Happy Hour: Triple Crown Pub

By Dr. Ink

It was like someone had stood in the middle of Adams Avenue and yelled, “Free pizza at the Triple Crown Pub!”

On a Monday a few weeks ago, a friend and I were planted at the bar, slurping bottled Miller Lite (it’s the holiday season — you have to cut back where you can) when just about at halftime of the football game, three pizzas arrived from DiMille’s up the street.

Followed by a cavalcade of moochers.

A bar that was maybe one-fourth full (it’s a big place) a few minutes prior was suddenly overrun like ants at a picnic. While the bartender cut the pies into squares, the eager eaters stood nearby, trying to be nonchalant but failing miserably. Some ordered drinks – others didn’t bother.

As soon as the pizza – it’s a Monday night freebie the Triple Crown supplies – hit the bar, plates were grabbed and filled as if it were an eating contest on the Game Show Network. I watched one guy load six slices before others even had a chance to serve themselves.

Once this halftime show was over, the undoubtedly sated horde dispersed as swiftly as they had arrived. It was clearly a well-timed strategy on their part, and I couldn’t say I blamed them. If a bar wants to give you free dinner, why not take advantage of it? But I did wonder why the bartenders didn’t require a drink purchase with the pizza. Isn’t that the whole idea behind offering complimentary food – to get people to buy drinks and hang around a while? (Donovan’s Steakhouse does this very well – don’t even think about asking the bartender for one of those scrumptious filet mignon sandwiches they offer gratis at happy hour before you have a pricey cocktail in front of you.)

After several visits to the Triple Crown Pub, I am convinced this bar succeeds despite itself. For example, they have a decent food menu produced via barbecue on the back patio, yet they don’t discount the burgers, hot dogs and Polish sausages for happy hour. They have 21 taps, some of which rotate, but there is no comprehensive list of what’s available at any given time. Since the Triple Crown has only a beer and wine license, it cannot serve liquor, but the bar does make cocktails from soju, a distilled Korean rice beverage with 25 percent alcohol – however, there is no menu displayed for these (I just happened to see a bartender making one and asked). And unlike most bars, the Triple Crown doesn’t do any specials or promotions beyond the happy hour deal of a buck off pints and domestic bottles and $2 off pitchers.

Despite all that, as I said, the place does well. While happy hour is not the most popular time there, the bar is busy most nights, particularly Fridays and Saturdays. I’ve seen large crowds there right up ’til closing, which is especially unusual for a beer bar.

Here’s why I think that’s the case. The Triple Crown has 13 TVs and all the special sports cable packages, letting customers see practically any game at any time. Plus, there is plenty to do while drinking: darts, shuffleboard, pool, pingpong and video games. An airy back patio with umbrella tables and a TV gives smokers a chance to relax. And the Internet-based jukebox allows patrons to punch up pretty much every song ever recorded (shout out to the chick who insists on playing $20 worth of Michael Jackson every time she stops in).

All of those benefits would seem to make the Triple Crown a favorite in the race for the ideal spot to spend an hour or so after work. But with the freeloaders crashing in to gobble pizza on Mondays, and the lackluster specials from the taps and barbecue, the Triple Crown is an also-ran, not a lock, for happy hour.

Triple Crown Pub

3221 Adams Ave.

San Diego, CA 92116

(619) 281-0263

Happy Hour: Monday-Friday, 2-7 p.m.

Ratings:

Drinks: 3

No beer list, no cocktail list and drugstore-quality wine. But at least they offer soju to make up for the lack of liquor.

Food: 4

The burgers ($5) are surprisingly good, served with fresh-cut lettuce, tomato, onions and pickle. A happy hour food discount would be nice.

Value: 3

A buck off a beer isn’t going to turn my head, but at least it’s something.

Service: 5

Another reason for the Triple Crown’s success – the staff is personable and sincere.

Duration: 4

Even upscale bars are offering weekend happy hours now, or one full night of discounted pricing. But at least the Triple Crown’s lasts til 7 and not 6 like some other neighborhood bars.

Note about the ratings: Each category is based on 1-5 glasses, with 5 being best. Drinks and food are rated as to quantity and quality, while duration is based on the number of days and hours Happy Hour is offered. Value and service are self-explanatory.

Want to make me happy? E-mail Dr. Ink about your favorite Happy Hour and I’ll drop by with my stethoscope: [email protected].