Looking to feel like a kid again, maybe play some games, watch some sports, and eat something fun? Look no further than The Smoking Gun. My girlfriend Georgia and I spent a sleepy Wednesday night at the Smoking Gun with no major games on TV, but I can tell it’s the place to be on game night.
The Padres had just finished their season, and honestly, we weren’t looking for a night of watching sports, but we did want to play some games. Few people I know are more competitive than my girlfriend, so I knew that unless I wanted to hear her gloat for the next couple of weeks, I would have to bring my A game. Shuffleboard, pool, air hockey, and an entire arcade — we would eventually choose one of these games to battle it out, but we weren’t just there for bragging rights; we were hungry. It was mid-week, and we both needed a good drink and something fun to eat. The Smoking Gun had come highly recommended.
The first thing I noticed when I walked into the Smoking Gun was the ’70s vibe. It didn’t hurt that “Calling Dr. Love” by KISS was blasting through the sound system. We usually sit at the bar, but Georgia chose a booth by the shuffleboard table — a subtle way of deciding how she would try to annihilate me in what she always suggests as a friendly game.
I would need a cocktail to calm my nerves and prepare for battle. The drink menu complements the ’70s theme and is housed in a Pee-Chee folder, which took us both back to middle school — what a fun, nostalgic touch. I ordered a Mai Tai, which arrived in a clear glass shaped like a gummy bear, and Georgia ordered a martini.
The menu featured what they call “urban street food,” and it took some time to study because everything looked appealing. One item caught my eye and took me on a trip back in time: Fried Pickle Spears. You can find fried pickle chips everywhere, and if you didn’t already know, they all come from the same Sysco box no matter where you order them. They are forgettable at best. The last time I had a fried pickle spear was at Pickles Pub in Baltimore, Maryland, right next to Camden Yards ballpark. Side note: Petco Park took inspiration from Camden Yards when they designed it. There is no comparing a fried chip to a spear. Chips are all about the breading, and spears are all about the pickle. Smoking Gun nailed it with a cornmeal batter that actually stayed on the spear, plus two house made sauces: ranch and roasted garlic aioli. I would head back for these pickles alone.
Georgia and I grabbed our drinks and slid a few pucks on the shuffleboard table while we decided what else to order. We landed on the Smoking Wings: pickle-brined wings served with house-made ranch and your choice of sauce. The sauce options, all made in-house, drew us in: BBQ, BBQ mustard, buffalo, honey mustard, sweet and sour, Cali green, chimichurri, maple sriracha, double stinger, and pineapple habanero. It comes with one sauce, but you can add as many as you want for an extra charge, and we did. We settled on the traditional buffalo as a base, then added chimichurri, maple sriracha, and honey mustard. I loved them all.
Next, we moved on to more drinks and a pass through the arcade while we let it all settle. I had the You Butter Believe It: brown butter-washed rye, black walnut bitters, and orange zest. This beauty slid down like a hot knife through butter. Georgia had the Time after Thyme: gin, guava, thyme, grapefruit, and lemon. The nostalgic Pee-Chee folder holds no shortage of fun drinks.
We played a quick game of air hockey, took a glimpse into our future from the Zoltar Speaks fortune-telling machine, then returned to our table for more food. We ordered ribs and mac and cheese, but when they arrived, we realized we’d overdone it; we took most of it home. We should have quit while we were ahead.
I can’t wait to go back, but the pro move may be Happy Hour (Mon-Friday 3-7 p.m.) or Late Night (10 p.m. – 12 a.m.) after a game. Both menus are not only fun, but they are a “smoking” deal. Speaking of deals, it’s been a hot minute since I fell for an all-you-can-eat wing night, but Smoking Gun’s Bone(s) Nugs-n-Harmony every Thursday night from 3 to 9:30 p.m. has got my attention. All-you-can-eat chicken wings or “notorious nugz” for $22.99. Thursday is also the night for the Late Night Steak Special: $20 for a steak, beer, or wine; upgrade to an old fashioned for an additional $4.99. I will be hitting this up for sure. A lot is going on at the Smoking Gun.
Smoking Gun supports the home teams and also draws Dallas Cowboys and Alabama fans, with game-day menus for both teams. Brunch for weekend games they have, too. Adult fun at its finest; what are you waiting for?
Alex, the manager, and Anissa, our server, were great. Alex has been at the Smoking Gun since day one, which speaks volumes to me. She also came up with the Pee Chee folder for the drink menu. Anissa was great; she walked us through every aspect of the menu and was very attentive. A good server is worth their weight in gold; trust me, they are hard to find these days. Thank you both for the hospitality; we will be back.
The Smoking Gun
555 Market Street
San Diego, CA 92101
