The appetizers were pedestrian at best. I'm sure the bar food deserves another chance. The burgers I hear are pretty decent. Sadly, I don't drink much anymore and 1/2 down the 580 back to Oakland I sniffed my shirtsleeve which was now Thomas Pink a la Au De Fryer Oil.
(2)Niall M.
Ah, it is OK. I had been here quite a few years ago, I remembered it as being good and we were in the neighborhood so stopped in. Of course, first we checked the beer menu. If you are an IPA fanatic, this is your place. They have TEN of them. That is fine by me but Judit has her preferences and they have Anchor steam on tap so she was happy. Still, I would have liked to see more variety. They have one stout (Moylans) which must have been chosen by someone who does not like stout. When it comes to the food, we can only comment on the fish and chips. Not bad but not great either. Service was decent, not great. Ah, it is OK
(3)Bryce P.
Friendly staff great beer I had a quesadilla it wasnt very good but I saw what other people ordered and it all looked really good! If only they sold liquor though...
(5)Larissa T.
This place is great! The hubby was in search of Pliny the Elder on tap locally and they had it!! 4 stars just for that. The atmosphere is laid back and unpretentious. We didn't experience bad service as other reviewers had mentioned. Our server Veronica was friendly, fast and she always checked in with us to see if we were doing ok. I had the pork nachos, yummy, the Sierra Madre Burger, yummy, cheese fries, yummy, Black Velvet Beer and my night is complete! The End, can't wait to go back.
(4)Denise C.
This place is solid. They had a decent craft beer selection, and we were able to choose from a couple of different IPAs. Unfortunately, they were out of our first choice, Pliny. Tends to happen at a lot of places though. The food was typical American style bar food. Everybody liked their meal, and we left full. The garlic parm fries were delicious. My chicken wrap was good. Other orders at our table were the burger - rated good, and the wings - which got a good rating too. Not gourmet food, but I didn't expect it to be.
(3)Sean I.
Good food, and accommodating for a lunch time business meeting. I called the restaurant as I was trying to find a place where I could seat 12 people for an 11 am business lunch in which we had to be out of there by 12 to make a plane. The GM assured me it would be doable and he would make it happen. Worked out great, all the food came out in a timely manner and everyone made their flight. I'll add this place to my list of places that I take customers for lunch. The place was getting loud by the time we left, so it may be better to do earlier or later than 12 for a business meeting that isn't casual.
(5)Fabrice H.
We live in Castro Valley and were craving for a good, quality burger - not a step-up from In-And-Out or Nation's, a really decadent. creative burger with fresh ingredients. After wandering around quaint downtown Pleasanton and finding mostly wannabe fancy Italian restaurants (this should be an oxymoron), we ended up at the Hopyard Alehouse. While not a big fan of sports bars myself, I had a very, very satisfying burger experience. just what the Doctor ordered. And their hard apple cider was dynamite too. Of course, if you're into beer (which sadly I am not), you've come to the right place, I am sure. Solid service, fast in spite of the Friday night crowd, and again, an excellent burger selection.
(5)Ami P.
I live around the corner and enjoy this place as a general rule. Today I called in for take away for the first time and was very disappointed. First, the price for a burger was $3.00 more than the online menu listed. Second, sweet potato fries were $1.00 more than regular, which is fine. Only there were only about 15 in the box, compared to three times as much of the other fries for my companion. Lastly, both burgers were ordered medium, but were well done. Perhaps they don't care since you won't be dining in, but that's a mistake... especially in the age of Yelp ;-)
(2)John Y.
Come here for the large selection of beer or the sports on the TV. That's it. But, you can get that at home very easily. Not much else to get me to come here after my 3rd and hopefully a redemption visit. My prior visits were all quite blah. Every now & then, I come back here to see if maybe I just experienced a bad night. No problems there-everyone/every place has them. But, I just can't seem to like this place no matter how hard I try. There really isn't much to make this place stand out or to compensate for the price of the food/drinks etc. The restaurant itself is o.k. but everything, tables, chairs etc are all very dated. Hard wood tables and chairs-not very comfortable at all. Service was o.k. My particular server didn't seem to know the beer selection very well or was fairly new-that's o.k. though. Can't fault someone for being new, but for a place that is a brewery, I would expect a little more. Beer-Samples cost .25? Come on! You guys spill more beer than the amount that you give out on samples. Maybe it's become common practice. IMHO, a 'sample' would be something that would be considered part of doing business and part of customer service...you know, keeping customers happy and coming back for more? The food was quite pathetic. How hard is it to get fried chicken or mashed potatoes right? Tasted like frozen food. Honestly, KFC or Popeye's would be better. The french fries? Ugh. Just odd that this place has survived until now. Hopefully, writing this review will help me to remember what a horrible experience I keep having here and I won't come back.
(1)Greg H.
Enjoyed some fine STONE IPA with some friends last night at the Hopyard. Service was great, food a little bland.
(3)Shawnacy N.
Great place to hang, get a good beer and a burger. Bar tending staff are great too... Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Ying W.
I like this place a lot, the fact that they have Pliny the elder on tap keeps me coming back. Plus they have a lot of other great beers on tap, although the brewers night seems to be better at the San Ramon location. Food is good, not amazing but it's above average for pub grub. This would be my favorite bar in DP (that's dublin pleasanton for all you perverts who think like me out there) if last call wasn't at like 9:30 pm!! I mean, First street ale house in Livermore is open until midnight! Come on, you can at keep the bar open and the kitchen closed if you want to clean up early!
(4)Travis T.
Holy beer selection. I've been to Ale houses where there's more on tap, but just like my women, it's quality over quantity. Unfortunately I came for the food since I was on my lunch break. I ordered the Sierra Madre burger. This comes with bacon, cheddar, and avocado on it. and OMG it was heavenly......one of the best burgers I have had in the Bay Area since I moved here almost 6 years ago. I ordered it Medium Rare, which in the Bay means Med Well, but this one was actually cooked correctly. Each bite was juicy. The only thing giving The Alehouse a 4 instead of a 5 was that I felt like I was at the kids table while sitting at the bar counter. It was at a good height, had I been standing, but since I was sitting, It was a little to far up there.
(4)Cherie T.
This is my stress-feel good-comfort food spot for sure. The garlic fries are out of control amazing! Add a Sierra Madre burger to that and your in pub food heaven. They offer outdoor seating which is very nice as well. Overall, one of my fav spots to eat in San Ramon.
(4)Brandon A.
Very impressed with The Hopyard. Our waitress was very knowledgeable about the beers and described them perfectly before I ordered. The food is really greasy and you can't eat too much of it but what can you expect from an American Grill. Its good food, just not so much my style. Wish they had a better wine selection. Really cool that they let you sample beers before buying one. Great servers/bartenders. Awesome place. I had so much fun I think I felt the right side of my body going numb....or maybe that was just a stroke...
(4)Drew B.
Bus Trip stopped here for Lunch. They gave us a nice large sideroom. One waitress for 30 people was inadequate. They had Pline the Elder on Tap so that's always a win but $6.75 put it past the friendly zone. Founders Burger was lacking, heft and bacon. It was served with 11 fries. Weak. I would reccomend the bus stop somewher else next time.
(3)Alie Z.
I love the hopyard in San Ramon but the pleasanton location just isnt up to par. When we went here for dinner the other night it took us about 25 minutes to get our first drink and the waiter forgot one when he did finally bring them out. I almost went up to the bar to ask for a second round because our waiter was completely ignoring us. I guess i would understand if they were really busy but there wasnt even that many people there.My boyfriend made his own turkey burger and asked for a lettuce wrap instead of a bun and no fries. Somehow that substitution means you have to pay $15 for a plain burger. When it came time to pay, the waiter charged us for a beer flight that we never even ordered but we almost paid for it just because it took forever to get it taken off our bill. I probably wont be going back to this location. The decor could use a little updating as well...
(2)Candice B.
Came here with the girls for a long awaited Sunday Funday.. I had the creamy tomato soup, which was good. But what all the girls were talking about was the crab sandwich. They said it was the best they ever had, crab was good and tasted even better with the avocado. I didn't get to try it, but they made it look really good so if I ever go back I will have to order that. There's a bar and plenty of tvs to watch all types of games.
(3)Rich Cha K.
Couldn't get past the starters to even order dinner. Was not good at all. Closed out our bill and went next door to Sato Sushi for dinner. Also we ordered a pitcher of beer and it was $25 dollars I believe. We were shocked at the price and that the waitress did not inform us before we ordered it. It was the only beer that did not have a price on the menu and thought it would cost the same as the rest. Apparently it was the most expensive beer on the menu. Would not come again.
(1)B B.
The Hopyard American Alehouse and Grill has to have some of the worst customer service EVER. I called about scheduling a group party since they have a banquet room. The girl on the phone said they have a banquet room that I can schedule. Well they were "busy" when I called so the girl on the phone asked that I leave my name and number (as she was rushing me off the phone). So I left my information. A week goes by and I have not heard anything... So I call yesterday and they say the banquet room is now booked and has been for two weeks... Ok either someone lied to me or not every emplyee has been informed that the room was booked when I asked over a week ago. So the girl manage says to me "well I believe we can put your party up against the wall." I said ok that would be fine. She says she needs to check with another manager... ok... Male manager picks up the phone and says we CAN'T accomodate you." WOW. You guys need to learn to call customers back when you take a message and you need to call them back that day or the next day. Not the next week or NOT at all.. Really shitty service. I am sincerely disappointed in the Hopyard. I'll just go ahead and eat at the Ale House in the future because no matter how busy they are, they are able to ACCOMMODATE me and friends.
(2)Dave F.
pretty dead for what used to be a "happening place". Happy hour is quiet, the selection of food and wine is limited, but the ambiance and menu are "tired" and the place has a "suburbia feel". (Maybe, that's because it's in the heart of the suburbs. On the positive side, there is an excellent selection of beers----and, service was good
(2)Megan V.
The husband loves the selection of beers at both Hopyard locations, and of course we had to go last weekend to get Pliny the Younger (he normally gets Pliny the Elder). I'm not a beer drinker so I wish they had a slightly more diverse choice of wines, but water still works for me. The food is generally fine - not horrible, but nothing memorable either. Three and a half stars overall.
(3)glenn w.
I have been going to the Hopyard since it opened. I usually like the food, I always like the beer selection, but I just can't get past the service. It's really bad. The server seemed to be friendly when you get there, then forget it. The sandwitch I ordered was a Adobo Pork something, I couldn't eat it! I was really hungry and had no time to tell the manager that he should pull the sandwitch from the menu. It was like 1/8 of an inch thick of dry leather, with a sliver of avacado. Please! There are pleanty of other really good brew pubs in the area! Don't bother with this one...I'm done!!!!!!!
(1)Eric D.
Outstanding selection of brews!
(5)Bill H.
What should be a booming business - ala 1st St Ale House in Livermore - limps along because of poor food, high prices, and hit and miss service. The beer selection is good - they seem to have solid connections to breweries such as Russian River. But the pint price is high - $4.75 - 5.75 for baseline beers. Higher for low volume brews. But the beer isn't the problem. Last night I ordered a Caesar salad with blackened chicken. It came with plain chicken. When I got it back they had taken the same chicken and dusted it with seasoning and heated it. Worse they laid a steaming whole piece of chicken onto the salad wilting the lettuce and melting the cheese below it. I set it on a napkin to cool and the server really didn't care when I told her what was happening. I won't even talk to the lady that ususally manages the place because she just gets an attitude and does nothing. I've tried this place a few times hoping it was an anomaly but no, the food and the service remain below par. Time to take my money elsewhere.
(2)Sarah L.
Valerie P.'s experience must have been a fluke, because I had an excellent experience recently at the Hopyard with Jennifer. I used to visit the grill when I was in high school, though I think it might have gone by another name at the time (age is taking its toll on my brain). I recently stopped in for a meal and some memories with old friends and had Jennifer as a server. The sierra madre burger with sweet potato fries that I ordered came out quickly, and cooked perfectly to my specification (my cow was mooing). Jennifer was full of smiles as she provided extremely quick service to our table. She even helped me choose my beer when I was overwhelmed by the selection. We were honestly so please with her service that we bumped up the tip to 20%. I'll be coming back around next time I'm in town.
(4)Michelle M.
Nice afternoon, the patio is awesome.
(5)Jenn H.
Excellent beer menu!
(4)Ralph C.
Been a fan since 2010. One of my favorite IPA selections in the Bay Area. And decent pub food-my recommendation in the winter the black bean chili should be a daily item.
(4)James C.
This place is great. The atmosphere is very comfortable and the staff is really friendly and laid back. The beer selection is seriously endless and the root beer is amazing. The beer food is good ...not great. The fries and wings are good and so are the nachos and chicken tenders, but the burgers need attention. Too much bun. The salads are delicious especially the chicken salad. Overall, very happy with this place. Needs slightly better chow and they would be a five starer.
(4)Stephanie H.
A favorite local bar/restaurant. Love the selection of beers and the all around family and/or singles appeal. We come here after a Saturday morning game of Ultimate playing or just recently, St. Patrick's Day. You will never go wrong if you come here to see some funny eye candy. Local Pleasantries, as I like to call them, can be so entertaining. Garlic fries. get the garlic fries to start. Topped with mounds of garlic, and served with ranch, I could eat just this with a Smithwick's and be satisfied with content. burgers and pub grub good, service, friendly and down to earth. What I like best is the outside patio area that is packed with people. huge outside area that frankly I would eat at every time. No use in eating inside if it's hot and the sun shines perfectly above over the porch awnings.
(4)Patrick D.
Excellent place for good beer and good food! I could explain in more detail, but why waste your time? Go check it out for yourself!
(5)Jon T.
Good selection of beer. I don't recall the food though. A bit tucked away in a business park.
(4)Joe L.
I just moved to town and love this place. Great beers, food and the best for watching a game or three. My favorite!
(4)Carmen T.
I enjoy going to Hopyard for the past several years. Great place. The food quality has been declining....they need to re do the menu and improve the quality. For beer...you can not go wrong.
(3)Matt R.
Honestly I wish there was a 3.5 star rating for this one. I feel like i am betraying them a little bit with the 3 star, but the fact is you go here for the beer and not necessarily the grub. The beer selection rotates often with many different varieties on tap. Food is ok, nothing too spectacular. Sierra madre burger is a solid choice, as is the cajun popcorn chicken salad. Best decision i made here: To join the beer club (gets you trying new beers you possibly wouldn't otherwise and has rewards at 30 beer intervals) Worst decision i made here: opting for the refied beans as a side with the quesadilla (NOT good: seemed like they emptied a can straight into a little cup, however i have been recently informed that they are homemade) Come on Tuesday night for pint night, they feature a special brewery once a week and you can pay 1.00 extra to keep that brewery's pint glass. Ok, i guess i have talked myself into the 4 star rating.
