Father's Office

Photo by happyhourlosangeles.wordpress.com

1018 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, Calif.

310-736-2224

Father's Office is a hidden gem in tucked into Brentwood that is designed for craft beer and food advocates.

The Office Burger is touted as the best burger in Los Angeles, but do not try to make any substitutions or modifications to the burger because the bar staff will not accept them. “This is burger is freakin’ incredible! I wouldn’t make a change to it all,” Taylor Holm exclaimed.

The infamous Office Burger created by Chef Yoon.
Photo by la.eater.com

Chef Sang Yoon “was inspired by French onion soup” when he created the burger. The burger is made up of ground dry-aged beef, melted bleu cheese, caramelized red onions and arugula on French bread toasted with garlic butter.

Father’s Office stresses their beer selection is based on seasonality. They are currently adding stouts, brown ales, amber ales and Belgian ales like Chimay and Velvet Merlin brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

A pint of Racer 5 IPA brewed by Bear Republic.
Photo by Matt Barg

The pub also offers array of India Pale Ales, IPAs, for hop-fanatics. Racer 5 IPA from Bear Republic and Green Flash's West Coast IPA are almost always on the beer list.

Typical of the Santa Monica area, prices can be steep. The Office Burger with fries is $15 and the average beer costs $7. Father’s Office does not accept reservations, so be prepared to wait as the pub’s popularity grows. Patrons must be over 21 years old, which means no kids. 

The Tap Room at Selma's Chicago Pizzeria

The Tap Room is a beer advocates paradise in Ladera Ranch, Calif.
Photo by Selmaschicagopizzeria.com

27702 Crown Valley Parkway

Ladera Ranch, CA 92694

949-388-7260

The Tap Room at Selma's Chicago Pizzeria in Ladera Ranch has 30 taps that pour beers from around the world, including Belgium, Germany, Ireland, and the Czech Republic.

Currently, the Tap Room is serving multiple Oktoberfest style beers, which include Paulander Oktoberfest-Marzen, New Beliguim Pumpkick and Magic Hat Hex Ourtoberfest. These traditional German amber beers ales that have notes of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice are staples at pubs as the weather begins to cool down.

The consistent theme of quality gastropubs is a revolving beer menu. “We try to change things up as much as possible. When we run out of a beer, we like to order a different one to replace it,” bartender Cameron Brown said.

"The works" on thin crust is a perfect accompanyment to a craft beer.
Photo by Matt Barg

There is nothing like pizza and beer, especially when both are phenomenal. As Chicago pizzeria, Selma’s has mastered their craft. “I usually just get the deep dish pizza, but I got a think one last week. It was unbelievable,” said Ben Martinek, a Ladera Ranch resident. Ironically, the local favorite is the thin crust pizza over the traditional Chicago deep dish.

The revolving beers at the Tap Room are swapping different beers on a daily basis.
Photo by Matt Barg

Be sure to check the daily specials in advance. The prices are reasonable, especially during happy hour with $3 pint on select beers. Large pizzas range from $15 to $25, but can easily feed four hungry beer-lovers.   

SideDoor

Photo by imagezone.org
The side door to the classic British pub in Corona Del Mar 

3801 E. Coast Highway 
Corona Del Mar, Calif.
949-717-4322

SideDoor is a quaint neighborhood gastropub in Corona Del Mar with an ambiance and menu of a classic British pub.

Literally the side door to Five Crowns, which is owned by the prime rib juggernaut Lawry's, the bar offers traditional British pub fare, but with a hint of modern culinary technique with their plates.  The beer list is perpetually changing, but that is a good thing.

The list of draught beers beers have microbrewery staples, like Stone Brewery, Ballast Point, and New Belgium, but with brews that are rarely seen from these popular breweries. While I was drinking and dining, SideDoor was pouring New Belgium’s Cascara Quad, which is a dark ale made with dates and cherries.

Photo by Matt Barg
The prime rib sandwich pairs beautifully with a Belgian strong ale.

