1: The Horse Brass. If you can handle the smoke and the rest of the authentic British pub atmosphere, this is by far the best place in town to get a pint (make that a 20oz imperial pint). Many years after helping kick-start a nascent micro-brewing revolution, this is still the place to go for the best selection of local brews, imports, and tasty traditional pub fare. Four steel-tip dart boards and video crack can help you pass the time.
2: The Green Dragon. New kid on the block Green Dragon has only been open for a few months, but has already carved out a nice niche for itself. Arguments in favor include: no smoking, a selection of unusual beers that you won’t find elsewhere (don’t come here if you’re attached to your old standbys—unless you spend an inordinate amount of time following beer, you’re virtually guaranteed to see mostly unfamiliar options), and a unique menu that veers far from traditional also hits the mark (I highly recommend the Tuscan chicken bread salad, though once the chicken was a bit overcooked). Pinball is the featured entertainment here.
3 (tie): The New Old Lompoc and The Hedge House. These two places really aren’t all that alike, but the things to love about them are. Both have large covered and heated patios. The beer selection includes many great Lompoc brews as well as a few guest taps. The menus are different, but both feature well-executed slightly upscale pub food. There’s no smoking indoors at the Hedge House, but it’s allowed on the patio.
4: The Moon and Six Pence. Here’s another bar that tries for the Anglophile crowd. It doesn’t hit on every note, but that’s not really a big deal to most of us. They do the British pub food well, and while their tap selection isn’t nearly as comprehensive as the Horse Brass’s or as unique as Green Dragon’s you’re likely to have several good options on any given night. Three steel-tip dart boards are hung for your pointy-object-throwing pleasure.
5: Produce Row. Taps here skew strongly to the local end of things. They also have a lovely outdoor seating area. Frequent live music is great if it’s an act you’re into and annoying if it’s not. Food is also solid, especially anything that comes with the delicious beer-battered fries which will harden your arteries in seconds but are worth the pain. One pool table beckons from the back room.
There are a few other places that are worth a brief mention, despite the fact you can’t even get a draught pint in two of them.
π-rem. π-rem is a great little underground gallery, lounge, and performance space. It has an excellent list of imported bottled beer and wine. There’s no food available, so eat before you show up. Also check the calendar for interesting avant garde electronic music acts.
The Blue Monk. Blue Monk has a respectable selection of taps but the real standout is an impressively extensive list of bottled beer. The food has been good whenever I’ve visited, but I’ve heard tales that it can be inconsistent.
The Pied Cow. Yes, a coffee shop makes this list for two reasons. First, in the summer and fall, the Pied Cow has one of the best outdoor seating areas in town. The side lawn has numerous benches and tables nestled amongst the trees and shrubs with lighting provided by tiki torches and hanging strings of Christmas lights. Second, they have a surprisingly sizable list of bottled beer, many of which are hard to find elsewhere. Food consists of well-made coffee-shop fare like sandwiches, cheese plates, and various desserts.
Belmont Station. It may not even be on Belmont any more (it’s now a few blocks north on Stark), but this is still by far the best place to by bottled beer in town, and the new(ish) location has a small cafe where you can enjoy one of a few taps, or pick a bottle out or the cooler and enjoy it on the spot. I haven’t sampled the food, so I can’t speak to its quality.
Note: There are several deserving places in town which failed to make this list simply because they are not convenient for your humble author. You’ll notice that the vast majority of this list is located in SouthEast, which is unsurprising considering that’s where I live. So, no disrespect intended to Amnesia, Concordia, and all the other great places in other parts of town.
[x-posted at NateCurrie.com]
