I realize that many people don’t leap to a brewery or
brewpub when they need a family-friendly restaurant, but I think that’s a
mistake. It’s not all beer-drinking and
drunkenness. In fact, I have been in
very few where beer was the only focus.
However, I have been in a few where beer was just the trendy gimmick. Coronado
Brewing Company in San Diego does not brew as a gimmick, nor just for
drinking. They have created a restaurant
that really is family-friendly serving quality meals, excellent beers, with an
atmosphere and service to make you come back.
We stopped by on a weekday evening around 7pm only to find
the place mobbed and a 30-minute wait for a table. Fortunately, CBC is in a lively part of town
with lots of people coming and going.
People watching can help the time pass quickly.
And it turns out that Tuesday nights are kids' night and they eat
virtually free. Better yet, on this
night there was a roving balloon clown.
Well, not really a clown. He was
dressed like a server, but had a giant tool belt loaded with tools and
balloons. He worked for tips only making
some of the most outrageous, complex balloon “animals” I have ever seen. And he did them at light-speed. It was incredible! Our 30-minutes flew by and the kids got a
couple balloon friends to come along for dinner.
Service was excellent from the start. Any time we eat in a new restaurant we need
to ask about nuts; our son has a nut allergy that could be
life-threatening. Our server, Matthew,
knew immediately what we were talking about and why. He reassured us that CBC is nut free with the
exception of desserts which come from elsewhere, but then he offered to double
check with the chef to be sure. He
returned quickly and cheerfully to reassure us – no nut allergy problems here. In fact, he did everything at light speed
with a smile. He looked after every
table in his area this way, flying from table to table, giving everyone his
undivided attention with cheer.
We got our drink orders in, which of course included beers
for my wife and I. Their IPAs, both the
Islander and the Idiot were excellent.
Wish I could have had more than one, but at 7% and 8% ABV, you’re gonna
feel this, particularly if you’re already drowsy. Our food arrived just as the crayons and
coloring were completed by the kids. Mac
and Cheese, Penne with marinara and some Caesar salad for the kids, an Ahi
sandwich and Fish and Chips for the adults.
I think the Mac and Cheese came from a blue box, but then that’s what
makes the kids happy, right? The Fish
and Chips were delicious, crisp and a little slice of England for me. If only they had been served on newsprint
with mushy peas. The Ahi was cooked just
right – just slightly pink in the middle and was apparently delicious; it was
consumed with such gusto I didn’t get a bite!
Matthew stopped by a couple times to make sure it was all great – and it
was.
We were having such a great time on our vacation we figured
we had to get dessert. A gigantic bowl
of ice cream for only $4.95 pleased us all.
And this entire meal can be yours for $10 less than hot dogs, sodas and
fries at Legoland. Seriously…this entire
meal was under $50. Wrap your brain
around that…great service, delicious food and drink for four in a major
American city over spring break for under $50!
Coronado Brewing Company, you’re doing something right. Now it’s your turn. Get there for a beer and dinner – with the
kids!
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