The Local Eatery & Drinking Hole

The Local Eatery & Drinking HoleThe Local Eatery & Drinking Hole
The Local Eatery & Drinking HoleThe Local Eatery & Drinking Hole
Bar, Eatery

1065 4th Ave
San Diego, California, 92101-4802
United States

(619) 231-4447 | map
thelocalsandiego.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.79
Reviews:
15
Ratings:
19
pDev:
13.46%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by cggarcia:
Photo of cggarcia
Reviewed by cggarcia from Arizona

3.94/5  rDev +4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Went in rather late on a Monday night, so the place was pretty deserted. The music was a little loud for my taste. The two servers were very friendly and knowledgable about the beer they had on and about beer in general. They have quite a good selection of local brews: Alpine, Alesmith, Coronado, Pizza Port, Karl Straus, Stone and some others. The beers were fresh and I enjoyed the San Diego Style IPA's as we don't have anything like them in NM. The Alpine Duet was awesome; the Coronado IPA, Alesmith IPA & the Calexico Amber were spot on!

Didn't try the food, so can't comment. I would return for the beer range, but might avoid the DJ nights.
Oct 21, 2008
More User Ratings:
Photo of mactrail
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

3.92/5  rDev +3.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.25
This place seems to have survived and got its groove. Nearly full on an early Thursday evening, but not crowded feeling. I counted 36 taps, and interestingly I believe every one was a San Diego County brewery. Prices are more like San Francisco-- eight bucks for a 10 oz nothing-special local Saison.

The waitresses were attentive, friendly, but brisk if you didn't need anything. Big garage doors open up the Fourth Ave side. High ceilings and not too noisy. Clean restrooms, even. Twelve big televisions on baseball and football, which seemed to be the attraction with the downtown after-work crowd. Plus the jersey-wearing fans smoking weed right by the front entrance.
Oct 13, 2017
 
Rated: 4.28 by terryt88 from California

Mar 10, 2016
Photo of mrcraft
Reviewed by mrcraft from California

4.11/5  rDev +8.4%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25
I came here with a friend upon a recommendation from her friend. It was a great place for beers and food. I asked how long this place was in existence, and the waitress said, 12 or so years, but recently got a make over and added a brewery next door. They didn't have any house beers tonight but should have this winter.

It was a nice contemporary, a little rustic environment, lots of exposed wooden roof beams. There's a bar area, along with tables. Along 4th street, they opened up the section to the street which seems popular around here. The waitresses were friendly and great. The tap list was mostly local, but they had a good solid list.

This place was packed tonight, so they're doing something right. I'll be back.
Oct 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by sharkboy from California

Aug 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by cherche from Washington

Jul 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by MickeyHops from California

May 26, 2014
Photo of BMMillsy
Reviewed by BMMillsy from Florida

4.49/5  rDev +18.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5
Stopped in here on a Monday afternoon while in town. Nice little spot set a bit far away from the main Gaslamp area. 16 taps with interesting barrel aged stuff from Ballast Point and Coronado, some Societe and Stone on tap, and a decent bottle selection. All local of course. They'll do flights of their on tap brews so that was nice and I got to try some extra beers that way. Bartender was very friendly and had plenty to say about the beers they had. Nice place and seems to be doing this beer thing right. Did not get a chance to try food though. Definitely stop in here if you are downtown.
Nov 22, 2013
Photo of jjboesen
Reviewed by jjboesen from Maryland

4/5  rDev +5.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5
After a few pints at the Beer Company (See Reveiw), I wandered through an incoming fog a few blocks to the Local Eatery, situated amid a generic downtown block, Upon entry, I found a dark. loud and lively sports bar atmosphere; a moderate sized room with a long bar on the right; opposite several rows of high tops. There were TVs ablazing everywhere.

The dozen or so taps, while limited, are devoted to local crafts: during my visit - number three of my SDBW 2012 trip, the Local was in the thralls of a Coronado Tap Takeover that included Frog's Breath and Sock Knocker, the latter being a double IPA. (Coronado will be a future visit during the week.)

Given my recent repast at Beer Company, I did not order food. Incidentally, the ceiling is adorned with bicycles and surfboards, for some resaon. All in all, a comfortable little place when in the downtown area.
Nov 21, 2012
Photo of AdamBear
Reviewed by AdamBear from Pennsylvania

3.64/5  rDev -4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
Yelp! guided me to this place for some reason. It definitely isn't a premiere bar for the area, but it was still a treat!