(4)Brian W.
A great selection of beers and good food. Nice outdoor patio. Tried a BBQ bacon cheeseburger. Really good. Others had fish and chips, and had good comments. Service was friendly and helpful.
(4)S K.
Loved their burger. A friend who lives in Pleasanton took me here for a lunch today, and it was a nice surprise~ The burger was well cooked and so was the bun. Fries were just right. Next time I am up there, will definately stop by again~
(4)James N.
On the warm evening, we chose to sit outside. The outdoor seating was quite comfortable during the evening. The menu consist of mainly greasy food definitely food that goes well with beer since the Hop Yard has a lot of brews of beer including their own microbrew. I scanned the beer menu for my own favorite beer, Grolsch, but sadly they didn't have it. However, they did have a fairly large selection of beer. Including Trumer Pils, had some from the Elite Yelp Event @ Five, Berkeley. The whole evening was quite casual, even the gal who served up our food asked about my camera. I always love talking about photography, so the discussion was more than welcoming. I took a couple shots of our dishes then went onto enjoy our dishes. Since I had some greasy food during lunch already. I opted for something that seems a little more healthy. I went for the Mango Chipotle Salmon, There's not much on the presentation of the dish. The salmon was pretty good, the mash potatoes wasn't anything special, and the Broccoli were not bad. But I can tell this dish isn't ordered as frequent. We also have ordered the Hop Yard Fries garlic and parmesans cheese to share. Wow this fries were really strong. If you are eating the salmon, I recommend fries should be moved away from the nose. Smell of the fries and the salmon doesn't mix well at all. The fries and the salmon were great individually but their scent doesn't. Looking over at my table my friend's Grilled Crab Sandwich looks the most tastiest. The sandwich also came with fries on the side. His own review of the sandwich was positive, the side fries was slightly powder with some chili powder was also met with positive review. ------ + Pro: Great place for beer! - Con: Menu is full of greasy food. ( ^_^) Overall: A awesome place to get your drink on.
(4)Monika C.
Facts: 1. I waited 47 minutes (literally) from the time I ordered to get my food. 2. There was a party of ten people in addition to 8 other people in the establishment. 3. My food (a turkey burger and vegetables) was actually cold. 4. I sent the VEGETABLES back and got sweet potato fries which were BY FAR the best thing this place had to offer. 5. My waitress was a gal named Christina. 6. I paid $50 for this crappy experience. 7. I will never return. Highlights: 1. The alcohol (can't screw that up) and the sweet potato fries.
(1)Rob G.
Location: off of Hopyard/Valley - in the shopping center across the street from the CVS. The location is great, especially in summer with a huge outside patio. The restaurant is also bigger than the San Ramon location, but bigger isn't always better. My friends and I are Tuesday Brew Night regulars. We used to flip flop between San Ramon and Pleasanton locations based on the brew of the week, but are sticking to the San Ramon location due to the service - which is far better. Several times we've ordered a round of the same brew, but then got a mix of different brews when served. We're there to drink, so we pound the beer anyways and try another round, but servers aren't as friendly as they are in San Ramon - no small talk. We'll probably chance it again based on the brew, but that's the only saving grace for us at this point. -r
(2)Jennifer L.
Great food, even better beer selection, but the staff is the BEST! From the cooks to the host(esses), you're guaranteed to have a friendly experience. Recommendations: sweet potato fries, crab sandwich, queso rolls (when they have them), tortilla soup, Pliny the Elder, Kona Longboard, and the Knee Deep Tanilla Porter (when they have it).
(5)Caitlin M.
I came here last weekend with my boyfriend. I like beer, I like bar food, and we were in the area and hungry so we thought we would give it a try. I have mixed feelings about this place. We got the crab cake appetizer and a basket of garlic fries, both were quite yummy. The crab cakes were drizzled with a chipotle mango sauce and the fries were not at all lacking garlic, both delicious! The service was iffy, the hostess was extremely rude and acted like we were bothering her when we came in and asked for a table for 2. Our waitress was OK, I had to ask 3 times for a glass of water before I ever got one and it was never refilled when it was empty. AND the worst part of our meal... my beer wasn't cold! That's a crime to me, I am at an "ale house" and you bring me a beer that's just below room temperature, uhmmmm yuck! Another thing that bothered me is the constant vacuuming. While we were eating there was an employee moving all the tables and chairs around us and vacuuming. I came here to have a nice relaxing lunch time snack with my boyfriend and instead got musical chairs with a side of vacuuming. Very irritating! From now on I will stick with The First Street Ale House in Livermore.
(2)Kimmie M.
This place rocks, love the outdoor patio. It's super spacious, compared to Livermore's alehouse whose patio you often wait a long time for an opening. Wish the location was better, it's sort of in this dead little shopping plaza. It would do great in a downtown location. Grabbed the fish taco special, my sister got a grilled crab sammy. Tacos were pretty bomb but I wish I got her crab sandwich. Also got some deviled eggs appetizers. Haven't seen that on a menu anywhere before, and I love deviled eggs, but these weren't as good as homemade ones, so I was a bit disappointed. All in all, solid food, solid beer, solid service.
(3)Kurt O.
The food was disappointing. The soup-of-the-day was tepid. It arrived in a promisingly large bowl, but the bowl was so shallow, you could rest your spoon on its bottom and see the rim of the spoon standing proud the soup. The meal-sized salad was saturated with dressing. The salmon dinner was OK. The beer selection is extensive and the servers were eager to please. So skip the pub grub and enjoy the meal-in-a-glass stout.
(2)Jared M.
Bacon burger was bomb as heck, fries tasted dope and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. The staff was friendly too. Plus the food had a great value, it wasn't a ripoff for the portion I got.
(5)Todd C.
Ran lots of errands today so I thought I'd treat myself to lunch somewhere I hadn't been before. I remembered that many Yelpers gave good/great ratings here so I trekked across the freeway for the Alehouse! Glad I did, because I like real beer and this place definately likes it too. It was an uncrowded bar inside, with most people sitting outside but I wanted to get a chance to see how the bartenders were - and Keith was on top of things, with lots of tips and friendly answers to all my questions. I had the nachos, without meat/chili, and it was a huge portion, easily enough to share and still fill me up. Very tasty....yes nachos are easy to make but it's surprising how many places screw them up regardless. Anyway, the two beers I had were both high grav, one an Imperial Stout and another something called Pliny the Elder. Well let me tell you, they were delicious and very strong indeed. These were really worth the trip! Someone else's review summed it up very well I think: Great beer selection and unpretentious American pub-style food. I'll go again and try a veggie burger with fixings and if my opinion changes I'll reply here. I'm not so crazy about what sounds like frat-night chugging contests? Keith the bartender said it was Tuesdays after 5pm, like a beer club sort of thing where one buys a glass/mug and gets refills for a discount. They do raffle off t-shirts and beer and such....
(4)Lisa L.
worst meal of all time!! i literally wrote the server a note on a napkin telling her though (not her fault) the food was downright disgusting. we'll never go back! i guess if you want to have a beer and watch a game this would be the place but the food is just BAD
(1)Brad D.
***Lunch Review*** Went with the team for lunch, nice atmosphere and pretty good food. Had a salad and it was a decent size and followed directions pretty well. Our only snafu was some of the other lunches came out missing parts and pieces that we had to ask for. They felt a little under staffed but but over all not bad.
(3)Lauren A.
If you feel like clogging your arteries, this is definitely the place to do it...trust me. Their strips and chips with cheese fries make me actually want a heart attack. Let's get serious. I love this place. I've been going there for years, and although I have been banned by the waiter with the tattoo on his wrist (who gets a tattoo there anyways?), I continue to go back incognito. I can't help myself............I just need a Hopyard Burger every once in a while. GO there. Just don't order anything healthy or you'll regret it. But please...go to the gym after. I don't want to promote this obesity epidemic more than it already is.
(5)jack q.
4 stars for the beer and burgers, 0 stars for the rest of the food. Great selection of tasty brews and quality char-grilled burgers, but everything else we've had there truly sucked. It seems like they had to go out of their way to make the food taste horrid. Most of it looked okay, but was either very bland or had some kind of nausea-inducing chemical mixture that was supposed to be "dressing" or "sauce". "You'll just love our radioactive ammonia-409 salad dressing; it's our house specialty!" I think not. I'd rather lick the gutter. But give me a cheeseburger and a few beers and everything's alright with the world. The service can be spotty, too. Seems to depend on some random force rather than the server, because we've had great and lousy service from the same person and it didn't seem to matter if they were busy or not.
(2)Herb H.
I love this place. The food and the beer are on point! Their garlic fries are to die for and the BBQ chicken salad is hands down the best one I have ever had! Cool atmosphere and the food always comes out quick! Tons of beer on tap too. Did I say I love this place yet?
(5)Michael B.
OK I've been around the block a few times in these beer houses. 5 stars may be a bit much but 4 stars didn't seem like enough. The food was very good. My daughter got the Sierra Madre Burger and said it was the best burger she has ever had. She let me have a bite and I do believe it is in the top 5 you'll ever have. The staff was great. Quick to accommodate and friendly. Our server seemed like he had dealt with difficult patron's (like my mother-in-law) before. He listened to her concerns, ran to the kitchen and came back with samples. He must be a psychology student because he seemed to know exactly how to handle any situation that came up. For this reason alone I give this place 5 stars. And the great beer selection doesn't hurt either. It is not 5 star dining but it is everything you want when going out to an Alehouse with the family.
(5)Sadie G.
This place is a fun place to go w/ friends. The servers have been friendly every time we have gone. Not an awesome vegetarian selection, but the garden veggie sandwich is super good (oh no! I almost wrote "supes good"!), and the nachos are tasty. Cory says they have a "better than average" beer selection and they let you tastes a beer in a cute little taster cup if you want to try before you buy. I say yes to The Hopyard when in Pleasanton (and I don't even drink beer).
(4)Meghan R.
This place has a nice porch and is a nice place to just sit, drink a beer, and hang out with your buddies, but the food is nothing special. It's ok. The service, too, is nothing special, but adequate.
(3)Tyrone V.
If you're looking for beer, this is the place to go. Their domestic beer list is extensive, with a number of lesser-known "eclectic" beers, ranging from lagers to stouts. It's a bar and grill through n' through, with the bar being the main focus of the restaurant. The seating area is rather wide-open, such that they could have placed a few more tables in there to make the place feel a bit less empty.... The food is your run-of-the-mill bar food. You've got your fries and burgers, salads, and soups. The burgers aren't bad, albeit somewhat on the dry side. I also tried the patty melt, and the rye bread is a bit overwhelming, masking the taste of what would have been an otherwise tasty patty melt. The cajun chicken sandwich is uninspiring; I could have mistaken it for a spicy chicken sandwich at a fast food restaurant. Besides the food, the service is quick and you won't be left with a long wait for your beer or food... I don't know of very many alehouse/grill-type places in the tri-valley, so this place wll do for now, especially if you don't want to drive across the bridge to eat at BJ's...
(3)Ed H.
Service was good. We did not try the beer, but I hear the beer is good. We ordered a couple the Grilled Crab Sandwich and the Beef Brisket Dip. Both were lacking flavor and the Garlic Parmesan Fries were not that good either. I fet it was overpriced considering the lack of flavor i the food.
(2)Neal B.
We always have a great time at this place. Good food, great beer, and friendly staff. Jen is our fav waitress - sit in her section if you can. Tuesday nights are brewery nights and are a total blast!
(4)Matt A.
Best beer list in Pleasanton. The food rocks too. Tuesday night is pint night featuring beers from a single brewery.
(5)Rich M.
Good pub grub. Decent to slightly lacking craft beer selection. Looks like they do rotating taps. Good spot for a post work oat soda.
(3)Christina C.
Came here after a 7 hour death hike so we were STARVING!! A friend was raving about this great burger joint. So... after burning so many calories in the mountains, BRING IT ON! One of us ordered some clam chowder for an appetizer. I had a taste and it was aweful - totally bland! Even Campbell's does better than that. But they aren't known for chowder so I let it slide. We also ordered mini corn dogs and they were very yummy. Came out piping hot and the breading was soft. It is served with some mustard sauce, but I prefer ketchup. Decided on the Sierra Madre burger and it was meh... and I was HUNGRY. So I will not be coming back. Even if it was worth 3 stars, it would still be too far for me to come back. They do, however, have a great selection of beer.
(2)Denise F.
Why have outdoor seating when you don't allow dogs??? Stupid policy.... I'm sure the beer and food are fine but I won't be enjoying the outdoor setting without my pooch.
(1)nicholas s.
I've been to the Hopyard twice before and have regretted it every time. Unfortunately, this time was no better. The usual crew headed out for Bear Republic Brewery night with high hopes for hops. We're big IPA fans, and the Bear Republic Racer X is SO hard to find. Plus on these brewery nights, you typically pay $1.50 extra and get a brewery mug. SO. We sit down and immediately order the Racer X with the mug. "ohhhhh, sorrryyyyy, we actually don't have any mugs..." WHAAATTTTTTTT. OK, we sit very disappointed for a second then brush it off. No problem, at least we still have our glorious Racer X and the Giants gaa....wait, the A's are playing on the only TV we can see. No prob, we look around for at least 5 minutes to make sure no one is watching that screen, then track down our waitress and ask to change. She says no prob. I watch her go up to the bartender and ask, and he gets this huge attitude that he's got the Giants game on all 293 TV's so he's not changing that one. She mentions it's the only TV we can see and he gives the d-bag shrug and walks away. Awwweessommeee! Next time, young bartender, you proving a point is not worth customer dissatisfaction. The service overall was definitely lacking, BUUUT, our waitress did split the bill after sassing us, so that's great. And the food....ehhhhh, my sweet potato fries were OK except half of them were still frozen. Cajun melt was spicy but didn't really have flavor. Everyone else was OK with their food. Overall, the Hopyard has SUCH HUGE potential, but every time I've been, they've bombed in one way or another. Service needs some personality and attentiveness. Some people DO come to watch the Giants. AND the food should be cooked. One star because I've been disappointed several times, BUT, for having great brewery nights and for the AMAZING Racer X, I give it an extra star.
(2)Daniel M.
