Tiger! Tiger!

I had a heartbreaking moment when I was eating my leftover Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Crumb Cake from Tiger! Tiger!
We ate dinner at this San Diego spot before heading back home to LA. We had a great experience. Service was friendly, food came out quick, and our sandwiches were delicious. I had the Mushroom-​Lentil sandwich which had a legit vegan patty topped with pickled cucumber and onion. It also had a tasty chipotle aioli spread on focaccia. So filling, I was only able to eat half.
While the sandwich put me in a good mood, the dessert put me in a happy place! Even the name is impressive: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Crumb Cake. Although the cake was slightly on the dry side, the peanut butter frosting kinda balanced it out. The pretzel crumbs are a nice touch too. Kinda on the pricey side ($ 7) but the serving size was generous!
Flash forward to the next day when I’m home in LA. My spoon pierces through the Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Crumb Cake. I’m enjoying every bite. Then with about 5 bites left, I’m noticing there’s a bit of resistance while I’m trying to pull a bite off with my spoon. Then with a bit more effort, I pull out this curly black sucker that was baked right in:
EWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! :(
Am I being too generous giving this place 3 stars? I’m seriously torn. Before discovering the curly black hair, I was ready to give this place 5 stars for the tasty food and friendly, fast service. I’m also in a bit of denial, wanting to give Tiger! Tiger! the benefit of the doubt wondering if the cake is homemade or baked off site by a third party. I don’t know. I’d like to give this place another shot but it might take a bit of convincing. So let’s just say I’m giving this place 2.5 stars rounded up.

Tiger! Tiger! Is an awesome beer bar located in North Park. Though there is no shortage of beer in San Diego, they carry a hefty selection of unique local brews all in one place. It seems like they try to put more undiscovered names out there, because places like Stone and Ballast Point can fare well enough on their own. It’s great to see businesses be so supportive of each other.
The inside is casual and welcoming. There are long picnic benches to sit on, and you can check out various games to play at your table. The back patio is very cute, with colorful strings of lights decorating the space. There is also a bar in the back dedicated solely to IPAs! There is no loud music and plenty of room to sit, so you won’t be dealing with bid crowds or shouting over each other to talk.
They also have a menu of gastropup munchies. I went for the SAUSAGE POUTINE FRIES ($ 10), and I was let down. I found the fries to be too thin and crispy for the gravy. Poutine usually tastes better (to me) with medium cut fries that are still soft on the inside. The sausage and cheese curd toppings were sparse, and the gravy was really salty. I was heavily regretting not eating at Soda & Swine before.
HOWEVER, I am still a fan of Tiger! Tiger! because of the great atmosphere, beers, and cheerful service. If you are local, they also have a lot of cool events with live music that you can hear about through their Facebook. I believe there is also a $ 4 before 4 pm deal on most beer – have to check that one out next time!
Food: 2, Beer: 5, Service: 4, Environment: 5, Price: 3

Came here for late night food and got in just before the kitchen closed at 10pm. The truffle fries are the best and the tofu bahn mi is a good option for health consciousness. Order at the bar and hen find a table. They’ll bring your food to you. They also have a nicely heated back patio with picnic tables.

Nice little pub as recommended from a local. We ventured in and found a rather unique wood enclosed pub with bikes hanging from the ceiling and long tables lining the seating area. Food and beer is ordered in the front and then served to you at the table.
Really nice selection of craft beers, and I could not decide so as usual, I got the flight to try things out. We really did not have a lot of time to stay, and it was very early in the afternoon so we could not experience the full flavor of the atmosphere, bit I was told it’s pretty cracking in the evenings and weekend. In fact the bar was listed in the top 100 best beer bars in Draft magazine.

This spot has a nice atmosphere to it. There are a number of picnic tables scattered about for that communal feel. I loved the wall of old bikes hanging about.
You can order your drinks at the counter where the very friendly bar tenders will help you out with any questions you may have about their great selection of craft beers on tap. The bar tenders are really super friendly and have a great knowledge of the beers that are on tap. If you are not sure what to get just ask and they will be happy to assist. Don’t be afraid to ask for a sample, but I’m sure they will offer you one before you even have to ask.

Great spot in North Park with pub vibe. You order drinks and food at the counter and then take a number. There are picnic tables inside and outside, some of which are community seating. The vibe is hipster chill. Bartenders are great. They know the beer and the food and made some good recommendations.
The draft selection is great. Wide range of beer styles and brands. It is a paradise for a beer drinker. The food is pretty great for a pub. I had a shrimp sandwich which was nothing short of delicious. Also tried the brussels sprouts — nothing exciting here. The salads look pretty great. My friend had the arugula salad and liked it.
I will be back for sure.

