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Analog Bar
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Nightlife Bars Lounges Canadian (New), Lounges
801 5th Ave(between F St & E St)
San Diego, CA 92101
Neighbourhood: Gaslamp
(619) 233-1183
- Hours:
Tue-Wed 5 pm - 12 am
Thu-Sat 5 pm - 2 am
Sun 11 am - 12 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
421 reviews for Analog Bar
Review Highlights
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"The lobster corn dogs were freakin' awesome." In 27 reviews -
"This is grown folk grilled cheese." In 56 reviews -
"I had the chilaquiles totchos and they were amazing." In 33 reviews
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421 reviews in English
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Review from Anh V.
4/30/2012
i can't say much for table service since i get everything from the bar.
the bartender gets points for remembering me - i felt like norm from cheers.
very reseasonable priced drinks with great pours. who can ask for more?
as for the munchies, i have sampled the niblets at a party they had and from the plates of my friends that night. The lobster corn dogs are more like lobster bites. busers were very quick to want to take the fries i inherited from chun p. but i held on tight.
overall, it is a cool concept with tasty and small bites. 3 stars with 1 extra for the bartender. -
Review from Allen C.
San Diego, CA
5/15/2012
Came here for the first time with my roommate... I bought us drinks (AMFs or "Blue Long Island Iced Tea"). I have had these before, at DD which were cheaper and not as strong-- I suppose I prefer that as I am a lightweight. I am not sure if it is simply their price or if it was a Friday night, but both drinks turned out to be $30.17 (about $15 a piece). A bit pricey, but I guess you are paying for the experience as well.
I used my American Express (AMEX) card to pay for our drinks-- did not leave a tip because it was pretty expensive for me and the bartender did not really do anything out of the ordinary for us. I slashed out the tip section and wrote $30.17 as the total and signed.
[we, especially me, later had a good night; I will just say I have my first drunk story]
The next day or the day after, I checked by posted transactions on my AMEX card... and only to find out that they added an extra $10.00 for tip which I DID NOT authorize. About 90% of the time, I fill out the merchant copy then my copy with the exact information. I was peeved, so I disputed the charge. While Analog gets one star, AMEX gets five from me. AMEX credited me the $10.00 in a matter of a day-- no complaints there. Thank you AMEX. :]
I am sure you know where I am heading with the remainder of my review? Let me type it out anyway: I will not be coming here again, especially after what can be considered fraudulent. I e-mailed the place and got no response after three or so days. I assume it incorrectly entered on their part, but it was still surprising to see this error. For those that love this place, I hope they continue to greatly serve you, but for me, I am callin' it quits.
Enjoy, but responsibly drink! -
Review from David G.
Many questions buzzed through my head during my most recent visit to Analog Bar, which is a nightspot that's mostly hype and no substance. In fact, the questions kept on comin' even as I was leaving......
---------
Why do I go downtown again?
Why do I punish myself?
What does the Gaslamp ever have to offer me?
Why do I think that funky retro decor will ever translate into decent service?
Why does it take 20+ minutes of standing at the counter to get a bartender's attention?
Why do I visit bars that charge $10 for a well gin-and-soda and then proceed to serve me... just soda?
Why do the lobster corn dogs taste burnt and leathery?
Why has every visit to Analog Bar been more depressing and less fun that the last?
Why don't I go somewhere that I actually enjoy visiting?
(Why do bad cocktails cause me to have an existential crisis?)
---------
I don't know the answers to these questions, but I suspect that they won't be found at the bottom of a glass in a generic tourist-trap bar on the corner of 5th & F St. -
Review from Chun P.
4/27/2012 2 Check-ins Here
"49% Gay / 51% Cheapass"...people ask, what do I mean by that? Well...
49% Gay:
Some men age handsomely...my favorites are George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp...so the first thing I noticed when I got to the bar was the bartender who looked like Johnny Depp, minus 20 years(he's almost 50)...
"Wow, not only is that guy good looking, but he looks like Johnny Depp...", Chun P. says to Joanne A.
"Hehe, I know him," pipes in Random Blonde Puma(see Urban dictionary) in Cheetah dress, "he gets that a lot!"
"I don't normally like tattoos, but he actually makes them look good! He must get a lot of action...," Chun P.
RBPC, "He could! But he's engaged and been with the same girl for over 3 years..."
Chun P. "That's too bad...I know some Girls and Gays whom would love to drink his bathwater..."
Johnny Depp double approaches and warmly asks me, "Hey there! What can I you?"
"Uh...um...just a PBR...", Chun P. Did something just move in my boxers?
51% Cheapass:
I'm a child of the 80's...I made mixed cassette tapes for girls, played 8-Bit Nintendo, actually had to call friends rather than text, and had to "borrow" my dad's Playboy and Penthouse magazines for my Porn fix(thank God for the Internet today!). I'm also one of the few San Diegans whom still has a newspaper subscription, in which I found a coupon for Analog: "Buy 1 Entree, Get 1 Free Appetizer." Just in time for Danny W's farewell...FUC yeah!
$12 Lobster Corndogs: Very tasty! Very small! I think they should be called Lobster Balls instead.
$12 Short Rib Sliders: Pretty good! Pretty small! 2 sliders rather than 3 I'm used to at other establishments.
I was still a teeny bit hungry after eating both, but for a final bill of $12.90 with the coupon, I can't really complain because of the quality. But I think this would be a fine meal for 2 anorexic chicks wanting to save their money for booze.
Speaking of booze...
$10 for a wells Gin N Tonic...I guess this is normal for "downtown", but still sucks! Sorry David G.!
$9 Sapporro tall can...WTF? Luckily the sweet, smart, and lovely new CM Trish S bought this for me...sweet!
$8 PBR 24oz Tallboy...WTF?!?!?!
Conclusion: Come checkout Johnny Depp and other pretty people, enjoy the cool atmosphere and vibe, and be prepared to do drop some cash for booze! -
Review from Jessalyn C.
La Jolla, CA
4/23/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Like any bar, the crowd really depends on the night. I've come here on a Thursday when it was dead, but last Saturday it was pretty poppin'! On the right side it's more of a chill bar, and on the left is just a dance floor with a bar in the back. They seem to play a healthy mix of top 40's and edm.
There's never cover and the decor is pretty neat.
In my opinion it's a great bar to end the night after a couple drinks in everyone's system so that everyone can get their dance on. -
Review from Destany L.
San Diego, CA
4/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
I miss Mister Tiki. Just the fact that this place will never be Tiki again brings it down a few stars. The fact that Mister Tiki was uber cool with awesome bartenders and room to walk around and socialize without feeling lonely, makes me like Analog much less.
This place is often packed; so packed that I would guess they're failing to comply to some fire hazard code. The bartenders are pretty responsive, but there are often too many people waiting for drinks. The dance floor is filled with a lot of young looking people who are really drunk. I once was getting hit on by a chick who I swear looked like she was 19. I met a 5'3 guy from the Philippians who was tearing up the dance floor, but he too looked 15.
This is a default place for my friends and I, I definitely don't recommend it if you can go somewhere else. It's too packed and the crowd is a little young.
On a more positive note, my girlfriend did say they make the best grilled cheese sandwich. -
Review from Candace S.
San Diego, CA
5/17/2012
Went on a Wednesday night/Thursday morning, pretty cool 90's music, drinks are expensive, but overall not that bad, there are far better options in the gaslamp that offer similar things.
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Review from Greg E.
4/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
For a so-called dive bar, their tall can beers and malt liquor are a bit pricey. My 24 fl. oz. of Olde English 800 costs $8. I could go to a liquor store and buy a 40 fl. oz. for only $4.00 max.
I like the place because they play all the older hip hop/R&B jams that I grew up listening to back during the late 80's and 1990's. Although the DJ could have done a better job with his transitioning from one song to another, I enjoyed the music that he played overall.
The layout is a bit too tight because of the tables in the center of the bar. It makes walking a little difficult. I like the empty OE cans attached to their mirror and the cassette tapes on their walls (I haven't seen a cassette tape since 1998) The place looks alright but in my eyes, this is just another average downtown bar.
I haven't tried any of the food, so I can't comment on that. -
Review from Queenie L.
San Diego, CA
5/15/2012
I was excited to go to this place thinking it's one of the awesome bar here in DT but no! it was so crowded and they made you pay for entrance fee on a friday? like really? not only that I think the drinks is too pricey for one long island ice tea was $17 and the music is wack! Also, the waiters told me and my girlfriend that we can't drink outside while we're smoking! never again going back... This is not the bar i like...
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Review from Lana R.
I did not like the service... it is way too casual and inconsiderate... :(
I enjoyed the food and ambiance though.
Before I went there, I thought this place was serving greasy unhealthy American food. But I wasn't entirely right. They had some surprisingly gourmet and healthy items, such as chicken with quinoa, brussels sprouts, etc...
Top that with decent prices, which are explained by indecently small portions, which I don't mind.
I'll be back, but I really hope the service would get better. -
Review from Danny W.
Updated - 4/30/2012 5 Check-ins Here
If at Analog...ask for A-Fresh. He's probably my favorite bartender of all times.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/23/2010
This place earned it's 5th star. Came back for a second go around and everything was top notch.… Read more »
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Review from Michelle H.