First of all, let me say I am a HUGE fan of the Hopyard. I have been scores of times, I would give it a solid 4 star+ review most every time I go. My wife and my visit this past Sunday is an example is that it doesn't take much to slip, and I am posting as I don't want this place to slip food or service-wise. On this visit, it did slip in both areas- Food- Wings- REALLY good, buffalo-style, meaty, good sized. I think the price is a little high, $11 for 8 wings, no side (fries or chips would be good). But they are very good Kettle Chips - LOVE these- as long as they come out hot, they are MONEY! Again, a little steep at $5 for a basket, no dips- though they will bring dip(s) if you ask. Cajun Chicken Sandwich, add Avo- this one slipped for me. I had on a wheat bun, which was a little dry and very crumbly- should have been fresh- sourdough bread would have improved greatly as the bun was weak- ordered the wheat bun trying to be healthier (after wings & chips, lol) but the bun let me down. Also, the breast was skimpy, smaller than usual, minimum of cheese. All in all, I looked at the sandwich size, presentation and flavor as underwhelming. And I should know, I've had this sandwich at least 50 times. Fries- the bomb- came with the sandwich, very good. Salmon with mango glaze- my wife was happy with that. Overall, the miss was the sandwich, the first time I've been disappointed with it. Service- Our server, Kristyn was nice enough, but her service lacked quite a bit and she seemed a bit clueless and made lame excuses when I asked her about some of the service issues- the issues were- Wings came out quick, but no chips. I assumed they were coming right behind, since they were both ordered as apps. My intent was to have them together. After my wife and I had finished half the wings, perhaps close to 10 minutes had passed, still no chips. I flagged her down (she wasn't stopping by to check on us, despite the fact she was close by with another table and the place was dead). I asked her if/when they were coming out, and she said they took longer to cook than the wings- REALLY? How is that possible? I mentioned that I intended to have them together, she didn't seem to care about that. She went off and within a couple of minutes they finally arrived. I wonder when/if they would have if I had not asked. When they did arrive, again, no apology or empathy- A complete miss. The meal went on, the hostess actually brought our food out and I asked her for a few condiments (Mustard, ranch, wing sauce), she was very prompt and friendly- wished she would have been our server. Kristyn eventually came by, right after our food arrived but before we started eating and asked how everything was. Huh? We told her we asked the hostess we were needing some condiments, and instead of her following up to be sure it was handled she wandered off to another table- my impression? She was glad to not have to be the one to go get them. When we would have liked to have her stop by and check on beverages and other needs, frequently I would hope, Kristyn was nowhere to be found. Very uneven and unconcerned service. I do want to say that the service we have had at the Hopyard has been very good for several years now, after not being so for many years prior. This improvement has brought my family, friends and I to the Hopyard many, many times. After this visit, I'm sure it will be less often. With the miss on the food and disappointing service, this visit was letdown and a bummer on my father's day. Additionally, I always want to go the Hopyard, my wife usually does not. I now will have a lot less leverage to get her there. Bummer for me, bummer for the lost revenue for the Hopyard- hopefully management reads this stuff and cares more than Kristyn seemed to care.
(3)Freedom M.
Slow inattentive service. Party of three and there was no wait with tables available. We waited 20 minutes at the door before asking a busboy if we could seat ourselves. We sat and 25 minutes later a server finally acknowledged us and realized we did not even have menus. When we finally got our drinks the server said she will be right back to take our order. 20 minutes later after she dropped if checks to large parties surrounding us she took our order. Food came out 15 minutes later and was decent. Could not find our server to get our check, and when we finally did she took another 20 minutes to pick it up. The worst part of this whole experience is that I saw this happen to other smaller parties. When a large party arrived a server would run over to seat them and take their order immediately. 2 large parties over 8 people came and went before we where able to leave. Server said they where short handed with two servers got the inside dining area. I viewed 4 servers taking orders though. Been here before but this is most likely the last time.
(2)Rick L.
three words. SIERRA MADRE BURGER. that was a mighty killer burger. i regret ordering that and ordering the boneless chicken wings, splitting them down the middle with my friend =( i shoulda eaten the whole burger myself. do get that. dont get the wings. they're literally overcooked chicken nugget breasts. wait a second... i thought they were wings. BAH! the parmesan fries weren't bad, but i thought they could have had a little more flavor. so this four is for the burger itself. i think its one of the best burgers ive had in the bay area. yum, yum. did i mention they were nice enough to change the channel to the warriors??
(4)Gary A.
What's happened to the Hopyard...very disappointing. It seems like they have taken all the regulars for granite. To bad, the menu is now stale, even the specials remain the same forever, and they are pretty week. Gone is the day you could find a couple of new tasty items on the menu to go with the decent beer. Service isn't quite the same recently either. To bad, we have been coming here pretty regular for 5 years but have now moved on to downtown.
(2)Knickerbocker R.
It is a great place to have a drink with friends or after work. It is loud and full of drunk people.
(4)James G.
Go here. This place has excellent food, decent service, and good beer. If you go, get the crab sandwich with sweet potato fries. Their beer menu changes and it pretty fairly priced. The service is a little hit or miss, but for the most part the service is 3 star to 4 star.
(4)Kirk V.
I met a business associate here for dinner. Big mistake. We could not even hold a conversation due to the bartender standing on the bar SCREAMING beer songs and rants. The burgers were average, but unless you are in college and like doing nothing other than drinking and singing drinking songs you will not like this place. It used to be more of a restaurant when I first came here years ago.
(1)Valerie P.
We are all Hopyard regulars (San Ramon) however we finally got a good win and decided to celebrate at The Hopyard Pleasanton. MISTAKE!! Our waitress, Jennifer, probably the worst waitress I've ever had! Not only did she completely forget one persons whole order, she gave me a drink that wasn't what I ordered but said it was the closest thing they had instead of seeing if I might have wanted something else. The drink wasn't the same and I drank about 1/4 of it and couldn't drink anymore and still paid $5.50 for it. Then the person who's meal she forgot...nothing comped or taken off and she tried to charge us for a beer no one ordered. We asked to get separate checks but was told she couldn't do that (I think she knew she didn't deserve an 18% tip and that was her way to make sure she got it). Right from the beginning you could tell she didn't want to wait on a large group and her attitude totally sucked! Also the menu is different from the San Ramon Hopyard, I personally think the SR one has better/more options. And SR has very friendly service (at least every time I've been there). Needless to say we won't be celebrating at the Pleasanton Hopyard unless we are guaranteed to not get stuck with Jennifer again!!
(1)robb p.
Went here for dinner last night. I don't like to dine out much because I am a chef and usually a meal out is hit or miss. This was a miss. Service was fine, very friendly. The food, not so much. I had the crab melt sandwich. I asked first what type of crab they use and I was told Alaskan snow crab. I guess I should've asked if it was the frozen kind that came in a bag. No flavor what-so-ever. All I could taste was bread and cheese and almost all my fries were soft and greasy. My girlfriend had the chicken tacos which were on special. The rice was clumped into a ball and cold. The beans weren't any different. I guess that's her fault for ordering a Latin dish in an American Ale House? However there is no excuse for the lack of elementary techniques like this. The beer selection looked great and the ambience loud and fun like a place like this should be. I will stick to the beer for now on.
(2)Tenny W.
Beer and wine only. I do have to command them on the extension list of beer that they offer, they even have one of my favorite beers! ( The Great White). However the food was pretty disgusting and extremely greasy. I know bar food is not necessarily the most healthy food for you, but it seemed like they seriously drizzled grease on the food. Oh, and the crab sandwich i got gave me a stomachache that lasted 2 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The service was alright but the place left a lot to desire for, the table that we at still had crumbs from previous customers. Go for the beer, but you would probably enjoy your food more if you went to Mcdonalds.
(1)Christina H.
I've been going here a few times. The food is decent and the people are nice. There's TV so if you want to watch some sport in the middle of the day, this is a great place for business and pleasure.
(5)Raji R.
Nice little outdoor spot - I ordered boneless chicken wings - they were a bit overhard in my opinion - but they were good. I ordered a salad as well, which was cool and pretty simple. He ordered the chicken melt with fries and really liked it. Service was good, and we were able to find a table outside in the sun which was really nice. Overall, the food was okay though.
(3)Chris G.
I followed the Yelp reviews to the Hopyard and they did not fail me. This is a hometown beer and food stop. The garlic fries are amazing as was the gyro. Service was good, and the place was crowded. I was here to watch the A's versus Giants game, and the crowd was loud, and happy with the A's thrashing of the Giants. You can eat inside or outside, but there are no televisions outside. The beer selection is vast, this is a stop worth making.
(4)Edi H.
I came here after a long day of work. The boneless wings look like frozen nuggets you pick up from Walmart or something. The beer, on the other hand, tasted good so I'll give this place 3 stars. I'll probably come back again because the location is convenient.
(3)Chad P.
Had lunch and beer here yesterday. My fish and chips were average I guess. I was expecting something a little special for $12. My wife enjoyed her steak salad. Nice larce pieces of steak. I assumed they would sprinkle smaller pieces around the plate. Enjoyed a Guiness Stout ( great) North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout (great) Speakeasy Porter (I would pass on this next time) and a Golden Road IPA (need to try this one again to make up my mind). The wait staff was great at keeping the beer glass full which is always great. The management was very classy when they comped our food because the chef had made a mistake that slowed down the food service so I will be back and will tell anyone who will listen that this place is A OK.
(4)Chris B.
Seems the stars weren't aligned for my customer I took to dinner (who in their defense doesn't drink unless it's a Greyhound, which they couldn't make the way he wanted). We then had a comedy of errors in ordering something he might be interested in eating. A couple of us found the beer we wanted also sold out or some such noise. The outdoor eating is where it's at, well shaded, traffic not too loud, and the weather there of course (it's California, after all) was great. Food was tasty, can't remember what we ordered (been too long!)
(3)Jerrod M.
Love this place! Sure it's not the most fancy of joints, but the service is always consistently friendly and on top of things. It has a very family feel, which can be a little different for an ale house, but that is one of their qualities that I can appreciate. Of course that is when parents let their kids take over the dart board area... Seriously people darts and kids don't mix, leave that for the adults who actually want to play the game. Also a great place to catch a game! For the food it has always been delicious as I am addicted to the founders burger. Their fried chicken is like Mom used to make good and their garlic fries are seriously legit. This is a great go to place and I love bringing friends and family here when their visiting as I always know we're going to get a great experience.
(5)Adam A.
Had dinner. Nice place. The brews are good. Nothing too impressive. Got the grilled crab sandwich. Not great. Watery and tasteless.
(3)William M.
Good food, great beer on tap selection and kids friendly! Ribeye steak for $16, reasonably priced!
(5)Alena W.
How do you get free bacon? Invite a Catholic to lunch on a Friday during Lent and suggest the Salmon BLT. Genius! I've been coming here off and on for years and never wrote a review for some reason. Anyway, today a co-worker and I thought sitting on a patio in this gloriously sunny March weather would be a great idea and she chose The Hopyard. She ordered the aforementioned sandwich and I had one of the daily specials which was Shrimp Ceviche. I wanted something healthy, tasty and somewhat filling and it fit the bill. Our server was sweet and attentive and customers seemed happy (probably because most of them were drinking beer on a workday). Jerks!
(4)Ryan C.
I stopped in here for lunch with co-workers based on the recommendation of a friend. The location is large with a large outside seating area. The inside is a little dark and old, but it is flexible to accommodate larger parties. The initial drink service was fast, but coming back to take the lunch order was a little on the slow side. Food was served at a reasonable speed, but I would not recommend this place to someone that has a 1pm meeting. The food was not bad but it was also not great. I ordered the french dip sandwich, fries, and a side salad. The salad seemed to have bagged lettuce sprinkled with fresh cut lettuce and cukes. The sandwich meat was a little on the thick side. I guess that I expected it to be much better considering the person that gave the recommendation. I would come back, but I am not in a hurry. What did I learn today? Xanthan gum is a bacterial extra cellular polysaccaride secretion that is often used to increase viscosity of liquid products. It also works as a way for gluten free products to trap more water making them better to chew. They grow this bacteria in 250L fermentors.
(3)Tosha B.
I came here with some co-workers for dinner and we opted to sit outside since it was a nice California night. They had a good beer menu and of course I couldn't decide on what to order, so our server recommended that I sample a few beers, which I did. That definitely helped me make my decision. But what she didn't tell me was that she going to charge me 25cents per sample. The price isn't a big deal, but that's the first time I've been charged for a sample and it would have been nice to get a heads up. On to the food.....I went with the salmon BLT and garlic fries and was very happy with that choice. The salmon was cooked perfectly and bacon on anything makes it amazing. The garlic fries were great and it must be a California thing because I never see garlic fries on the menus in DC, so I always feel obligated to order them with I'm in California. This is a great American restaurant with good food and beer that I'd definitely come back to. Their patio is a decent size and they even have TVs outside which is nice.
(4)Jesse C.
Came with a bunch of coworkers from my team to send off an employee of ours. Pretty much your typical bar atmosphere with TV's and lots of beer and wine. We ordered some appetizers and I got to say the fried zucchinis were good. The deep fried mac and cheese was also a hit amongst my coworkers. For dinner I got the crab sandwich. It didn't have much flavor to it. I would probably get the Salmon BLT next time.
(3)Cladley D.
Burgers and beer selection are good. I wanted to order something different than I usually get and got a crab sandwich. The description was warmed crab with avocado, melted pepperjack and scallion aioli on sourdough. Sounded delicious, and most of the components were, but the crab tasted like wet confetti. I was expecting a crab melt type thing. I would not order this item again, but I still loved the sweet potato fries and the chipotle aioli with which they are served. Our server was super nice and kept busy. Her name was Molly, and I found her very personable. My boyfriend loved his Sierra Madre burger. It did look seriously tasty. Anyway, I'll come here again and probably stick to ordering burgers and beer. The atmosphere is pleasant, and I've never had a problem with the staff.
(3)Clarence C.
Great selection of beers. Good food. Attentive service.
(5)Steve T.
Loved this place with nice people and great food. The fried chicken was crispy and the gravy was tasty. Wife liked her ahi salad and they were really nice about bringing her more greens as she likes her veggies. Even the ice tea was brewed well and was delicious. Casual place with an upscale crowd.
(4)brian p.
Awesome Sunday beer brunch. Wasn't busy at the time and so the bartender's showed willingness to help with choice of selection.
(4)Kristi R.
This was my first (far from last) visit to this establishment. Sat outside b/c when you grow up in the Midwest, you can only eat outside 3 mths out of the year so when you move to CA, you do it every chance you get. My boyfriend and I met up w/ two other friends and settled in. Our server was Molly and she was great because of the following reasons- she was personable, she had some great suggestions, and she checked in several times to make sure we weren't in need of anything. I really enjoyed the Salmon BLT w/ steamed veggies- I threw some of their salsa on top and added some Tapatio- so good! I will order the bacon extra crispy next time- rookie mistake. My boyfriend ordered his Sierra Madre just like Molly orders hers w/ double bacon, avocado and grilled mushrooms- they charge a $1 for each additional item so beware- it can add up quick but he liked it and it looked really good. Their garlic fries are pretty good looking too. Can't wait to return!
