#1544 - The Aero Club, San Diego, CA - 8/22/2011

 The Aero Club is a great old dive bar established by a lady pilot in 1947. The bar is off the beaten track, near the San Diego airport and spotted from I5 or various rental car agencies. It was strictly beer and wine until recently, but now it has a massive array of liquors, including 350 whiskeys and 130 vodkas.  Who needs 130 vodkas?  Who cares, the impressive array of bottles and sturdy shelves augment the fighter pilot theme.  That theme is take quite seriously, BTW, with murals, models, a propeller clock and propeller fence out front.

3365 India Street, San Diego, CA 92103 - (619) 297-7211
Est. 1947
aeroclubbar.com - facebook - specialissima flickr - yelp - tripadvisor - beeradvocate

#1543 - Wave House, San Diego, CA - 8/22/2011

3125 Ocean Front Walk, San Diego, CA 92109 - (858) 228-9283
Est. 1981
wavehousesandiego.com -  facebook - yelp  - tripadvisor

#1542 - 710 Beach Club, San Diego, CA - 8/22/2011

710 Garnet Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109 - (858) 483-7844
Est. year - Building constructed: year
710bc.com - yelp - sandiegoclubs - thefeast

#1541 - Lahaina Beach House, San Diego, CA - 8/22/2011

710 Oliver Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109-5017 - (858) 270-3888
yelp - yahoo - discoversd  - iwannagothere 

#1540 - Fred's Mexican Cafe, San Diego, CA - 8/21/2011

2470 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110 - (619) 858-8226
fredsmexicancafe.com - yelp - sandiegan  

#1539 - Riviera Supper Club & Turquoise Room, La Mesa, CA - 8/20/2011

When the Turf Supper Club closed, the owners moved to this larger, swankier location, formerly the Habana Cuban Restaurant. It retains the grill-it-yourself steaks, and the Turquoise Room lounge makes full use of the swanky old mid-century lights and decor from when it was a steak house in the 40s. The food is good, ample, and quite affordable, and the drinks are serviceable. The aesthetics are not to be missed.

7777 University Ave., La Mesa, CA 91942 - (619) 713-6777
Est. 2008 - Building constructed: year
rivierasupperclub.com - facebook - patch.com - yelp - thefeast

#1538 - Grand Cru Mixologie Lounge, Bellevue, WA - 8/17/2011

Update: Grand Cru closed in November 2012; later replaced by 1 Hundred Bistro and later Bar Code.

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The name includes "mixology" and they've published wistful claims of a "Bellevue's Hottest Cocktail Lounge: and "full service cocktail bar with the best drink list in Bellevue." Thankfully, there are much better cocktails to be had in Bellevue (try Naga Lounge in Chantanee or Lot #3).  Some of their text also claims a "selection of dishes inspired by culinary traditions."  What exactly does that exclude?

But while there is little art to their cocktails, it is the "cru" part of the name that is operative here, as it is really much more of a wine bar. In the past they have even offered free meals on certain nights of the week.  It is very Bellevue-ish -- modern commercial decor at the base of a condo building. It is not long on personality, but it is not a bad stop for a glass of wine and upscale American dishes (inspired by culinary traditions).
1020 108th Ave NE, Suite 100, Bellevue, WA 98004 - 425-455-4278
Est. 2009 ("Mixologie" added Aug 2010) - Building constructed: 2009
grandcrulounge.com - facebook - urbanspoon - yelp - komonews - gayot - bellevuebusinessjournal