San Diego, CA
3/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
First off, I'm absolutely in love with the decor here. Comfy, private booths, great view of a sparkly bar, bright green foliage all over the place (ok, yeah, it's fake), sweet looking chandeliers, bubble ceiling panels.. all awesomeness. Oh, and the playlist they had going wasn't bad either: MGMT, Flux Pavilion, Phoenix, Daft Punk, Justice... from what I recall hearing :p
Second, they're right about the strong drinks. Boyf had the Mr. Rogers which was generously stiff, and I had the Apple Pie which was also good. Being a beer girl myself, my only gripe is that I wish they had some more kick ass beer too.
Onto the foodstuffs. We shared the pita and hummus for our appetizer which was very delicious in a subtle, different kind of way. It's not like they just scooped out some hummus from a jar (well maybe they did but I wouldn't know it). I liked the addition of whole chick peas and pico sprinkled on top.
Moving on, the boyfriend had the analog burger and I had the brie and blue grilled cheese sammich. Let me start off by saying that I was pleasantly surprised by both entrees. I wasn't getting my hopes too high before coming here but my grilled cheese was absolutely delish!! If you've had cambozola cheese, that's precisely what this grilled cheese tasted like. Heck I wouldn't be shocked if it was just cambozola and they decided to make it easier by describing it as brie and blue but whatever because it tasted awesome. The tomato bisque also surprised me. Nothing out of a can here, it was actually very tasty.. a bit salty, but tasty. I think the extra hint of salt offset the delicate pungent flavor of the grilled cheese so it didn't bother me. Definitely one of the better grilled cheeses I've had, and for under $10.. I'm in.
Analog burger, as described to me, was slightly overcooked. He ordered a medium and it looked borderline well but he said it still tasted good. The caramelized onions were really good and the candied peppered bacon was amazeballs. I think the only thing he didn't like so much was the sharp cheddar but it didn't detract. The dish came with plenty of sweet potato fries and a chipotle aioli dipping sauce kinda thing which I tasted and again, was really surprised by. It was still pretty mayo-ish but I feel like there was a kick of jalapeno in it too which was different.
Service was outstanding when we came.. maybe because it just opened (5pm, Saturday) and it wasn't too packed yet, but everyone was really friendly and both our food and drinks came out quickly. Water carafes were left on our table for us, but the server did all of the refilling anyway so we didn't have to juggle the huge jar ourselves and look foolish.
When Analog first opened, I really wanted to try all of the totchos, but even though they're gone, I'm still glad we came after the menu revamp. Quite tasty. :) -
Review from Kim B.
Pomona, CA
4/14/2012
I would come back just for their grilled cheese / tomato bisque pair with the butterscotch pudding for dessert. Holy Hell that pudding is crack (imagine creme brulee mixed with the perfect "end of my caramel frap deliciousness")!
Other things we tried:
1. Sweet potato fries: can't go wrong.
2. Shrimp Tacos: yummy!
3. Lobster corn dogs (I forget?): Good!
Our server was awesome. He was able to put our name on the list of the club next door in case we didn't have anywhere to go that night.
We actually couldn't find the bar we were looking for, we were drunk, and we ended up back here for their night club. It was alright. Kinda small dance floor. -
Review from Lissa -.
Los Angeles, CA
4/5/2012
Cool concept. Great wall art. I didn't see any vintage games but maybe they were moved out of the way to make room for the dance floor.
Eh. -
Review from Julie R.
Iowa City, IA
3/17/2012
I went to analog bar to meet up with a friends friend for a birthday get together. We promptly sat down and ordered some beer on tap and simple mixed drinks. With a relatively empty bar one would expect prompt service, this was not the case. Karaoke was enjoyable only because our group was the only one there and the selection was decent. The main driver for this one star rating was the fact that they charge $9 for a 22 oz PBR. Yes, $9. I laughed when they told me this, assuming it to be a joke, not the case. The price is justified by the fact that the bar is in the gaslamp, and "downtown San Diego is expensive." I think this might be a reason the bar was relatively empty on a very busy thursday night.
In summary, over priced for quality of club/lounge/karaoke bar this establishment is trying to pretend to be. -
Review from MAY J.
San Diego, CA
2/28/2012
This review is for the dining part of Analog:
Then new menu is really good! The service was super good/fast. Really friendly, caring staff, especially our waiter, but can't remember his name anymore. Fail.
The steak was my favorite thing there - good + big + served with the right kind of vegetables.
The caramel brownie desert thing was realllllly good with tons of caramel - my friends said it did not have enough brownie in it - which might be true for most people, but I thought it was perfect - although the brownie bits would have tasted better if they were harder/chewier.
