It is okay to drink before Noon on a weekend?
Of course it is, especially if you are at a champagne brunch. And double especially if you are in such a lively and fun city like here in San Diego, CA.
So where is a good place to do this, you ask? That’s easy. Point your compass to Ocean Beach and The Holding Company, for it is there you will find a rooftop location overlooking the surf and surfers of “OB” as locals call it, as well as palm trees, live music followed by a DJ and fire pits in a scene as idyllic as you will find in any Polynesian movie.
But don’t be fooled by this upscale setting for first and foremost, The Holding Company is a bad-ass rock-and-roll live music bar. Downstairs, six nights a week, there are bands from punk to rock and everything in between. Some are free with no cover while others require tickets in advance.
Some members of the male staff reflect this culture. They sport long beards and look as if they had spent some of their earlier years on tour with Led Zeppelin or ZZ Top. This, folks, is a true rock venue. The place reminds me of one of the best live music joints I have ever been to in the world, the Roxy in Vancouver, CA. And that’ saying a lot.
But now, back to the brunch since for many locals, that’s where they start their Saturday or Sunday in San Diego.
@pubclub.com PubClub.com Drinking Tip Of The Day! #drinkingtips #drinkingtipoftheday #pubclub #sandiego #brunch #oceanbeach ♬ original sound – PubClub
The Holding Company’s signature item is its huge drink Tower. And whatever you decide you want in it – mimosas, margaritas, a mule, vodka Red Bull or something called the California Love – it towers tall on nearly every tables. It is a whopping 88 ounces. I have seen quite a few towers in my PubClubbing days but having 88 ounces is a PubClub.com record!
We opted for the mimosas and it is interesting to note that they bring the juices on the side. That means the tower is entirely filled just with champagne. You had better bring along a few friends if you’re even thinking about climbing this tower (price, $60; easily sharable among four). The house Bloody Mary is $10. The Holding Company’s signature shot is its whiskey peanut butter, which inspired Skrewball’s Peanut Butter Whiskey.
The food menu is as expansive as the view. There’s Screwball chicken & waffles, a breakfast sandwich, omelettes, a breakfast burrito, house Benedict with choices ranging from smoked brisket and smoked salmon and its sinful Bananas Foster French Toast plus the stack of Ube pancakes.
Being a Southerner, I chose the Country Fried Steak. It was a very good choice. The flavor is a bit different from the traditional Southern version; it has kind of a California twist to it and is excellent.
Overall the atmosphere is awesome and you’ll want to toss out the anchor and stay a while. The servers are super-friendly and come around so frequently you are never tying to flag them down, which is a really nice amenity. I wish more places were like this, quite frankly.
The Holding Company’s weekend brunch available Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. If you show up before Noon, bottles of champagne are just $5. What!? Talk about a #Sundayfunday, wow.
The Holding Company also has a Happy Hour, Tuesdays-Fridays from 4-6 (the bar is dark on Mondays). Sitting on that rooftop overlooking the OB Pier with a Happy Hour drink is no doubt an awesome experience.
The Holding Company is located at 5046 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA
Its website is The Holding Company (theholdingcompanyob.com)
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