The eatery boasts 40 craft beers on tap, 15 of which are constantly changing, as well as all-natural beef from 100 percent vegetarian fed, hormone and antibiotic free cows. All of the sauces are made in house to assure freshness. The restaurant features a clean-contemporary style enveloped with dark wood, which gives the place a cozy feel. The intimate bar is separated from the dining area by a partial divider, while the dining area connects to the outside patio, creating a large open environment.
For Starters!, as the Eureka! menu enthusiastically shouts everything with an exclamation point, the Eureka Truffle Fries platter ($7.75) is the french fry made decadent, infused with truffle oil, layered with melted havarti cheese and garnished with green onions. The truffle oil and mild cheese create a balanced flavor to the saltiness of the potato and is the essential choice for starters. For the meat lovers, the Osso Buco Riblets ($8.95) may be the more appropriate appetizer, with juicy Red wine braised pork tossed in a firecracker aioli. The menu also includes a unique selection of salads, like the Your Mama’s 80’s Style Taco Salad ($11.25), topped with unexpected “old school” Fritos, and the San Diego Caesar Salad ($15.25), which highlights San Diego’s close proximity to the ocean with blackened jumbo scallops, crunchy green apples and croutons finished off with shaved parmesan.
The Eureka! Burgers are influenced by various places, such as the Catalina Bison Burger ($14.95), paired with charbroiled tri-peppers and Bermuda onions, smoked mozzarella and a savory bacon infused jalapeno jam. The Napa Burger ($11.25) is joined with oil and vinegar marinated oven-roasted Roma tomatoes, havarti, pesto aioli and arugula topped with fried pancetta — a must try for those who can appreciate a double serving of meat, with beef and salt cured pork belly. For the self-indulgent, the side of signature Kennebec potato fries may be substituted for Sweet Honey Cinnamon potato fries or Panko Crusted onion rings (additional $1.25). The Panko crust provides a satisfying bite. Eureka! also caters to the health nut or vegetarian patrons by offering turkey or veggie patties in lieu of beef, as well as a Naked Burger — the option of a bed of arugula tossed in lemon vinaigrette rather than a fresh-baked bun.
Barr let UCSD students in on a few tips to enjoying a nice glass of whiskey during a private tasting for The Guardian. Barr describes the varieties of whiskey to be like the wine family, from Bourbon to Wheat, Single Malt, Wry, Unaged, Corn, Irish and Scotch. Barr advised that the best way to capture the complex flavors is to take a tiny sip, let the whiskey slowly move to the back of the tongue, then open to exhale the different notes of the liquor.
All of the whiskeys at Eureka! have been hand-selected from a small batch of American distilleries across the nation. Eureka! has meticulously chosen a vast array of whiskey to satisfy any palette. The Four Roses bourbon is one of the oldest whiskeys and carries a strong and spicy flavor. Then there is the Rasputin Hopped whiskey, which bears more of a piney flavor. For the whiskey newcomers, Barr suggests the Chatoe Rogue single malt that delivers a lighter taste and is also referred to as the “American Jamison.” Barr’s beverage of choice is the Old-Fashioned, which is composed of Wry, bitters, orange zest and a sugar cube. Eureka! is a great place to splurge after a stressful exam. The food creates a decadent escape from other casual, greasy burger joints, and their whiskey selection is a nice change from the many San Diego restaurants, which feature beer and wine. However, beware of becoming too self-indulgent, otherwise the pricey tab will certainly add up.
