Come On Get Happy! | Dr. Ink

If it weren’t for a friend living in Old Town, it might have taken me months to discover Christopher’s on Congress, the neighborhood’s latest beer-and-wine bar located only a stone’s throw from the distracting bustle of San Diego Avenue.

Formerly the Wine Cabana, new owners Christopher Tatalovich and his brother, Paul, quietly reinvented the space earlier this year by adding kitchen equipment and an ambitious wine inventory containing 70 labels from around the globe, all of which are available by the glass. Ports and craft beer brewed throughout Mexico and California are also in the offing.

The front bar room leads to a second, larger space stocked with barrel tables and a fireplace. Paneled doors separate it from an inviting side-patio, where additional tables are framed by tan draperies. With plenty of seating options, including a narrow smoking patio in front, the blueprint demands you seize a spot and laze for a while.

Two daily specials sweeten the deal. Visit between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., and a mere $6 buys you a sprightly salad with raspberry vinaigrette, a flatbread pizza of your choice and either a glass of wine or beer. It’s the ultimate happy meal.

Admittedly I was skeptical at first, assuming the salad would be a sad plunk of iceberg leaves and the flatbread might measure only to the size of my palm. Wrong. The mixed greens contained fresh sprigs of dill and julienne veggies while the flatbread pizza, made with naan bread and topped with pepperoni, olives, colorful bell peppers and mozzarella, yielded six moderate slices.

From a select list of red and white wines, I chose a hefty pour of JanKris Crossfire Cabernet, which spoke to its Paso Robles roots with distinct fruitiness and an above-average alcohol content. Other varietals available in the lunch package include merlot, chardonnay and pinot grigio, usually from a couple of different vineyards.

Happy hour follows from 3 to 7 p.m., when the aforementioned wines are sold at $3 a glass. The small selection of Mexican craft beers such as Crazy Pig Ale and Pilsner from Rio Bravo also carry over from the lunch list. They become priced at $2 apiece. In addition, a special flatbread that Tatalovich designates on a whim each day for happy hour is available for $6.

Christopher’s on Congress still seems off the radar of most tourists, which affords locals one of the best and tastiest commotion-free sanctuaries in Old Town.

CALIFICACIONES:

Bebidas: 4

Wine deals oblige to the main varietals, such as merlot, cabernet, chardonnay and pinot grigio while the discounted beers give you a taste of the latest craft brews from Mexico.

Comida: 5

Salads and flatbreads are of gourmet quality and made to order. From the regular menu (not discounted), you’ll find “lamb pops,” steak and meatball paninis and an enticing dip made with kale, artichokes and Gruyere cheese.

Valor: 5

Deals during daily happy hour and lunch are some of the best in San Diego, with the latter costing only $6 for salad, flatbread and a glass of wine or beer.

Servicio: 5

Hospitable owners Christopher and Paul Tatalovich work the front lines with speed, efficiency and enthusiasm.

Duration: 5

With two daily deals in place that run contiguously, you can save on food and drinks in one form or another, from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Christopher’s on Congress
2539 Congress St. (Old Town)
619-450-4154
Happy Hour: 3 to 7 p.m., daily. Lunch special, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily