I have been here several times, probably a dozen so far, and almost every experience has been wonderful. Their happy hour is fantastic! You get full portions for half the cost and there are a large number of both meat and vegetarian choices. And they don't just put the unpopular stuff on the happy hour menu; they include their popular items too. As far as the ambiance, it has a gastropub feel, a little more upscale than BJs, though. I like to sit at the bar or outside because those two places are the best for people watching, depending on the time of day. There are lots of TVs for the people who want to watch the game and when there aren't a lot of games on, the other TVs loop sports related videos like snowboarding and surfing. Not my bag but I am usually too busy people watching to care. It is hard to decide which is better: The food, the booze or the service. They have a million beers and like on tap... well maybe not a million but at least 100. The bartenders really know their beer and will let you sample them to see if you want an entire pint. I love this because I am pretty specific about what I like flavor-wise. My favorite thing to order is a Black & Blue which is Sea Dog Blue Paw Wild Blueberry beer with a Guinness float. I also like that they keep the seasonal Leinenkugel's shandy, Hangar 24 Orange Wheat and Angry Orchard Cider on tap. If they start keep Magic Hat 9 on tap I will never go anywhere else. Their mixed drinks are also good, including the mules. They have a full bar so they can make pretty much anything you ask. The service is almost always spot on. There is one girl at the bar that practically ignores you if you are not a guy, but the other bartenders pick up her slack and take care of things. It makes sense for them since she can waste an hour flirting with a bunch of guys who will maybe tip her $10 while the rest can work multiple customers and make $30+ each. I hardly want for anything from all the rest if the bartenders when I go, though and they are always happy to make suggestions if you tell them what you like (both with booze and food). Now onto the food... how I love the food! Here are a few of my hits and misses: HITS: Truffle Fries: I love these! They don't taste really truffle-like but they do have an umami flavor that is pleasant and works well with the Parmesan they put on top. I like to eat these with the Firecracker sauce (more on this later) and ranch dressing. Grilled Korean Pork Belly tacos: The pork belly is salty, smoky and just crispy enough, but still soft enough to chew through easily. The salty pickled kimchi compliments the flavors and adds an added crisp texture to the taco. Firecracker wings: This is the only way wings should be eaten. Ever. Period. I want to bath in the firecracker sauce and I would probably consider marrying it if that were legal. It is like a cross between a teriyaki sauce and a Korean BBQ sauce with a finish of cilantro . I eat this sauce with pretty much everything they serve here and I wish I had the recipe. Chicken Garlic Noodles: I don't like tofu. But this does not have tofu in it. It has SMOKED Tofu in it and that adds a dimension that rounds out the garlicky noodles. This was recommended by one of the bartenders as his mom's favorite and I have to admit it is one of my favorite's too. Lettuce Wraps w/Chicken: I don't recommend that shrimp because it just didn't meld well with the flavors of the pine nuts and tofu. They serve it with shredded carrots, fried cellophane noodles (those crispy white ones) ad plenty of lettuce. All three sauces are also very complimentary, but of course, the Firecracker sauce is my favorite. Salted Caramel Butterscotch pudding: I know salted caramel is the big thing now and a little over done but this dessert it one of the best things I have ever tasted and I am a big dessert person so I should know. The flavor is salty-sweet with the perfect creaminess and silky texture. This is not instant or store bought pudding. It is a well made, homemade pudding. MISSES: Sliders: I wanted to like these because I like practically everything else but they are dry and flavorless. They are a great deal because you get 4 sliders plus fries even during Happy Hour, but they just aren't as tasty as a larger burger which can be made medium or medium rare. Carnitas Street tacos: Nothing special. You could get a better taco at any Mexican restaurant on a taco Tuesday. Not particularly well flavored and the addition of the pineapple is strange. Organic Tomato Bisque: Not bad but not awesome either. As good as Vons or Panera Bread but not better. California Roll: Not really a roll... more like a stack. I applaud them trying to deconstruct it but this just didn't work. As they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. California rolls are iconic in California. Just don't mess with them. So there you have it.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Lisa H.
