I have discovered my new favorite place to grub. Let me just tell you, this is not whatsoever a minor thing to declare. It's not terribly hard to impress me with pizza and beer, but Pizza Port, established in 1987, takes it to an entirely new level. One of my best friends and the person responsible for my foodie-ism, Andy, arrived in San Diego for his first ever West Coast trip for a weekend in which we planned on spending the majority of the time inebriated with beer and also food. We knew that only the best of the best could be considered for his short time here, and Pizza Port came highly recommended from several sources. You can't really go wrong with a good pie with a nice selection of beer, and I can assure you that Pizza Port has both. We drove to the closest one of three, the original location in Solana Beach on Highway 101 (the other locations are San Clemente and Carlsbad), and the line at 6:30 PM on a Saturday was understandably out the door. However, our determination fueled us to stand our ground and surprisingly the line moved faster than expected. I had my doubts as to the possibility of sitting based on the communal sitting arrangement of picnic tables and a few bar tables outside, but in the 15 or so minutes it took us to order our pies there was enough coming and going of patrons that it wasn't a problem. For parties larger than 3 it might have been more problematic, but with a watchful eye and a quick pounce for spaces opening up you should be fine.
We had decided to get 2 small pizzas, the Carlsbad (Pesto, mesquite grilled chicken, sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, & feta) and the Monterey (Pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, & artichoke hearts) sans onions, but at the recommendation of the cashier who assured us that getting a medium half-and-half was not only bigger, but cheaper, we obviously jumped at the chance. At the recommendation from my cousin (an Encinitas native and Pizza Port enthusiast) we also got an order of garlic Beer Buddies (Bite sized pieces of signature crust or wholegrain beer crust brushed with GARLIC or CAJUN SPICE served with Ranch dressing or Marinara sauce) to snack on while we enjoyed a few brews while awaiting our meal. The medium pizza measuring 14" seemed to be enough for 3 hungry twentysomethings who planned on filling up with a few beers as well, and it ended up being just the right amount.
Besides being told about their great pizza, Pizza Port's other claim to fame is their un-bottled, cask-only homemade brews that are only available in-house or at select local retailers. They had about 12-15 house beers available along with an assortment of local brews for those who can't live without their favorites. At the recommendation of the bartender, my first beer was the California Honey Ale (recommended for those who enjoy a good lager). Despite the name, it was not thick or syrupy at all, but extremely crisp and refreshing. For a house beer, a fantastic selection. Since I was driving, over the 2 or so hours we spent dining, I only enjoyed two refreshing beers, but both were top-notch. The second beer was the Cardiff Chronic, an amber ale with absolutely no bitterness an a medium body. The color was slightly deceptive, and I anticipated a much maltier finish, but happily it sailed down my tongue without leaving the wince often left behind with heavier amber ales. That particular pint is pictured below on the far left, with the house porter and the house Belgian-style, both excellent.
For a guaranteed great experience, kid friendly, casual, inexpensive but fun, be sure to check out any of the locations. I can guarantee you'll most likely run into me there!
Port Solana Beach
135 N. Highway 101
Solana Beach, CA 92075
(858) 481-7332
Port San Clemente
301 N. El Camino Real
San Clemente, CA 92672
(949) 940-0005
Port Carlsbad
571 Carlsbad Village
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(760) 720-7007
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