The San Diego area thread

[arren]

wait wat

jfc

I mean, it could be worse. They could have called it

My Yard Live: An Adult Have Drink Eat Food Gathering Establishment Ground of Play

 

[Abigigail]

jfc

My Yard Live: An Adult Have Drink Eat Food Gathering Establishment Ground of Play

You forgot an ampersand.

 

[rcubed1]

wait wat

 

[pugsandsuds]

Reminder that Rip Current's selling single barrel version of Down the Line

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rip-cu...barleywine-bottle-release-tickets-56506378098

 

[Tyrsis]

Reminder that Rip Current's selling single barrel version of Down the Line

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rip-cu...barleywine-bottle-release-tickets-56506378098

**** HOW DID I MISS THIS **** ****

 

[Xul1]

Reminder that Rip Current's selling single barrel version of Down the Line

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rip-cu...barleywine-bottle-release-tickets-56506378098

Totally forgot about it but got incredibly lucky and snagged the last two NP bottles that popped out of someone's cart a few minutes ago. Can't wait to try it.

 

[JonathanAmes]

Super bummed to miss as well. Had the BBA Down the Line on Sunday and it was marvelous. Thanks jan63!

 

[arren]

You forgot an ampersand.

Good call. Also realized I forgot "Est. MMXIX" at the end.

Reminder that Rip Current's selling single barrel version of Down the Line

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rip-cu...barleywine-bottle-release-tickets-56506378098

My heart almost stopped when I logged on at 12:01PM and it gave me an error while I was trying to put bottles in my cart. Thankfully it wasn't sold out.

I think San Marcos still has bottles of "regular" BA Down the Line too - hopefully they're saving some to sell on release so I can pick more up.

 

[reidjoshua1]

Good call. Also realized I forgot "Est. MMXIX" at the end.


My heart almost stopped when I logged on at 12:01PM and it gave me an error while I was trying to put bottles in my cart. Thankfully it wasn't sold out.

I think San Marcos still has bottles of "regular" BA Down the Line too - hopefully they're saving some to sell on release so I can pick more up.

They need to do a better job at announcing these things. The only time I know that there's a sale is from this group and it was 3am here when pugsandsuds posted

 

[rcubed1]

They need to do a better job at announcing these things. The only time I know that there's a sale is from this group and it was 3am here when pugsandsuds posted

They've been promoting it on Instagram and I imagine Facebook and Twitter as well.

 

[arren]

The Small Bar saga continues?

Dear Friends,

I stepped away from my business renovations and social media last week to grieve for and bury my father with family. I have not read any articles or opinions posted on social media in regards to the decisions made either by myself or my new business partners at Small Bar. Most of you who know me, know that I have a difficult time keeping my highly opinionated mouth shut in general and in regards to most topics. I’m incredibly disappointed and gutted, from what friends and business colleagues are relaying to me, to hear that my integrity and personal business is being judged so harshly in the public eye. My online absence is indefinite at this time – I can recite the sticks & stones limerick until I’m blue in the face, but the reality is that words truly do hurt. The situation at hand is MY business – in every sense of the word, yet I feel the need to explain myself and I think some of you deserve to understand what’s happening behind the curtain.

Small Bar came to be almost 10 years ago. It was flipped from a sushi bar to the business you’ve all known in 30 days with very little cash. No investors. No bank loans. Whatever cash was accessible to my husband, myself, and our very good friend, Dennis Borlek. We put the proverbial blood, sweat and tears into this business. Five years later, my husband and I parted ways. We owned 4 businesses at the time and I requested and retained ownership of my baby, Small Bar. The past five years of business in San Diego have been very challenging. Not only for me, but for many of my friends who own bars, restaurants, and breweries. The average consumer sees your business packed on a Friday or Saturday night and assumes you’re “killing it” - when the reality is, you’re killing yourself just to keep the doors open. I have overcome many challenges over the years – some were business related, like having my patio shut down to due a permitting issue I inherited from previous tenants of my building; some were personal and dark. I navigated all of those challenges, and tried to work harder. Better food, amazing beer dinners, brought awareness and raised money for handfuls of charities, and continued to curate one of the best taplists in town. I made a lot of mistakes, and I’ve owned up to them all. I have yet to find a perfect person on this earth.

