Rock & Brews in Downtown El Segundo is like no other restaurant in the South Bay. It’s a crazy combination of a beer garden, a juke joint, and a California café serving cutting edge comfort food and award winning beers. Oh, and I mean crazy in a good way.
I was fortunate enough to get an invitation to experience Rock & Brews at the height of Rocktoberfest, their version of the beer swilling, oompah caroling, German holiday season. Since their main dining room is actually a huge beer garden, I couldn’t think of a better place to have a few beers and do the chicken dance.
Since the focus of the theme was Oktoberfest, there was plenty of authentic German food on hand including plates of sausages and wienerschnitzel, huge pretzels, and even bigger steins of beer. Another treat was the chicken schnitzel served with German potato salad and stewed red cabbage.
Along with their extensive list of beers, Their regular menu was also available, which meant that gourmet pizzas and ½ lb ground chuck burgers were on deck. The Ultimate Burger – their name for it, not mine – was a winner. Served on a fresh baked sesame seed roll and topped with caramelized onions and all the typical burger veggies, the Ultimate Burger lived up to its name.
Rounding out the meal was an authentic German pastry for dessert: fresh apple strudel from Chef Hannes, an El Segundo restaurant right up the street.
Credit for the rest of the chow goes to Chef Greg Hozinsky, executive chef at Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach. He was on hand to help out with the Rocktoberfest menu. Kudos go to the staff at Rock & Brews as well for getting into the Oktoberfest spirit and making sure everyone had a great time.
Speaking of a great time, the party wasn’t limited to just food and drinks. There was plenty of oompah music mixed in with the classic rock; the chicken dance was played at least once while I was there; and there was the requisite stein holding contest, with the winner taking home a bottle of wine as their trophy.
With Halloween upon us, the holiday season has begun and Oktoberfest has come to an end. We might have to wait for Rocktoberfest to come around again, but fortunately the delicious food, craft beverages, and beer garden atmosphere of Rock & Brews is available all year long.
- Rock & Brews
http://rockandbrews.com
139 Main Street, El Segundo, CA (Map)
Looks like a rockin’ good time! We missed out on a fun Oktoberfest party, but you had enough fun for us all!
I tried to do my best to hold it down for everyone. You’ll have to swing by the next time you’re out this way 😀
Awesome! Seems like a great place to hang out and have a great time. I’m glad I just ate lunch, because those food photos would have made me really hungry otherwise. 🙂
Yes! The vibe is really great given the open air atmosphere, music, and food. When you go, take your appetite!