The corner of 9th and Market Street had been the home of Wolffy's Place, a Chicago eatery serving up mediocre pizzas and hot dogs. The corner spot is now home to Knotty Barrel, a gastropub up to the challenge of rivalling the beloved Neighborhood and prime location of Proper Gastropub also in East Village in Downtown San Diego.
Here's the comparison. Whereas the Neighborhood totes a vast rotating list of beers on tap, Knotty serves the majority of their beers by bottle. The listings are done similarly in chalk on the wall as well as more easily read beer lists already at the table. The menu has some similiarities but also totes standout sandwiches like the BLT-A. The duroc bacon is flavorful but could be a bit more crispy. However, the oven roasted tomatoes add a sweet punch to this sandwich that makes it an easy favorite. Knotty Barrel's beer list and menu outshines that of Proper with well-calculated simplicity and updates on longstanding favorites. Knotty Barrel is a quieter venue to pre-party for the baseball game but this also makes it a primo spot for quality socializing.
With the San Diego County Fair in full swing, deep fried anything is on the local brain. For dessert, Knotty Barrel serves up a deep fried twinkie topped with fresh cream and raspberry puree. An easy split between a group of three of four, these two twinkies add a perfect happy ending to an afternoon of beer. The twinkies are battered in a light pancake batter, creating crispy edges that stand out against the soft creamy inside. Think jelly doughnut but better.
Along with San Diego's Mission Brewery moving into the old Wonder Bread building earlier this month, East Village is fast becoming San Diego's center for beer consumption.
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