The simple fact is, I was on the verge of closing Small Bar. My debts are high and the revenue just wasn’t stretching far enough to keep things afloat, let alone cover the cost to repair my leaky roof, holes in my restaurant floor, or equipment breaking down. I met with many people who wanted to buy my business, partner with me, or invest. I weighed all my options very carefully for many months and ultimately made a decision to bring the Trust Restaurant Group on board to help get Small Bar back on track and survive. They own and operate some of the most successful restaurants in town and I was confident in their skill and experience. They are working with me side by side to provide structure to the existing operation and continue the business plan I embarked on 10 years ago, providing the same quality of food, beverage and hospitality to Small Bar.

Part of my partnership with Trust Restaurant Group included the introduction of Frankie McGrath as a new GM for Small Bar. His resume and success in San Diego speaks for itself, and he is arguably one of the best bartenders in town. I am happy to have him on board. This is a great opportunity for Frankie to share his passion for spirits and great cocktails, and will only be a compliment to our existing beer program which will remain in tact.

In regards to staffing changes, it pains me to admit that I had to step away from the decisions that needed to be made. A comprehensive and mandatory training was scheduled for bartenders, and it was disclosed several times that staff would need to pass this training to remain on the schedule. It is never easy to let someone go, even more so when they are people who have supported you and become more like family than friends or employees. The timing of these layoffs were while I was out of town and with family, and they were layoffs that broke my heart. Unfortunately, hard decisions have to be made in business. I am proud to say these wonderful people are all smart, hard working, and employable – they all have my full recommendation for the next chapter in their lives.

When we reopen Small Bar in just a few days, you will see new faces working alongside veteran Small Bar employees, as I am happy to say almost 50% of my staff is still here. We are so excited for Small Bar 2.0, and I hope to see you soon to raise a glass to second chances and be a part of our exciting future. To quote Troy Johnson’s recent article in San Diego Magazine, “Small Bar lives.”

Cheers,

k

 

[rcubed1]

I don't know any of the staff so that's not any kind of deal breaker for me liking the place or not. Nothing left to do but check out Small Bar 2.0 and see if I still like it.

 

[reidjoshua1]

They've been promoting it on Instagram and I imagine Facebook and Twitter as well.

Don't use ig and nothing in rcnp fb page. Their Main page does have it so I'll have to follow that now. Thx

 

[chemman141]

Don't use ig and nothing in rcnp fb page. Their Main page does have it so I'll have to follow that now. Thx

They posted it on 2/14. Seems they don't really use the facebook page much.

 

[Tyrsis]

The Small Bar saga continues?

I'll certainly give it a try. Hoping it's good.

 

[sdreaper]

I'll certainly give it a try. Hoping it's good.

I went there once for a steak night and really liked the dark and dingy aspect of it, so my opinion barely matters at all. I don't see the need for another craft cocktail bar...san diego has plenty as it is. I recently had dinner at Fort Oak (A trust location)....I...ummm....yeah. It was decent, but I don't see myself returning. Nothing about it was new or interesting enough to make me want to spend my monies there. Which kinda goes with the whole "don't see a need for another..blah blah blah" point above.

I won't be returning to small bar because of the places Trust has and the fact that I anticipate it being all the same ******* thing but with a different name on the outside of the building. O'Brien's is closer to me...I prefer that.

 

[Tyrsis]

I went there once for a steak night and really liked the dark and dingy aspect of it, so my opinion barely matters at all. I don't see the need for another craft cocktail bar...san diego has plenty as it is. I recently had dinner at Fort Oak (A trust location)....I...ummm....yeah. It was decent, but I don't see myself returning. Nothing about it was new or interesting enough to make me want to spend my monies there. Which kinda goes with the whole "don't see a need for another..blah blah blah" point above.

I won't be returning to small bar because of the places Trust has and the fact that I anticipate it being all the same ******* thing but with a different name on the outside of the building. O'Brien's is closer to me...I prefer that.

Well, the thing is: Trust is a fantastic restaurant. Hundred Proof is damn good as well. But why the **** would you want three of these places all on Park Blvd within a ******* mile of each other is beyond me.

 

[arren]

Well, the thing is: Trust is a fantastic restaurant. Hundred Proof is damn good as well. But why the **** would you want three of these places all on Park Blvd within a ******* mile of each other is beyond me.

I don't know how anyone's going to distinguish Msall Bar from Madison or Park & Rec, all of which are next to each other.

 

[Xul1]

I don't see the need for another craft cocktail bar...san diego has plenty as it is.

That could apply to everything from breweries to beer bars to taquerias to burger joints. I have my reservations about Small Bar 2.0 (although I also had mixed feelings about how Small Bar 1.0 evolved over the years), but that logic doesn't really work at this point. If they do something to set themselves apart, I'd be fine with it, the problem is that it seems like they're more or less phoning it in and retooling Small Bar to be a lazy hybrid of other concepts.

