Altadena Ale & Wine House

I stop by here Wednesday evenings after going to the gym... I do change my t-shirt but that's about it.  That's because Wednesday night is Taco Night at the Ale House.  A real chef comes in an makes gourmet tacos--usually 3 or 4 selections always including a vegetarian option--three for $5.  Another $6 or so for a great beer.  How can you beat it?  Take you pick of patrons for conversation--JPL rocket scientists, your local roofer, or maybe an investment banker incognito.  Oh, and if you're a winer, (no, not a whiner or weiner), they've got a great selection of mostly French stuff... just their thing.  Actually very, very good wine.  Who'd a thunk it.  Not fancy, but clean and well behaved establishment.

It was the end of a fun, multi-faceted, big relief date night - and we were hankering for a hunk of wine to top off the fine evening.  So tired of the somewhat hoity-toity wine bars around - even though we love their grapes.  Can we just find a place we can walk in with our flip flops and our overwashed  union t-shirts for a change?  

So we went back to our old favorite - Altadena Ale House - because you know what?  They always have the best wine.  Julie goes to France a couple weeks a year and comes back with the best grapes from across the pond - and she knows her wine.  "I'm looking for something heavier, " "I'm kind of looking for a summery red..." " a hint of sweet..." or whatever you're looking for - she's got it.  For a local bar on a dusty corridor across from a cemetery, this bar is the best neighborhood bar worth driving for - plus beer and wine that works wonders on a palate looking for something a bit more ... uh ... yummy.

Great spot when Gail is behind the bar...she runs a tight ship. When one of the young guys is behind the bar the tight ship turns into a ship of fools. Their buddies come in and toss wine corks and and beer coasters at each other which inevitably stray off course...weak sauce.