By Lann Nguyen, April 11, 2023
The Rookery Alehouse and Grill at the heart of downtown Pomona is a cozy spot for a bite and a brew or two at the end of the day to unwind from the stress of classes. Only a 10-minute drive from Cal Poly Pomona, the restaurant is perfect for students looking for comfort food and a space to socialize.
The Rookery opened in January 2013 and serves their beloved specialty burgers and golden fried appetizers to those seeking comfort food. With their Taco Tuesday special, you can find $2.50 deals which includes a variety of choices, including beer-battered fish with toppings like guacamole and chimichurri sauce.
Immediately upon walking into the restaurant, I felt the atmosphere was relaxed and stress-free. The layout is cozy with a bar on one side and tables on the other offering an intimate space to socialize.
My friends and I decided to enjoy our meal “family-style” so we could try a variety of menu items.
Since it was Taco Tuesday, we were very pleased with the exuberant amount of bursting flavors from each bite of the various tacos.
A favorite was the brisket taco, which was packed with many flavors like tangy, smoky and sweet. It led to an out-of-body experience because of the perfectly balanced combination. Soaking in the smoky hints of house-made chimichurri sauce made it all more enjoyable.
To quench my thirst, I picked the Blueberry Boyfriend sour ale which held the perfect amount of tart, both balanced and refreshing. Sour beers are my favorite since they don’t have a classic bitterness traditional beers are known for.
The Cosmic Bandito 2.0 is another sour beer that had a thick consistency and smooth texture topped off with a citrus-forward flavor in every thirst-quenching sip.
Another brew we tried was the Fremont B-Bomb imperial stout which was described as “heavenly” by my friend, and I must say I agree. I noted strong accents of oak and coffee with a scent of leather.
Appetizers are perfect when out with friends. From the beer-battered pickle spears to the buffalo cauliflower, it was a deep-fried dream.
An interesting array of wings were available. The xwing v thaifighter had a unique flavor profile that included chili sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic and red pepper flakes. All of these flavors flooded my mouth and complemented each other, bouncing around on my taste buds.
Entrees continued the streak of impressive food with a French onion burger that was equal parts juicy and flavorful; the onion was not overpowering which was a plus. The onion rings were a crunchy accompaniment to the handcrafted burger.
One item that missed the mark was the potato taco, which was too spicy with the sauce and lacked in flavor, but I was happy to see they offered a vegetarian option. I was hoping for more of a crunchy outer layer and soft flavorful core, but it fell flat.
Our meal ended on a sweet note with a delicious bread pudding that definitely tasted nostalgic, like “mom’s cooking,” and it was absolutely heavenly. The cheesecake was a traditional New York style triangle of mouth-watering goodness drizzled in chocolate sauce.
The service was excellent, our server provided us with a plethora of menu suggestions and displayed a positive attitude. This made me feel confident in the restaurant’s overall vibe and quality.
The walls were laced in unique artwork of mythical creatures, and the style of the place screams “European pub,” fitting in with downtown Pomona.
This is our new go-to spot for my friend group and me. It is a quaint hangout spot with delicious comfort food, tasty brews and a great place to meet with your best buds or your new beau.
Feature image by Matthew Acosta