I have been here several times, probably a dozen so far, and almost every experience has been wonderful. Their happy hour is fantastic! You get full portions for half the cost and there are a large number of both meat and vegetarian choices. And they don't just put the unpopular stuff on the happy hour menu; they include their popular items too. As far as the ambiance, it has a gastropub feel, a little more upscale than BJs, though. I like to sit at the bar or outside because those two places are the best for people watching, depending on the time of day. There are lots of TVs for the people who want to watch the game and when there aren't a lot of games on, the other TVs loop sports related videos like snowboarding and surfing. Not my bag but I am usually too busy people watching to care. It is hard to decide which is better: The food, the booze or the service. They have a million beers and like on tap... well maybe not a million but at least 100. The bartenders really know their beer and will let you sample them to see if you want an entire pint. I love this because I am pretty specific about what I like flavor-wise. My favorite thing to order is a Black & Blue which is Sea Dog Blue Paw Wild Blueberry beer with a Guinness float. I also like that they keep the seasonal Leinenkugel's shandy, Hangar 24 Orange Wheat and Angry Orchard Cider on tap. If they start keep Magic Hat 9 on tap I will never go anywhere else. Their mixed drinks are also good, including the mules. They have a full bar so they can make pretty much anything you ask. The service is almost always spot on. There is one girl at the bar that practically ignores you if you are not a guy, but the other bartenders pick up her slack and take care of things. It makes sense for them since she can waste an hour flirting with a bunch of guys who will maybe tip her $10 while the rest can work multiple customers and make $30+ each. I hardly want for anything from all the rest if the bartenders when I go, though and they are always happy to make suggestions if you tell them what you like (both with booze and food). Now onto the food... how I love the food! Here are a few of my hits and misses: HITS: Truffle Fries: I love these! They don't taste really truffle-like but they do have an umami flavor that is pleasant and works well with the Parmesan they put on top. I like to eat these with the Firecracker sauce (more on this later) and ranch dressing. Grilled Korean Pork Belly tacos: The pork belly is salty, smoky and just crispy enough, but still soft enough to chew through easily. The salty pickled kimchi compliments the flavors and adds an added crisp texture to the taco. Firecracker wings: This is the only way wings should be eaten. Ever. Period. I want to bath in the firecracker sauce and I would probably consider marrying it if that were legal. It is like a cross between a teriyaki sauce and a Korean BBQ sauce with a finish of cilantro . I eat this sauce with pretty much everything they serve here and I wish I had the recipe. Chicken Garlic Noodles: I don't like tofu. But this does not have tofu in it. It has SMOKED Tofu in it and that adds a dimension that rounds out the garlicky noodles. This was recommended by one of the bartenders as his mom's favorite and I have to admit it is one of my favorite's too. Lettuce Wraps w/Chicken: I don't recommend that shrimp because it just didn't meld well with the flavors of the pine nuts and tofu. They serve it with shredded carrots, fried cellophane noodles (those crispy white ones) ad plenty of lettuce. All three sauces are also very complimentary, but of course, the Firecracker sauce is my favorite. Salted Caramel Butterscotch pudding: I know salted caramel is the big thing now and a little over done but this dessert it one of the best things I have ever tasted and I am a big dessert person so I should know. The flavor is salty-sweet with the perfect creaminess and silky texture. This is not instant or store bought pudding. It is a well made, homemade pudding. MISSES: Sliders: I wanted to like these because I like practically everything else but they are dry and flavorless. They are a great deal because you get 4 sliders plus fries even during Happy Hour, but they just aren't as tasty as a larger burger which can be made medium or medium rare. Carnitas Street tacos: Nothing special. You could get a better taco at any Mexican restaurant on a taco Tuesday. Not particularly well flavored and the addition of the pineapple is strange. Organic Tomato Bisque: Not bad but not awesome either. As good as Vons or Panera Bread but not better. California Roll: Not really a roll... more like a stack. I applaud them trying to deconstruct it but this just didn't work. As they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. California rolls are iconic in California. Just don't mess with them. So there you have it.
(5)