Brew Ale and Eats

All About Food | October 7th, 2015

What has all the happiness you might need for your taste buds, is just forty five minutes away has words like goat, pig and brewchetta and uses items exclusive to its city? Brew Ales & Eats in Detroit Lakes.

Owner Gretchen Hunter, originally from New Rockford, N.D., opened Brew Ales & Eats in June of last year and has not regretted it. She stated that they have stayed consistently busy and was proud that Brew uses, as best as they can, local food and beverage vendors. She even said the tables were made by Grain Designs of Fargo.

Brew was described by Hunter “that when you enter brew you will be surrounded by a modern rustic feel paired with industrial chic. Our reclaimed wood, metal and sliding barn door all have a story, just like every person that walks thru our doors. We all have a story to tell and we want you to come visit and tell us your story"!

“Brew is a gastropub, where we are serious about food,” Hunter said. “Our menu is creative & hip with appetizers, salads, burgers, sandwiches, specialty cocktails, 32 rotating craft beers and not to forget, desserts.”

I was told, that I really needed to check this place out when I was at the lake, so I had forgotten about it but as chance had it Mike and I were driving by on Hwy 10 and there it was. Conveniently easy to find and park at.

Brew has some intriguing items like “Starter Gouda Pickle” and “2 Pigs and A Hen.” We started with the “Fish Cakes”: pan-seared walleye cakes, fried capers, mixed greens and tartar sauce. This is one of the many items made by local venders in Detroit Lakes. Both Mike and I thought the cakes were excellent, with the right amount of meat and not greasy at all. The homemade tartar sauce was very tasty.

We both wanted to try their soup but sadly they were out, but maybe next time. For our main course I decided, and it was hard to decide, to have the steak sandwich. I was taking a big risk, as I have many issues with food. In this case my big worry was, “Will the bread be wet from the steak juice?” I am glad I tried it. The bread was ciabatta and had a good thickness to it, yet not so thick that I thought I had too much bread. It truly was a treat and brought back memories of when my dad made steak sandwiches for us as kids. I also had a small house salad of mixed greens, asiago cheese, carrots, tomatoes and cucumber slices. I am over the top picky about eating leafy greens but this was a home run.Mike had, one of his must haves, a patty melt. This man loves his patty melts and this was no disappointment.

I, of course, always like to see that they have a kid-friendly menu too. What kid would turn down Gramma’s PB & J?

So the other part of the name of the establishment is “ales.” I always have to defer to Mike on the beer and he had the Sierra Nevada Pilsner. I believe there was a smile on his face, enough said there. I was happy because there were other options outside of beer. They also have gluten-free beer too.

SO Here is my good or bad criteria list in my opinion for every restaurant:

Location: 111 Veterans Memorial Pkwy Detroit Lakes, MN 218.844.5932 Easy to find

Parking availability: LOTS!

Variety of menu: not too much, not too little: Outstanding

Wait staff: Thumbs Up

Dining area: Clean

The food and presentation: Great

The cost: $4 to $12

The bathroom VERY IMPORTANT: Clean

Would I go back and would I recommend it: Absolutely!!