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JJ Brewsky's Restaurant

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It was a Sunday afternoon when my colleague, family and I walked into the restaurant located in Old Town Camarillo. Upon entering, we were pleasantly surprised by the music of a live bluegrass band and a huge but warm space with a ceiling height equivalent to that of a two-story building. We were promptly seated in a cozy booth just a few tables away from the band and began to peruse our menus.

We were captivated by the seemingly endless beer menu with detailed descriptions of domestic and foreign ales, ciders, lagers and stouts. It took us nearly 15 minutes to make our final decision — Telegraph California Ale, a saison (a seasonal ale) brewed in Santa Barbara; Bear Republic Racer, an Indian pale ale made in Healdsburg, Calif.; and Stone Ruination, a double Indian Pale Ale brewed in Escondido, Calif. All of us favored hoppier brews, the Stone Ruination tasting similar to a mouthful of the green grain.

For the appetizer, we opted for the spinach and artichoke dip, skipping out on the hot wings as a compromise to keep in line with my colleague’s vegetarian diet. The spinach dip was creamy with a thin crust of parmesan cheese melted on top, served with toasted ciabatta bread and white corn chips. This delectable treat lasted just a few minutes as we munched it down ravenously.

Next in line — the main course. My son chose the chicken tenders, a bit pricey for my range at $6.95. But then again, anything over a few bucks is too much. I chose the Italian sausage penne pasta in a garlic crème sauce with sautéed mushrooms and diced tomatoes. My boyfriend went with the chicken caprese sandwich — grilled chicken breast, fresh buffalo mozzarella, Roma tomatoes, red onions and romaine lettuce tossed in basil balsamic vinaigrette and topped with sliced avocado on warm ciabatta bread. My colleague Paul had the grilled veggie sandwich — grilled eggplant, yellow squash, zucchini, grilled peppers, sun-dried tomatoes and portabella mushrooms topped with mozzarella cheese and basil pesto sauce served on a toasted ciabatta roll with a side of sweet potato fries. There weren’t too many vegetarian choices unless pasta was on the brain — noodles on the noodle.

While none of us shared our main dishes, it became evident how much we all enjoyed our meals as they vanished almost instantly. After having worked in the restaurant industry for several years in college, I couldn’t think of a time when I had a tastier pasta dish.

When it came time for dessert, we just couldn’t force ourselves to take another bite. Although there was an assortment of chocolate dishes and cheesecakes, dessert was just going to have to wait for another day.

Overall, the meals, the atmosphere — especially the bluegrass band playing throughout our meal, not too loudly — and the wait staff all got four stars. Our biggest dilemma was self control.

I have never been considered to be a lightweight, but after getting through one beer, my boyfriend aptly called me out and insisted that one beer could do me in. I can’t be sure what was in my beer besides the normal percentage of alcohol, but whatever it was left me feeling a little more intoxicated than I was ready for.

But there was never a dull moment in our conversation, and the experience was more than pleasant. And then the bill came — $100.33. Maybe we had overdone it. One 22-ounce beer was equivalent to buying a six-pack. I would suggest either buying two normal beers to pace yourself or take small sips of the large beer.

If Benjamin Franklin was right that beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy, then JJ Brewsky’s epitomizes heaven on earth. With more than 50 beers to choose from, any beer lover would find a home away from home at the spacious bar and grill.           

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