I wanted to like Easy Pace. Green Lake could always use another neighborhood brewery with a great patio, and from the moment we walked in, it felt like the kind of place I'd become a regular. The open air seating is inviting, the atmosphere is relaxed, and it's an easy spot to spend a summer afternoon over a couple of beers.
The beer got things off to a decent start. I tried the lychee sour, and while it wasn't anything I'd go out of my way to chase down again, it was refreshing with just enough tartness to keep the fruit in check. A perfectly respectable kettle sour.
The smash burger, unfortunately, didn't follow suit. I'll admit I'm picky when it comes to smash burgers: they're one of my favorite things to eat, so I was excited the second it hit the table. It looked right. It smelled even better. The first bite just never lived up to the look or hopes I had for it.
The patty had a nice crust but was noticeably dry, and there was so much aioli that it became the dominant flavor. The grilled onions were there, but they sat on top instead of being smashed into the beef while it cooked. That's one of those small details that gives a great smash burger its character, where the onions become part of the crust instead of just another topping. Here, everything felt disconnected. It wasn't a bad burger, but it never became more than the sum of its parts. If you're specifically craving a great smash burger, I'd still point you around the corner to Jellyfish. (Waaaay better!)
The prickly pear margarita left me with much the same impression. It looked beautiful, especially with the Tajin rim, but the flavor leaned heavily toward bottled margarita mix. It was sweeter than I expected and never developed the brightness or freshness I look for in a margarita.
One thing Easy Pace absolutely gets right is the service. Everyone we interacted with was warm and welcoming, and both our drinks and food arrived quickly. It's the kind of friendly, efficient service that makes a neighborhood spot easy to come back to, even if the food is weak.
Easy Pace has all the ingredients of a place I'd love to have in the neighborhood. The patio is one of the better brewery spaces around Green Lake, the staff is welcoming, and the overall atmosphere makes it easy to settle in for an afternoon. I just hope the food eventually rises to the level of the space they've created, because based on this visit, that's the piece still missing. I see a few 5 star reviews, I don't believe those people don't work here or ever eat out, it was difficult to give 3 stars but 2 felt very harsh.
Food: 2/5
Beer: 3/5
Service: 5/5
Location and vibe: 5/5 read more