Start Sunday Fun Day at Session Public's [Beer] Brunch

July 3, 2012

"By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday-night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well. Brunch is cheerful, sociable and inciting. It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week." ~Guy Beringer, "Brunch: A Plea," Hunter's Weekly, 1895 - The alleged origin of the term "brunch".

Hey all you Saturday night carousers - Sunday brunch has taken over San Diego's Fun Day scene, and Sessions Public in Ocean Beach is looking to help hangovers (or commence the onset of new ones) with a selection of tasty dishes, signature breakfast cocktails, and 20 craft beers on tap.  SanDiegoVille.com had the good fortune to receive an invite to Sessions Sunday Brunch.  Join us as we tour you through our experience!!

Sessions Public is a quaint neighborhood gastropub situated on the border of Ocean Beach and Point Loma that prides itself on offering an eclectic food menu as well as plenty of diverse craft drafts, including local favorites from Stone Brewing, Ballast Point, and Green Flash.

The interior of Sessions is designed in a country-chic motif with a dimly lit, unfinished wooden bar, hanging Edison bulb lights, mounted chalk boards open to doodling patrons, and large windows that open the back dining area up to refreshing breezes.  In honor of its sacrifice for the menu the walls are adorned with stuffed versions of the animal used in so many of Session's dishes: the duck.  For those seeking an outdoor experience, Sessions also has a patio with tables on Voltaire Street.  

Since opening in July 2010, Sessions Public has developed into one of the better craft beer bars in San Diego, offering a truly diverse rotation of 20 ever-changing taps that patrons can peruse online prior to their visit. My guest and I started with a Ballast Point Sculpin IPA with its distinctly fruity hoppiness, as well as a Rough Draft IPA with its moderate yet flavorful body and malty undertones - unique for a beer tipping the scale at 10% ABV.  While my lovely partner in crime chose another Sculpin, I decided on a beer with lesser alcohol content for my second - a 7.2% ABV Cismontane Easy as ABZ IPA, a very full-bodied beer with a strong hop aroma.

While Sessions' brunch menu is somewhat limited, the offerings are designed to appeal to most of the common brunch cravings.  We began with the duck fat fries ($5), which were perfectly cooked resulting in a crispy, golden outside and a delicate potatoey inside, served in a brown paper bag along-side delicious garlic (emphasis added) aioli for dipping - some of the best "duck fat" fries in town.  

Chicken & Waffles
As we nibbled on fries, our friendly and attentive server eagerly guided us through the menu. Of the entrees, we first sampled the comforting chicken and waffles ($12).  Consisting of a light, aerated waffle topped with buttermilk fried chicken, sausage country gravy, and two eggs over easy, this dish was a glorious marriage of breakfast with lunch, sweet with savory, and was served with a side of maple syrup and honey duck butter.  This dish was beautifully plated and layered for the enjoyment of each ingredient in a single bite.  I cleaned the plate.

Tasso Ham Bened
We also ordered the Tasso Ham Benedict ($13) - a generous portion of shaved tasso ham, country "French Toast," two poached eggs, and breakfast potatoes all covered in duck fat hollandaise.  While all the ingredients meshed together and made for a successful and flavorful dish, "French Toast" may have been a misnomer, as the ingredient was not traditionally prepared, but was simply a thick slice of savory country toast - yummy, but not "French" toast.   
  
For a relaxed, affordable, and homey brunch, be sure to check out Session's Public's Sunday Brunch served every week from 10am to 1pm.  During brunch, select drafts are offered on a 2-for-1 special and bottomless mimosas are $10. And be sure to stop by on July 7th to celebrate Sessions' 2 year anniversary with drink and food specials and specialty taps.  

SESSIONS PUBLIC
4204 Voltaire Street, Ocean Beach
(619) 756-7715

Kitchen Hours:
Mon-Thurs 4pm to 10pm
Fri-Sat 12pm to 11pm
Sun 10am to 9pm

Parking in rear.

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