William H.
Yelp
There is a craft beer at the Imperial Beach Mike Hess for everyone, from very light low alcohol, to hardy flavorful high octane skull numbing brews. They have delicious hard ciders, seltzers and kombucha, and they even brew their own root beer, and have NA brews. My favorite is still AFP, aka Assaulted by Feathered Pillows. 8.0% They also have a full-on coffee section.
The staff largely consists of youthful and apparently happy souls from the local and surrounding hoods. Seems they take turns supplying the soundtracks. Not surprisingly some is completely foreign to me, given the era I grew up in. They usually keep the sounds low enough that you can have a conversation. I rarely give 5 stars, and I credit the staff with the extra star.
The food choices are tasty and creative, mostly Mexican themed stand-by items like all sorts of tacos, with some twists (like portobello mushroom tacos) to accommodate the hipster and more vegetarian crowd. They have breakfast on weekends. The restaurant portion is operated by 'Quiero Tacos' aka City Tacos aka Street Tacos. The food is consistently good. Hess and Quiero Tacos have other collaborations at other San Diego locations.
This venue has come a long way. Initially the ground was covered with dusty, decomposed granite, and shaded by picnic table umbrellas, the upgrades were much needed. This outdoor venue is now covered in artificial turf, which makes it ideal to keep clean. I see staff out hosing everything down when I pass by in the early morning. The sail-like overhead coverings are ideally placed. If you want to sit in the sun, you got it. Want shade, there it is.
I rarely visit Hess on weekends and evenings, especially not during the summer when its popularity is most robust. During the daytime on weekdays, it's quieter with the lunch crowd and those who bring their pooches to this dog-friendly enjoyable eatery and brewery near the beach.
