This past weekend, I enjoyed a much needed, child-free (belated birthday) getaway to visit friends in the Bay area. My husband watched the kid (daughter-daddy bonding time) while I caught up with my good friends who are also former Angelenos. They always ask me when am I moving up to the Bay Area, and I usually shrug it off with, “I would love to but…” Then I stumbled upon a fantastic place that I wish existed in Los Angeles. Westbrae Biergarten is a dog-friendly and kid-friendly spot in Berkeley which provides everything a parent could want in a Sunday Funday. I’m not moving anytime soon, but the qualities of this family-friendly place make a move to Berkeley very enticing. Here’s what makes it so appealing:
Great Food and Brews
I wish I had the chance to try everything on this menu, but the items I did try were fantastic! We enjoyed a couple carafes of white sangria, which was the perfect beverage to sip under sunny skies. I also had Pedro’s Favorite Trip Tip sandwich ($9.50), from their food truck, Brazil Cafe. “The Works,” contains ricotta cheese, olives, pineapple, lettuce, tomatoes, grilled onions and jalapeños. It was also my first time trying Risolis ($7), which are cheese corn fritters. They were like mini empañadas filled with cheese and corn.
Kids Play Area
They had me at sandbox. It’s not a drop-off and drink situation; parents must watch their kids. But the compromise isn’t so bad, given the awesomeness of this place.
An Outdoor Oasis
Westbrae Biergarten is exclusively outdoors. It sits in what looked like a parking lot. There is a pond with a water pump in the middle and several benches and cozy seating areas, great for small groups. We sat on Adirondack chairs under an umbrella. There are also plenty of water dishes available for any four-legged friends.
A True Biergarten
I had no idea what hops looked like until I looked it up. While my friend Nancy and I were walking, she noticed these (pictured above).
Events
There’s an awesome event coming up November 6th. I wish I was in town for it!
Westbrae Biergarten
Westbrae Biergarten Website (westbraebiergarten.com)
Wesbrae Biergarten on Facebook (facebook.com/westbraebeergarten)
