GameCraft Brewing — Restaurant in Laguna Hills

GameCraft Brewing provides a fun place for game enthusiasts to gather. There was a variety of drink options to choose from - beers, wines, soda, water. There was also bottled drinks like tea in a glass container behind the bar area. The food was decent pub food.

There was plenty of parking. I liked that they had board games and pinball machines available. I had an enjoyable time here. The downsides were that the place was a bit small and hot during the summer with only fans running.

Drinks: I like drinks on the sweeter side. The bartender was nice and let me try different flavors to pick what I like. Seltzer - Baja Blast 5/5 - Good sweet drink that didn't feel like I'm drinking alcohol. Ube Painkilla 3.5/5 - Pretty drink, light purple. A bit sweet, but had a cough syrup aftertaste. Cider drink 4/5 - Kinda like an apple cider drink, but more beer-y. Soju Cocktail - Didn't get this. I thought it'd be sweet from the online menu. Apparently it has a ginger and serrano chili pepper taste, so not what I wanted.

FOOD: BBQ Wings 4/5 - Juicy and flavorful wings. Lemon Pepper Wings 3/5 - Not bad, but kinda dry and really sour. Cesar Salad 4/5 - Who orders salad for a game night? Jk. It was actually pretty good. Plenty of dressings and shaved cheese on top. Pretzel Bites 3.5/5 - Dense pretzel bread bites with sea salt on top. Flatbread 3.5/5 - Flatbread okay. Ours came with shredded pork on top that was kinda dry and had no flavor. Fried Wonton 2/5 - Crispy wontons filled with cream cheese. The cream cheese was a bit much to eat. Egg Rolls 2/5 - Crispy vegetable egg rolls. Had a...

Back in 2018 I was thinking it would be super cool if there was a bar that was geared towards gamers, a place they could hang out and drink beer and have a good time; when I found this place in early 2021 it was like a dream come true, as it is exactly that. Since then, they expanded the DLC area and have expanded their menu and have a few new beers. I really enjoy live music night. I am one if the regular here, this is where my buddies and I come every Saturday night to hang out. We drink beer and play Yu-Gi-Oh, board games, and Magic the Gathering. The staff are great and super nice, I know most of the people who work here, food is great, love the big selection of beers, and I always enjoy being here.

I have a 3 suggestions that could make this place even better, I'm talking coolness factor of 10 They should do trials for new beers and menu items to see if people like them, and if there is enough sales, then they add the beer or menu item permanently to the menu. I think you guys should bring back the giant pretzel from Oktoberfest, that was a fan favorite. Also, I think it will be really cool if you guys added chimichangas to the menu. I think on Fridays and Saturdays if you could change the business hours to be open until midnight those days, like Dave & Buster's, that you guys would get more business. Also I think you guys would get more business if you kept the weekday hours open until 10:00. I think you guys could get more business if you had a designated night every week, like say Thursdays as D&D night, or Friday night Magic...

Great experience for first timer to this brewery. Atmosphere is very laid back, as soon as we entered we see people of all ages playing tabletop games and even video games. The brewery offers beers tailored to gamers with names like DDH GG EZ, 360 No Scope, Pay To Win and even Nelson Crossing: NZ Horizons! The day we came they even had a Super Smash Bros tournament going open for all.

Let's talk beer: As mentioned, the names of the beers are game puns but don't let that turn you away from taking them seriously. The IPAs are pretty good, hoppy and bitter if that's the type of IPA you like. Some of the more unique beers are also worth trying, Nectarine wheat ale (which was very tart and dry, yet refreshing) and the Praise the Sun Tropic Punch Gose (lacking the salt of the typical gose but and interesting falcon profile, in a good way. Smells sweet, tastes semi sweet and then the dryness and tartness kicks in) Wish I could try more beers but I'll leave that for next visit.

The food. Typical brewery food such as tater tots, pretzels, pigs in a blanket, burgers but does offer some things out of the norm like tonkatsu, K pop fried wings, wontons, egg rolls. We had the Super Burger Smash (delicious burger, huge bun but very light and the sauce with bacon was so good) as well as flatbread pizza (Cazadores w/ shittake and "Korean style" carne asada) Delicious as well!

Look forward to coming back here and trying more food and more beers. Come here and you won't be disappointed. Staff is friendly as well...