70 Days Across America
Beer Baron Pleasanton is a family-run restaurant that focuses on great food, craft beers, fine whiskeys, and signature cocktails. It opens daily for lunch and dinner And it opens on weekends for lunch. What’s more, there is music four nights a week!
In This Post
Why I’m Here …
So what am I doing in Pleasanton?
Pleasanton is a city in Southern Alameda, California. It is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Oakland.
Not only that, it is ranked as the wealthiest middle sized city in the United States. It is also ranked as one of the four best cities in the country to live in. And it has a population of nearly 70,300 people.
More importantly, Pleasanton was a stop on the Northern California leg of my epic trip, 70 Days Across America.
My stay was arranged by Visit Tri-Valley, which represents the three valleys surrounding Mount Diablo. In addition to Pleasanton, featured cities include Danville, Dublin, and Livermore.
My previous stops included San Francisco, Los Altos, Napa Valley, Concord, and Oakland.
Menu at Beer Baron Bar and Kitchen Pleasanton
The restaurant, whose official name is Beer Baron Bar Pleasanton, is open daily for lunch and dinner, but it only opens on weekends for brunch.
Breakfast Menu
Beer Baron Bar and Kitchen Pleasanton opens early on Saturday and Sunday to serve brunch.
The brunch menu runs from smoked salmon benedict, breakfast tacos, and cinnamon French toast to brunch fried chicken and waffles.
The house specialty is the Baron Brunch Sandwich. It consist of two over medium eggs, arugula, tomatoes, bacon, smoked mozzarella, and basil aioli. There is a choice of either fresh fruit (healthy!) or truck stop potatoes (yummy!).
And then there is something called The Poutine. It consists of Canadian bacon, cheese curds, poached egg, fries, and brown gravy.
You can wash it all down with bottomless mimosas, Francois Montand Bruit, Michelada, or Bloody Marys.
Lunch and Dinner Menu
At lunch and dinner, the restaurant serves a highly eclectic menu . Firstly, there are bar snacks, which are perfect for sharing.
Secondly, there are small plates, which I thought could serve as main courses. Mary’s Chicken and Pancetta Meatballs were a meal in themselves!
Next come soups, salads, and sandwiches, which run from burgers to paninis. There are also sliders and a Heat Stroke Club.
The latter consists of spicy buttermilk fried Mary’s chicken, Neuske bacon, green leaf, Sonoma pepper, jack cheese, and house-made pickles.
The main plates run from Cajun Mac and Cheese to slow roasted hanger steak and seared ora king salmon. House specialties include Grilled Mary’s Chicken Skewers and and Mary’s Butter Chicken and Naan.
Finally comes that absolutely decadent Fried Chicken and Waffles.
Leave room for dessert. And wash it all down with a vast array of crafts beers, fine whiskeys, and other kinds of alcoholic beverages.
My lunch at Beer Baron Bar Pleasanton
I had lunch at the Beer Baron Bar and Kitchen Pleasanton during an all-day tour of the Tri-Valley.
The local tourism board, Visit Tri-Valley, arranged the tour and hosted me for lunch.
Bar Snacks
Belgian Style Duck Fat Fries – served with a choice of dips: aioli, smoky ketchup, curry aioli, ranch, BBQ, herbed yogurt, beer mustard.
- These fries were every bit as yummy as they look. And the sauces were an absolute delight!
Smoked Olive Oil Guacamole – served with chips and house-made hot sauce. PLUS: Green Curry Thai Wings with mint, cilantro, and Thai basil – what a rich, creamy sauce!
- I adore guacamole, and the addition of smoked olive oil lifted this guacamole to a new height of delicious!
Small Plates
Lamb Meatballs – Served with feta cheese and greek tomato sauce.
- They call this a “small plate”? If these meatballs had been the main course, I could have gone home happy. They were absolutely delectable.
Salads
Grilled Asparagus Salad – served with terragon mint dressing. spring mix, and pistachios.
- Had to have something healthy! The salad was cool and refreshing!
Main Plates
Fried Chicken and Waffles – served with Fresno chili slaw, bacon butter, and maple syrup.
- This Southern classic was crispy, crunchy, and irresistible. But the topper was the bacon-infused butter. Pure ecstasy!
Desserts
Butterscotch Creme Bulee – a rich custard with hardened carmalized sugar.
- The rich, luscious pudding with a crunchy crust was the perfect conclusion to a perfect lunch. I washed it down with a perfectly brewed double espresso!
Beverages at Beer Baron Bar Pleasanton
Beer Baron Restaurant and Bar Pleasanton serves more than 20 craft beers on tap.
While beers from the San Francisco Bay Area dominate the list, Beer Baron also serves beers from other states and Europe.
In addition, the eatery frequently rotates its tap list.
Moreover, the Beer Baron has an expansive collection of more than 400 bottles of whiskey from all over the world.
Finally, the mixologists craft signature cocktails to satisfy the most discerning connoisseur.
The Ambiance and Service at Beer Baron Pleasanton
The dining room has a rustic ambiance with lots of wood. There was a decidedly country feel.
I addition to the comfy interior atmosphere, you can also sit outside on the patio.
There is live music on Wednesday and Thursday nights. And DJs spin the discs on Friday and Saturday nights.
Regarding service, I thought it was warm and efficient. But some on-line reviewers have commented that it could be faster.
The Verdict …
It’s hard to say which I enjoyed more, the yummy food or chatting with my charming hosts.
I must say, my hosts at Visit Tri-Valley were very hospitable. I felt as if I were dining with long lost friends rather newly met acquaintances.
While the menu was eclectic, it was not extensive. And for me that is a plus. There was just enough carefully curated dishes to excite, but not so much that it was encyclopedic.
Beer Baron Bar and Kitchen Pleasanton gets an enthusiastic two thumbs up! I’m sure if I were lucky enough to move to this community, I would quickly become a regular.
Other Restaurants in the Tri-Valley Area
What to See and Do in the Tri-Valley Area
- Blackhawk Museum – Danville
- Historic Walking Tour – Pleasanton
- Winery Tour – Livermore – COMING\
Where to Stay in the Tri-Valley Area
Location
Beer Baron Bar & Kitchen Pleasanton – 336 Saint Mary Street, Pleasanton, California. Telephone: (925) 223-8577.
Pleasanton is a part of the Tri-Valley Area in Southern Alameda County. It is roughly 39 miles east of San Francisco. The drive takes about 50 minutes. It is roughly 31 miles from Oakland. The drive takes about 40 minutes.
If you don’t drive, the restaurant can be reached by Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). The Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station is roughly five miles from restaurant. It would be too far to walk. So if you go by taxi or Uber, it would take about six minutes.
If You’re Visiting San Francisco …
This review of the Beer Baron Bar Pleasanton is part of a series chronicling my epic journey, 70 Days Across America.