Everything else there was really good too - salads, tacos, potato skins, grilled cheese.
The only thing that was disappointing was the Nutella dessert. It was too healthy-like/too bread like/too mixed flavors like....
Okay maybe i just LOOKED at it and thought that. I don't think I tried it, even though it was mine. haha
I didn't want to eat it when it came because all I secretly wanted was a jar of Nutella and a spoon - what I am trying to say is that maybe they should serve the Nutella as a dipping sauce, instead of ruining it by putting it on bread next to fruit? spread. lol How about hazelnut milk chocolate bars to dip in the Nutella? hahahaa -
Review from Brian K.
San Diego, CA
4/30/2012
I've been waiting to try Analog for awhile now. Finally, i had my chance when catching a show at HOB downtown last week.
Totally cool ambiance, i'd give it a 10. Old Vinyl sleeves on the wall, and sound proofing foam on the walls to set the vibe for music fans. A DJ Duo were spinning hipster music in their hipster outfits while we ate, and it was pretty killer.
Hostess seemed like she didn't want to be there. Its the first time i had to walk up to a hostess and ask if she worked there and could we get a table? but our waiter was super hospitable and made us feel like we were cool enough to be in their establishment.
We weren't starving when we went, but had to try a couple of recommendations. We started with a couple of house Mule's. Their house one has like a chai tea theme which i passed on, and requested the standard Mule with Vodka, ginger beer and whatever else they put in it to make it taste delicious. Its one of the best ones i've had since Starlight's. At first i thought, "This is weak, i can't taste any booze in it". but 1/2 way through, i started feeling buzzed...that's a sign of a well made drink to me.
Our nibble course included the Bahn Mi' tacos which we split. It's tough to split anything with 3 of each, but its also pretty smart because maybe you have to order 2?
I can't think of anything to date that compares to these tacos. Both my girlfriend and me were BLOWN AWAY at how delicious they were. Spicy pork on a tortilla with cilantro, a carrot slice and maybe some cabbage for texture, and to keep it in the traditional bahn mi' style. FREAKIN AMAZING!!!
We also shared the short rib sliders. My girlfriend LOVED them, and i would suggest them. SUPER tender and filling! They have a nutmeggy type spice in it that makes it a little sweet. Some love it (my girlfriend) but i'm partial to savory when it comes to my meat dishes. I liked a lot, but would probably double up on the Bahn mi's next time and try something new.
Bottom Line:
I will be back
bahn mi tacos app=$9
Short rib sliders=$12
Craft cocktails x2=$20
$45 after tax and tip and we were full/buzzed and well taken care of in a great ambiance. -
Review from Nida K.
My girlfriends and I were planning a Girl's Night Out in honor of Yelp Drinks Week and decided the day of that we wanted to do dinner and drinks at Analog. I noticed that on Friday, they didn't open until 4pm so I wasn't sure if I would be able to even get a reservation. I called at 11AM and left them a message that I wanted a reservation for that night, but by 5PM I still didn't hear back so I decided to call them again. The man on the phone had told me that there were no available reservations for the time I wanted so I was bummed, but I figured we'll just try to wing it and see what we get. About 10 minutes later, a lady called me back saying she got my message and was able to accommodate our party, YAY!
Once we arrived and got seated, we got straight to business. I ordered off the Yelp Drinks menu and got the Moscow Mule ($11 regular priced, but only $5.50 during Drinks Week!). My other friends ordered the Lemon Drop and Dark & Stormy. It was very first Mule ever, and I actually really liked it. It had a gingery taste to it and was strong enough that I was feeling buzzed before I even finished my first one. We ordered a few appetizers for the table: Sweet Potato Fries, Grilled Shrimp Tacos, & Lobster Corn Dogs. Let me just say that everything was really good, but those Lobster Corn Dogs were exceptionally delicious. The lobster tasted fresh and that batter and sauce just all went together well. I wish they came with more than 3 skewers though.
Their slogan is right on, "Good Food, Strong Drinks." It's a great place to start off any night in Gaslamp! Singing karaoke here is next on my list...Listed in: When in Gaslamp (SD)....
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/31/2012
I threw a birthday party for my BF and had such a great time! He thought we were just having dinner… Read more »
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Review from Jared D.
