August 3, 2009
Not a beer mecca, exactly, but a great place for a craft beer fan to get a great plate of food. Sister establishment to downtown’s very fine Collins Pub. This place puts slightly greater emphasis on the food than Collins does. It feels a little less like a restaurant than Collins does, due to having slightly less seating. Both are beautifully appointed with huge hardwood barbacks that dominate your line of sight when you first walk in. HPH serves interesting comfort food with a twist, for the most part. I’ve had great brunch, gazpacho, and a ribeye there so far. The beers don’t quite range into the realm of serious rarities, and the staff, by and large, can’t be described as beer dorks. But they keep the lines clean, can describe how the beers taste, and serve in real beer glasses. It’s a block from the far-more-established Cooper’s, which is also a go-to for beer dorks, but this place feels much nicer and has better food. Both Cooper’s and HPH have decent-to-good tv options for sports fans.