Belching Beaver Tavern and Grill - New Customizable Dinner Experience

It’s not often that I venture further North in San Diego to seek out a meal but when I was invited to try out the new customizable dinner experience at Belching Beaver Tavern & Grill I couldn’t resist. It’s located in the heart of Vista, California surrounded by cute shops and other restaurants.

They took over an old Bank so some of the features still remain and are now utilized to add a unique element to their dining experience. One in particular is their wine vault! It’s tucked away in a corner and utilizes the old bank vault as a private dining area. Did I mention that they’ve also won a Wine Spectator award? This is clearly not your typical brewery. Hundreds of bottles of wine decorate the walls and the table is made out of the old safety deposit boxes. There isn’t a fee to reserve this room but they do require you to spend at least $350 which is easy to do if you max out the dining table that seats 14 people.

They Have A Beautiful Outdoor Patio Area Too

Want to host a luau? They can do that too! They’re one of the few places in all of San Diego with a huge underground pit capable of roasting a whole pig for a crowd. I’m patiently waiting for an invite to one because if the food served during the luau is anything like their regular menu I’m there!

Belching Beaver is definitely known for their beer and you will be happy to know that there is a huge variety of options available at this location. Taps and kegs abound and there is something for every palette. I’ve been avoiding heavier beers lately so I tried the Me So Honey and it was delightfully crisp and refreshing. Perfect on a warm San Diego day.

Now, just because they are known for their beer does not mean you are stuck consuming the typical bar food you would find everywhere else. Executive Chef Ramiro Guerra has put a lot of thought and love into the menu here. There was not one thing we tried (and we tried a lot) that we didn’t enjoy. My only complaint is that I don’t live closer so I can visit more often.

To start things off we ordered a few items from the Beaver Bites menu. The Tater Tot Dam and the Thai Peanut Chicken Wings. I highly recommend both. The Tater Tot Dam is an elevated tater tot dish that resembles a poutine. Served with a layer of braised chuck tender, cheese curds, gravy and an egg guaranteed to make your belly happy.

The Thai Peanut Wings are just one of several flavors they offer but our server said these were his favorite so we had to try them! I’m so glad we did because they were a unique take on a classic bar food. The peanut sauce with sprinkle of coconut complimented each other perfectly.

Next it was on to the main course. We were able to try 3 different entrees that are new to their customizable dinner experience. I’ll start by discussing the Seared Scallops & Shrimp. If you love seafood, you have to try this dish! The tangerine oil they serve them in is refreshing and adds a lovely acidic flavor to the seafood. Many places stick to traditional lemon but I loved the tangerine flavor with this. I may try something similar the next time I cook seafood at home.

Then it was time to try the Pork Chop. All I can say is ‘holy comfort food Batman’! Our server asked me how I wanted the Pork Chop cooked and I immediately said, “However Chef Ramiro intends it to be cooked.” Do yourself a favor and order it this way. It was so juicy, tender and had a lovely bbq flavor. Chef Ramiro knows what he is doing and you should not question it! I know lots of people like their meat cooked “well” but you are losing out on so much flavor when you over cook a lovely piece of meat. The pork chop is served with seasonal vegetables and lovely portion of smoked butter caulimash. I was convinced after my first bite that it was mashed potatoes. If you can trick me into thinking I’m eating mashed potatoes when it’s really vegetables I applaud you!

Last but not least we had to try the Brazilian Roasted Chicken. This was something Chef Ramiro picked up on his travels in Brazil and now offers it at Belching Beaver. I love that he thinks outside the box and adds items to the menu that are creative and inspired. The skin on the outside of the chicken was perfectly crispy and the inside was moist and tender. Eat it alone or with the chimichurri sauce, either way you’re in for a flavorful treat. This was served with a side of bbq grilled baked potato and seasonal vegetables.

A big thank you to Executive Chef Ramiro Guerra and General Manager Eddie Navarro for their hospitality during my visit. I loved learning all about this amazing brewery! It’s packed with history, amazing food, wine and of course beer. Perfect for any occasion big or small.