The Monk’s Kettle - San Francisco

4/5 stars

I don't know how long this place has been on our "must-visit" SF list. Years and years probably.

The beer list was impressive. I've never seen a $65 beer before, or an alcoholic root beer (it was tasty, by the way). Tons of sours. I will admit that I was a bit disappointed with their selection of witbiers and hefs. So I went with the Finnriver black currant sparkling cider and it was a nice balance of sweet and off-dry.

The place was A LOT smaller than I thought it'd be. Luckily, we were able to snag seats at the bar. The bartender was friendly and efficient, though unengaging. The wall of glassware notable. We didn't try any food, but I hear it's good.

(2015)

The Yard at Mission Rock - San Francisco

4/5 stars

What a treat! The Yard is a great place to hang out before a Giants game. Nachos from Senor Sisig and a Meyer lemon lager from Anchor Steam made for a terrific breakfast of champions! The beer is "7 vs 17 dollars" cheaper than in the park and the selection is also way better. I liked my nachos, but would've liked more options/food trucks.

(2015)

West End Tap & Kitchen - Santa Cruz

4/5 stars

My second time here. The first was for a bridal shower. West End set aside one section of the restaurant for us, with chic bench seating. They were super easy to work with. They let us come in early to decorate and even helped fill mason jars with water for the flowers. It was a nice place for a slightly rustic, casual shower. And the passion fruit beer was a hit with the ladies.

I visited again today. It was the perfect place to start my family's weekend in Monterey for my mom's 60th! We got seated at a lovely table under the skylight near the kitchen. In a sunny spot. I'm a fan of how they do wooden tables and linen napkins. Mom and I discussed our plans to install a pizza oven just like West End's.

We ordered the beer sampler which was super fun to share. The garlic mushroom flatbread and grilled cheese sandwich were a hit. I also like how they do their calamari. Lightly fried, non-oily, and served with a yummy mignonette. Service was darling and she even surprised my mom with some chocolate gelato complete with birthday candle.

I wonder what we'll celebrate here next...

(2015)

Steins Beer Garden - Mountain View

3/5 stars

Steins isn't exactly what you'd find in Belgium, but it's not bad. The interior is a bit cold and industrial-feeling, but the beer list is long-ish.

I went with a large party recently and our server was super attentive. So brownie points for that. Also, the pretzel was hot and fresh and you can't really go wrong with the truffle, parmesan fries. Those things are addicting. The Mountain View Mule tasted like a mule and the fried chicken sandwich was HUGE. A tad too greasy, but hey, it's fried chicken. It was way better than the overcooked flank steak. I wish it didn't come pre-sliced. Meat loses its juiciness that way.

It's a loud place so I wouldn't come here if you want to hold a conversation with your dinner companion/s.

(2015)

Tee Nee Thai Cuisine - San Jose

4/5 stars

This place reminds me of my husband and I.

Except I'm not Thai.

My hubby, on the other hand, LOVES Belgium beer. I think his affections go:

1. Me
2. Our puppy
3. Belgium beer

One of our favorite wine enthusiasts from Ridge told us about Tee Nee Thai. It's a great place for a date!

I knew that this place was known for their beer list, but their wine list was even bigger! It was fun trying to find fruity whites to pair with the spicy Thai food. And man, was their food spicy! Their "medium" is what other Thai restaurants in the area would call "hot." We tried their pad thai and a red curry with pork. Both were fresh, tasty, and well-made. The food also didn't seem as sweet as Krung Thai's.

Service was lovely. The ladies are super, super nice and even let me try the white wine before ordering it.

Even though the prices were high for the portion size and the wine pours could have been a bit more generous, we'll most likely come back because there's nothing else like it. I wish more Asian restaurants had better wine, beer, and cocktails lists.

(2015)

The New World Tavern - Plymouth, MA

3/5 stars

VERY impressive beer list. 32 beers on tap and an advertised 100 in bottles.

We came here w/ my craft beer-loving hubby and Uncle and they both seemed to really enjoy themselves. Sampler of 5 was only $10! I had the special cocktail: a pineapple margarita. It was only okay (pineapple was canned) - should've stuck w/ the beer sampler.

Food was fairly overpriced. I had the cranberry and ponzu glazed wings. I liked the cranberry buffalo wings a lot, but could've used more cranberry and they could've been fried less dry. I also tasted the New World pizza and the waffle fries. I would order both again next time. I'd stay away from the beet salad, though. The portion size was ridiculously tiny.

I would def return. It was a clean, laid-back place (with good service!) to hang out with my Plymouth family who I don't get to see very often.

(2013)

Original Gravity Public House - San Jose

3/5 stars

Went here with a group of friends to celebrate my hubby-who-worships-beer. It's *very* hard to find a place that can pour him 5 beers he's never had before. Original Gravity won that challenge.