(4)Carolyn K.
A great family place to just sit, relax and have a beer on the patio! The staff is ALWAYS friendly and never ever do I feel rushed to order or finish my meal. Food is comfort food and the prices are right along with the size of the portions. Enjoy the atmosphere for simplicity. It's a great place to meet people, have a meeting with friends, relax after a day at the County Fair!
(5)Zach W.
Great beer selection on tap, they even have Pliny and Blond Pig. The burgers are above average, but every other menu item is not good. Classic bar food, over cooked and over salted. Decent ambience, outside patio is okay but faces a parking lot. Service is very hit or miss, younger servers, some are terrible and some are awesome, it's a roll of the dice on who you get. All in all - a nice place to grab a beer or two but not a location to eat dinner, there are much better options for this price in Pleasanton than Hopyard.
(3)Katey R.
Amazing food! And I love how everyone that works there is polite and try's to give you exactly what you would like.
(5)Solly808 C.
Looove their beer selection and the rib eye and chips is to die for ! The best place for lunch in PTown
(4)Melissa P.
Order the Pliny when they have it! It's the best. & get the sweet potato fries, they are pretty much what makes or breaks your Burger. This is my second time here, this time I ordered the Cream of Chicken soup - it was delicious. I was pretty impressed by the food. What really makes this place unique is the beer selection. It changes either every week or every day (Probably weekly). They have an awesome beer club membership for just $25 bucks. This includes: a shirt the day you sign up, a neat check-off book to mark off beers, and your unique number to identify you. What is this even for you may ask? Well of course- if you are a beer snob like me, this is another cool way to earn rewards! Every 30 beers you get a free gift and when you hit the big o' 300 mark you get your name on the beer foam wall (on a plaque)! Totally worth it if you plan on going here for lunch 3 times out of the week like my coworkers. Any who- service was great both times. I would rather sit inside because they rock some pretty great jams inside. (New-wave 80's both times). Try out the dart board, located by the woman's bathroom. Enjoy.
(4)Theo T.
Hopyard is one of those small town restaurants that only the locals know about and frequently go to. My friends and I had an extremely exhausting day and all we wanted to do was get a nice cold beer and some quick food. My friend's dad recommended this little treasure and we were so happy he did. We were a party of 8 and they were able to accommodate us immediately. The best part about this place was the beers. I ordered a black velvet, which is a stacked beer of Guinness and a pear flavored ale. We were craving these beers and almost right after we ordered them at our table, another server came over with them for us. Now that's quick service or maybe they just thought we were really thirsty. I really wanted a burger, but none of the burgers really peaked my interest so I decided to go with the French Dip sandwich with sweet potato fries. My food came out great, I mean, how can you go wrong with a juicy french dip sandwich? I dunked it into the Au Jus, the juices of the beef, and my mouth was in heaven. However, some of my friends' food did not look that great. Nikala, our server, was very attentive and fast. She even recommended a chipotle mayo dip for my sweet potato friends, which I did not want, but she insisted and brought it out for me anyways. Thank god she did. That sauce tasted great on EVERYTHING. I even slathered it on my french dip sandwich after I dunked it into the Au Jus. I thought this french dip was good, but once I put that sauce on it, man oh man did it take it to the next level. Overall, the place was great! I can't wait to come back next time for the great quick beers, great service, and delicious French Dip sandwich.
(4)Ben M.
Pliney the elder trap! A rare find indeed. Sort of sad the food couldn't be better. Its not horrible, it could be better. I sort of felt that most of it was out of bag, can or box. The fish and chips, from what I understand when I asked are not battered in house. This would suggest that they come in some package ready to fry. But the beer selection is killer.
(4)John S.
ordered the buffalo burger with fries The service and food were great I have patronized the Hopyard for 10 years and have not been disappointed The Altamont IPA was cold and did the trick Sometimes I drink too much IPA and need an Uber ride home
(4)Spencer C.
As a former PeopleSoft employee, this was the after hours watering hole for a lot of us. Peoplesoft is long gone but I remain a loyal patron. The food is bar food - it's burgers and fries folks. If you're looking for rack of lamb, go somewhere else. One nit - they don't put a price for the chicken wings (bone in) on the menu - it ended up being $11!! Ok, dinging you for that. When I do eat there I get the Philly cheese steak. I'm staying away from the wings unless it's boneless. The wait staff is largely good. Obviously you can't get a home run every time but most of the times I'm fine with the service. The daytime bartender is Keith who's fantastic, always on it, high energy and friendly. I have to say I'm disappointed if I come in and he's not there. Many people have already pointed out the Pliney - yes - they have that and Race 5 and 15. I'm an IPA guy and I can usually find something I like. The optional outdoor seating is also nice for when you want to relax at the end of a warm day. One more nit - they close on Superbowl sunday and New Years Eve. Strange - one year they had a sign on their door "We can't compete with your big flatscreen TVs!" That's an odd business choice. Sunshine Saloon, a real dive across town, is more than happy to take that business. It just offers inferior food and service. I will continue to come here and enjoy this great pub in Plesasanton.
(4)Geneva W.
Good little spot with inside or outside seating. Service was slow waitress blamed it on the cook. But the wait wasn't bad plenty of tv's to watch while you wait or look at the pictures on the wall. Everyone enjoyed what they ordered I had a chicken wrap with garlic fries they were good.
(3)Mike H.
Ratingwould be 4 stars if it were just beer. Food was average at best. Service and beers were good though.
(3)Chris R.
Pretty good. Fun place to hang out, and kid friendly. Just not my kind of joint. But if it was ...
(3)Tim K.
Fantastic beer selection and low quality food leaves me wondering how this place stays open.
(3)Stacy C.
Love the beer flight option, it's four 5oz pours of any beers you want for $10. Great deal for people who want to sample multiple beers. I've eaten here twice and liked my meal each time. I ate a veggie burger with fries each visit, one I selected the topping for myself and the other was a modified Sierra madre burger. Both were good, and I recommend getting a side of BBQ sauce. The ambience is rather boring. They have several tv's, which is nice if there is a game on. Also have a large patio in front so you can eat outdoors.
(4)Chris S.
This place is okay. I had a few expectations that were met and not met. When we first arrived there were about 10 kids (all under 10 years old - not an exaggeration) outside the front door patio area playing - kind of strange. Pros - -Calm, not loud -Garlic fires were good -Sliced fried Zucchini was good -Many TVs -The waitstaff waited until I left to claim their receipt with tip. Something I appreciate. -The staff was polite and nice. They checked in with us the perfect amount of times. -Food was okay. Not unnecessarily greasy as you might expect from some pubs. Cons - -Meat on the pork sliders was dry -The fish strips from the fish and chips were 3 inches long. Very small. -I walked in with a sharks jacket and a sharks t-shirt; one of the waitresses also had a SJ Sharks shirt. They didn't have one TV playing the sharks game. There were about 10 TV screens in the place. All of them were playing one of 2 basketball games. Not everyone was watching those games, and the place was far from full. -Beer list was overly complicated. They have a menu with $ indicating the price level of beers. $ for over $6 and $$ for over $7. They could have just listed the price. They do a similar thing with the ABV. Also, the beer list has bottled beer and draft beer mixed together, which isn't a great idea.
(3)Krishna Y.
The beer selection is awesome, the bathroom sucks and I mean it, love the attitude of the bartender and the place is pretty old.
(3)Laura F.
The food iis average. I had the crab sandwich and it was not very good. They need to update the place and improve the menu. They survive on good location to the sports park and the beer on tap. My kids had burgers and those were ok and the service is friendly.
(2)Raider S.
Pretty impressed with the food here. Came here mostly for the beer and didnt expect much for the food but the nachos were DELISH! Get them with chicken. The chicken is freshly grilled and goes perfect with their nachos. The Sierra Madre burger was good as well. Our waitress disappeared for a while and it was a slow night. Overall great food and beer!
(4)Skate K.
3 words: Russian River IPA...Another 3 words: a must, folks... now the food: - arrived to the table all at once as ordered so everyone could start eating at the same time, much appreciated - all proteins were prepared to the right doneness. I hate overcooked shrimps and always dread the first bite fearing that I am going to bite in to a piece of rubber. Not here, shrimp pieces was plump and succulent. Burgers were done correctly and the meat actually had flavor. - Special props on the sweet potato fries. I will come back just for that.
(5)Joyce C.
warm beer but good service.
(4)Steve L.
Food is pretty good. Like the wrap and wings. Nice selection of beers. Nice to sit outside during a warm day.
(4)Elizabeth Q.
I went here for dinner with a few of my friends. The beers were great! They have a wide selection of beer on tap. I ordered the Russian River Blind Pig IPA, as suggested by our waitress. It was needless to say, amazing! Can't go wrong with a nice cold IPA in your hand after a long and rigorous day. For dinner I wasn't feeling carbs so I went for the buffalo wings instead. The wings came out quite dry/ not saucy enough. I'm a scooper when it comes to sauce, so I love my food extra saucy. So I had to ask for extra sauce on the side. Overall, our waitress was great! The beers were awesome! The food was okay, nothing out of the ordinary. They offer salads, burgers, and sandwiches. But I would definitely recommend/ come back here with friends for HH or a chill evening. Always Twerkin for Jesus, E. Quachie
(3)Kathy J.
The hubby saw a bug crawling on his plate as the server was putting it on our table. He pointed it out and she apologized and brought it back to the kitchen but brought a "new" one out way too fast. Was it a new one or did they just replate??? I'm thinking they just replated and for that reason they get a one star. If it was a new burger, she should have said so but her silence speaks volumes of guilt. Won't be eating here again.
(1)Danna C.
I recently started working in Pleasanton. On a cold and rainy day this past month, one of my co-workers suggested we go somewhere to get grilled cheese and soup. Being new to the area, we weren't quite sure where to get that. My co-worker did some research and found Hopyard American Alehouse & Grill online. We decided to give it a shot. I ended up ordering the grilled crab and a cup of clam chowder. The Grilled Crab sandwich was okay, but nothing special. The clam chowder was a little watery but quite tasty. All in all, I'd go back to the Hopyard since it's pretty close to my work. It's decent, but not something I'd go out of my way for.
(3)Tom J.
I guess you could say the Hopyard Brewery was unoriginal by naming their establishment after the street it's on, but with a street name like Hopyard, you can hardly blame them. Now if they only served yards of beer... Maybe they do - I didn't really ask. Anyway, the best part of this place is their big outside dining area, far enough off the street that it's not noisy, plenty of shade...we were lucky to get a seat for dinner. The beers were fine and the food was also fine. Service was very good. I had the Sierra Madre with grilled chicken (instead of a burger), this sandwich includes bacon and avocado. The chicken and bacon were both cooked perfectly. On one of my previous visits, I had the garlic fries, which had approximately three times more garlic than I would have liked. But I've learned the locals practically pop cloves of garlic like the rest of us eat popcorn. Okay, a bit of exaggeration, but anyway, this time I had the sweet potato fries and they were great. Nothing was really amazing here, but it was solid. The fact that they brew beer means I round up to four stars.
(4)Ivy R.
My mom wanted to go to Zorn's again for some Crabby Sandwiches but they were closed around dinner time on a Saturday. I saw this place and thought it sounded familiar. Thy have two locations one in San Ramon and one here. The dining space is huge and they have a very large outdoor patio. We were sat along the wall kind of near the bar. All around us were families and children. So obviously it's kid friendly an a destination that parents seek out. Service was fast. Which is always a plus with cranky kids. We also didn't have any beers. I'm finding that if I go to a Ale House its really about the beer and not the food. One with out the other is missing something. Zorn's definitely makes a better Crab Sandwich but we had a good experience and would come back again with the kids.
(3)Brian F.
Come on guys. Where's your pride? It's not that hard. First, buy quality hamburger meat. You know, the kind that's soft and juicy, not dry and filled with tooth breaking gristle. Then gently form into a patty, not squished into the density of a rock. Then cook until just right, which means perhaps some pink, not beef jerky brown. The extra pennies in cost would be more than offset by higher reviews, more customers, and the satisfaction of producing a great product. Two stars just because the beer selection is great.
(2)Brian B.
I've been back several times in the last month and a half. The service has been great for a bar and grill and the new Tilapia sandwich has made me a believer. Really tasty. Wish they consistently served Altamont Left Coast but I appreciate what they're doing with the taps.
(4)Shannon M.
the service could be more attentive, but yes the food is yummy. They deserve more stars!!
(5)Ron C.
I love to "Yelp off" at the mouth! And I'm kind of shocked I've never written anything about this place! So, here goes! I've been eating at this pub for almost ten years now and I have to say that the place is consistent! It's not often I hunger for pub food, in fact, dare I write it, I'm actually finding myself enjoying vegan food! But don't get me wrong, I love pub food! And The Hopyard does the trick when I need it, save for when I want something English! This place has burgers down well. And those Hopyard Fries with tons of garlic and cheese...let's just say they are enough to give a person gall stones...but my, oh my, they are good! The beer in this place varies often and washes down most everything else on the menu. And even when it get's busy, I never worry that I'll be ignored for long or that the food will be worse because there are a lot of people...it continues to remain good. In the end, any place you go it's a must in having a base-line good experience. You'll get that and more at The Hopyard!
(4)Allison F.
I was pretty disappointed on my recent visit here. Two stars because my waiter was helpful with the beer selection and helping me choose what I wanted. I ordered the Sierra madre burger and didn't end up eating it while I was there and got it to go. I love avocados and they forgot to put the spread on my burger. My boyfriends food was cold when it came out. He also ordered a large beer and they gave him a regular instead. I understand it was a Friday night and they are very busy but I have always had really good experiences prior to this visit. Now I know for next time I need to check all my food. I will continue to visit this establishment but I will definitely be much more attentive to the details of my order.
(2)R S.
Was disappointed with this place. For an ale house you would think the beer would be cold. Everyone in our party complained that there beer was not as cold as it should have been. Ordered a burger and the forgot the cheese. Was served a burger with meat and bun only. Can't imagine how they could forget the cheese when nothing else came in the burger. The only positive about this place was they have Pliny the Elder on tap even though it was warm. There are many other options out there. Would not recommend this place.
(2)Stephanie S.
Second time coming in, love the different beer specials they have for the local breweries. Finally going to try the food, can't wait!! The servers have always been cheerful, always energetic about what they like for recommendations. Very clean facility and many beer to choose from!!
(4)Courtney K.
Hopyard has the BEST beer selection in Pleasanton, hands down. Also, their food is great. The burgers are amazing, love the crab melt sandwich, and definitely enjoy the garlic fries. Looking forward to some nice summer evenings and drinking beer on the patio!
