For almost three decades, SLO Brew has been a beacon of the Central Coast craft beer scene. As SLO Brew gears up to open its brand new location on Higuera Street, Executive Chef Thomas Fundaro’s ingenuity and decades of experience as a chef and caterer have resulted in a delicious new gastropub experience that is sure to satisfy the palette of anyone who walks through the (soon to be opened) doors.
Designed to pair flawlessly with the brewery’s famed selection of craft beers, Chef Fundaro’s menu focuses on casual, locally-sourced ingredients of the highest quality, highlighted by a twist on seasonal produce. With that, Chef Fundaro will exercise his culinary creativity by continually pushing out new dishes and variations that will keep people coming back for more.
In a nod to the fun group atmosphere that has always been a part of the SLO Brew spirit, Chef Fundaro’s new menu appropriately opens up with dishes designed to be shared. Following his “feed the table, and everyone eats” concept, Chef Fundaro has come up with a selection of sharable foods such as Sausage, Pretzel & Reggae Red Dragon Fondue, calamari with artichoke hearts, and the customizable Brewers lunch. Additional innovative starters include variations on bar favorites such as tangy tamarind glazed wings, smokey or garlic and herb fries, nachos topped with roasted corn salsa, duck confit, feta and rich black mole.
Other guaranteed crowd pleasers that will help define SLO Brew’s gastropub concept include the new SLO Brew Signature Pizzas. The menu introduces four savory specialties – The Brew ‘Za, The Green Pie, The Yardbird and The SLO Pizza – as well as the ‘Za of the Day – a daily crafted special inspired by seasonal ingredients.
Staying ahead of the curve, SLO Brew’s menu offers solutions for patrons that are saving their calories for beer. Hot or healthy selections include gourmet salads, such as the Complete Greens Salad, the poached tuna niçoise and the bistro steak salad, as well as a hot beer cheese soup and the farmers’ market driven Soup o’ the Day.
Moving onto the entrée portion of the menu, Chef Fundaro approaches classic pub fare with a SLO Brew twist. Made to tame the hungriest of appetites, items include options such as the Next Level Beef Dip Sandwich, pork belly tacos, an Aussie meat pie and the new Growler Burger. Other comfort-driven selections include ale battered fish and chips, chicken and waffles, steak frites and more.
“Everything on the menu was designed to be paired with SLO Brew’s award-winning beers,” said Thomas Fundaro, executive chef at SLO Brew. “If diners need help finding a match for an entrée, our menu and expert staff can offer recommendations from over a dozen craft beers on tap.”
The entire menu will be available for viewing, and consuming, once SLO Brew opens the doors of its new location this spring. SLO Brew’s new space will showcase amenities such as a state-of-the-art music venue, an expansive indoor dining area and bar, two outdoor dining options including a creek-side patio and the Whiskey Lounge on the mezzanine level with game tables.