LIBRARY ALEHOUSE
COMBINES TASTY BEERS, DELECTABLE FOOD
AND A FUN, CASUAL ATMOSPHERE

Foodie Fave:

LIBRARY ALEHOUSE
2911 Main St
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 314-4855
www.libraryalehouse.com
Mon-Sun 11:30AM - 12:00AM

Fans of good gastro pub fare need only look to Santa Monica’s Library Alehouse for a festive setting, good eats and a wonderful assortments of frosty, tasty ales.

A true public house since 1995, Library Alehouse has 29 unique microbrews and select imports on tap as well as many hard-to-find bottled beers from around the world offering one of the widest selections of its kind in Southern California.

You want pale ale, amber, lager, Hefenweizen, Pilsner, Belgians, stout, they have it all. Proprietor David Lackman says, “We travel throughout Northern California, the Pacific Northwest and Europe in search of the finest handcrafted beers in those regions. The Library Alehouse is the exclusive draft source in Los Angeles for a growing list of microbrews.

“In selecting a craft brew, we consider flavor, quality and consistency,” Lackman continues. “Freshness is critical. That’s why we maintain short tap-lines. The beer has less distance to go from barrel to glass. You can taste the difference.”

I made a visit on a Sunday night and found the place packed. Lucky to get a small table in the bar area we munched on first rate chips and salsa before digging into their tasty calamari and a wonderful sesame-seared ahi tuna appetizer.

Their menu offers a wide selection of treats and that’s key considering that everyone from surfers to suits tends to stop by. Next, was an excellent Caesar salad followed by our entrees; wild salmon enchiladas, and the quintessential standard Alehouse beer battered Fish and Chips (cod) which proved to be light and crispy with huge pieces of fresh, flaky white fish; hot and thankfully not greasy. Kudos! The popular BBQ ribs were already sold out early in the evening. With a handpicked cold brew by my side, dinner was a feast for my taste buds. And the Alehouse bread pudding with caramel sauce for dessert was akin to sensory nirvana.

And don’t think it’s all about just drinking beer at Library Alehouse, (they have wine too) as their cozy and charming patio is perfect for a date. Guys, keep it in mind come Valentine’s Day.

And now, the Main Street gem has gone green to boot, launching a kitchen waste-composting program with several of the nearby eateries. Winner of Citysearch Los Angeles Best Beer Choice, and Citysearch Los Angeles Best Conversation Bar, Library Alehouse is a dead-on selection for a night out with buds and suds, or fine dining for foodies. The staff aims to please and really is knowledgeable about the eclectic and extensive menu of food and beverages.

— Jose Martinez