(4)Ben C.
Good food, atmosphere, pricing, and service. Bathrooms were dirty and entire place needed some TLC, but overall it was a fun place to eat and watch a game. Yo Yo
(4)Rebecca B.
Found this place on yelp, decided to try it with my boyfriend. When we first walked in we noticed it is very loud inside from the place being full of people talking and having a good time. I also think sound echoes in there from the layout being so open. We were seated quickly. The beer menu is pretty extensive, with some pretty obscure specialty craft beers, which was great. We both got what they call a flight, which is a 5 oz. Sampler of any four beers. The menu has a few dinner plate options, good burger and chicken burger options, as well as different types of sandwiches. They have a pretty good appetizer menu as well. Our food was really good, the beer was good and our waitress was very efficient. The food came out quickly. Our only feedback is the layout of the restaurant could be better.. We will be back to this place again.
(4)Michael W.
This is a bar. They serve bar food. We only had some appetizers so I can't comment on the extent of the menu, although it isn't vast. The beer selection is better than average and we managed to be here in time for some pints of Pliny the elder (very exclusive). The rest of their beer selection focuses on the super hoppy side of things, which I love. The infrastructure is shabby, but the service was great. Friendly, fast and present whenever we need them to be. I would return and I would recommend you come by and grab a pint.
(4)Kristen I.
A friend asked me to go to lunch with her here last Saturday. I had never been before. We sat outside with our young daughters, and waited a very long time to get menus. My friend finally went up to the hostess desk and picked up menus herself. It follows that service was very slow. The place was packed, and I suspect they were short on servers for how many people were there. I ordered the chicken breast sandwich with fries. The chicken breast covered a paltry amount of the bun, so I was left with a huge amount of bread when I was done with the chicken. And I can say this is the first time in my life I have turned down fries because I did not like them. How do you mess up fries?
(2)Jimmy H.
Beer selection is fantastic and that's really the main reason for coming here. Waitstaff was nice, though nearly ten minutes elapsed between getting menus and placing orders. Wings were pretty good. Low point of the evening was the crab sandwich, served between two giant pieces of bland white toast. The crabmeat had too strong of a "fishy" flavor, and it needed some vegetables beyond just avocado. (In fairness I should have looked closer at the menu description.) I finished the first half but left the second on the plate. I don't get out this way often, but I will definitely come back to Hopyard when I do--I'll just stick to Pliny the Elder paired with very basic pub grub.
(3)Gennie G.
Whenever I'm in the mood for fried chicken this place hits the spot!
(4)Tony A.
Came and ate linner (lunch/dinner... I just made that up) tonight with our daughter's winning soccer team. They won the championship and deserved to be taken out to dinner! There was this one play... oh wait. This is about the restaurant..... So...service was spectacular. Our server was amazing and handled our little private room with ease. Everything was correct, and we were waited on VERY attentively. The problem we had was with the food. For a place that serves mainly burgers and sandwiches, they really need to make sure they're good. Well, they were VERY dry. Including the bread. I had a chicken caprese sandwich - flavor was there... but the main part of the sandwich... the chicken... VERY overcooked. Very hard to eat, luckily I had plenty of root beer refills to help swallow. My wife had a burger, and it also was very overcooked. I know she asked for it medium well, but there's a way to make medium well, and not have it taste like it was blended with sand. My other daughter had a chicken burger, and she didn't like hers either. She said it was hard to eat, and very dry. At this point, I'd rather have sub-par service, and at least feel like I got my money's worth with the food. I did not. Our bill was $75 and I could have had better food at The Habit.
(2)Mike V.
Great place for a casual meal. Love sitting outside in the summer months drinking their Hopyard Hefe and enjoying a good burger and fries in the sun. Not a fancy place but a great one nonetheless. I'd recommend a few more Belgian beers on tap and some tvs outside but otherwise a great local spot.
(5)John K.
Great food, really! Great Beer, obviously!
(5)Lizardp P.
The beer was good. So much potential, but clearly owners and management don't care about the quality of food. Nuff said.
(1)will l.
One of our regular spots--mostly because it is within walking distance of the house. Typical pub/bar food with occasional specials that are excellent (bring ack the Sole and the chicken piccata!) Great selection of beers on tap.
(4)Patrick L.
Great selection of beer in a dated, kinda beat-down atmosphere. I've stopped eating here, just not good enough. Did I mention they have a great beer selection? Yeah, the strength of their rating is about the BEER, not much else. I try to make regular stops at both Hopyard locations - San Ramon & Pleasanton for a pint of Pliny or Lagunitas on tap. Beer me - 3.5 stars.
(3)X X.
I come here when I am in town. The Burgers are great, I got the blue cheese burger and it was huge, super tasty especially on the onion bun. The apricot beer is great and is really why I like to come here. Lots of adult sports teams come here in season to celebrate and hang out. One thing that is annoying, the place looks like romper room on the weekends meaning lots of kids running everywhere and screaming. I guess when mom and dad can't find a sitter, but need a drink they come here with the kids. The place is over run by kids on Sundays. Don't get me wrong I really like kids, I swear! Maybe its just me, but when I go to a Alehouse I don't feel its a place for kids.
(2)Shianne D.
*I'll throw out the disclaimer that my bf saw me writing this and said he'd have given them 4 stars because he loved his sierra madre burger and fries with dip sooo much. He also liked that it came on a wheat bun. He got the apricot ale which was tasty as well, so that's why it gets 2 stars instead of 1* Back to my 2 star - I got the cobb salad, which was gross. Please do not get this salad. My avocado was dirty, It was just generic iceburg lettuce, nothing really good about it. Just bland. There was a baby hair in my salad which was small and black (I have long, lighter hair), the place itself was pretty dirty. I remember looking around thinking, "how is this place still even in business?" I felt bad for the workers there, too cause it seemed a little unorganized. I probably will not be returning here again.
(2)Bryan B.
Love going here for lunch! They have a good selection of beer to pick from and they switch it pretty often too! Along with their selection of beer they have good food for a price that good! I would recommend this place to my friend and I have!
(4)Shreya G.
This review is based on a LUNCH experience. Came here with a small group of coworkers for lunch. We asked to be seated outside and were promptly given menus. After sifting through the salads, burgers, and sandwiches on the menu, I ordered the buffalo chicken salad, which was a daily special. The salad was tasty yet light, just the way I like it! The buffalo chicken pieces were cooked perfectly. I was actually impressed by how good the salad was. The service--slow, but the servers were friendly. They were definitely understaffed. Our server actually gave our table a lot of attention even though they were understaffed. I have a feeling I'll be back, although probably not for lunch! I want to try some of the burgers and fries on their menu.
(4)Ashley J.
Slow service, kind of dingy and the food was only so/so. On the up side, they have a TON of different beers and it would be a really fun place to watch a sports game.
(2)Mike D.
Update: Wow, how things change. The Hopyard has hired a slew of new servers, and apparently they are saving on training costs by just giving these people a ticket book and imploring them to go forth and serve. They must also be saving on food costs because it's a crapshoot ordering off the specials menu whether they actually have the advertised food or not. Appetizers and soup/salad served with the entrees. Yeah. Good. Drinks sitting empty on the table for the duration of the meal. Check. Having to wave flags or shoot up flares to catch the attention of your "server" to ask for desired items. Check. Where am I? Bennigans? Beer selection is still good, and if by chance you get one of their veteran servers, all is well again with the world. If I wanted to be aggravated when I eat a meal, I would go to Jack in the Box. Get it together, Hopyard.
(2)Rachael M.
Felt out of place. The interior looks pretty run down and dingy, they should really think about getting rid of that carpet. Asked to be seated outside, but halfway felt that was a bad idea because it took quite some time for the waitress to ask us what we wanted. Meanwhile, a lot of the customers seemed to find us interested, caught a few glares. Food was ok. Not worth coming back for, many other spots to hit up.
(3)Morgan Richelle M.
We made it here on a perfectly gorgeous Friday afternoon and were fortunate enough to be able to sit outside and enjoy a few [new] beers. The food was wonderful (great portion sizes), and we tried a few new beers which is always a good time. Will definitely make it back this way!
(4)R H.
Very limited menu. Waitress who doesn't know her menu, or can't articulate it, ended up giving false information, such that the order was wrong. Burgers with some one fancy thing about them, nothing special even so. A few sandwiches, all with a "special twist" of some sort. Again, nothing special. But in almost all cases completely uninteresting to me. Food not that great anyway. Fries - way over salted, and may be spiced, I couldn't tell through the salt. Yeah, for a chain they have a number of beers in the suburbs. So if that's what you want, go do it. Eat before you go.
(2)Yelp Y.
I have been here a few times now and I will say the beer and garlic fries are good, about the same as going to a ballpark.
(2)Megan L.
This is one of my favorite burgers & beer haunts in ptown. They never disappoint - friendly, attentive service, a generous beer list, and consistently delicious burgers. This is the kind of place where you know what you like and you keep coming back for the same thing and it will make you happy every time. What I usually get: 1. BEER: Pliny the Elder 2. BURGER: Rajin' Cajun Burger w/ sweet potato fries (subbed for the regular fries) -This is one of the best cajun burgers I have had. It has just the right amount of spicy kick and the sauce isn't unmanageable. Props for my burger NOT falling apart when I attack it. Also, props for being a dog-friendly place. On warmer nights, you can bring your pup to sit with you at the patio tables outdoors. :D
(4)David F.
I'm local to the area and only stop in when I'm thirsty for a good micro brew. The problem is I'm usually hungry also...and I keep making the mistake of ordering something. I have been disappointed every time. Look inside their burgers and you can see the white filler the fries are always over cooked. Keep that beer full cause you will need it to wash down that food.
(1)Michaela R.
Wow - I can't believe how all over the place the reviews are for this place! I've only had good experiences when I've been to The Hopyard in Pleasanton. My coworkers and I specifically went there today for lunch because we knew they are very accommodating to large groups --- even though we had 9 people and no reservation we were seated right away! Our server was nice (young guy with tattoos) he gave us all separate checks, no problem! One friend was allowed to sample beers before she made her choice which was nice. On to the important stuff - the food: people ordered Boneless Buffalo Wings, the Caprese Sandwich, Chicken strips and fries, deviled eggs, chicken sandwich, and the BBQ chicken salad. Across the table everyone's food looked delicious and everyone was very satisfied with their meal. I chose the Build your own Burger option and made a chicken sandwich with bacon and honey mustard dressing, it was very tasty and exactly what I wanted. I especially enjoyed the sourdough roll the sandwich came on! If you don't see anything on the menu that interests you I would strongly suggest building your own sandwich --- how could you go wrong when you create your own meal?? Bottom line is that The Hopyard serves good food and has a great selection of beers. I will continue to dine here and definitely recommend this place!
(4)John K.
What a disappointment! I have been going to The Hopyard on and off for 15 years, though it's honestly been about two years since I have been there. We ordered boneless wings, crab cakes, and beer. Same old story that is becoming all too common. The wings portion was paltry, they were over-breaded (read: The breading to meat ratio was clearly in favor of the establishment) and Jesus--salty enough to kill snails on the front yard. I did my best to eat the dried out chicken bits that were entombed within heaps of "breading." What was left on the plate after I completed this process wasn't pleasant to look at. In short, the wings bordered on gross. I'm not saying what side of the border. The crab cakes were accompanied by a completely flavorless cucumber salad. Well, at least it wasn't over-salted. Always a bright side. Right? The crab cakes themselves? Again paltry servings and my friend commented "The crab didn't taste fresh." I know it's a sports bar and I am not expecting fine cuisine, but seriously dudes. The food was a rip. Seriously. How does a restaurants management rationalize charging the prices they do while putting crap on the table? I'm good with paying good money but put some decent food down. Hopyard, lower your head in shame. The beer was fine.
(2)H V.
Good craft beer selection - but I felt that maybe it does not rotate so much (i.e., six month later - same three imperial IPAs are on the menu). No happy hour - no special pricing. 25 cents per taste - maximum 4 tastes (still better than what other places charge for a "flight" - but quantity is really small - 1oz?). Food is OK.
(3)Dani Z.
Great beer selection and fabulous service. Can't ask for too much more. 28 of us rolled in by tour bus to have lunch before the remaining 7 hour drive from Frisco to LA. Hopyard set us up in thier event room, and though we only had one waitress, she was quick, efficient, honest, and managed to get each one of us our own tabs! The food was tasty - I enjoyed a pulled pork casadilla, and eyed the nachos, sliders, and sandwhiches ordered by others. Very generously got me 3 oz samplers for 50 cents each. If I lived closer to Pleasanton, I'd return -- I might anyway!
(5)Raj D.
as other reviewers have said this place had decent food, but a great domestic (craft) beer selection. don't come here if you are satisfied with drinking bud light (and really don't come here if you think coors light is a good beer...ouch!). great thing to take advantage of is that you can order up to 4 tastings from the draft beer selection for $0.25...that's right, a $1 to taste 4 beers before making your selection...how can you beat that! only thing that would make this place better is to expand the selection to include more european beers.
(4)Angela S.
Last Night I Went To The Hopyard. Kind of a date but not really, I dunno. Anyways, The Food Was Pretty Good. I Recommend The Turkey Sandwich. NICE BEER SELECTION!!! (but the waitress didn't know Jack about Beer). The Only Thing That Struck Me As A Little Odd, Is That They Didn't Card Me Or My Friend At All. I Mean I'm 25 And He Is 27, But The Thought Of My Little Sister Who Looks Old Than She Really Is, Could Have Gotten A Beer Without Being Carded... (Hell I've been drinking since I was 6, so drinking is not an issue for this German-Swedish-Irish Chick, BUT STILL) Granted It Is An Ale House, But At Lease At O'Kanes In San Ramon (R.I.P) --- They Carded Me All The Time - Until I Was A Regular...
(3)Victor B.
good taps. average greasy pub food. cheese friez are cheap. they have a good selection of beers which is supposedly rotated everyday. a few cask ales and always a plentiful choice of hoptown brews. the staff wasn't too knowledgeable about the beer, but you can't expect much when you're a beer snob.
(3)erica G.
Good food, friendly staff. There's a bar and darts, and there's always a game on. It's a totally family friendly place, but it's also a great place to grab dinner with friends late night.
(4)Crissy M.
After a crazy day of commuting or just hanging out with friends, this is the spot. I'm not a beer fan (although many a friend loves their beer, I cannot judge), but the food is yummy and well priced, especially at lunch time.
(4)Chuck D.
love the food here. great atomsphere. tvs on all the walls, great beer and awesome garlic fries. i've tried most of the burgers and can't complain about one. if you want great bar food and of course beer, this is the place in pleasanton!
