June 8, 2010
(Visited 10/2008): This BJ’s location is in La Mesa/Grossmont area in Grossmont Center off I-8.There is plenty of parking around but the plaza is really busy at meal times. The interior is similar to other BJ’s brew houses. The space is very open with high ceilings. The bar is on the right and features several TVs. The rest of the establishment is table seating, with a small patio out front. Lots of mirrors, brick and glass everywhere. The beer selection consists of around 8 BJ’s brews that includes a seasonal or two. The bottled selection is of the Sierra Nevada and Chimay persuasion. As with other locales, this locations offers a sampler of their beers. The beers are average for the most part, with a couple being above average. They had their pumpking beer on tap during my visit. Service was pretty good on a weekday lunch hour. The server was familiar with the house beers and what seasonals were available. BJ’s has a pretty wide menu. I had a chicken sandwich for lunch on this visit and it was pretty good. Overall there are pros and cons to any chain brewpub. Knowing what you are going to get going in can either be good or bad. Despite the shortcomings though, BJ’s is always a decent stop.

October 3, 2009
very loud, slow service, greasy food and expensive. Give it a miss.

February 1, 2008 [ Updated July 27, 2008 ]
Parking really sucks, don’t try coming here on a Friday or Saturday night. That aside, this is a noisy, crowded, trendy place. The food and the beer are really fairly ordinary but you’d never know that by the crowd that hangs out here. The beer is fresh and novel but not great, the food is also very good but not anything to write home about. The place next door (Casa de Pico) however has some of the best Mexican fare in the country. As far as San Diego Brewpub/restaurants I recommend Oggis or Gordon Biersch before this place.

April 1, 2007
College hangout. Loud crowded and difficult to have a conversation. decent selection with some house selections I never heard of.

November 3, 2006
Brick, wood and artwork on the walls Comfortable atmosphere for a chain. They had seven house brews on tap with a couple of specialty taps. They have 4 ($4.95) and 7 beer samplers. The service was good and they have decent grub. Although the food seems a bit pricey for what they’re serving.

February 9, 2006
House brews are nothing worth talking about. Hoegaarden on tap helped out. Can fill up on some nights with a younger crowd. Good pub menu, though not cheap, with the some of the best fish and chips i’ve ever had.

November 13, 2005
The house beers are not bad. Their special brews are better. IPA’s and such. Some Belgian bottles, but all common stuff. I like the food, but usually just go with non beer-geek friends for the beer.

April 25, 2005 [ Updated October 19, 2008 ]
Loud place. The food is pretty good. Prices aren’t the best. They have about six or seven of their own brews on tap at any given time. Beers are about $3.75 a pint. Good to grab a bite and try a few beers. I will say that the beers are served way too cold though.