San Diego, CA
5/6/2012
I recently moved here about six months ago. I'm a young professional, however still like to have a good time away from the "snooty sophisticated stand around and look at each other bars." I won't use names. So with that being said, I left the "stuffy," place and popped into Analog. You walk in quickly greeted with retro decor, smooth and sexy lines, there's a glass partition as you walk further into their rendition of a club. Good vibe, sexy people who are just there to have a good time. I had a blast. The muzic in this club hit's hard too! Deep house, mixed with dub-step and hot tracks currently on the scene, everyone dancing to the beat and enjoying life. No judging whatsoever and the girls were cool too, DJ was friendly, which is always a plus! I would definitely refer Analog, tell a friend about it, go back again and start meeting the employees and bartenders.
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Review from Alyssa P.
4/19/2012 3 photos
Any place that sells a 6-pack of tall cans in an old school coleman cooler is good in my book! Love the decor and the place can accommodate huge parties with no problem. The food is alright, but more nostalgic of childhood than anything.
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Review from Tiffany P.
San Diego, CA
2/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
******HAPPY HOUR REVIEW******
Hendrick's Experience.
American Pie.
Mr. Rogers.
These cocktails were outstanding. I like to taste my booze (feel the burn!), and these babies delivered while still maintaining sophistication and decorum. I was very pleased.
Their brussels sprouts are AMAZING as well. Roasted with parmesan and pancetta. Mmmmm. We ate 4 plates.
Loaded potato skins made marvelous with the addition of caramelized onions.
My memory has been affected by the number of cocktails I consumed, but I think the happy hour specials include:
$4 drafts
$5 red and white house wine
$5.50 specialty cocktails (about 8 items on this list, including the ones I mentioned)
1/2 off certain apps (brussels sprouts, loaded potato skins, sweet potato fries, hummus/pita, and bacon-wrapped dates)
Friendly service. Helpful because I'm super indecisive when choosing a drink. Me gusta.Listed in: The best noms in SD!, My fave happy hours
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Review from Tinie T.
2/28/2012
YES!!! Anytime I want to dance my buttocks off downtown, I know that I can come here and do just that. I know there is consistently music that I'll like. Love the DJs here! Always fun, always energetic, always perfect to get you dancing.
Big dance floor, friendly crowd... people seem to be really approachable and open to socializing here... I hang out with new people here more than I do at any other bar or club in San Diego. And the drinks are made STRONG! Yum.
Oh yes, and NO COVER!!! -
Review from Mel B.
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Happy Hour on Wednesday
Tater Tots? I'll take those over fries any day. Even the plain ones.
Sliders: Tasty and for $2 a pop, not bad. We had the pulled pork since we ordered the portabello mushroom, but they had run out. The pork was a smart alternative, and didn't disappoint. The jalapeno slaw on top was the kicker. Usually, these bad boys are 3 for $12. A little steep at that price.
Drinks: Their motto is Good Food Strong Drinks. Food, good. Drinks, not strong. I had 4 cocktails and no buzz. I'd hardly call that strong. Luckily it was HH and I paid half price, otherwise, it would be a complete rip off.
Decor: This place was interesting to say the least. From the empty OE tall boys opposite the vinyl covers in the main room, to the cassettes on the hallway walls (I secretly wanted to steal one to play in my old ass Corolla) on the way to the bathrooms, and ending with the menus served in Pee Chee folders (I had to explain what those were to my younger party goers). I was altogether impressed.
DJ: Old school 80s and 90s hits with video mixing. I could sit there and stare at the screen all night. The music struck a cord since it was pretty much what I grew up and partied to, and besides YouTube, I haven't seen videos to match those songs in years.
I know I'm getting old because as soon as the place filled up, I was ready to leave. The music and company I kept made sure I didn't. Too bad I couldn't get a buzz. -
Review from Thelma N.
Los Angeles, CA
2/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is good to come on a Thursday night when there's no cover. I've had to pay $20 for cover on a Friday before.
You can dine in -- table or booth -- in the first room you walk into. Drinks are pricey and so are the menu items. The lobster corn dogs were good but for 3 small pieces at $12, I will pass next time; they weren't worth that. Music in the first room is dance, house.
The next room over on a weekend was way too packed. There was a DJ spinning nothing but house music. I didn't enjoy it much because it was so redundant and obnoxious. If you don't have a table (both rooms are quite small), then you're limited to a small amount of space and drink spillage.
The decor is cute, attire is trendy although I noticed plenty of hipsters, staff is pleasant. I would have given Analog 2 stars for that Friday I came, had it not been for the Thursday I came by and realized it's an OK place for lounging and hanging out if you need to catch up with friends or just relax. -
Review from Jackie S.
West Covina, CA
2/21/2012
This was Club# 3 of San Diego's Club Crawl. I was here on Saturday night.
Overall, I had a good time here.
The music was good, dance floor was packed, and the drinks are definitely strong. The bartender was pretty attentive. My new friend and I didn't wait too long for a drink.