(4)Tanya P.
When it's deadline time, we're hungry, or we need ale and lagerish beverages, we only do food and pint runs downstairs. Right below our east bay studio is one of the only late night places in the Tri-Valley where everyone has their teeth and their dates aren't paid for. Ok, I kid you. Great staff, great and creative pub grub -- famous for their Garlic & Parmesan fries. Their Diablo burger is a favorite in the office (although the senior media director likes chicken strips and Roy Rogers while working on his Batman screensaver). Except for the mass waves of Peoplesoft/Oracle folks at lunchtime, it's a cool, easygoing crowd. Ask about their beer club. Live entertainment. Darts. Jukebox. Advertisements in their bathroom stalls. TVs for the latest news and games/ Crazy events all of the time. The owner is just so cool. And our clients always swing by pretending to be visiting us when they really just want us to buy them beer. People used to the oldstyle pubs may find it lacking in character.
(4)Anon I.
Normall favor the San Ramon location, but I work in SF and this one is a straight shot from BART so we come here on occasion The beer selection is great. Can always get Drakes or on occasion my fav Snowshoe. The food is average at best. But whatever. I think most people come for the beer. The service can be pretty spotty where some servers are rude or forgetful or inattentive but sometimes it can be great. I think the spottiness makes it all the more frustrating. I would recommend the SR locale no doubt.
(3)Brandon T.
I'd often drive to Hayward or Livermore for a good alehouse, not knowing that this place was in my own backyard. It's small and conspicuous, but once you get a peek at the beer menu size it's irrelevant. From homemade hef to paralyzing IPA's, this menu has it all. I started with the Hop Yard Hef, then washed down my burger with a Pliny the Elder. The menu seems to change daily, so I am excited to get back and see what they will have next. The burgers are cooked as rare as you would like with great fries and fresh toppings. Based on the food, I would rate The Hopyard a 3. I've definitely had better, more flavorful burgers, but the beer selection, wait staff and atmosphere make up the difference.
(4)Jason F.
I came here to get a quick bite before my band started at a place close by. The decor needs some work as its worn and some places were dirty and dusty. I ordered the cheese steak sandwich. It was one of the best cheese steak's I have had!! Good Job! The service was friendly and fast. If I'm in the area, I'd come back. Thank you
(3)Meg N.
Been here quite a few times and the below are the plusses. 1) they let you try EVERYTHING before making you decide on a beer. I am not a beer drinker and was trying tof igure out what to enjoy and i got a lil tipsy just from trying the litte sips they gave me. I finally found their ciders and have not been dissapointed at all with the variety of ciders they have. 2) HUGEEE beer selection that changes up alot so you can always try something new. 3) I have had a variety of their appetizers and they are all so far delicious. Their nachos are huge and their bufflo wings are delicious favs so far! 4) the staff here is super attentive and you feel like you are always been waited on even though the palce is pretty large. A very welcoming and sort of homey atmosphere (like your drinking in a buddies garage but with better digs) 5) they have an awesome pint night on tuesdays with a quaint and festive raffle where everyone in the bar gets involved. 6) Large patio that makes summer night drinks perfect. 7) Plenty of tvs to make watching any game easy. They only reason I didnt give it five stars is while yes I know this is a beer place their wine selection really is not enjoyable (thankgod for those ciders!) and the womens restroom is terrible. May not be that important to some but for us girls afer a few beers that restroom is obviously necessary. Alot of times there are no towels or toilet paper will be out in one stall and you have to awkwardly stand in the darts area if there is more than two people in the bathroom.
(4)JesseLynn L.
Boom Sham Slam a Cold One! Diamond in the Rough at a Strip Mall!!! I love this place. I have been frequenting the Bar with my boyfriend for years. The Beer selection is worthy, Jason and Natalie (Bar Tenders/ Back) are adorable and know their BEER, and the Burgers are Screaming. We have gone through Super Bowls, Heated Elections, St. Patty's Day, and watched a local make it back alive from Burning Man all while simply showing up to a place we love. What the Hopyard does so well is create a space for everyone: I see Mom's and Dad's with little ones, Family's with Teenagers, First Dates, Blind Dates, Retired Folks and all the Athletes from the Sports Park. Any one can fit in 24/7. Cheers to the Hopyard, well done to the Owners.
(5)Joey M.
Specifically went here to watch the San Francisco Giants game on a weekday afternoon. The game started around 4 or so and they happened to sit us in the corner next to the TV with the game on. The San Jose Sharks playoff game happened to be starting too, but there were only about 10 people in the restaurant, and they were all facing the bar TVs watching the Sharks. Perfect ! - or so I thought. Well the bartender decides to change the TV we are watching the Giants game on to the Sharks game (even though we are the only people obviously watching this particular TV). We ask her to change it back, and she said she won't while making a snide remark. We got up, and went to a bar that was showing both the Sharks and Giants. Also, the server never came up to us to take our orders so who knows how the food is? "Sports Bars" should have all the local games on at a minimum, and not change them once they are on. My friends and I haven't been back and won't be back.
(2)SR Y.
I still dream about the Peruvian Chicken and the Chicken Satay......oh how I miss you! The staff is great and attentive and the beer......the BEST!!! I would recommend the other people who commented to research their brews before commenting. After one tours a few breweries local and abroad, then you can appreciate and respect the fine beverages here. In the end...you cannot please everyone but they do try as they have soooo many beers to choose from.
(5)Melissa B.
We're on our way to try a new brewery opening in Livermore & decided to stop by the Hopyard for lunch. Being beer week they were doing all local beers, awesome. Saw a few that sounded tasty & was having trouble deciding... so I inquired about doing a flight (menu, printed up for this event, said to ask about exceptions) I was told they weren't doing them :( Wasn't offer a taste of anything to help me decide. I ordered a stout, forget which, was drinkable. After our waiter brought our beers, I saw a neighboring diner had been served a flight WTF! Do they only have 1 flight tray in the whole place??? I order the grilled crab sandwich... super bland. Menu said was served on sourdough & had pepper jack cheese.... wasn't either, unless your from outside CA. The cheese had zero spice & the bread was basically just white, they should be ashamed to call it sourdough in CA. The crab tasted bland, like can without seasoning. Didn't come with enough lettuce or pickle to make it better- 1/3 piece of lettuce & 2 pickle slices. Hot sauce made it a bit better. There was hardly any fries, maybe a handful. There was a brandy aged pech on beer menu... had no idea what it was (either did the husband, who's a beer nut). The waiter again wasn't very helpful, said it was a sour, no sample offered. Took a gamble & got it, luckily it was really tasty... real peach flavor & very refreshing. The waiter, minus above, was nice & service was quick. Would prob. be back for some beer, if in the area, but not for food.
(2)Jade H.
Like to try different beers? Then this is the place to go. A great, ever-changing selection keeps me coming back on average, once a month. Great place to meet the guys after work for a few; good grill / bar food as well. I go here often and have no intention of stopping anytime soon.
(4)matt d.
my family and I have been frequenting this place since I was 12 years old. Love the laid back hometown atmosphere - and I love to sit outdoors in the spring and early summer when its not too hot =) the waiters are awesome and the owner Rob is truly a great guy. If you are going to go, try the diablo burger, or the tostada salad is also one of my favorites. My dad really enjoys there fish tacos and my sister would get the crispy chicken salad. Good times and memories at this place!
(5)Robert A.
OK, the food's not the best, but it's a pub, people! Great beer selection (be warned: it rotates), good pub-style food, and the servers are knowledgeable. If you have a friend who is new to beers, or would like to expand their beer palate, they serve samples, too. Note the name: "Alehouse & Grill". They're not going to be known for their salads and wine selection, so those that are complaining about that, grade it for what it is, and be thankful they tried to accommodate you. The last time I went was on a first date, and the waitress was flirting with me. While the servers are knowledgeable, they are not entirely professional. Go for the beer; eat some grub; drink more beer! You go for the beer.
(4)Linda M.
The food was just okay. But I never go to a place specializing in beers expecting to have great food. Our server was excellent, knew a lot about the brews and was helpful on the recommendations. The other folks delivering our food were also helpful and enthusiastic. The Daily Menu of beers was very cool, and you can get four small samples per table for a mere quarter each. It was weird to see "Bud Light" hidden among all the interesting brews on the menu though. Bleh. Their wine selection was small but seemed to be good quality. After our meal and a beer, we headed to the back and played a few rounds of darts. Got my ass kicked, but it was fun. It gets pretty loud in there, and this was a Tuesday night. I imagine it gets a little nutty on the weekend.
(4)Kevin W.
Fun place, sweet potato fries are awesome. I prefer my burgers rare here, because their medium is really more like med-well. We always sit in Jennifer's section if it' open, 'cause she's friendly and fast. The goofball that gives out tshirts is hilarious!
(4)Erez K.
Pretty good burgers. Friendly service. Huge beer selection. Most of the specials are ok as well. Awesome place in summer when you can sit outside. Children/Family friendly. What else do you need?
(4)Ryan B.
I haven't had any food here, but the beer selection was one of the best I have across. About 25+ varieties on tap to choose from.
(4)Peter K.
The two stars is for the food. Its good. The service sucks. We went when it was crowded. They cannot handle a crowd in this restaurant. Service was shit. They got our beer order wrong and argued it was right because that is what the ticket said. Hey moron, I did not order a dark beer why is it dark? So they realized someone poured the wrong beer, duh!! Finally and reluctantly they brought the right one. Next they screw up the burger order. I mean we are only 2 people. We had to find someone to correct it because they drop the plate on your table and leave like a rocket. The waitress came by once and asked if we needed a refill then the next time we saw them was when they handed us the bill. Not even a free beer for their screw ups. Guess they do not expect customers to return.
(2)Steve C.
Please place to hangout after work or a ball game, lots of beers on tap.
(4)Kimberly T.
You never get a second chance to make a first impression! And our first impression will bring us back very soon. Inside is very relaxing , and the perfect temperature on a sunny spring day. Outdoor seating was also impressive with a sunny, friendly, set up. Delicious food, excellent beer, and a wonderful server who made us all feel welcome. (I appreciate how he helped me with my beer selection too) Not only is it delicious...but you won't pull a muscle in your wallet either!
(5)Zulu Q.
Oh, I get it. If you haven't outgrown your frat boy days, you can chug beer at pint night for the Hopyard. No really, you get a raffle ticket and get to chug free beer. Wait....most people are into that....*realizes probably only non-beer-drinking loser.* Their garlic fries were sooooo not worth cheating on my no deep-fried food diet for. Meh.
(3)Drew A.
This is for the pulled pork sandwich ONLY (looks like a cool place to hang and drink after hours): This might possibly be the worst pulled pork in the world. I know my mom gives her boxers pig ears from time to time, and that is what this shitwich looked like...and had the same amount of moisture. It was like pork jerky on a toasted bun. I had to drink 3 glasses of water to rehydrate it in my stomach. The 2nd star is for the promising beer selection.
(2)Stephanie S.
Came to the Hopyard for dinner with a friend. We sat outside, and enjoyed the summer air. There was a laid-back, friendly sort of atmosphere. Good beer selection, which is why I assume most come here. I liked how they had ciders for those with lighter palates. For dinner I had the Sierra Madre burger with HopYard fries. Pretty alright for an alehouse and grill. I'm not a burger snob, and from what I could tell the patty was juicy, there was the right amount of toppings, and I left pretty stuffed. I'd come here again and make sure to bring a beer enthusiast.
(4)Eric M.
Great selection of beer and good pub food at a decent price. Also a good atmosphere, I had a great time there. Since I have come back many times when my friends were living in Pleasanton, I even got to try Pliny the Younger during beer week which was awesome. They always have a great tap list, and it's great for the beer drinking. The food isn't that amazing, but it's pub food so what do you expect.
(4)Chris K.
What a great way to celebrate the historic election...with good food and friends. Truly was a darn good burger and fries! You get a choice of bun (whole wheat, sourdough, reg). Hubby said the beer was good as well (I'm not a beer drinker). Service was very fast. They had high chairs and I wasn't worried the whole time about DD making a mess. Definitely will return!
(4)Lea B.
Wow, I think this place was totally one of my early reviews. Especially obvious since it's only, like, three sentences. Anyway. If my future grandchildren ever ask me, "Grandma, where were you when America's first black president was elected?" I will say, "The HopYard Alehouse, dearies." This just didn't seem like the kind of election where you stay home and sit on your couch (though, really, that would've worked too), so we met some friends at the HopYard. It was busy, but not crazy busy, so we were able to sit and eat and drink and enjoy. On top of it being Election Night, it was also pint night or special beer night or something ... so they were giving out free Gordon Biersch t-shirts and free beers. And I totally won one of the free t-shirts. Because Nov. 4, 2008, was a winning kind of a night. Honestly, I'd remembered the garlic parmesan fries being better than they actually were ... kinda hard or stale almost (IMO). The tuna melt wasn't bad. Enjoyed the beer and the atmosphere. Glad I didn't stay home.
(4)Anthony C.
A nice selection of Beers! Good food and a nice staff. The dining area outside is perfect for a sunny day. They just added a nice overhang. Kid Friendly for family time and a nice happy hour spot to blow off some steam after work. Worth the return everytime.
(4)Rebecca H.
Burgers, beers....it's a place to get both, and not much else. It's usually mad crazy busy with servers that hustle but can't keep up, and the food isn't great. I haven't been super impressed with anthing I've had there. Sadly, Red Robin or another burger chain has very similar food, and usually better made. I don't drink beer, maybe it's good, people seem to drink a lot, get loud, and enjoy it. When the place is slow the service is gracious and pleasant, but when it gets busy, it's every server for him or herself.
(2)Dave J.
I love this place! I always go to the Hopyard when I go to Pleasanton. The beer selection is awesome and changes frequently, so there is always something new to try. The food is just your standard pub house fare, but is tasty. I love their fish and chips with garlic fries. (The garlic is pretty strong, so don't get this on a date.) The only thing that could make this place better is if they had dessert. Tuesday nights they have specials on beer where you can buy a pint glass of their featured beer in a special logo pint glass. You can keep the glass and get refills for $1 less that night. It's more crowded on Tuesdays, but fun. They also have a great patio section for outdoor eating/drinking. Don't miss this place when you come to Pleasanton!
(4)Julie F.
The cheese steak sandwich with chicken is SO GOOD. I love the casual atmosphere here. The service is good enough, food is good and they have a wide selection, and they have a ton of beers. I haven't even been totally overwhelmed by the food here, other than the chicken cheese steak sandwich with Parmesan garlic fries, but it's definitely good enough and one of my favorite Pleasanton places, and I'll keep coming back for sure.
(4)Mayank R.
