Sunday 14th of July 2013 09:01:11 PM

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OB
That's what we native San Diegans used to call Ocean Beach. At one time, a primo place to surf. Still is but this little community sits right on the silver blue Pacific and at any time, any day of the week....getting into and out of the town is a major undertaking.

Parking on the weekend? Fugettaboutit...unless you like to walk...blocks. You will NOT be able to park in the beach lot and walk the block to Pizza Port but if you want a good craft brew, this is the only place in town.

Pizza Port OB (it will always be such for me!) sits right on the busiest corner with a beer "garden" that faces said street enhancing your beer experience with just the right amount of traffic noise and exhaust fumes to go with your pizza, salad and "buddies."

Like their other brothers, this Pizza Port sports a high ceiling that holds in the sound making it nigh impossible to have a conversation...so until you yell yourself hoarse and resort to your "i"-addiction, be advised that best thing to do is call ahead, order your food then take it down to the beach. Be prepared to wait at least 30 minutes for the food to come up...AND if your last name is now a common first name....don't use it. Tell them you're John 4...or Smith 9. Otherwise, you be wind up having confront some teenaged, peroxided blond in angle-length swim "trunks" demanding to know why he and his 3 friends have devoured half your Hawaiian. Oh...Stop by the nearby liquor store - they might have a good local craft brew to buy but the only way you'll be able to enjoy Pizza Port's grub and grog is if you take your life in your hands and visit early in the afternoon....very early....early in the week.

By the way, each of the 5 Pizza Ports brew their own beer so the Way Heavy you get in Solana Beach won't be the Wee Heavy you can find in San Clemente. We had the brown on Sunday afternoon...and kidnapped 2 seats outside where, because the traffic was stop and go, we actually had a conversation...although we had to time our questions, answers and comments to the red light / green light game.

There's nothing like the beach...and nothing like a good craft brew....and nothing even comes close to putting the two together.

Can't do it here....but if it's your goal to visit all the Pizza Ports...well, I've given you the secret.

Good luck