Drink on an empty stomach. Drink here only if you can and eat only if you must. But drink first until you can't taste the food. Thumbs up for the beer but thumbs down for the food.
I do like the beer. The tasting flights are well-priced, and there are several standouts. The Strawberry Blonde is a great ale, the IPA has a smooth finish, and I really liked the Pale Ale as well. The view of the pier and the shipping cranes in the distance are stunning, and unlike the South Bay's beach cities, Long Beach doesn't come with a side dish of douche.
Steamed Mussels go well with any beer. These are in a standard garlic-butter-white wine mix, but they are a little bit mushy. Better overcooked than under, but they could be cooked a little less.
The Poke Bowl was a mistake. MY mistake, not theirs. It's a nice mix of ahi tuna, salmon, and shrimp, and all the seafood is quite fresh. I love all the veggies as well, but the house made poke sauce ruined it for me. It tastes like mostly hoisin sauce, and I'm not a fan. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if plenty of other people are - it's just too much for me.
The Mediterranean Burger is a fun one. Bacon strips flop over a juicy patty, and the goat cheese is a creamy touch. The brioche bun is a a nice little extra as well.
The Brussels Sprouts are...confusing. Bitter and crisp, these little nubbins are cooked right, but they’re also coated with balsamic, which makes them strangely sugary-sweet and sticky. I’m usually all about contrasts, but this is strange.
I am dramatic. The food here isn't bad. It's fresh and it's not wrong; it's also not extremely right. That said, don't come for the food - just grab your meal elsewhere and enjoy your bottoms-up at Belmont.
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