Great place for beer..friendly waitresses, nice atmosphere and some good selection of beer. Went there to meet up with old colleague and had a great time. Wondering was it the company or the pace..i guess both :-)
(4)Ernie D.
The HopYard is one of those restaurants that never lets you down. Great burgers, great fries, easy atmosphere.
(4)Peter G.
As a Pleasanton resident and someone who has lived in the Tri-Valley for 20+ years, I've been politely "forced" to Yelp. This is my first review. This review and future reviews will be short and to the point. I am not an aspiring writer or someone who wants my review count in 3 or 4 figures. My reviews will sway on the positive side; I don't want to be "that guy" who poops on local businesses just because he has an outlet to do so. That being said.... The Hopyard. Great beer, Nice burgers, and live atmosphere. Want a few pints and some good pub food? Consume at this establishment. Want a quiet gourmet meal? Stay home or spend $100. I like this place. "Yay! I'm a fan"
(4)Danny W.
Great Staff, great beer, good food. It's just an awesome friendly place to hang.
(5)John M.
Finally, a worthwhile Patty Melt. Not on the traditional rye toast, but good, onions done right, not greasy, and the sweet potato fries with the aiolie cap it off nicely. As does a Guinness.
(4)Katie M.
The Hopyard is a great place to go on a warm, sunny day to enjoy good beers and pub food out on their big patio. Their burgers are particularly good and satisfy my cravings when nothing sounds better than a hamburger. My personal favorite is the Sierra Madre...mmmmmmm...Their fries are good as well -- lightly seasoned. When I am feeling indulgent I order the onion rings, which are the best! Their chicken (or yardbird) subsitution on the burgers are good as well -- for those not red meat inclined. I also had their turkey burger which was nicely seasoned. The only disappoinments I have are around their salads. I have learned my lesson with a couple of attempts. A pile of iceberg lettuce does not constitute a salad. Come on, people, don't we live in California? Where are the mixed greens and fresh veggies? Their selection of beer varies, but they always have a nice assortment that should be able to satisfy many different tastes. Bottom line: Great burgers and beers!
(3)Randy C.
If you are looking for lunch that can turn into dinner if you aren't carefull, then you came to the right place. From the taps all over the walls and the informal whiteboard with beers of the month, it's all about the beer. The service is quick, freindly and a bit on the eccentric side. Obviously there is no dress code for the servers - so you could get anything from pierced tounges to tatoos a plenty. But that's no big deal, all part of the ambiance. They have a great selection of beers from everywhere. The lunch menu is pretty varied with burgers sandwiches and salds. The fries are good, be sure to try the garlic fries. They don't skimp on the garlic. Vegie burger substitutions are available on all the burgers. I'm partial to the "Kahuna", a burger with pineapple, teriyaki sauce and jack cheese. If burgers aren't your thing, the Baja tacos with a side rice and beans is quite good. You might also give the cheesesteak a rip. It's tasty. And don't forget to wash it down with a cold one. Or two. The Kemper root beer is good if you are tea totaling.
(4)Sid M.
It's rare to get a neighborhood vibe from an ale-house - this place pulls it off. The wait staff is attentive and friendly, the nachos are killer, and the onslaught of their variety of cold beer hits the spot. It's best to soak in this place on their outdoor patio. I need to go back here soon!
(4)Nicholas H.
As somewhat of a brew pub aficionado (family owns/operates one) it's say this place is pretty damn good. The quality of the ingredients in the food is barely mediocre, which is exactly what YOU SHOULD EXPECT. It kills me to read reviews about how the beer at the brew pub is great, but the food at Gary Dankos/Prima/Boulevard is better...no kidding? When Gary Danko's starts brewing their own IPA and serving it with a Philly sandwich and garlic fries for $10 I'll be impressed. Don't go to the Hopyard if you want to taste flights of Opus 1, go there to have good beer, ok food and to watch a game or chat it up with friends.
(4)Ben W.
Came here for the first time after living in Pleasanton for over 10 years. This place is great for watching live sports while grubbing to american pub food and brew. Their brew selection is pretty good, ranging from Sierra Nevada to Russian River. The pub also features a weekly brewery day on every Tuesday. Be sure to come and check it out as they offer a raffle for t-shirts and FREE beer! Overall, the local staff is friendly and the crowd is rowdy - as a pub should be.
(4)Vero V.
It was ok typical pub food... nothing to be to impressed about. Good selection of beer but a huge irritating point from me... How the hell does a place that is a restaurant and a bar not have orange slices? This is just a pet peeve of mine. Food was ok, service was good. What can I say, not terrible memorable in a good or a bad way.
(3)John M.
Great food -- LOUSY service! If you get "Alicia" for your waitress, get another waitress or LEAVE! Bad attitude to the max. She pissed off that you're impacting her day by being at Hopyard! I eaten at both Hopyards (San Ramon and Pleasanton). I like them both. Good beers, burgers and such. Great place to eat outside. Somebody needs to do something about the crappy service! The additional questions asks: "Waiter Service" The answer is: "Yes, unfortunately!"
(1)Katie M.
I'm a big Livermore alehouse fan and as a Livermore native I'm sad to say that hopyard alehouse food put ours to shame. First of all, anywhere that has deviled eggs as an appetizer is amazing in my book. Good appetizer selection, build your own burger as well as signature burgers and sammies. I liked the fact they have a banquet room and a lot of space on the patio. The food was amazing. My burger was perfect, the sandwich I tried was also excellent. If you enjoy a nice dark beer go for the Moose Drool...its amazingly refreshing and tasty. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Boppa B.
Been here plenty of times over the years, and haven't had an experience like the the one my group (6 total) encountered this afternoon. Showed up at 12:30, decent amount of patrons, not totally packed. Waitress took our drink orders promptly; meals were ordered after drinks were delivered. Then it took nearly 30 mins to bring out our lunches! WTF? No waitress or anyone else to explain the long wait. I asked for a drink refill, waited almost 10 mins for that. When one member of our party went to inquire about the status of our orders, he was told that it would "only be another minute" and that "their computer went down." Meanwhile, we watched as several other tables (who were seated after us) received their orders. Typically, my experiences here have been at least 4 out of 5 stars. Today's debacle knocked it down a couple.
(2)Bill C.
The Hopyard is a decent place to meet up with some friends for a drink or two. Generally the food is mediocre and the service is hit or miss. The one redeeming quality is that they have a decent beer selection. This place makes for a good backup plan in case your first choice is way too crowded. *** Update 19-Dec-06 **** Was there last night trying to get into the Christmas Spirit (and let the Christmas Spirits get into me). Only to find out they close at 9 PM. Geez! That's barely enough time to get a few drinks. Still, it's not a bad place but at least stay open until 10.
(3)brett m.
Good food, cute waitresses, Great beer selection....a little pricey
(4)Keith K.
I've been coming here for the past 6 years and I was just here last night with my wife and some friends. The food has had it's share of ups and downs but the beers never disappoint. The burger last night was the best I've had here and the garlic fries were excellent. The buffalo wings are also another favorite. They have just the right amount of heat. This is a great place to hang out and catch up with friends.
(4)David C.
Nice relaxed atmosphere, drinks are cold and inexpensive, food is decent. Bartenders go out of their way to accomadate your needs. Nice little brewpub.
(3)linh d.
Average food.
(3)Jimmy K.
Did not get to try any of the food, but the beer selection was awesome. We came late around closing time and they stated "last call" however I got like 4 beers after it was announced. The bartender was awesome providing great service and great sampling's of the different beers they have. A solid place to grab a beer and talk with the locals about anything... especially craft beer :)
(4)Albert W.
As with any brewer-like place, you'll find the American classics - burgers, sandwiches and brew. They're all "alright", nothing that special (I'd rather go to in-n-out) BUT it's a place where everyone can find something on the menu that's fit their needs. I would go there if you'd like a local Pleasanton place where you can chat with friends in a casual place.
(3)Joe Y.
Great selection of beer. I'm a beer snob. However, like others have said, the food was AWFUL!! And Service? What service? I heard rumors they were going to open a new location in Livermore. Thank gawd that rumor died...
(2)Catherine S.
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. We had a graduation party on June 11, the food was awesome and our server was perfect! Management was incredibly helpful and let us drop off cake, balloons, and decorations hours before hand! If you are going to have a party Hopyard is definitely the place to have it!!!
(5)Andrew L.
I have never seen more douchebags in one place before in my life. If you don't routinely wear sandals, capri pants, your company's softball jersey and a ski cap at the same time, stay the hell away from this place. I knew that Pleasanton was full of white trash, but this place makes Kevin Federline look like the coolest guy on earth. WOW!
(1)Lisa L.
My husband loves the beer here, although why they only had 2 Lagunitas beers on Lagunitas brewery night is a mystery, but the food is hit or miss. I tried the special, chicken mole enchiladas. Worst.Dinner.Ever! There was less than an ounce of plain chicken inside each terribly hard, impossible-to-cut corn tortilla. The mole sauce was good, but there was just the tiniest smear of the sauce on top of the enchiladas. On to the salmon tacos. My husband will eat almost anything, and he had to push these aside after one bite - too fishy and gross! A fun place to hang out with friends and family, and I appreciate the kids menu, but I think it will be a while before we try it again.
(2)Barry A.
Walked in about 4:30 for a burger. Was immediately socked in the face with the smell of mustiness.... ...you know... that dirty mop bucket smell. We retreated back out front to the patio. Service was excellent. Surprisingly I had no beer, although they have a good selection of brews... Had the Hop Yard burger on onion roll. Ordered medium, received well done. Burger was still juicy, so it was fine. A little too much bun for your burger. The garlic and parmesan fries were passable. Thankfully for me, living in The City means I have a large selection of places to grab a great burger. We're spoiled like that
(2)Alvin W.
The Hopyard is a good place for lunch and a great place for happy hour. Probably one of the best alehouse and grill in Pleasanton. They have a large selection of beers on tap and the price of pitchers are very reasonable. If you're there for happy hour, try their garlic parmesan fries. My co-workers and I enjoy sitting on the outdoor patio on sunny days.
(3)jessica h.
Came here with some friends for appitizers and drinks. The service was quick and friendly with good suggestions. The food was good for drinking snacks, but I really enjoyed just sitting outside on a nice day with good company. would come back.
(5)Margaret S.
I have eaten here for years and I have to say NO MORE! The food is gross (i had the Chicken Apple salad last night and the apples were actually moldy and rotten) and our waitress could care less about it - when she bothered to come by and check on us that is - which i might even over look if the food was any good at all. Save your money and yourself from potential food poisoning and go anywhere else.
(1)Aaron K.
A great place to hang out, drink from a great selection of beers, and eat great pub food. This place has an impressive menu of beers. Of course you can try a sample of one before you commit to buying a pint. I usually go for the ones on the menu with the picture of a bomb next to it (high alcohol selections). They also have at least a couple beers tapped with nitrogen instead of carbon dioxide. This gives a different experience, and the beer is much smoother and creamier - quite a treat. The food I've had there is really good - burgers, fries, nachos, sandwiches. If you're looking for grilled Tofu and a seafood salad, then you've come to the wrong place. If you want a good beer and food with your friends - go to Hopyard.
(5)Amanda M.
This place is my Cheers! We are here almost every Tuesday. Awesome beer selection. The servers are totally cool and actually remember you week to week. Yes, the food could be better but it's a pub! Get over it! The sweet potato fries are delicious!
(5)Deborah W.
I'll give it 2 stars for atmosphere and great beers. Our crowd had a great time but it wasn't the food that made it fun. Don't know what all the talk about the burgers is. They were dry and hard to find under all the extra bread. Great selection of beers though--hubby hadn't even heard of a few and that's rare! Waiter was great.
(2)Janice S.
The food was okay barfood- like sandwiches and stuff. The parmesan garlic fries are the draw. Not a beer drinker but the husband said their brew was good. I didn't realized people actually hangout in Pleasanton regal-beagle style-j/k. Our server was in training and he was super-friendly like almost too nice but he was good and no complaints. Would go back to watch games or something.
(3)David I.
Good beer, decent food. I have had a meal or two that I would order again such as the burger. After that it's not that great. However the beers are very good and Tuesday nights for beer of the week is a fun evening!
(3)Douglas L.
Hmmm...Well, this is my place of worship. I thoroughly enjoy the atmosphere, the people, staff and the beer. Many to choose from and the menu always changes. Approximately 25-30 beers on tap. Food is fine - standard pub-fare. Although, they do have specials everyday that change daily (although again standard pub food). But a very nice place to get a nice beer, hookup your computer (free wifi), and enjoy a game on the TV. Alternatively, sit outside in the sun, or shoot some darts, play liars dice. Good family place - I take my kids here all the time and they enjoy the food and location. Just a fun place to hang out!!
(4)Danielle S.
I went here thinking it was the same as the San Ramon Hopyard.. No, it was not. The food was not very good. The service was ok.
(2)Ashley M.
Good service, good place for those who love beer, but the food for me is just forgettable. It's not gross or anything, it tastes fresh, but honestly i have been here 5 times, got 5 different things and was never impressed. don't think i'll ever go back
(2)Lynds H.
Folks...it's a pub! If you're looking for fine dining, peace and quiet, and a menu that extends beyond your typical pub-food, this is not it! If you are, however, looking for good beer, burgers, and fries, this is the best place in the area. A great selection of beer and great deals on Tuesday night pint nights. Garlic parmesan fries are intense, but oh so good. Food and service is good most of the time, but can drop on busy nights, but let me stress this again...IT'S A PUB!!!
(4)Scotty D.
the hopyard is a place that means alot to me in many ways! it was the place that made me love beer and met my best buddy dave at the hopyard. both the pleasanton and san ramon locations are great for food, fun, beer and great people watching. as for myself i love to hang out more at the san ramon hopyard because of the great staff, regulars and the cute ladies. the beer is fantastic and changes daily with the best micro brewed beers around. i really love the collages of pictures on the walls of all the old employees and friends i have met along the way. as for the food its your typical pub kinda food and i prefer the sandwiches and burgers over anything and next time your in town stop in and tell em scottysauce sent ya!
(4)Amanda R.
Fantastic beer menu!!!! Food is great. My Fave is the crab melt my fiance's is the mushroom burger. Mini corn dogs and the zucchini is great. This place can seat a lot of people. I have NEVER had to wait for a seat... even on a saturday night. The people who work there are so nice and helpful. Great deal nights (every tuesday special beer night). We highly recommend this place! Hang out eat and have fun!
(5)Sam H.
This place is pretty cool. Standard bar menu for the most part, although they do offer some non-standard fish dishes. I have not had a hamburger yet, but they looked really good. Service was fine, and the beer selection is around 30 beers. They have a hopyard Hefeweizen that is light and refreshing. They have an outdoor patio area where you can smoke. This bar is right on my commute home and it is difficult not to stop in and catch a beer.