Atmosphere: resembles a small sports bar, though rather large for an average bar. i appreciated how tame it was on the busy night that we were there.

Service: very average, somewhat helpful

Selection/Quality: a decent, though not spectacular, selection of locals among other nonlocal craft beers. the selection was fairly large and definitely offered something for everyone.

Its worth a stop to visit here if in the area, just don't get your hopes up too high.
Aug 20, 2011
Photo of opwog
Reviewed by opwog from Minnesota

2.65/5  rDev -30.1%
vibe: 2 | quality: 4 | service: 1 | selection: 3
I have heard this name dropped for a while. While I was in a little Italy cafe, I even asked a stranger if they had heard of it and the guy loved the place. Maybe it was having too high of an expectation to begin with, but I don't understand how anybody thinks that this is a great beer bar with all that San Diego has to offer.

I walked into a large room and immediately felt like I was at a college sports bar that was on the downhill slide after several years of a successful run. It had one girl working the bar and the entirety of this large room. She was nice enough, but there is no way that one person could competently handle that large of a room, even when it was almost empty. The people that were there were sitting on opposite ends of the room. I asked what the Lost Abbey beer tap was and she couldn't even tell me what beer they had on tap. Similarly, she got two others wrong. I finally decided on the Airdale Porter, which was great. So after nursing the last inch of my glass for 30 minutes, she finally showed up at our end of the bar again (note: there were only 7 people even sitting at the bar). I asked about a sampler set and she said no, but could pour me some samples. I said great and was just about to try whatever they had on the Lost Abbey tap and one other, except that she walked immediately away before I could say what I wanted. I waited another 30 minutes before she came back to ask if I wanted another beer (my glass had been empty for 20 minutes). I said how I had originally wanted the samples to figure out what my next beer would have been, but now I had to leave to meet somebody.

Overall, they have some good beers mixed in with more bad beers on tap. Craft bottles, but the most common. Maybe they were short staffed that night, but when you only have 7 craft handles, you should be able to at least know specifically the name of what is pouring from each. The atmosphere pretty much sucked and if one person is normally all that they staff for that large room, I would hate to see how long I would have to wait for the bartender to return behind the bar if the place was packed.
Jan 13, 2009
Photo of magictrokini
Reviewed by magictrokini from California

4/5  rDev +5.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Good selection of local and seasonal beers in a relaxed setting. Long bar with surf stuff. Bands occasionally play at night. Fun place to go downtown that is not a club. The burgers are great, as is the club wrap. Prices are reasonable, especially considering it is a downtown bar. Free parking is non-existent. Taps are pretty good. They are going with more locals, seasonals, and CA beers. Had Lagunitas Hop Stoopid, Alpine, Rogue, and Stone on tap. Waitresses are good looking to hot and know their beer.
Dec 16, 2008
Photo of mithrascruor
Reviewed by mithrascruor from California

3.23/5  rDev -14.8%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 3
Came in here by chance on a Friday evening while walking by. Seemed decent inside. Surf-themed place with some TVs and all.

Generally friendly service, but it was quite difficult to figure out what exactly they had on tap. A chalkboard just listed the names of local breweries. Ended up just getting a Pizza Port IPA the whole night, but they did have taps from other local breweries too.

Food was alright: the wet burrito was nice (and big!), but the shrimp burrito my friend had wasn't so great...

By the time we'd finished eating, the atmosphere had changed a lot inside, becoming more of a club with a DJ and disco ball going. We left before that got into full swing, but it was quite crowded and it was decidedly more of a "party crowd" than a "beer crowd".

Food prices were ok for a downtown restaurant, but $6 for a pint of IPA (during what was apparently happy hour?) seemed a bit much! Decent enough place, but not really my cup of tea...
Sep 12, 2008
Photo of cjgator3
Reviewed by cjgator3 from Florida

4/5  rDev +5.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
The Local Eatery and Drinking Hole is located in beautiful Downtown San Diego near the Gaslamp district. As the name suggests, this bar features a pretty good selection of local area beers such as AleSmith, Alpine, Stone, Coronado and Green Flash. I was there on a Thursday for happy hour where they were serving $3 pints, not bad. The service was good, no complaints there. I didn't have the food so I can't comment on that. Overall, it is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area to stop by and grab a pint or two.
Aug 09, 2008
Photo of kleffman
Reviewed by kleffman from California

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5
Hit up the local finally before heading to a Padre's game and sat at the bar where we were quickly joined by a super drunk local. Grabbed some beers and began to have our ears talked off about surfing. He must have liked my friend though because he ended up buying us our drinks. Bonus points to the bar tender too because we hated one of our beers (Sulfur off flavors in a pilsner is a brewing problem, not their tap lines etc.) and they replaced it with something better. She agreed it's terrible. Minus points because the bathroom doesn't even have a regular stall with locking door. Didn't really bother me, but what if you needed to take the browns to the super bowl? I'm just sayin...

