My friend and I were in Sanford, Florida one day for a mani/pedi gone awry. We could not find the nail salon we were looking for, but since we were there and the timing was right, we decided to stop someplace for lunch. We found this cute little pub on a corner called the Sanford Brewng Company.
Located in a historic neighborhood at 400 South Sanford Avenue, the building dates back to 1911. Sanford Brewing Company opened in 2016. A second location was opened at Maitland City Centre in 2018. The beer menu provides an extensive variety of craft beers made in-house.
The beer menu changes frequently, according to what is made in-house, but there is a plentiful variety on the menu. Each beer on the menu has a description of the taste. The staff allowed me to taste a couple of beers before I ordered, and I settled upon the Flipa. The description was on point as this IPA had hints of floral at the front and a hoppy bitterness at the end. I thought it was very nice and refreshing.
The appetizer menu goes beyond what one might see on the appetizer menus from other restaurants. I was pleased to see items, such as Fried Mac-n-Cheese, Fried Green Tomatoes, Florida Fish Dip ad Beer Bang Shrimp. My friend and I decided upon Fried Brussel Sprouts that were seasoned with bacon, parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar. The brussels sprouts are served either sauteed or crispy. We ordered them crispy and they were delicious.
For the main entree, The Sanford Brewing Company serves a variety of sandwiches and burgers, soups and salads, but what caught our eye was the variety of Mac ‘n cheese bakes, including Bacon Mac, Tuscan Chicken Mac, Surf ‘n Turf Mac, Philly Mac, Taco Mac and Vegetable Mac. All the mac ‘n cheese entrees are served in a mini cast iron skillet. I ordered the Taco Mac and my friend ordered the Bacon Mac. Important to note is that these mac ‘n cheese entrees come with a gluten-free penne pasta option. They were also delicious!
Save room for dessert! My friend and I could not eat another bite, but if you can, The Sanford Brewing Company offers a PB Pie, Salted Caramel Cheesecake and Pretzel Bites, which all sound wonderful.
If you are North of Orlando, stop by the Sanford Brewing Company! It’s a hidden gem!
