Brewing Up a Good Lunch Close to Home

BJ’s Restaurant and Brew House may be a chain restaurant, but it’s a leash I like being connected to. The Arcadia BJ’s, in particular, always makes me feel welcome. The staff is always friendly and outgoing and the menu never disappoints. With its wide selection, I know I can take my mother here or a business associate, and each will be pleased.

BJ’s is known for its deep-dish pizza, but I usually stray and order other bar-food favorites. For grazers like me, BJ’s is perfect for sampling lots of little treats while sipping on a cold Hefeweizen.

The chicken club was light, toasty and tasty. The fish tacos, which I have to try at every restaurant that serves them, were scrumptious and tangy. They left room to split a mini chorizo, tomato and pepperoni pizza.

Amid the buzz of all the TV sports screens, I still found time to hunker down on the most important business of the day – dessert. Although everybody raves about BJ’s pizookie (mounds of cold ice cream over a warm cookie), Colleen and I played it safe with a chocolate-chunk style cake and some warm apple crisp.

BJ’s is part of Arcadia’s restaurant row – a nice getaway from busier Pasadena and a few steps closer to La Verne, should you feel the need to get out of town but not too far away for a spur-of-the-moment lunch decision.

BJ’s is located at 400 E. Huntington Dr. in Arcadia. For more information, call (626) 462-1494.