Service and Atmosphere
We walked into Cornerstone Brewing Company on Saturday night and I was pretty sure we were going to have to wait awhile: the place appeared to be busting at the seams with thirsty patrons. However, the hostess immediately guided us to a vacant high top table, and our server appeared shortly after. For as busy as it was, I was surprised at the great, attentive service that we received throughout the entire evening: our drinks were kept full, our food arrived quickly, and our server was friendly.
The atmosphere at Cornerstone during our visit appeared to be cramped, but it ended up being relaxing and comfortable. There isn’t anything too exciting in terms of decor, but the tall ceilings and exposed brick give it that nice, old building charm.
The Beer
The beer at Cornerstone is, in one word, delicious. For starters, get a beer sampler because these guys brew some tasty stuff, and it’s definitely worth your while to try them all. Plus, it’s only $9 for a 2 oz. sample of each. Notable favorites from my visit included the Seven IPA (deliciously hoppy, in both flavor and aroma), Boxford Brown (a nut brown ale that had tasty hints of both coffee and toffee), and the Winterbok (a heavy German lager with a distinct raisin flavor). They were all good though, so no complaints from my usually picky beer palette.
The Food
Cornerstone’s menu is your typical variety of pub fare–a solid selection of artery-clogging, albeit delicious appetizers, a variety of tasty entrees like fish and chips and pretzel chicken, and plenty of burgers and sandwiches to choose from. I decided to try the fried cod sandwich, two pieces of beer battered white fish served on a kaiser bun with lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce. It was perfect. The fish was cooked well, the batter was crispy and delicious, and the bun was nice and fresh. My sandwich came with brew fries which were also pretty good–thick cut, well seasoned, and crispy.
Also sampled was the pulled pork sandwich, a mound of flavorful meat served on a single slice of ciabatta bread. The meat was tender and the sauce was tasty, and the sandwich was unlike any other in that it was served open-faced.
Other popular menu items include the brewer’s pretzels, beer onion soup, apricot walnut salad, and the chicken diablo.
Overall
This place does it all: tasty food, delicious beer, friendly service, and a great atmosphere. I can’t wait to go back, if only to fill up my growler with some of that Seven IPA.
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