Lucky Baldwin's Trappist Pub & Cafe

charlzm

California

3.95/5  rDev -1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3 | $$

I visited around lunchtime on March 15th, 2011.

Physically, the space has a nice outdoor patio. The interior can best be described as old-world sports bar, what with the old school dark wood Euro style booths and tables and the NINE flatscreen TVs showing a soccer match. I'm not at all into sports, but the dozen or so melting-pot patrons scattered around sure were. Noisy.

Still, spacious and open is a good way to describe the main dining area.

Now, on to the food and beverages: 65 beers on tap, nearly all of them craft or European imports. A quality selection in the Lucky Baldwin's tradition.

The food is also in the LB tradition: heavy, a bit overpriced and not as delicious as expected. In other words, true to British style.

Service was a touch slow but completely competent and agreeable.

Overall, a loud, boomy room makes this my #3 out of 3 Lucky Baldwin locations. The original is more intimate and funky and the Delerium Cafe is more friendly and laid back.

08-17-2011 05:37:24 | More by charlzm

UCLABrewN84

California

4.1/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$$

I visited all 3 Lucky Baldwin's locations in the same day so I am going to be brief for each one:

My 2nd Lucky Baldwin's stop. This place is more of a modern vibe with tables and a bar with stools. Lots of beer decorations hang around the walls. I sat at the bar and the service was pretty good but not as friendly or intimate as the original location. Quality and selection were again both great with an impressive selection of taps and the bottle list. I did actually get some sliders here for dinner and they hit the spot for sure. Like I mentioned, I brought in my goblet and got the $3 and $4 tasters all night long. A good stop for sure but probably my least favorite location of the 3.

07-04-2012 23:51:02 | More by UCLABrewN84

GOARF

California

3.75/5  rDev -6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | $$$

This is a great place to stop by and grab some quality craft brews on tap while your in the area. I stopped by while they were having their IPA fest. "Month Of The IPA" or IPA takeover or something like that. And I have to say I was impressed. They had all the great IPA's -Pliny, Blind Pig, Sculpin, and they had some brews that made me do a double take, for example they had Blue Dot being fed with Nitrogen instead of Co2. Which I have to say was creamy and nice. Girl behind the bar didn't much about beer and couldn't answer my questions which bothered be a bit, but that shadow disappeared with the light glistening off my cold mug of Pliny.

07-03-2012 19:56:53 | More by GOARF

snpub540

California

3.88/5  rDev -2.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

My first visit to this location. I like the space and the decor. Like an updated version of the Raymond location. Not so stuffy.

Selection of 60 some taps was good. Had 3 Craftsman offerings, plenty of Belgians, Stone, Lost Abbey, Alesmith, Ommegang and more. Nothing above $8 for a glass. Bartender wasn't too knowledgeable about selection which is my only complaint.

Fish and Chips were done proper with steak fries and green peas.

This is a nice place to stop by and I will probable stop by during the Belgian fest to see what they are pouring.

02-07-2012 20:20:35 | More by snpub540

bmwehrly

California

4.4/5  rDev +10.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$

My first visit to the newest of the Lucky Baldwins was for the Hair of the Dog brewery event they were having. We went at about noon, so dealing wth crowds was not an issue at all.

I love the atmosphere of this new location. It's more open-air than the Raymond Ave location, and very clean looking while still maintaining that genuine pub feel. A lot of woodwork makes for a darker cozier atmosphere at night, while big storefront windows lighten the place up in the day.

Our server, though I did not get her name, was absolutely fantastic. Very friendly and willing to accomodate us in any way.

The beer selection is always good at LB's, as they are constantly keeping a rotation of great beer, along with maintaining some staples.

The food is, well, British...which isn't for everyone. But I like what I've had.

There is also a coffee bar in the restaurant, which adds another nice dimension to this place.

Will definitely return!

08-26-2011 21:32:56 | More by bmwehrly

dbmernin83

California

3.88/5  rDev -2.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3 | $$

Been twice. First visit was at the bar. Awesome tap selection, heavy on the belgians but not neglecting any other style. Bottle selection was limited, but the 65 taps make up for it. Service was fine, but I'm a quiet, easy customer. Food was good, not great. Good sandwiches and English style pub grub.
Second visit, sat at a table. Service again was fine. They had just had an IPA festival and the list was now extremely IPA heavy and almost exclusively California IPA heavy. It was good to see they like to mix it up. Food again decent. Great place to grab a few beers. Not really a food destination, but this isn't a food site, so who cares!

07-07-2011 06:27:29 | More by dbmernin83