What kind of foam head doesn't like house brew? Not me. When I heard that there was a place to get some pub grub in Fairfax, I sprung into action.

Service:
Accommodating until it came to questions about the food (I asked if the pastrami was Niman ranch and got a slippery answer.) I guess if you think a customer is casing you out too closely, it's natural to get a little wary.

Atmosphere:
Casually upscale pub. Family friendly with outdoor seating when the weather's nice. There is a bar area to take in a brew while you watch the game as well as restaurant style seating.

Paddle of beer ($6.00):
Pick 6 house brewed beers to compare and contrast. I chose (from right to left): Kolsch - light and summery with a pleasant bitterness. Shining Star - more effervescent than the kolsh. This pale ale has a hoppy, malty edge. Amber - gorgeous in color but flat in the fizz dept. IPA - fabulous depth to it's bitter flavor with a long finish. Station 19 Porter -It's deep color promises flavor that it doesn't deliver. My least favorite. Fairfax Porter - This delicious porter has coffee and hoppy affiliations. Yum.

Cheeseburger ($9.45 plus $1.95 for gumbo substituting for fries):
Ordered medium rare, delivered medium rare. This Black Angus Beef patty had a nice flavor and texture. It came with the normal tomato, onion and lettuce. The soft sesame seed bun soaked up the juices making it a little mushy, it would be nicer to have a slightly more robust bread vehicle.

The gumbo looks like chili but a quick stir exposed the grains of rice and chopped green peppers. This was like eating overly thickened gravy with some leftover Spanish rice mixed in. Not my fave, it would have been better to just have gone with the fries.

Rueben sandwich ($8.95):
Lean pastrami topped with sauerkraut, 1000 island dressing and melted Swiss cheese was very tasty indeed. The fries were good, but next time I'll ask for them "well done" which will maximize their crispy factor.