I'm not jumping up and down to come back here, but I wouldn't mind. -
Review from Lady B.
San Diego, CA
1/30/2012
Me: "What's your happy hour?"
Waitress: "$2.22 PBR's."
Me: "Oh, ok. No thank you, but maybe something else."
Waitress: "What, PBR isn't good enough for you?" -
Review from Sasha F.
Los Angeles, CA
2/7/2012
This place is rad. (but only if you have money to throw around and you're kind of prissy but still like to act cool)
Sweet potato fries were excellent. The regular fries were excellent. I'm clearly a connoisseur. Their mixed drinks packed a serious punch and that's about all I want out of a drink served in a tiki head.
Service was a touch slow, but they realized it and liquored us up for it... which I appreciate. If you want to impress someone while looking like you didn't put more than ten seconds of effort into the idea, take them here. They'll never know you actually spent 3 hours getting dressed to look like you rolled out of bed. It's our secret c: -
Review from Miss Vanessa T.
Chula Vista, CA
1/21/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Analog Bar has pretty expensively priced drinks (I don't know about their beer/tall cans) for a place you'd think would have more moderately priced drinks.
Either way, the retro concept and look of the bar is cool. However, it's just the look. It doesn't really deliver upon that idea to really set it apart from any other downtown restaurant/weekend night hang out. -
Review from Lucy R.
San Diego, CA
3/24/2012
Ice cold service, money-grubbing vibe. One time we came in for dinner. We were sat and waited and waited. And waited and waited and waited. The waiter finally showed up, wearing a Nirvana shirt, and we said nevermind! There are SO many places to choose from downtown. This place is barf-class. There's not a thing you can get here that's not better somewhere within four blocks.
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Review from Mia L.
2/1/2012
1.1.12 what's not to like? The old English bottles were set as a decor at the bar it's pretty clever. The old record covers on the wall make it a great conversation starter. Don't forget about the music tape designed along the walls near the restroom, it looks amazing. Overall the decor gave the place a nice feel to relax.
On to the food! Amazing , I have never heard of tatchos before and let's just say it was Tasty. It's Tator Tot with nacho cheese and we pick the one with pull pork. Yummy!
Tried all their minis which are like sliders and it was amazing! I can't believe I actually really liked their cheeseburger. Its just cheeseburger but it was amazing. The pull pork slider was also on my top list. What surprised me the most was their bacon wrapped meatloaf. Oh My! you are going to salivate.
I had a good ole time enjoying the music, decor and even the food. Came on a slow night so it was nice and relaxing with 3 groups. -
Review from Danielle B.
San Diego, CA
3/25/2012
I walked in on a Sunday afternoon and sat down at a table in front of the bar. The place was mostly empty with the exception of a few people at the bar and a table of 3 that sat down right before us. My friends and I sat at the table for more than 10 min without being greeted by anyone. A server walked to the table beside us and greeted them but completely ignored us. The bus boy walked by and still no one said a word. After being passed by several times my group and I got up a left. I'll never go back there.
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Review from Rachel T.
1/24/2012
Analog is a really cool spot in downtown San Diego. I really enjoy the specialty drinks that they have here! I've come here for food during the happy hours on Sundays before, and the happy hour prices are FANTASTIC! I really enjoy their tater tots, they load them with lots of things like bacon or chili cheese style, etc.
I've also been here at night with friends, and the line can get a little long, although most places on the weekends in gaslamp do have long lines. I don't remember if there is a cover or not though... The drinks are typically priced for gaslamp (translation=expensive) but the music and crowd is always fun! -
Review from Temenah C.
Irvine, CA
1/3/2012
I'm really shocked to see this place has 3.5 stars. I mean, I really really wanted to love this place and come on Yelp and write a glowing review. *sigh* The music was dope and the decor was something totally refreshing that I don't think any other place has.
See what had happened was we walked in on New Years Day for dinner and drinks. There was no hostess/host on duty so we sat ourselves.We sat and sat and sat for about 30 minutes and no one ever came over. Not to say hi, not to ask if we needed menus, not for nothin.
Here's the kicker: there was a girl sitting next to us and the way she described the bathrooms made me want to hurl, walk out, and hurl again. She said they were absolutely horrendous. Overflowing trash, lady issues (if ya know what I mean) hanging out of the trash, and a smell that shouldn't happen in a place that serves food. After hearing that, we got up and walked out. It's one thing to have bad service, it's a whole 'nother story to get the Salmonella or E.Coli.
Like I said, we wanted to love this place..... -
Review from Eve L.
San Diego, CA
2/20/2012
Expensive drinks but comes with downtown territory and the food was ok.