Most of the time come here on Fridays cuz they have select beers for $ 4. This is the sister location of blind lady ale house. They food here is good but kinda pricey. I’ve only tried the clam chowder, kids grilled cheese, and the sausage poutine fries. The food is very tasty just a little high dollar. Everything is wood fired from the oven. I have a hard time paying $ 11 for a Vietnamese sandwich that I can get for $ 4 elsewhere. But, the beer selection is fantastic and Tuesdays and Fridays are the day to get $ 4 select beers. However, this is another place that will serve you in smaller glasses if the percent is high or if it is a rare type beer. Nonetheless, a very good place that has established itself very well near 30^th and El Cajon Blvd.

It pains me to write this review because I have heard so many wonderful things about tiger! tiger! And a good friend wanted me to try it so badly, she got me a gift card. However, my experience was terrible. We ordered our food and drinks without incident. The beer and cider were tasty. Then, we found our seats… We received our fries on time, but then proceeded to wait for 45 minutes before our food arrived. During that time, two large parties received their entire meals, including the same dishes we ordered. Just when we were about to inquire, our food was brought out without apology. We asked about it and then received the poor excuse that they got swamped with large parties, but they didn’t seem to have any difficulty getting their food in a reasonable time. On top of that, my food had gotten cold. I ordered a burger that was at best Luke warm, m and dried out. My theory is that they finished mine early and then left it under the heating lamp while they prepared my boyfriend’s meal. Then, they proceeded to give his away to one of the subsequent people who ordered it. Finally, I was served an inadequate burger 45 minutes after I sat down. There was no management apology or any notice of this error. I’m so sad to say this but I do not intend to return to tiger! tiger! Again and, if this is an indication of present management, blind lady ale house may need to be crossed of my list as well… I am truly upset to have to say these things of such important staples in the north park dining experience! But as I said, my experience was awful!

This is a pretty legit spot! Solid food and great rotating beer taps. Fun social vibe, outdoor area as well.
Really loved the clam chowder, it’s not like traditional New England style which was a VERY pleasant surprise.
And the steak sandwich on focaccia bread?! Wow.
Enjoy!

Pros:
— Vintage bicycles hang from the ceiling.
— Music is not overbearing.
— Plenty of seating (predominantly harvest tables).
— Drinks and food are delivered by staff to your table.
— Friendly staff.
— The house-​made doughnuts (w shredded coconuts and coconut glaze) is a must try. Not too sweet, not too heavy.
— As a non-​beer drinker, was surprised to find Modern Times’ «HooLooMooLoo» might just convert me to IPAs.
Note (s):
— Parking is at a premium. There is one, time-​unlimited spot right in front of the brew pub with a few time restricted spots. Additional parking is around the block but don’t park behind T-​mobile. Tiger! Tiger! warns with a sign that you will be towed if you do.

The hubby and I came here today since it was kid friendly and i had my five month old with us. We were the only ones with a child but it was still a great atmosphere. An older couple even thought we reminded them of themselves when their children when were younger taking their kids to bar-​like places. Anyways we got the Woodfired Oysters, Raw Oysters, A Burger and the Pork Belly BanhMi. Also the Ninkasi Hop Cooler beers and they were awesome draft beers.
The Raw Oysters were better than the Woodfired Oysters. But thats just my opinion.
The Burger was cooked to what i wanted and didn’t disappoint me at all. Awesome mustard/​burger zest sauce on the side to complement the bun and burger meat itself.
The Pork Belly was the highlight for me. Cooked to gelatin perfection and complemented with well cut carrots, cucumber and pickled onions.
If you wanted a quick bite and a great craft beer this is a nice quaint place to go with a handful of friends and great conversation.

Cool place, great beers! The garden/​patio out back was pretty wicked too.
Loved how they had games to play — dominos, yahtzee, monopoly, etc.
The bartender was cool, even gave my friend a hard time — which she totally deserved — «I’ll try the saison, and the IPA» **tastes both** «I’ll have the stout.» What?! It was funny… maybe you had to be there?

Great atmosphere, drinks and most importantly, food! Their charcuterie plate was so good. Everything house made and oh so tasty. I tried one of the seasonal beers– I think it was a Mango IPA?
Cool place to hang out with a large group. It’s all communal seating so order at the bar, get your number and then grab a seat.

When in and around North Park area, this spot is my go-​to place. Working in conjunction with Belching Beaver next door, rather in competition, Tiger! X2 and their friendly neighbors are where you want to start hopping while sober to initially avoid the crowds on 30^th or University.
All of their foods are a step up from basic bar affair, and crafted with culinary style in mind over basic fat and calorie counts to soak up alcohol. That being said, you can also get those two things in my favorite item, the poutine fries. The fries themselves are perfectly fried, thin cut, and covered in house sausage gravy. I also like the curry fries as an alternative, though wouldn’t really order it unless I was avoiding meat for the month or something akin to that personally. Their banh mi’s, when on the often rotating menu, focus on what the cooks are good at (food accompanying ipa’s) rather than being authentic.
Of course the main draw of the place is the beer. With their mix of their own house brew and local brew, don’t expect to ever see Bud or Blue Moon, or even basic Arrogant Bastard and regular Ballast Point Sculpin here. The selection is what is the hottest and/​or most experimental from all around SD county, and they even have an IPA bar in the back to accommodate SD’s hops craze as well as to not crowd the main menu up front.
Grab an 8oz., a pint, or even a pitcher and feast like vikings with fellow North Park visitors and locals at the long tables which encourage talking to your fellow man for over your phone for once. Feel the comraderie, and I’ll even let you buy me a beer.