The beer list was quite original (pun intended) with the prices ranging from acceptable to high. The wine pours were generous. Cons were: no gluten-free beer or cider for my friends who can't have wheat and VERY VERY BIG CON (in my eyes): the duck fat fries DID NOT taste like they were fried in duck fat. Moar duck fat please!

The sauces were pretty awesome (I really liked the sundried tomato and garlic one). The sausages were good (solid amount of oozing cheese), but they were no Rosamunde. Don't get the sauerkraut. It was basically shredded cabbage. Definitely needed more time pickling.

Seating is limited inside, but they can probably fit about 30 people in the outdoor space in the back. Service was meh.

I am not sure if we'll come back because it just wasn't my vibe.

(2013)

Yard House - San Jose

3/5 stars

My fiance and I have the best luck here. 3x we've gotten a seat in 20 minutes or less. Sometimes, it takes us longer to find a parking spot at Santana Row!

The beers are why you should come. I really like the small appetizer plates (the truffle fries and deviled eggs, especially) - and the prices for them are reasonable - but the rest of the menu is fairly standard (up to expensive ... they have lobster on the menu ... I don't really understand). Overall, it's pretty much what you'd get at BJs or any other American brewery. But don't order their wings unless you like A LOT A LOT of salt. It's probably their way of getting you to drink more beer.

So back to the beers. There are over a 100 and they're gorgeous. So many different types for you to try, you could really learn something. The bartenders are fairly knowledgeable about what they're pouring, but my fiance has them beat. He knows more than they do about the beers and always manages to stump them. He should get a free beer every time that happens :-)

(2011)

North Coast Brewing Company - Fort Bragg

2/5 stars

Not really impressed with the beer. I tried the Blue Star Wheat but it was un-exciting. Not enough fruit aromas. The bf has always loved the Old Rasputin and tried the Old Stout for the first time and really liked that, too. Go with those if you like dark. Ton of flavor.

Didn't eat the food, service was really slow.

(2009)

Anderson Valley Brewing Company - Boonville

5/5 stars

PUPPIES AND BEER?!

Died of the cuteness so.many.times.

Anderson Valley Brewing Co. doesn't serve food. You should know that right off the bat. And if you're going, you should totally do the laid-back tour for $5, because it includes 2 free tastings. The other thing you should know is that their Summer Soltice beer is cool, creamy goodness. And finally, you should know that UNFORTUNATELY, the 8-week old puppies (Flex and Knuckles) will probably not be tiny, wiggly, melt-your-heart 8-week-old puppies forever. So, you should go right.now.

(2009)

Toronado - San Francisco

5/5 stars

I wish I had a neighborhood bar like this in the South Bay!

Pints were only $3 during Happy Hour and there were at least 20 beers on tap (from around California and Europe).

I had a peche (peach) beer and a hefeweizen from Belgium. The peach beer was very peachy, but tart. The hefe was refreshing and easy to drink, with a slightly fruity finish. They were both served in their appropriate glasses!

The bartenders were super chill and nice (will give you recommendations if you ask), the Red Sox were playing on the flat screen, and ... *best part ever* ... Rosamunde Sausage Grill next door!

Brats, beer, and baseball? Best Friday things.

(2009)

Monk’s Cafe - Philadelphia

4/5 stars

The bf LOVES beer. He's taught me a lot and has definitely expanded my palate in regards to beer. So when we were in Philly for a biz trip and learned about Monk's, we had to make a stop. According to "All About Beer Magazine," Monk's is one of the top 10 places in the world to have a beer before you die. That's serious high praise. Monk's is a serious beerlover's haven.

We arrived around lunchtime and stayed for about two hours. We didn't have to wait for a table and we didn't feel rushed.

The beer selection was astounding. I've only seen more choices in Belgium itself.

For food, we ordered the mussels & frites (one was in a standard, white wine broth and the other was cooked with bacon). Unfortunately, they were both bland and didn't taste super fresh. The frites were limp and got cold fairly quickly.

I wouldn't come here for dinner, but I'd ordered something to go with the beer (beer tastes better when you have something to munch on IMO). Take Monk's for what it is: a place where you can get beer you can't get anywhere else and you won't be disappointed.

If you're not a beer drinker: this is a GREAT place for you to learn/find something you'll like since they have so much stuff. They have beer that doesn't taste like beer.

(2009)

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse - Cupertino

4/5 stars

I don't normally review chains but ...

When my hole-in-the-walls are closed. When San Francisco is too far away. When the beau and I want "know the menu/know what we're going to get" and a GOOD BEER LIST, we go here. We've started to fall back on BJ's so often, it's kinda grown on us. We kinda heart it.

++ They've got a more than decent beer list - with a whole page of Belgiums. I LOVE their berry cider and Jeremiah Red combination. They compliment each other so well.