The bold, strong beer menu plays perfectly with Fish’n Chips or the infamous Prime Rib Sandwich. First timers to the pub must order this sandwich that comes which au jus, horseradish and house-made potato chips.

Photo by Matt Barg
The charcuterie plates have world renowned meats and cheeses. 

Sidedoor also has a chef dedicated to cheese and charcuterie, which is cured meats from European and the US. Serano ham is a personal favorite. This is a cured Spanish ham that is similar to prosciutto, but it is twice as delicious. These plates can be pricy with 3 choices priced at $15 and 5 choices costing $23.  

Tavern On 2

Tavern On 2 in Belmont Shore's busy 2nd Street.
Photo by Matt Barg

5110 E. 2nd St.
Long Beach, Calif.
562-856-4000












The trendy Belmont Shore gastropub Tavern On 2 offers decadent burgers and sandwiches

to go along with a high-end beers from the U.S. and Europe.

The pub is consistently rotating different breweries on their beer menu, especially award-winning Belgian breweries. Tavern On 2 has caught onto the sour ale craze that has taken Southern California beer-lovers by storm.

Currently, they have two sours on their menu: Liefmans Goudenband Sour Ale and Liefmans Cuvee Sour Cherry. These award-winning Belgian sour ales come in 750 ml bottles priced at $19 each.

The pub shows their French influence with the oxtail poutine.
Photo by iflipforfood.com

These sour ales are matched beautifully with Tavern On 2’s inventive burgers. The Belmont Shore local favorite is the Tavern On 2 Burger that comes piled on a brioche bun with melted brie cheese, caramelized red onions, arugula, tomatoes and house-made ketchup.  Diners have the options to add bacon, avocado, or caramelized shiitake or Portobello mushrooms.

Adventurous eaters must try the beef oxtail poutine as an appetizer. "I never thought oxtail would be good," Natalie Barg said as she took her first bite. This dish consists of French fries cooked in duck fat served with burgundy red wine braised oxtail and cheddar cheese curds. The ridiculously rich, heart-stopping appetizer is a meal in itself.

Tavern On 2 offers a bold menu paired with equally bold brews. Prices are high for pub fare with burgers costing $12 and beers around $8, but there is a price to pay for unique ingredients and brews.  Reservations are recommended for the pub on weekends, especially for Sunday football.

Congregation Ale House

Congregation Ale House, 201 E Broadyway, Long Beach
Photo by Matt Barg

201 E. Broadway
Long Beach, Calif
562-432-2337













Congregation Ale House is a highly touted Downtown Long Beach pub that is known for an extensive revolving menu of rare beers.

India Pale Ale fanatics flock to this pub to taste Russian River Brewery’s Pliny the Elder. Pliny the Elder is a double-IPA, which is considered the best IPA in the world by numerous brewers, made in small batches and incredibly difficult to find in Southern California.

Congregation has almost 30 taps that are constantly changing with new beers.
Photo by Matt Barg

“I have no idea what most of these beers are on the menu, but that’s a good thing,” Delbert Delgadillo, a Los Angeles native and beer enthusiast, said. Congregation Ale House serves beers from a variety of reputable micro-breweries, like Hangar 24, Epic Brewery and Deschutes Brewery. The full-bodied beers pair beautifully with their pub fare.

Delbert Delgadillo enjoying Blind Pig IPA from Russian River Brewery.
Photo by Matt Barg

Congregation makes all of their sausages in-house. The local favorites are the beer steamed bratwurst, the duck and bacon sausage, and the pork and goat cheese sausage. All of the sausages are served on fresh flatbreads with sautéed onions and peppers.

Brandy pulled pork and brie sandwich with a side of Sriracha ketchup.
Photo by Matt Barg

The list of creative “dipping sauces” gives the sausages and sandwiches an extra kick to set them apart from ordinary pub food. Diners can choose from sweet chili sour cream, rosemary garlic mayo, curry ketchup, spicy mustard, Sriracha ketchup, beer mustard, chipotle mayo and sweet mustard.

The classic pub atmosphere with reasonable prices makes Congregational Ale House a favorite for Long Beach beer and food enthusiasts.