Not sure if this is the right place to post this, so mods feel free to move. Planning on taking the wife on a date tonight, dinner, drinks, and such. Looking for a place with good food and solid craft selections. Been to a lot of the usual places, so I'm looking to take her somewhere new. Anywhere in the OC or LA area. Below are places we've been to, so if you have any recommendations I would truly appreciate it. The place doesn't have to have something like MP Devil's teeth, but would prefer a nice selection beyond Stone, Ballast Point, or Firestone. The wife loves sours, if that helps narrow it down. Would love to discover some hidden gems in the OC. So not interested in the one's below, though they are awesome, we've been there plenty of times: -Beachwood - 38 Degrees - Bottle Room (Whittier) - Congregation Ale House - Slater's 50/50 - The Yard House - Mohawk Bend - The Hermosillo (HPB) - Most restaurants in Uptown Whittier and Olde Town Pasadena - Lock and Key (Downey) I appreciate any recommendations, even if I don't end up going there. I'd put awesome sour taplist as preference, for her (Happy Wife Happy Life). Thanks in advanced.
A few OC ideas Santa Ana - Playground always has a solid taplist, though a Saturday will likely be packed. Put your name in early and hang out at Native Son Alehouse across the street until your table is ready. Or just stay at Native Son and have a chicken sandwich. A few blocks down you can also hit up Irenia for a modern take on Filipino food, just around the corner is The Good Beer Company for some sours. Lots of other choices in the area too Irvine - My wife and I have been hitting up Clay Oven for Indian food. Outstanding family run restaurant and the son (Tarun) always has some solid bottles. We always talk beer and sometimes he's down to share from his own stash. Tustin - Hatch has sliders and loco moco. Kind of a tiki bar theme, big taplist with lots of local stuff (Noble, Chapman Crafted, MT). Happy date night!
This is a good thread and I'd love to see it broken down into regions a little. I wouldn't say we are in a rut but we tend to hit the same 3-5 restaurants every time (BWBBQ, Pizza Port SC, etc) I'd love to break this into something like South OC (San Clemente-Irvine), North OC (all the other parts), Long Beach, LA and whatever I forgot. I tend to always stick to know where I'll get a solid meal along with great beer but am jonsing to branch out. Anaheim: One secret spot I really dig but isn't too close to any breweries is Cortina's Italian Market for amazing Italian (bakery on site, everything super fresh). I usually detour if I am up around Dland for that place.
Here's a few you can check out: Father's Office in Culver City, Boneyard Bistro in Sherman Oaks, and Kings row in Pasadena.
La Sirena in South Laguna is great for beer and food. Iron Press in Costa Mesa and Anaheim has good beer but unless you like waffle sandwiches the food is pretty limited.
Thanks fellas...ended up going to Slater's in Pasadena. Bad idea. Not cause of the place, but all those damn people there for the game. After posting this, I didn't Get back online so I didn't get to hit up any of those places. We will though. Thanks for all the inputs, keep it going for others to see.
+1 for Kings Row in Pasadena. Good food-decent tap list, nice location. We need a #thecorkandcraft #abnormalbeerco in LA. They would make a killing!
Thanks, all. I'm going to be running around Anaheim next week for work. Any special releases or whatever, please post!
The Pasadena location for Congregation should note that they have their own parking lot which (for your benefit) they are not great at making you move your car once you're done there... Haven in downtown Orange is worth mentioning as well. This one might be on the outer reaches, but if you are a fan of Belgians, The Back Abbey in Claremont is a great choice.
Thanks!! Yeah, BL is definitely on my shortlist, but I'll get there ASAP now in case it is running low.
