My husband likes to say that when he finds a restaurant he likes, he could eat there every day. And while he’s just joking, it’s really not too far from the truth. Example: He eats at JT Schmid’s in The District at least a couple of times a week, and he always orders the same thing – the seared Ahi Steak Sandwich.
   
As you would expect from any brewhouse, there’s no shortage of burgers and meat options on the menu. In fact, you’ll find no less than a dozen burger preparations, along with a nice offering of pasta dishes and pizza. But there’s also a good selection of seafood, Asian-inspired dishes and Southern favorites like Spicy Jambalaya with grilled chicken, andouille sausage, mozzarella and roasted peppers atop a mound of rice. (A friend ordered this from the Anaheim restaurant, across from Honda Center, and he loved it.) It’s a great place to go with a group. The menu is eclectic and diverse, so there’s a good chance that everyone will find something to satisfy a hankering. Plus, the dining room has a casual and cool upscale vibe. (The Anaheim restaurant also has a large patio with a firepit, and if you’re catching a game after dinner, you can leave your car parked at the restaurant for a fee.)
   
But back to that ahi sandwich. I heard my husband rave about it at least a hundred times. And when I finally joined him for lunch, I understood why. The main attraction is a thick, über-fresh cut of sushi-grade ahi tuna, seasoned and then flash grilled, so the outside is cooked and steaming hot. The flash on the grill warms the center of the cut just enough to release the juices, while still leaving that rich pink color in the middle. It’s served on a wheat bun dressed in an herb-pesto aioli, with steamed white rice on the side.
   
I ordered the grilled salmon with steamed rice and veggies. I’m always reluctant to order vegetables because I’m not a huge fan of broccoli and cauliflower, and that seems to be what many restaurants like to serve the most. Not the case this time. A heap of yellow and green zucchini with julienne carrots sautéed in butter and seasonings served as the accompaniment. As for the salmon, it was cooked just the way it should be – cooked to a tender crispness on the outside, but the inside was hot and juicy, and it almost melted in my mouth.
   
The salads are divine, too. Try the Walnut Salad – field greens tossed with candied walnuts and blue cheese crumbles in a raspberry vinaigrette. Another of my favorites: the ceviche, with chunks of shrimp and seafood in a light citrus marinade with fresh chunks of tomato, onion and peppers. It was offered as a game-day menu appetizer at the Anaheim restaurant, but I ordered it as my entrée, and it was a perfect portion.

JT Schmid’s Restaurant & Brewery
jtschmids.com
• 2610 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim
   714.634.9200
• 2415 Park Ave., Tustin
   714.258.0333
Hours: Open daily for lunch and dinner