(4)Carol B.
Had a bad experience at The Hopyard today. We were ignored by our waiter. I had to get up and hunt someone down to take our lunch order. When our food finally came, my burger was rare and barely luke warm (e-coli anyone?). When our missing waiter finally showed up with the bill he asked how everything was and when I reported that my beef was still mooing he made no attempt to adjust the bill just asked if I wanted to send it back. I explained at that point I didnt have time to wait as I had to get back to work. This is the 3rd time I have received crappy service. The last time was around Thanksgiving and the waitress was snooty.
(1)Marvy A.
I've added the Hopyard to my "Places to go when in Pleasanton". And the main reason? Garlic Fries! Mmm....I love that it has chunks of garlic AND parmesan cheese sprinkled all over them! I've already forgotten what I ate with them the last time I was here...but man, those fries sure were good!
(4)Carla T.
Casey's take: hopyard hefe and garlic fries...nuff said. i'm craving it, just thinking about it :-) the hopyard hefe is not lack-luster in flavor, as most witbiers tend to be (for me, at least). the hefe is smooth, almost buttery, and does well in cutting the residual fry grease left in your mouth after devouring a basketful (yes, i said a basketful) of their savory, garlic fries. nutritionally obsolete? yes! absolutely satisfying? without a doubt! let's just say you're guaranteed to leave quite full after chowing down on this snack of champions. hey, i never said this was a healthy meal... a deadly combination of beer and garlic breath, be sure to drink lots of h20 and come readily equipped with an arsenal of gum if you're headed to aura to partake in pleasanton's nightlife festivities...if not, you're sure to ward off any potentials. LOL... p.s. - the blue cheese burger is YUMMY, too! if you're with a group of friends, the nachos are a good choice because they're humongous!
(4)Andrew K.
The Hopyward has a great selection of beers on-tap and great burgers. It does get busy on Fri. and Sat. nights; however, we've never had a problem getting a table. When the weather warms up, the front patio is a great place to get a table. Also, very kid-friendly.
(4)Ken V.
I used to have lunch here quite a few years ago when I worked right down the street. Every once in a while, I'd meet up with some buddies here on the weekend. What I remember--Impressive selection of beers on tap, you're sure to see something you don't know about. Burgers and sandwiches are decent, fresh ingredients, good flavor--a notch above average pub grub. The service is kind of spotty--at times, it's great, others, you'll feel like you're invisible. Overall, I'd go back if I'm in the area again, if only for the tap beer selection.
(4)Josh R.
This place is easy to sum up: Solid simple food choices at reasonable prices, wide rotating beer selection that is almost guaranteed to have something you haven't tried before on tap. Come here if you want a reasonably priced night of unpretentious food and good beer, definitely worth the visit.
(4)NoCal S.
I had the sierra burger(name?). The meat was a thin patty that reminded me of the frozen pre-shaped kind you get at costco. Roll was a bit too dense and beat the poor meat to the background. Fries and beer were good, as were the burger toppings. Really needs better meat.
(2)Tiffany T.
Bleh. Locals either love or hate this place. Frankly everything I have had here has been mediocre. Their chicken kabob appetizer was bland, the dipping sauce lackluster. Their burgers were bland, not enough meat or fresh toppings. Their garlic fries are probably the best item on the menu. If you drink enough beer this place is probably ok, or if you want to eat outside and get kind of rowdy. Eh. I just don't see the appeal of this place in many ways it just a big bar.
(3)Joseph N.
This place is around the corner from my work. I typically don't go out to lunch but when I do, I have this place in my back pocket. The wait staff is very friendly, and the timing is right for the lunchtime crowd. I had the new Chicken Caprese Sandwich - very good!
(4)Jason S.
Must say....got all excited about the pliny the elder and cheeseburger write up.....BUT....not so much. Cheeseburger was average at best....little on the cold side, just not very good. The nachos appetizer was pretty good...but the Pliny beer was brutal, had to choke it down. My friend had a firestone double jack IPA and to say he struggled w it is an understatement.....he nearly baRfed...but did catch a buzz via the hops and aromatic delivery of this stinky brew.
(2)John Z.
This is my favorite sports bar in Pleasanton. The beer is great, the food is excellent, and the service is solid. The Hopyard is an excellent spot to hang out after work or on the weekends enjoying their patio in the sun.
(3)Raee W.
Great Place. Down to earth not snooty or complicated. Servers are busy but do a great job. My last server did great! My iced tea was low and instead of filling my cup with iced tea from the pitcher she brought me a fresh cup, with new ice and new lemon wedge. Burgers and fries are very fresh and tasty. Salads very good. The beer selection rocks and if you are not sure what beer to order, try a sample for .25cents. Inside it gets to be noisy, with the televisions and sports fans. Great place to go
(4)Stacey G.
Yum, had the turkey taco (special of the day) with fries - it was amazing! Match that with a Hopyard wheat beer and you have one great lunch!
(5)Bryan K.
Every Tuesday, Hopyard showcases a particular brewery. For a dollar extra you can keep the glass. Then the 2nd and subsequent beers of the same brewery are $1 off (but you can't keep those glasses). As a bachelor, *that's* the reason to come here -- load up on fine glassware for when your buddies come over. The food is average so eat somewhere else then come here for a nightcap... its roomy, has a few tvs to catch the A's game, and a patio for those warm nights. In a nutshell, come here for the variety of beer but the food is not so good. Oh and the beer glasses! (not to be confused with beer goggles) :)
(3)jenelle d.
My favorite restaurant in Pleasanton. I look forward to going there whenever it's warm outside! BUT i hate eating inside. It is all dark and dingy but the food is always good. Try the Cajun Popcorn Chicken salad. It is delicious.
(4)Billy S.
I've got a friend that works here that i always seem to miss whenever i go in. The food definitely is run of the mill bar food. What makes up for that however is the staff and the beer. I'm fully aware that they have an open bar but they have a great selection of brews to choose from and friendly staff to serve it. It's a bit out of the way for me to go to all the time, but i try and make an appearance every once in a while.
(3)Andrew B.
I love this place. Definitely more "Alehouse" than "Grill", but that was what I expected, and once through the doors there was no doubt. Sampled one of the many beers including a 25c 'taster' shot. I'd stick to the ample appetizers. Lots of character and a great local place to relax.
(4)Gina R.
My husband and I went here last weekend - we took our 9 week old with us. The food was decent, so was the atmosphere. Good for kids. I had a bbq pulled pork sandwich and the pork was tender and there weren't hunks of fat in it (which I hate to find in a pulled pork sando!), but there was no bbq/smokey taste - just tasted like the meat had been slow steamed or roasted. The bbq sauce was also mediocre. My husband had the cajun cheese steak and liked it just fine. Fries were good, service was great. Beer selection was awesome.
(3)Jocelyn F.
Unfortunately, this place isn't as good as the one in San Ramon. The people are loud, the food is prepared different. I tend to order the same thing the Sierra Madre, onion rings instead of fries, extra mayo w/ a side of ranch. The sierra Madre at this place didn't taste as good as the one in san ramon - I don't know, the avocado on this burger was mashed like guac instead of nice pretty slices, the bacon - it was one slice of bacon cut in half - I laughed - at san ramon you get 2-3 slices (cut in half - plenty of bacon to cover the burger) and asked for more, the server, very nicely brought me over a plate of bacon. Service was nice, although I did tire of the staff chit chatting loudly. I just wanted to watch Micheal Phelps tell the world what it felt like to kick some arse at the Olympics.
(3)Chris S.
As far as Pleasanton goes, you have this place or the Main Street Brewery. There's usually some compelling beers to try (they do tasters) and the food is more than passable. It's always busy, to a certain extent. PROS: Thai chicken salad; just-about-the-right-number of TV's; lively CONS: Wish is had a bit more pub'biance
(4)Patrick W.
This is a nice place to hang out and meet friends. If you're not on a date, try the garlic fries! It has a nice comfortable, atmosphere and is friendly to groups of people. This is they type of place to see families, people on dates and your local softball team.
(4)Steven L.
Good food and a nice setting. Plenty of different beers on tap. Can get pretty busy.
(4)Angela M.
Basic pub food and brews. The staff is friendly. The interior feels like a Cracker Barrel but they do have outdoor seating. We have been twice with larger groups - they provide one bill with gratuity already added. What I really don't like is if you want separate bills they charge you $2/bill - must be making up for whatever gratuity they think they are missing out on with a group bill and automatic gratuity.
(3)C D.
Good selection of beers (and ciders!). Good food, and funny wait staff. Went on a saturday night with a group of friend and had the cheesesteak which was delicious. Also the mini corn dogs are good to.
(4)Betty W.
So, the beer is awesome. I love how many different choices there are. It's a great place to go watch a game and drink a few pitchers of beer :-) However, if you're hungry...eat before you go. How they are able to screw up a burger, I shall never know.
(3)blair k.
i hate giving this place such an average review because i kinda like going here. i like beer, not love it. their pliney is always good. but the food... it is always so average and last time i went my food came way before my date's. so then mine got cold cause i waited. so i sent it back to be re warmed, which took forever, so my my boyfriend finished his food and mine came back and we didnt get to eat together. :o( crummy but they have a large selection of beers and it is good for boys.
(3)Robert L.
Good selection of beers but other than that just a run-of-the-mill so-called brewpub. If this is the best Pleasanton has to offer there's an opportunity for someone to open up a real sports-bar brew-pub and put these guys out of business. Decor and atmosphere is non-existent. Food is not good. Our french fries were like all the little nubs at the bottom of a bag of frozen fries. Fried appetizers were no better than you could make at home with frozen food from the supermarket. Wine selection is pitiful. They were out of the "house" $6.50 cab so the only red choices left were $10 and $9.50 a glass for wine that just isn't worth it. They should at least always have a cheaper alternative. All in all, we won't be back. This place was once good, has fallen severely, still taking people's money without giving much back to them. I say go elsewhere or open a better place .. there's obviously a market.
(2)Marla M.
Basic pub grub. Only thing I can say, is that they do, do their own chips, twice fried every morning, a +, and the soups, some are really good, some are not so much. The burgers could be seasoned more, and a bit steep on price. But it is Pleasanton. + Hard Cider of different varieties on tap, a way in to any hard cider lovers heart... Servers tip out A LOT! So give them a break.
(3)oliver e.
Synopsis - nice beer selection but way overpriced, ok food, fair service. I have been drinking craft beer and living in this area for 25 years. When hopyard first opened they offered a viable alternative to the competition. Now, with Dublin Sports grill and the newly expanded Livermore first st alehouse, Hopyard can't compete. Hopyard has always had a good selection of beers. Unfortunately, they charge premium prices - out of line with what is offered by the competition. Compounding this, their food has always been middle range and the service just doesn't seem to really care about the customer. You can get good beer here but why not get a better deal, better food, and better service at the other two local establishments?
(3)Kiki G.
i'm not a big beer drinker and when I do, it's Guinness. My Irish heritage prohibits me from drinking anything else. That being said and out of the way, I am reviewing the food. One step above the regular pub grub. Plus it's Oktoberfest, so head on down!
(3)Pamela S.
The food is ok, but the only thing I really liked was the garlic fries. I like the garlic fries better at the San Ramon location. One thing I really do not like about this place is that every time I went here, the beer was served warm-cool. I prefer ice cold beer in a cold glass.
(2)Raj M.
If this place hired a real chef, or even some talented line cooks, it would be a fun spot for dinner. As is, it's nice for some daytime beers in the summer, but the food is somewhere between applebees and frozen TV dinners... not a good place to be.
(2)Michael W.
I had a tough time thinking about how to review this place, since I am not a fan of bear or ale. The best way to describe it is as a nice suburban pub. When I used to live in Chicago, it was common place for each neighborhood to have a local pub that was a bit dingy, but had lots of character and friendly staff. This is a bit more manufactured with less character, but a decent supply and variety of beer. Food is what you would expect; burgers, fries, chicken fingers, etc. Nothing out of the ordinary, and nothing I would find myself craving. Yet, if their is a sporting event on that I would want to watch with a couple of friends while sampling various brews, this might be worth a shot.
(3)Tiffany M.
Good selection of beer and always a friendly staff! The zucchini sticks are delicious and so are the boneless buffalo wings. They also have a huge patio area so it is really nice to sit out there on a warm evening.
(5)Casey C.
hopyard hefe and garlic fries...nuff said. i'm craving it, just thinking about it :-) the hopyard hefe is not lack-luster in flavor, as most witbiers tend to be (for me, at least). the hefe is smooth, almost buttery, and does well in cutting the residual fry grease left in your mouth after devouring a basketful (yes, i said a basketful) of their savory, garlic fries. nutritionally obsolete? yes! absolutely satisfying? without a doubt! let's just say you're guaranteed to leave quite full after chowing down on this snack of champions. hey, i never said this was a healthy meal... a deadly combination of beer and garlic breath, be sure to drink lots of h20 and come readily equipped with an arsenal of gum if you're headed to aura to partake in pleasanton's nightlife festivities...if not, you're sure to ward off any potentials. LOL... p.s. - the blue cheese burger is YUMMY, too! if you're with a group of friends, the nachos are a good choice because they're humongous!
(4)Michelle G.
The only thing I remember about this place is their HUGE fish sandwich, the Moby, which anyone in the know would always have to call ahead for since it's not a regular on their menu. Often times I would only eat the fish because the bread is just overkill. But that sandwich paired with their tartar sauce, fries and beer pitchers is enough to put me into a coma for the rest of the day. Hopefully if you order a Moby, they won't overcook it. I have fond memories of my ex boss bringing me here for my first few lunches.
(4)Bay A.
Clarification, the Hopyard is not a brewery. For some reason everyone kept telling me they were a brewery and I checked it out. As Bryan K states they "showcase a particular brewery". Which they way I see it, they just offer beer. The same way Applebees or anywhere else does. I really don't like The Hopyard, but my damn buddies keep wanting to come for some reason. The food is OK I guess, actually I do like their garlic fries. I dont know what it is, maybe because it always so damn dark in there and the fact that people refer to it as a brewery that keeps me from liking this place. Oh well.
(2)Mike L.
This place has a great selection of beer and I love the friendly staff. The only reason this place only gets 3 stars is that their food is a little below average. Not terrible, but not good. I like everything else about this place.
(3)Allisson K.
What a fun place to go on a hot night, after a run, when you need a beer to cool things off. There's a patio outside - not a great view, but a patio nonetheless! Greasy food, friendly staff and beer, beer, beer. Oh and if your kiddies like greasy food...they have highchairs too!
(3)