There are some seriously high-end restaurants in San Diego, and some seriously…not. One great aspect of a city the size and demographic diversity of San Diego, is the equal diversity of restaurants as well. We can’t eat all our meals out in upscale restaurants without breaking the bank, but aren’t always ready to roll with the atmosphere of the low-end ones. For those mid-range lunches and dinners, one fun restaurant is the Karl Strauss Brewery & Grill. Yes, they have an on-site microbrewery, easily viewed right behind the bar.

Karl Strauss Brewery & Grill (KarlStrauss.com)

This Karl Strauss Brewery & Grill is in downtown San Diego, a few blocks from the more hip Gaslamp Quarter. The beer is on tap here, and comes in sizes ranging from 5 oz samplers to pints and even “schooners.” A basic wine list is available too, but come on – it’s a microbrewery! If you’re up for it, sample a few different brews instead. Downtown After Dark Ale was my favorite, and the bright flagship brew is called Karl Strauss Amber Lager. Our dining party also really liked the Pin Tail Pale Ale, which is only seasonally available.

Karl Strauss Microbrews (C.L.L. via Flickr.com)

As for the food – ya gotta eat, after all – the food here is far better than standard “bar food,” though it still tends towards the greasier, saltier range. Our table split spinach artichoke dip and ahi poke appetizers that both disappeared before I got to my second round; a testament to their tastiness (the ahi poke here is very spicy! You’ve been warned). The sirloin burger and fries were pleasing, and the chicken Caesar salad – with a wedge of Romaine – was surprisingly zesty. What seemed to be the popular favorite with our group, though, were the Drunken Shrimp (cooked with the Woodie Gold pilsener), grilled fish tacos, and the messily satisfying barbeque ribs. The restaurant wasn’t too dark, as can happen with brewpubs, and it was basically family-friendly for lunch and an early dinner. It probably gets too rowdy for kids after 8:00 PM or so.

Karl Strauss San Diego (KarlStrauss.com)

This is the original restaurant location. There are also Karl Strauss Brewery & Grill restaurants in Carlsbad, Costa Mesa, Sorrento Mesa, and nearby La Jolla, as well as one on Universal Citywalk in Los Angeles. I can’t vouch for all of those, but the Karl Strauss in downtown San Diego California was a casual, relaxed place to grab a tasty bite and try a few samples of unique brews.

Karl Strauss Brewery & Grill
1157 Columbia St.
San Diego, CA
(619) 234-2739

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