One thing you must order though is the chili cheese tater tots. The service was good, everyone was friendly and the decor is worth looking at.
On the other side of the seating area is a karaoke lounge which looks cool but didn't venture to that side.
Good not great. -
Review from Kate P.
San Diego, CA
2/19/2012
We came on a Thursday night at 6:30 (not a cool time so it was a good place to eat, and we could still hear each other) - usually I avoid downtown food because it is overpriced and underwhelming, but this place was sooo much better! We will come down for the food again. We had some apps - beet & bacon-candy salad (awesome, and I usually don't love beets), the lobster corndogs (awesome, super tender and stuffed full of lobster), the banh mi pork tacos (great), and a burger (amazing carmelized onions). Prices seemed reasonable.
Our waitress was great. Very responsive, friendly and outgoing. The decor was a kick (macarame hanging plants and old tapes).
Only complaint, no wine list... it was under construction (odd).
Give it a try for the food. -
Review from Samurai J.
El Cajon, CA
3/10/2012
So based on an introduction to the Chef's talents at a "Cook Off," we had to check out what the actual restaurant had to offer. Well, I am disappointed to say that we didn't get past the starters.
Upon ordering a Captain and Diet, I was told that they only had Sailor Jerry. A decent substitute, however not what I was looking for. Defaulting to my 'go to drink' I asked for a Bacardi and Diet. I was surprised to discover that Bacardi is not an option either. As a matter of fact, the only Rum available resembles some swill that could be found on the bottom shelf at Vons. We are off to a bad start. No Bacardi? This is bartending 101.
On the lighter side of the bar, despite the myriad choices of Whiskey, Whisky, Bourbon, Tequila, and Vodka, I succumbed to a boring Vodka Tonic. My gal ventured towards the Analog Organic Chai Mule. It was the highlight of a rather dismal start to our culinary evening.
Starters anyone? The 'little foodie' in me whispered "If they can't get the bar right, proceed with caution about the meal." We decided to keep it simple and just ask for the Brussels Sprouts and Hummus & Pita.
The Hummus and Pita was no different than what you can get at Trader Joe's with a few chick peas set up on top. So I won't waste your reading time by contin . . . . .
The Brussels Sprouts were a little over done. Compensating for the complete lack of taste, pancetta was added. A drizzle of a balsamic reduction made a feeble attempt in assistance. I hope the Chef double's as a dentist because I think I chipped a tooth chewing down on the leather like overdone bacon bit.
I have dined at numerous locations, and traditionally the starters out perform the main. When the starters come out and they are no more exciting than a meal from the frozen food section, it saddens me to the point where I can't continue to the main.
Date Night Factor: As long as you are not dating a foodie, the atmosphere is warm and inviting with a bit of nostalgia.
Bang for the Buck Barometer: Average based on happy hour prices. The aforementioned meal, 2 starters and 2 drinks, only set us back about $30 with tax and tip.
Return to eat Probability: Very low -
Review from adda w.
San Diego, CA
12/21/2011
My boyfriend purchased the deal on http://signonsandiego.com, $ 20 for $ 50. We thought we would give it a try since the menu didn't look like your average bar menu. It's mos def not a spot u wouldnt wanna bring someone for a first date. we were seriously shouting at the top of our lungs.
Appetizer: stuffed 'shrooms
crimini mushrooms stuffed w/ a mixture of parmesan, asiago, parsley in a white wine sauce= for a person who doesn't like mushroom, I actually liked it.
Main Course: the dirty sanchez
grilled cheese sandwich w/ sharp white cheddar, mild cheddar, mozzarella, jalapeños, bacon, on sourdough w/ a side of dijonaisse = this was mos def a fancy version of a grilled cheese sandwich. I wishes the jalapeño had a kick to it.
meat & potatoes
8oz ribeye, served w/ garlic mashed potatoes & sautéed green beans= he said that it was average and nothing too impressive. (better off going to a steak shop)
Dessert: churro french toast
served with strawberry jam and maple syrup butter = the maple syrup butter WAS NOT the business!!! It tasted nothing like what the description says. It tasted like straight up butter. But the churro was bomb with the jam.
Hella food and our bill came out to $47 bucks. So we only ended up just tipping the waitress. -
Review from Anne M.
1/9/2012
I'd been wanting to check this place out for awhile (it looked really cool and the menu looked interesting) so when I saw the anniversary special (3 courses for 20.12) I jumped at the chance.
You have been warned: they AUTOMATICALLY ADDED 20 PERCENT TIP (after tax!) onto our bill! WTF?? We were a party of two and were not using a http://restaurant.com coupon, and were not given any type of warning whatsoever (it was not listed on the menu and we were not told about it.) I'm not sure why the restaurant thinks they have the right to do this.
