brendan’s irish pub. camarillo ca

classic irish fare with no fecks given. pleasantly surprised with this suburban pub/restaurant in camarillo just off the 101. the interior is dark yet welcoming with plenty of flair representing the pagentry of ireland. the seating area was very large and multiple tables covered the area, but the booths are the go to area for dinner and drinks. each booth is enclosed to only those seated for great privacy and seating accommodating 6-8 people comfortably.

now the food. the menu was refined with specialties in irish delicacy favorites; shepherds pie, fish and chips, bangers and mash and corned beef. steaks, burgers and salad options were also present for those who wanted otherwise. i decided to go with the fish and chips. when on the coast i find it hard not to gravitate towards fish as you expect it to be fresh, catch of the day in almost every eatery; it did not dissapoint. a very generous portion of perfectly fried cod laid upon a bed of thick cut fries with obligatory newsprint under to capture the grease. the beer batter coating had good flavor, color and crispiness. the fish was very moist and flaky and responded well with the squeezed lemon applied prior to consumption. i paired this meal with a local camarillo brewed hefeweizen which hit the spot and matched very well with the fish and fries.

post main meal we decided to switch things up and order appitizers for dessert; this proved to be a brilliant idea. i am not a fan of sauerkraut, but was convinced to nosh on one of the rueben sliders ordered. what a great decision. the corned beef was fall apart tender and well portioned to the amount of kraut. the kraut was sweet rather than tart and pungent as i remember by smell and taste with prior experience. the bun was not a rye bread, rather a soft buttered egg bun that topped off the mastery of this simple yet flavorful dish. otherwise, if you prefer a classic dessert the menu gave options of bread pudding, a chocolate browni. and the obligatory irish coffee.

if you‘re in the area, this is a great place with awesome atmosphere and quick and friendly staff. 2 other locations sit in agoura hills and newbury park for those a little further south on the 101. go, eat, smile.