Oh and lots of local beers, as in their name. Great work.
Jul 14, 2008
Photo of iluvbeer67
Reviewed by iluvbeer67 from Rhode Island

4.21/5  rDev +11.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4
Well, I was out in San Diego on my way to the super bowl last week and found this little gem with my first stop. The decor is surf theme and the place was pretty clean. I sat at the bar and was greeted right away by Sean the bar manager, i saw they had quite a few beers i can not get back on the east coast so i was already looking forward to it, i asked for an IPA in a bottle (i dont trust taps until i know a place)
and was served a bear republic racer 5, the beer was excellent. Sean then proceeded to set me up with a few tastings of some different ipas on tap w/o me even asking (nice touch, and a good way to turn people on to other beers) I had 4-5 more different beers (Coronado, green flash, alpine and one other I cant remember the name) All were above average or special in their own way. The price was very reasonable and the service was outstanding. I went back the next night and had more of the same. I highly recommend the place for what it is...if you want corporate the yard house is right down the street, I prefer local joints and The Local is a great local joint.
Feb 07, 2008
Photo of sfoley333
Reviewed by sfoley333 from Brazil

3.6/5  rDev -5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Went here right before 94.9 fm show at 4th and B. The place is surf themed with flat screen tvs throughout the place playing that night college football. The place was busy but not what I would call pack. They had a good selection of beers mostly local beers like Stone , Alesmith, Alpine, Greenflash, and pizza port. They had carlsbad cronic and stone AB. I had a pint of Alpine Pure Hoppiness which was 5 dollars. The food was great tried a roasted eggplant zucchini quesadilla and Cali Cobb salad. My brother had the pull pork sandwich and my wife had grilled mahi mahi. All the food was a good sized portion and the bill wasnt bad at all. When I see another show at 4th and B I will go here again. Its a nice alternative choice to the always packed Yardhouse just a few place down from here.
Nov 12, 2007
Photo of stoner420
Reviewed by stoner420 from California

2.83/5  rDev -25.3%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3 | service: 1.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
Thought I'd check this place out because I was already downtown and I'd heard they had Alpine on tap. Like the review below says it is a surf themed bar, with high benches and tables. The crowd seemed like typical fraternity/sorority types. It wasn't super busy, but it was pretty loud--maybe because they had hooked up the football game to the DJ sound system.

They have about half a dozen taps of local beer listed on a chalkboard above the bar. I ordered an Alpine Duet, but the bartender brought me what turned out to be the Pizza Port Avalanche Belgian Ale. It's really a strange feeling to expect a hoppy IPA and taste a yeasty Belgian. So I exchanged the drink no problem. But they were out of Duet, instead they had Pure Hoppiness which was fine with me. I guess they just hadn't changed name on the board yet.

There was a mix up with my food order too, but they did fix that eventually. The food was good and the portions are huge.

Overall, despite the sub-par service, I still would recommend the Local, if you find yourself downtown and thirsty for some good beer.
Oct 16, 2006
Photo of oggg
Reviewed by oggg from California

3.05/5  rDev -19.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5
Downtown San Diego, a block or two from the Yardhouse, on a relatively quiet block of the Gaslamp, this place is set up with mostly high bar tables and a long wooden bar. The theme is local, with lots of surf paraphenalia and San Diego stuff, bordering on Hawaiian. I had dinner once on a Sunday evening and I've walked by several times. Doesn't seem to get too crowded and what crowd is there is more of the swillin beer crew.

Beers: they've got less than a dozen taps and none of them are hoppy. There was the Stone Pale ale and the PizzaPort Chronic (note: this is an amber ale). Both served ice cold, sigh. Other beer selections are less adventuresome.

Food: overall prices aren't that expensive, and the portions are good, but -- burritos and hamburgers for $7.50+! The burger wasn't that good. The Big Wet Burrito was pretty good and huge.

Overall: not all that interesting a place.
Mar 12, 2006
The Local Eatery & Drinking Hole in San Diego, CA
Place rating: 3.79 out of 5 with 19 ratings