1023 4th Ave, San Diego, CA
American, Bar Food
$$ – Entrees from $15 to $25

The Yard House is a very typical-seeming sports bar …typical as in the kind that are very “upscale” feeling, meaning that they still serve a sports bar menu just at much higher prices to cover their extraordinarily priced real estate.

This one is nice, no doubt:  a sensible amount of TVs, loud background music, a huge space with large, substantial-feeling tables that are well spread out and able to accommodate large parties.

On my visit, I tried the STREET TACOS PLATE ($13.55). The ASADA was pretty damn good with grilled New York streak, toasted pasilla peppers, pico de gallo and guacamole. The BAJA FISH, though, was for sure the best. Despite being about average fried fish, they top that thing with lemon sriracha aiolo which was fricken amazing. Other than that, the tacos would have been all but average (the flour tortillas were cold and almost stale tasting) —which begs the question:  what makes a “taco” a “street taco”? I thought it was essential to have the double corn tortillas. Who knows, point is these were good but nothing special.

My problem with the Yard House is that it’s just so generic. They’ve got all of the usual suspects on a generic “upscale” bar food menu. Angle hair pasta, penne with chicken, burgers, etc… a little bit of everything at double the price of what it should be.

They’re blaring the generic “bar” music featuring Journey and the like.

Where Yard House undeniably has it down is in their beer selection. On top of having a few microbrews that they make in house, they have a list of draft beers longer than I’ve seen anywhere. And, if you can’t find one on there that will suit you, the list of bottles seems endless. Organized by type, it makes it easy to make a choice based on what you’re feeling. I gave the YARD HOUSE BELGIAN AMBER TRIPLE (around $8 for a pint) a try and was impressed with their efforts. It was very similar to the New Belgium Triple.

BOTTOM LINE: I’d recommended Yard House for big groups or business meetings, or a place to take your boring, un-adventurous friends. It’s very safe choice sports bar cuisine at fine dining prices.