Hops and Sessions — Restaurant in Livermore

Ill take pictures next time I go. I haven't gone here for a very long time as the last visit was nothing special food wise.

But I have to say, they have really made some great changes here.

FOOD IS GREATLY IMPROVED. The chicken sandwiches and even the kids chicken strips are very good and crispy and tasty. We had Buffalo chicken fries appetizer that was very good. We also had the Brussel sprouts appetizer that was good. Overall everyone in our party of 9 was happy.

ADDED A FULL BAR They used to just have the pour your own beer and wine wall only. Now they added a full bar which has a decent selection for being a smaller than normal size. All we had were shots so I can't say if the cocktails were good. But the bartender lady was nice and knowledgeable.

IMPROVED BEER WALL The old wristbands for getting a beer electronically was miserable to use, would never pour right, and just sucked. Now they use a card and you pay by the ounce I believe instead of a "taste, half pour, full pour". Anyways, good job, it is way better now.

ATMOSPHERE IS GREAT Overall a fun place to hang out with friends or family. They have board games you can use if you have kids.

LOCATION It is in the heart of downtown Livermore and close to everything. Our kids could go across the street and hang out in the lawn area and we could still see them from our seats.

Overall a good experience last weekend. We...

Perfect for a casual after-work gathering, you can arrive, get some very good food quickly, sample some beers, and head out without having to worry about separate checks due to the innovative RFID wristband system. If you're coming for a full meal, though, you'll have to pace the courses yourself unless you want everything at once. And the beer, all rotating self-serve craft selections, is $8 a pint for Dechutes Black Butte Porter, so ironically it's probably not the place for a session, but rather an eclectic sampling. They even had a St. Bernardus on tap, which is very unusual. You also are responsible for getting your own water (in plastic cups). Staff were quite friendly, though I don't quite understand the counter service vibe in a place that is aiming for higher quality food. There are some misses, like the otherwise excellent open-faced burrata and prosciutto sandwich that was drenched with honey instead of olive oil. I hope they will work out some of the kinks because there is a lot to like at this new and distinctive addition to Livermore's growing food scene. Incidentally, all their promotional materials say "Established 2017", which is weird since their certificate of occupancy is...

We were in town for work and decided to stop here for dinner. I absolutely loved the patio space—it looked like the perfect spot to relax. The hostess was super friendly and explained how everything worked. Since it was a little too warm outside, we grabbed a seat indoors, and I really enjoyed the natural light and overall atmosphere.

The food was delicious, and the self-pour beer wall was a great touch with plenty of variety.

The only downside—and this isn’t unique to this brewery—is the growing trend of parents bringing young children (even babies) to breweries and wineries. It’s one thing when kids are quiet and well-behaved, but when they’re screaming, tossing toys, or having meltdowns, it can really impact the experience for everyone else. These places have traditionally been adult spaces, and I think they feel more enjoyable that way.

My advice to parents: treat yourselves to a night out and leave the kids with a sitter—you’ll probably enjoy it more, too. My advice to brewery owners: if families are going to be welcome, consider designating a family-friendly section, similar to how smoking sections once worked. That way, everyone can enjoy the atmosphere in...