 

[Tyrsis]

I don't know how anyone's going to distinguish Msall Bar from Madison or Park & Rec, all of which are next to each other.

Which is why I said I'd give it a try. Need to see it in action. Also, not like Madison or Park & Rec are worth going to...

 

[arren]

That could apply to everything from breweries to beer bars to taquerias to burger joints. I have my reservations about Small Bar 2.0 (although I also had mixed feelings about how Small Bar 1.0 evolved over the years), but that logic doesn't really work at this point. If they do something to set themselves apart, I'd be fine with it, the problem is that it seems like they're more or less phoning it in and retooling Small Bar to be a lazy hybrid of other concepts.

Well I think there's a unique problem with craft cocktail bars in San Diego, where nearly every "notable" bar has roots in CH and Polite Provisions - and it's usually a direct connection too rather than "inspiration." The result is every one of them does end up feeling samey and, well, basic.

Not all craft breweries are Modern Times, not all beer bars are Tiger!Tiger!, and not all burger joints are The Friendly. You can't really say the same about craft cocktail bars; if there's no overt theme, you largely know exactly what you're getting at a new one - especially one that has a CH alum at the helm.

 

[arren]

Which is why I said I'd give it a try. Need to see it in action. Also, not like Madison or Park & Rec are worth going to...

Honestly if they keep the food top notch I'll definitely go there again. That's more or less what kept me coming back.

 

[Xul1]

Well I think there's a unique problem with craft cocktail bars in San Diego, where nearly every "notable" bar has roots in CH and Polite Provisions - and it's usually a direct connection too rather than "inspiration." The result is every one of them does end up feeling samey and, well, basic.

Not all craft breweries are Modern Times, not all beer bars are Tiger!Tiger!, and not all burger joints are The Friendly. You can't really say the same about craft cocktail bars; if there's no overt theme, you largely know exactly what you're getting at a new one - especially one that has a CH alum at the helm.

That's a good point, especially in the area roughly bounded by the 8 to the North, 15 to the East, and 94 to the South. It seems like there are some cool things popping up in other areas like Realm of the 52 Remedies and Jeune et Jolie, but Central San Diego (for lack of a better term) is getting pretty monolithic in terms of craft cocktails.

I guess Downtown probably has a few options that aren't directly connected to these groups but **** going downtown.

 

[reidjoshua1]

Don't use ig and nothing in rcnp fb page. Their Main page does have it so I'll have to follow that now. Thx

Scratch that. Their Main fb page has a 2/15 post saying stay tuned for release information and never posted anything further

 

[Tyrsis]

Well I think there's a unique problem with craft cocktail bars in San Diego, where nearly every "notable" bar has roots in CH and Polite Provisions - and it's usually a direct connection too rather than "inspiration." The result is every one of them does end up feeling samey and, well, basic.

Not all craft breweries are Modern Times, not all beer bars are Tiger!Tiger!, and not all burger joints are The Friendly. You can't really say the same about craft cocktail bars; if there's no overt theme, you largely know exactly what you're getting at a new one - especially one that has a CH alum at the helm.

This is why I love Sycamore Den. Also, El Dorado is CH, but doesnt feel CH at all.

 

[arren]

This is why I love Sycamore Den. Also, El Dorado is CH, but doesnt feel CH at all.

I'm so close to Sycamore Den, I feel ashamed that I don't go as often as I should.

 

[Sebowski1]

They need to do a better job at announcing these things. The only time I know that there's a sale is from this group and it was 3am here when pugsandsuds posted

So something sold out so fast that they need to do a better job promoting it? What am I missing?

 

[Sebowski1]

This is why I love Sycamore Den. Also, El Dorado is CH, but doesnt feel CH at all.

Not trying to call you out, but didn't it take you 10 years to even go to El Dorado? Point is, sometimes (always) it takes time and commitmemt and money to stick to something that might finally pay the bills or catch a wave. This is a brutal industry.

 

[Tyrsis]

Not trying to call you out, but didn't it take you 10 years to even go to El Dorado? Point is, sometimes (always) it takes time and commitmemt and money to stick to something that might finally pay the bills or catch a wave. This is a brutal industry.

True! Downtown sucks.

 

[rcubed1]

We knew it was coming but no more BYOB at Grand Ole BBQ: https://sandiego.eater.com/2019/2/26/18241603/north-park-barbecue-grand-ole-bbq-y-asado-closed