by guest blogger Bryan Tsunoda @discovering_LA
The Bella Terra
Mall is an outdoor shopping mall in Huntington Beach. Because it is clean and
well laid out, it is quite popular with OC residents. Popular retailers like
REI and Costco bring in the crowds and their restaurants are good. The PublicHouse by Evans Brewing Company opened last month in the Bella Terra Mall and nicely filled in a niche for innovative
food and craft beer.
Parking in the
Bella Terra Mall can be challenging, but I got lucky and found a space only
steps away from their establishment. I found The Public House by Evans Brewing
Company to be a warm and inviting venue featuring exposed brick and local
artwork. Large screen TVs are present, but since they aren’t on each wall,
diners can choose whether or not they wish to watch TV.
The Public House
made a strategic decision to use their strong craft beer offerings as
ingredients for many of their food and craft cocktails. As an example, their
sausages are infused with their craft beer, their Moules (mussels) uses
Hefeweizen as a key ingredient for the sauce and their caramelized onions are
simmered in their KrHOPen IPA.
I was impressed
that they had 14 of their craft beers on tap, but I instead veered towards
their innovative cocktail list. Affordably priced at $10, each contained
between 3-5 ingredients and is topped with a splash with one of their craft
beers. An example of this is their Berry Wasted, made with silver tequila,
fresh orange juice, lime juice and topped with their Triple Berry Wheat beer.
This drink was both fruity and refreshing.
The Dandy Shandy
is made with Sobieski Vodka, triple sec, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and
fresh blackberries. It was both sweet and sour and I liked enjoyed the fresh
blackberries on top - nice touch on the presentation!