I’m always on the lookout for a great lunch spot — I may love breakfast, but a good burger and beer is my next favorite meal. PB Alehouse delivers both with gusto, and a rooftop view of the Pacific to boot.
Trevor and I enjoy a midday meal in the San Diego sunshine here last week. I just returned from Catalina, so I was missing the sunshine/ocean/island vibe, and was perfectly content to sit on the rooftop and stare at the sparkling ocean while we sipped local craft brews and gourmet burgers.
The menu consists of an eclectic variety, from Blue Fin tuna nachos to fish and chips, and every burger you can imagine in between. Their excellent lineup of house-brewed beers has something to complement every dish; just ask your server for a recommendation. (They also have a list of craft cocktails, if beer ain’t your thing.)
Our server Woody recommended a couple of appetizers for us; we opted for the Grilled Avocado, which was basically a fancy guacamole with Tajin seasoning, Pico de Gallo, fried jalapeno, and housemade tortilla chips. It was amazing, but definitely too big of an appetizer for me personally – it’s more of a meal in itself.
Since Trevor doesn’t like avocado, we also had the garlic seasoned fries, which were made with fresh garlic, garlic oil and garlic puree (bring mints for this one), plus parmesasn cheese and a peppercorn mayo dipping sauce. They were incredible, and didn’t make it to the entrees.
I usually opt to try something new and unique at every place I visit, so I went for the bison burger. Free Range Bison, white cheddar, tomato and arugula topped with a delicious garlic pesto aioli on a brioche bun was absolutely divine, and as expected, too big and rich for me to finish in one sitting. (But it re-heated perfectly for next day’s lunch.)
Trevor went for the beer cheese burger (of course): with true Brandt beef, house-made beer cheese, fried onions, and bacon also on a brioche bun. This one was bursting with flavor (and grease), and I will have to order it next time!
Woody suggested the Slomo Saison (a traditional Belgian) for me on a warm, sunny day like it was, and it was a perfect choice. Smooth and refreshing, it went down a little too easily! Trevor had the Soledad Stout, a powerful roasted barely and chocolate malt. Later, we split the Law Street Lager, a clean, refreshing Pilsner malt body session lager.
All in all, PB Alehouse is a fantastic lunch (or brunch) spot if you’re seeking craft beer and burgers in a trendy San Diego setting.
PB Alehouse
721 Grand Avenue
San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 581-2337
info@pbalehouse.com