Blind Lady Ale House

Keep that in mind if you visit Blind Lady Ale House. Your dining choices here are as thin as a supermodel, the service as random as a coin toss and the 40-something background music is thundering away at 20-something volume. Non-drinkers are limited to a skimpy four choices; wine lovers to five, all vintage 2007 or 2008. Like everything else in this mortal sphere, Blind Lady is imperfect. But for craft-beer lovers, this is almost heaven on Earth. Even before its late January opening, Blind Lady was the talk of the malt-and-hops crowd. The owners are graphic designer Jeff Motch, writer Clea Hantman, yoga teacher Jenniffer Chase and Lee Chase, former brewer at Stone and a beer consultant. His acutely calibrated taste buds have a knack for finding the Next Big Brew, a talent he showcased while designing the smashing beer list at downtown's Neighborhood. Lee Chase has also spent 19 years as a vegan. Note the menu's lack of pub standards (burgers, wings, etc.) and the fresh ingredients in the salads and pizzas. The Italian sausage is house-ground, the heirloom tomatoes are Southern California natives, and vegetarians can order a chorizo pizza, hold the chorizo – a meatless substitute is fashioned from soy. Prices are reasonable, and portions, while not super-sized, are generous. The spinach salad ($6), packed with arugula, dates, bacon and nuts, is a bargain. The avocado citrus plate ($8) is an even zestier starter, with creamy avocado, tart Oro Blanco grapefruit, sw