San Diego: Soda & Swine + Polite Provisions

One of the top places I wanted to go to when I was in San Diego last month was the recently opened Polite Provisions and get some grub at the interconnected Soda & Swine.

We swung by for the Becherovka tasting as part of the Bartenders Weekend festivities. It was one of the two after-parties for Speed Rack San Diego.

 

I also stopped in on another night to check out Soda & Swine. We ordered the food from the counter and it was delivered to us at Polite Provisions. I got the Scotch Egg because I adore them. This was a great one with a slightly runny egg yolk and lots of flavorful sausage. It came with a dipping sauce but as usual, I skipped it in favor of tasting the food on its own.

 

Then the hard part came. I wanted to try all the meatballs but opted to go with three on top of the spaghetti — you can just get the meatballs on their own or in a sub sandwich. I’m glad I got the spaghetti with a side of marinara sauce. My favorite of the meatballs turned out to be the chicken but chorizo was good too.

 

As mentioned, we had cocktails from Becherovka and I loved their display. The fashionable glasses were adorable. This space next to the bar is perfect to show off liquors or hang with a group when there isn’t a bartender there making drinks. I saw people crowded around this table on another night.

 

Polite Provisions is known for their craft cocktails on tap as well as liqueurs. Fancy some Lillet on tap? They got you. Also, there’s plenty of beer. This is San Diego after all.

I have to admit though I favored my freshly made cocktails more than the cocktail on tap, Casual Encounter (London dry gin, Strawberries & Rita rose petal soda) . But then again, I’ve had this debate with people about why do people go to bars. And they can go for many reasons but for me, it’s more about the experience than the drinks. However, I still want to enjoy what I’m drinking and part of that fun is hanging out at the bar chit-chatting with the bartender. Getting a beer, glass of wine, cocktail on tap or any “easy” drink isn’t my thing. But I get why bars do it. Especially high volume bars. And Polite Provisions will surely be high volume. And when that happens, I’ll get my shot of whiskey and be out of the bartender’s way.

Cocktails to try- Brave Companion (Bourbon, creme de cacao, vanilla gomme), Attorney Privilege (bourbon, orgeat, bitters), Rock & Rye (rye macerated with fruit and spices) and Mayan Concubine (Reposado tequila, Apricot liqueur, lemon, bitters). There were also a couple of beer cocktail options that sounded interesting like Princess Peach (Cognac, falernum, lemon, honey, peach lambic beer).

I’ll be back!

Becherovka

Soda & Swine

2943 Adams Ave., San Diego, CA 92116  —  (619) 269-7632

Polite Provisions

4696 30th St., San Diego, CA 92116  —  (619) 677-3784

© The Minty 2013