Dinner and Bars?

[BobMack]

A group of 7 of us are heading out to San Diego for a quick overnite.

We are hitting some of the breweries on the way up from LA then staying the night somewhere in SD.

We are looking for a good place to have dinner which is located in the vicinity of 2-3 good bars where we can hang out afterwards? It would be nice to walk but we have a designated driver so a short drive wouldn't be terrible. The bars and restaraunts have to have a good beer list and a good vibe.

We're all really casual so nothing too fancy.

BM

[JRSD]

I haven't made it there yet, but El Take it Easy is on 30th right near Ritual, Toronado, etc and has DJs some nights. It is owned by the same owners of the Linkery and follows the same food ethos but serves more Mexican-influenced dishes. Beer list runs more towards lagers than other places.

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Linkery
3794 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104

[chezwhitey]

Jayne's gastropub is in the area, nice people, noise level should be right for 7 people. Try the banger's and mash.

[BobMack]

Do any of these food serving bars/pubs have live music or DJ's? I'm more of a jukebox person but you never know.

[DougOLis]

The places mentioned so far don't really do live music. Near 30th & University, Bar Pink does though. And not too far from there you can get good beer, cocktails and live music at Eleven.

[Josh]

Eleven is a good option if you're looking for something divey. They have easily the best beer selection of any music venue in SD, IMO.

[jmtreg]

The Office does live music as well, and its right about a block up from Bar Pink. The bars in the area of 30th and University are, to the best of my knowledge, as follows:

Bar Pink - live music, hipsterish
The Office - live music, also hipsterish
Toronado - beer bar
Tru North - Sports Bar
Red Wing - Gay bar, karaoke
U-31 - live music, clubby

That's all I got. If I were ten years younger (*sigh*) I'd probably have a better list for you.

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U-31
3112 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

[Ewilensky]

URBN has a decent beer selection, interesting cocktail menu and fairy good pizza, Sadly, no vowels...

[Josh]

Other than the U?

[honkman]

Post of the day

[BobMack]

Thanks for the new list everyone. We are in our mid 30's so nothing too clubby. If it were just me I'd probably hit Hamiltons or Toronado but we may be with some Hipster types.

[Josh]

Hipsters <3 Hamiltons.

Hipsters also <3 Blind Lady. Blind Lady often looks like a mustache/skinny jeans convention.

[BobMack]

Now I'm scared!

I'm not very hipster but I love a good beer selection. I don't know a few of the other people so I'll have to do a mustache/jeans check before finalizing plans.

I'm thinking blind lady looked good for the beer and food selections but the wait times I've been reading about haven't been to appetizing. Any truth in the long waits for a table?

[Josh]

It depends on the day and time. It can be unpredictable. Generally speaking, early in the week shouldn't be too bad. Friday/Saturday nights are probably busiest I've seen.

[Katherine H]

You might also consider the Park Blvd/University Heights area. I'm thinking dinner at Pizzeria Bruno Napoletano, followed by beers at Small Bar (which would also fall into the bar with pretty good food category). Pizzeria Bruno offers excellent Naples-style pizza and a small, but good, beer list.

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Pizzeria Bruno Napoletano
4203 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92103

[cstr]

Lot's of good places in North Park, Ritual Tavern, in your price range, has good beer choices and food, Hamiltons, Linkery, not in your price range, Urban Solace as well.

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Linkery
3794 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104

Urban Solace Restaurant
3823 30th Street, San Diego, CA 92104

Ritual Tavern
4095 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104

[BobMack]

Thanks for the help. Now I've got a good starting point for some more research.

Are these restaraunts in the $10-15 food range or the $15?

Are there any bars in the 30th st area (since that seems to be the best area) that have really good food?

[jmtreg]

Generally, yes. As Honkman noted, the Linkery lowered its prices so everything is in the $10-15 range. Toronado is a pretty good bet for a bar that serves food.

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Linkery
3794 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104

[Josh]

If you're looking for closer to $10-15 for food, you might want to consider eating at either Hamiltons or Toronado. They're both closer to that price range, with burgers/sandwiches, and other pub food.

[jmtreg]

Probably, your best bet - given that you like beer, are looking for something casual, etc. - is San Diego's North Park area - specifically 30th. The Linkery is somewhat controversial on this site - the food can be a bit pricey and inconsistent (from either great to okay) - but would work for something casual with a fair number of bars nearby. Urban Solace, which is right across the street, works as well. The Ritual, somewhat up the street, is also pretty good. Further south on 30th, there's the Smoking Goat, which serves duck fat fries, and Lefty's, which is a Chicago-style pizzeria.

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Linkery
3794 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104

Urban Solace Restaurant
3823 30th Street, San Diego, CA 92104

[honkman]

The Linkery has lowered its prices significantly and there is no dish above $20 anymore.

[Josh]

30th St. area is your best bet. Within a short drive you have Hamiltons Tavern, Toronado, and Blind Lady Alehouse. I'd start at Hamiltons, and have dinner next door at Alchemy. Alternately you could start at Blind Lady and have pizza there, then work your way south to Hamiltons.

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Hamiltons Tavern
1521 30th St, San Diego, CA 92102

[jmtreg]

BLAH isn't on 30th, but as its own entity, it would work. Rosie O'Grady's and the Ould Sod are right there as well.

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Ould Sod
3373 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116