This would be my spot if I lived in San Diego. It’s hip… okay hipster. They have a huge list of beers and some wines on tap. Since we were doing wine, we had wine.
The ambiance is great, albeit a little dark, with bar seating and long communal tables to share. They also serve sandwiches and some bar snacks.

They have wine on tap! I got this awesome white wine ($ 9) that was a nice aroma of pineapple and honeycomb. They also have other whites and reds available.
There is an awesome Passion Fruit beer that I am pleased to see as well. It’s a light beer that has a really nice, and not overpowering smell and taste of passion fruit. It’s absolutely perfect.
They always always check ID, no matter what, at the front door (this was true years ago), so be prepared.
Parking is easy, so much front street parking and around the corner since it’s on El Cajon Blvd. Yet, blocks away are the other awesome breweries like Rip Tide and Belching Beaver. I recommend parking at Tiger! Tiger! then beer festing it up by walking around the quieter area of North Park just 2 – 3 blocks away.
Family style picnic seating. It gets loud in here, people play board games and Heads Up, so if you are looking for a quiet intimate date, this is NOT the place :)

I am cheating a bit considering I didn’t try the food and can only comment on the ambiance, service and beer. A few sniffs of my neighbors’ meals smelled incredible– I would love to return to try the food!
I stopped here during a little pub crawl down 30^th Ave in North Park and was glad I did (and wished I came hungry!) Ordering the beer was easy and the selection was impressive– highly recommended to visit to try both their own brewery (Automatic) and other local tastes. I had the blonde sour with cherries and it was absolutely fantastic– perfectly tart and flavorful.
As many have said as well, it is roaringly noisy (it is called Tiger! Tiger! for a reason I suppose). I was crouched over a very small plank of wood around the kitchen area almost face to face with my drinking team and it challenging to hear even then. I can’t imagine being at a communal table! I suggest bringing the hard-​of-​hearing folks to their brunch where I imagine it to be much quieter (but don’t get me wrong, the brunch menu looked incredible too!).

Finally crossed Tiger! Tiger! off my bookmarks and I’m happy to report that it didn’t disappoint!
To begin, my date and I shared the curry fries. For some reason, I thought they were going to be more curry flavored, rather than a dipping sauce. They were good, but just not worth $ 9. (Just get the regular fries next time.)
The pork belly banh mi was fantastic and probably one of the best Vietnamese fusion sandwiches that I’ve had in awhile. The pork was tender and the bread soft and chewy. I would definitely recommend this!
The surprise highlight of the meal were the vegan donuts. I’m not much of a donut fan, but I loved these because they weren’t overly sweet. I really appreciate that they waited until we were done with our meals, before having the chef cook them up fresh for us. Such service and attention to detail!
The ambiance is a little dark, but don’t let that scare you away because the food is pretty fantastic!

Stopped in here yesterday for a bite to eat while doing some beer tastings in the area. Aside from a group having a party on the patio out back, It was rather quiet at first. By the time we left, though, they had a steady stream of business.
While, they had a nice selection of brews, the food is what really stood out to me here. We got an order of donuts to start. YUMMY!!! They were light and absolutely DELISH! Then came our food. The hubs got a Monte Cristo, which he enjoyed, and I the biscuit sandwich with fried chicken… HOLY BAJEEZEUS it was FABULOUS! I could barely finish it due to size and hardiness. The hubs had to help me out. He liked mine as much as his.
I can definitely see coming back to try the offerings from the dinner menu along with the beer!

Great food, great beer, great atmosphere. This is Blind Lady’s sandwichy little brother and he definitely does his family proud.
Extensive rotating selection of mostly local craft beer including their own Automatic Brewing Company selections sprinkled in. It tends to lean heavily toward the IPA side of things, but they usually make sure to have a couple of other selections in each of the various styles. (I like whits and hefs and they usually have one of each.)
Their food is delicious! Unfortunately, I can only attest to the small corner of the menu in which their Pork Belly Banh Mi Sandwich lives… but let me tell you that it is amazing. As much as I long to try other things on the menu, I just can’t see past this perfectly crisped pork belly topped with lightly pickled vegetables packed into the crispy wood-​fired baguette to ever get there. I’ve split fries and cakes with friends, and those are delicious as well, but my heart belongs to the Banh Mi.
The ambiance is nice with a beautiful wooden interior and the communal family-​style seating long bench tables like its big sister. Personally, my favorite spot is on the front patio where you can sit, eat, sip, chat, and watch North Park life roll by. and if you’re really lucky you’ll also receive free dances and entertainment from the adorable door guy. ;)
Great stop for food, beer, and fun.