Hamilton's Tavern

Before going bankrupt and disappearing altogether from San Diego, Bob's Big Boy reigned as the heavyweight champion of grilled cheese sandwiches. Sopped with butter and cooked to the brink of charring for maximum goo and crunch, any accidentally blackened bits were drowned in ketchup and covered with a pickle slice and all was well with the world. Until Bob's went bankrupt and disappeared altogether from San Diego.
The spirit of the fallen heavyweight champion lives on at Hamilton's Café, the food supplement to the neighboring neighborhood tavern of the same name. Hamilton's had to go and one-up Bob's by stuffing their versions with avocado, bacon, smoke ham, apple slices and such, which is a gift from God as far as most folks are concerned. Fried lentil nuggets and mussels simmered in beer induce drool, and burgers, brats and wings fill the rest of the menu. What's not to be missed, however, is the microbrew lover's bisque of dreams: beer cheese soup.
It's like picnicking in a grounded tree house that's been decorated with leftover trinkets from Grandma's basement. Citronella candles and utensils in ceramic beer steins with fishing scenes stand at the end of tables that look like they were lifted from the nearest campground. Serving trays bearing state maps and their respective floral mascots are nailed to the walls. Few bodies are needed to crowd the skinny space, but the heaviest traffic no doubt goes through a window connecting the café to the bar next door. They'll slide anything off the menu and into the tavern, but it's strictly a one-way route. The café's a no-booze zone.
Midnight serves as the official last call for food, but if no one's hungry they'll lock up as early as 10. (SignOnSanDiego.com)