Matt Gordon at Urban Solace

The taps at Urban Solace, located in the heart of North Park, will make any devout craft-beer enthusiast dance like they found money. Head chef  and founding partner Matt Gordon hasn’t cut corners in seeking out the best beer in SoCal to compliment an ‘American Comfort Food’ menu that cuts straight to the heart, and  the palate. For a crisp summer pairing, Gordon recommends the Green Flash 30th Street Pale Ale with his BBQ glazed Van De Rose Duroc Pork belly served over creamed corn with pickled tomato salsa. Pale ales, explains Gordon, are a natural compliment to any kind of white meat in the summer time.

Fried Green Tomatoes and Black Market IPA

His second recommendation is the Black Market Rye IPA, sipped between mouthfuls of Cornmeal Fried-Green Tomatoes with a spicy herb puree, whipped goat cheese, crème fraiche, and herb salad.  Gordon says of his six foot long, locally focused taps, “It makes sense. We use local eggs, local produce, and local meat. I could say ‘we support the local economy yada-yada’ which we do, but the fact is, if you look around at the beer industry, our local guys are producing the best stuff out there.” If you haven’t been, Urban Solace is the type of place that turns first dates into long weekends. The décor is hip and artsy, the building is classic and the staff is so friendly, you’ll consider scratching your number down on a napkin. Don’t miss this superior tap selection alongside Gordon’s southern-inspired comfort food. -A.R. Templeton