FOTB- The Waterfront

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The Waterfront (http://www.waterfrontbarandgrill.com/thewaterfront/main.html) is a bar and grill situated on 2044 Kettner Blvd. This is north Little Italy, so access to I-5 is convenient.

With a solid Happy Hour from 4-7, you find yourself at the bar with a menu of discounted food and drinks. Open a tab and order a drink then go get yourself some of the free food that the Waterfront offers during happy hour. You read that correctly, free food. Now you can invite along that friend who "just ate" and doesn't want any food, but everyone really knows is just a cheap bastard.

The Food: 5/5 Stars
Their burgers are f*ing amazing. They come out big and juicy, just dripping with flavor. Condiments are brought out on a tray, so you get to heap on any amount of mustard, ketchup, mayo, etc. that you desire. But back to the burger itself. I ordered the Bacon Cheese Burger and it was everything I wanted: a big burger that had my mouth watering. I was caught in a time paradox: I wanted to scarf down my burger because it was that tasty, but I wanted every bite to last a lifetime so I could savor the flavor. [Editor's note: If you don't like spicy peppers, stay away from the peppers that come on the condiment tray. In the word's of a member of the Fellowship, "If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't eat that pepper."]

The Drinks: 3/5 Stars
The drink selection was average. The beers on tap were your standard fare: macrobreweries like Budweiser and Sam Adams, foreign beers like Stella Artois and Bass, along with the staples of Blue Moon, Sierra Nevada, and Fat Tire. They have a full bar, so if liquor is your poison, you're in luck.

The Atmosphere: 3.5/5 Stars
Old time bar with a mix of patrons. The bar is a tight fit and makes large groups impossible. Ideal seating is for 2-4 people per table, but you still find yourself kinda cramped. There's an open patio with tables outside for people-watching and a couple of tables jammed into the bar area. The walls are covered in old photos, so it's fun to check them out; they give a testament to how old this bar is. The people were a reasonable mix. Business casuals were there for the happy hour sitting next to people in tees and baseball caps. Hot bartender too, so if nobody in the crowd catches your attention, at least you have one person to check out.

Overall: 4/5 Stars
You must come here. The bar and clientele creates a casual atmosphere for you to enjoy your amazing burger and shoot the shit with a buddy. A bunch of TVs are tuned on to show you the daily Padres' game. I'm embarrassed to root for them too, so let me assure you that the pitchers of beer help as they lose yet another game.