Right off the bat, a couple negatives. They were only serving the 3-course anniversary special, not the regular menu (?) My bf had eaten a few hours earlier and was just looking for a snack. We didn't really want to split since we have different tastes. They gave us a drink menu, but the drink menu didn't list any of the draft beers. Our server was very nice but took for-ev-er to get our drinks and my draft beer was practically room temp (gross) when it came.
For the first course we got the flash fried brussel sprouts with parmesan and bacon bits, and the chili totchos. The brussel sprouts were tasty but somewhere between luke warm and room temp (I could see that they would have been delicious if they were hot.) Also I could not see nor taste any bacon bits. The totchos were interesting -- definitely a unique flavor and tasty -- but the "chili" had no chili sauce to it whatsoever... it was literally beans and ground beef dumped on the tater tots.
For the second course, I got the tequila penne (on the menu, it just said tequila penne, but the stuff in the pasta happened to be onions and peppers which I hate, so they gave me white asparagus instead.) I hate when they don't list the ingredients on the menu! The sauce was really watery and spicy. Also, I read from another reviewer that her penne had chicken on it, but mine did not... what's up with that? My bf got the stuffed chicken which he said was just alright.
For the third course, we ordered the churro french toast and pot brownies, but they were out of the pot brownies so we had to get the twinkie tiramisu instead [I haaate it when restaurants are out of stuff on the menu, especially in this case when they weren't serving the full menu and you are forced to order 3 courses.] The churro french toast was pretty good, but difficult to eat as it's served in a basket with paper instead of on a plate so you can't cut it, and the frosting stuff they give you to dip it in is only enough for about 2 bites! The twinkie tiramisu was in a shooter glass and was not good at all.. it just tasted like stale twinkles with some room temperature whipped cream on them.
I ordered a second beer which arrived quickly and was also barely cold so it must be their taps. This was a huge negative to me, trying to drink an overpriced room temperature beer. If you are drinking beer I advise getting the cans as those are very cold.
Now for the positives: The decor was very cool. I am a huge fan of mid century design and this place is perfect for that. We sat in the restaurant/bar side but could see karaoke going on in the other room. It was loud, the music was good, but it's definitely a bar atmosphere so don't go there if you are looking to have a nice intimate dinner.
Overall it was disappointing. If you are just looking for a bar atmosphere this would probably be a pretty fun place (but stay away from the draft beer.) I would have considered returning until we got our bill and saw the 20% tip added on without our knowledge or permission. -
Review from Leslie G.
12/7/2011
Should probably be one star, but the tiny portobella mushroom "burger" was tasty.
I went here to meet up with some school people on a Wednesday night - they have $2 tiny burgers, which is a good deal, considering an order of fries is $5. The signature drinks are also 1/2 off on Wednesdays, most come out to around $6 with the discount.
The service was so bad. An order of sweet potato fries was forgotten, and when it was brought to our server's attention, he didn't apologize or say anything really, he just acted like we were ordering the fries for the first time. The food took for-ev-er to come. Our server said "like three tables just sat down and ordered at the same time as you, it is crazy." Still - we ordered some fries, and about four tiny burgers. That shouldn't take forever. And, if it takes the cook staff forever, there is something wrong with the system. Maybe they were hoping we would try to quench our starvation with more specialty drinks?
A manager-looking guy was walking around, but somehow managed to avoid our eye contact the entire time, and never checked on us - he probably realized we would've given him and earful if he let us.
They brought the trash out from the kitchen, through a side door right next to our table. As you can imagine, that smelled lovely! They brought it back in the same way. It wasn't busy at all, so I'm not sure why they couldn't wait until they were closed to take the trash out, if that side door by the tables is the only way out.
Won't be back. -
Review from Conner S.
San Diego, CA
1/28/2012
Seriously strong drinks. (get a mule and thank me later.) The Food is like the food u grew up eating only wayyyy better. I usually go with the Mac Daddy burger but occasionally switch things up and get tots covered in amazingness... or the chicken cordon bleu which is also delectable. The whole place is based around music from the decor to the overall vibe the place and its staff puts on.
The staff is attentive, helpful, and rather friendly... if you go there at night they will probably have a live band playing karaoke or a DJ playing anything from old school hip hop to new age house music... Sundays are cool cuz the DJs only play vinyl which is becoming more of a spectacle as of late (making a comeback like rayban glasses)
Hard to find a place that offers all of this at a "decent" price... PEOPLE: Its downtown! A burger for 10 bucks and a tall boy for 6 bucks is not bad! and if it is, then you probably shouldn't be going out downtown!
