As mentioned in a previous post, last week was San Diego Restaurant Week. I ventured out with Janice to a place that I had been wanting to try out for a while: The Analog Bar. Here is yet another example of the kind of establishments that Janice and I seem to gravitate to: good music, good drinks, and musical paraphernalia attached to the walls. If you recall, on our recent trip to London trip we paid a visit to a fantastic little bar called Callooh Callay where the walls of the restroom were covered with cassette tapes (posts here and here). Not only are the walls covered with cassette tapes, but also with album covers as well. I tried to look for a Depeche Mode cover, but I really only saw Human League. I’ll have to go back to see what other 80’s groups I can find among the dozens.
If you are unfamiliar with Restaurant Week, I have a few posts about the week-long event (here and here). It’s definitely something that my friends and I enjoy and we try to go somewhere different each time. I missed Restaurant Week earlier this year, so it was Regi’s turn to miss this one. The three of us try to get together as time and schedules permit, but sometimes one of us misses out. Since we already scheduled the date and made the reservations, Janice and I decided to keep the date, and I’m really glad we did!
From the prix fixe menu (which was $30), we always pick different things in order to be able to sample a variety of what is offered. In addition, we chose to do the Cocktail Pairings for an additional $12 because this meant that we each got a specialty drink that was made for each item on the menu. The cocktails that were offered already would have cost a total of $36, so we thought it was a fantastic deal. I also think we were trying to relive our trip to London and the fantastic drinks we had while we were out there.
Grapefruit Champagne Spritzer
“Bahn Mi” Street Tacos and Lobster Corn Dogs with tarragon dip
I started off with the Lobster Corn Dogs that came with a tarragon dip and Janice had the BBQ Pork “Bahn Mi” Street Tacos, which she had before. Both dishes were very tasty and I thought the tarragon dip was a wonderful compliment to the lobster (lobster cakes surrounded by corn dog batter). This was accompanied by a Grapefruit Champagne Spritzer, which was light and very delicious. I thought it went well with the appetizers because it sparkled and wasn’t too heavy. Already, the cocktails did not disappoint, so I looked forward to the other pairings.
Grilled Orange-Sesame Glazed Salmon
Next was our main dishes: I had the Grilled Orange-Sesame Glazed Salmon and Janice had the Braised Sterling Silver Short Ribs (not pictured). Each were good versions of our favorite dishes. They were paired with the Hendricks Experience cocktails which also was surprisingly refreshing. For me, it went well with my salmon and didn’t overpower my meal.
From the Cocktail Pairings (drinks appear in respective order to the menu)
My favorite part of the meal was the dessert (of course). I had the Butterscotch Pudding and Janice had the Peanut Butter Cup Cake, which came with a glass of milk. The Butterscotch Pudding was a brownie topped with pudding, salted caramel and whipped cream, served in a small mason jar. This was paired with the Analog Organic Chai Mule, which was almost like what a liquid gingerbread cookie would taste like. The spice of the ginger went very well with the sweetness of the dessert. It was a wonderful way to end a delightful meal.
Overall, this was a wonderful food and drink experience, and I know I would definitely go back again to take my husband on a night out. The space resembles a sleek music recording studio, and I’ve read that it’s a great place to enjoy listening to music and dancing because of the DJ set up. I would also like to return with my entire family to enjoy their brunch, because I know my son would love looking at all of the album covers and cassette tapes that adorn their walls. Not only does Analog Bar have good food and great drinks, but a cool and hip atmosphere as well and appeals to the music enthusiast in me. Cheers!
