A bar in Redondo Beach is not generally news given the yearly influx of post-grad frat boys to the South Bay community. However, when said bar boasts one of the best beer lists in town in addition to a full menu of upscale bar favorites selected by the husband-and-wife team behind Venice's popular Beechwood restaurant, one quickly realizes that this isn't any old keg stand.

Named after Nick Roberts and Brooke Williamson's son, Hudson House is in fact a
gastropub with the vibe of a neighborhood bar. You'll find drafts like the crisp amber Oskar Blues "Dale's Pale Ale" and a Chimay Belgian Tripel, and bottle offerings brews like Saison Dupont Belgian Farmhouse Ale, Lost Coast Alley Cat Ale, Delirium Tremens, Samuel Smith Organic apple cider, and a phenomenal coconut porter from the Maui Brewing Company (plus a dozen wine options by the glass and bottle).

Of course you'll need something to eat if you're going to enjoy all that alcohol. Lucky for you even the typical dishes at Hudson House get a little something extra. Expect bar bites like shoestring and sweet potato fries, roasted nuts, and marinated olives plus heartier items like grilled shrimp tacos and their unbelievably juicy burger smothered in sweet grilled onions, chunks of bacon, Jarlsberg cheese and wild arugula on a chewy pretzel bun.

Other meaty options include a huge cut of marinated skirt steak with garlic truffle cheese fries, a chicken meatball sandwich with melted Swiss cheese, and brown sugar short ribs with crispy shallots and cilantro. Feeling green? Try the fresh romaine or avocado salads.

Beer even permeates dessert at Hudson House -- don't miss the home-made ice cream sandwich with a scoop of Boddingtons-infused ice cream between chocolate chip cookies or the crispy beer-battered Twinkie.

That'll show the frat boys how it's done.
Hudson House
514 N. Pacific Coast Hwy.
Redondo Beach, CA
(310) 798-9183

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