++ Solid food! If you don't know what you want to eat, but at least know you want American food, this place is great. My favorites: chili (it's made with beer ... how can you can go wrong?), the Santa Fe salad with shrimp, their burgers, the California chicken sandwich, the steak cut fries, the buffalo wings (fried and drizzled with mild hot sauce), their HUGE baked potatoes (where else can you order a baked potato as a meal?), the fresh tortilla chips and fire roasted salsa, and their hot-outta-the-oven pizookies (deep dish cookie topped with ice cream).

++ The service is always friendly, but sometimes, it's awesome. The other night we tipped almost 25% - I think her name was Jackie - she was so fast, generous, and attentive.

Minuses: Being the only brewery (and the only restaurant open past midnight) in Cupertino, the wait can be awful (45+ min). Parking is a PAIN. I don't like being forced to valet. Also, sometimes, the service can be really slow.

(2009)

Trials Pub - San Jose

4/5 stars

I've been searching for a great neighborhood pub. Trials, how come I JUST found you??

ATMOSPHERE: I've spent a lot of time in real Dublin (Ireland, not California) pubs and have not been able to find anything comparable ... until now. Trials isn't 100% Euro-authentic, but I'd give it a 75% grade.

Low-key, dark wood, not too grubby, informal atmosphere/servers - and only $5 for a 20oz glass? NICE!

FOOD/DRINKS: Cask-conditioned beers. Win. Hard-to-find STRONGBOW cidar! Win! Pub food that ACTUALLY tastes good?? More win. I highly recommend the curry fries.

(2009)

San Francisco Brewing Company - San Francisco (closed)

3.5/5 stars

+ "Liquid Pumpkin Pie" delivers, the aftertaste was a mouthful of spices
+ 100+ year old bar
+ $3.50 a pint during Happy Hour
+ Awesome, low-key, live saxophone
+ When they say "burger with garlic" they mean "burger with garlic"
+ Fruity hefeweizen
+ Friendly waitresses

What's not to like?

(Only negative was we had to wait a very long time when it came time to pay ... like, 15 minutes ... we were falling asleep!)

(2008)

Tommy’s Joynt - San Francisco

3.5/5 stars

Tommy's Joynt Haiku

"sticks to your ribs" joynt
is what Tommy's all about
And volumes of beer

A wall of foreign
Chimay on tap, read the walls
Barrel of pickles

Cheap, 8 dollar plates
Corned beef, brisket, sausages
Hearty German fare

Quite eccentric crowd
Young, old, rich, poor - all hungry
Open late - till 2!

(2008)

Sodini’s - Redwood City

2/5 stars

Sodini's Haiku

Yep, it's a dive bar
Cheap drinks, friendly bartenders
We were youngest there

26th birthday
75 cents a game
One old pool table

Good-natured people
Serious karaoke
They had a cowbell

a blow-up plastic
guitar and a crowd-pleasing
opera performance

(2008)

Britannia Arms - San Jose

2.5/5 stars

Happy New Year!

So New Year's Eve, I decided against the drive to SF. Didn't feel like sitting in traffic or getting lost... hah! Yup, I have a really bad sense of direction.

Went here with a small group of friends and it was pretty darn perfect. I like it when I can actually hear and talk to my friends at a bar with live music. It was pretty laidback and bonus, fairly clean bathrooms. The bartenders were super duper nice. And came with accents - cute!

Started the night with a pint of Wyder's Pear Cider for six bucks. They had this New Year's special which was a pretty good deal if you ask me. $29.99 for a prime rib or salmon dinner, plus dessert, champagne, party favors (tiaras, plastic top hats, balloons, and noise makers), AND the best part of all, a table all night long. Didn't have to elbow myself to the bar for drinks the entire night! The owner even came by twice to fill our glasses with champagne - charming fellow! Our waitress was fantastic too! She never disappeared on us - it was easy to get drinks from her all night long. Drinks came pretty quick too, even though by 11PM, the place was packed! Great crowd, a mix of old and young. And the band was good - unpretentious, solid vocals, fun!

FOOD: was meh, but come on, who comes to a pub for good food? I'd stay away from the Salmon Wellington. The prime rib was almost okay - a really thick cut, with huge chunks of fat, and completely well done (when it was supposed to be medium). The french fries and dessert were pretty great, though. The fries were steak fries and we got the fried Mars Bar, fried cheesecake, and Sticky Toffee Puddin' for dessert. Loved the Sticky Toffee Puddin'! The Mars Bar was worth the try, but uber sweet. It's definitely one to share with the group. The fried cheesecake with strawberry sauce was melt in your mouth tasty, but like the Mars Bar, you can only have so much.

Ohh, car bombs here are delicious! Fresh Guinness, creamy Bailey's... almost tastes like chocolate milk!

(2008)

Rogue Ales Public House - San Francisco

4/5 stars

Rogue Pub Haiku

Wasn't too busy
Nice, laidback crowd - just our pace
Their raspberry beer

Is so delicious
TV Dinners on menu?
Pear cider's great, too

Rogue Pub satisfied
My beer-brewin'/lovin' friends
This is a chill place

(2007)