The Smoking Gun SD — Restaurant in San Diego

1/8/23 at 3pm we stopped in for bites/drinks and a game. We asked the female bartender if it's possible to change the TV to the PSU basketball game. She said she would check and when she came back gave us a story about how the cable is not working and no one could come out for maintenance. Funny thing was that all TV's were on different football games and seemed to be working fine. Okay cool we bought the story and my wife ended up watching on her phone.

Fast forward to halftime. A gentleman came in and sat next to us and asked a different bartender if he could change the channel and the bartender said absolutely and went off to accommodate his request. When the bartender returned I couldn't help but to ask why the discrepancy between the two. He didn't really have an answer since he realized what had happened. The female bartender clearly was being lazy and did not want to put in the effort for a great guest experience. We immediately asked for the check. No one wants to be lied to and especially over something so simple as changing the channel.

The thing that really solidified the fact she was lying was after I stepped outside to wait for my wife there was a male host standing outside. He made a comment about my pink PSU hoodie and I said "yeah we're heading out to catch the game at another bar". He responded with "we can change the channel for you here!". I explained that the bartender inside said otherwise and explained the whole story to him and why we were leaving. He said yeah I can't blame you for leaving.

We are in town for our 8 year anniversary and just wanted to watch the game at a bar. The reason we choose to stop in was because it was empty with only 27 people at the bar and one 5 top sitting in a booth, yeah I counted haha.

Being lied to over something so simple just left a bad taste and we'll not be returning.

As for the food, the burger was delicious and I still ended up leaving a 20% tip even though the bartender did...

4pm and not busy… I wonder why?!!?

Let’s start off with the warm plastic fake cup they serve their drafts in that suddenly warm my beer up in less than two minutes. Not cool man. With the competition of being located in the gas lamp district you would think they would actually care or put up some kind of a fight to keep up with the competition, this establishment is not worthy of popping up on my google search as a “barbecue restaurant!” Weak by all means. Next let’s talk about the kiddy trays they are trying to serve with child size portions of a soup dish that they try to pass as “smoked brisket…”. NOT EVEN CLOSE- THE TEXTURE ALONE MADE ME WANT TO VOMIT ON CONTACT WITH A MAC AND CHEESE SLOP FOLLOWED WITH A WHOLE DOUBLE SHOT OF BUTTER WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY POINTLESS IF YOU ARE IN BUSINESS TO TURN A PROFIT AND I BET THE WASTE ACCUMULATED FROM CUSTOMERS BARELY USING 1/10 OF IT AND THEN DISCARDING THE REST IS COMPLETELY AN ISSUE FOR RETHINKING. We returned the fatty brisket plate back just to be uncomfortably confronted by the waitress because the chef wants to know exactly what part about their smoked brisket “hoppy meal,” I didn’t like. LETS SEE… I was completely polite and honest because I thought that is what they wanted- some honest feedback- but abruptly confronted by the cook- he angrily snatched the rest of our plates from the table in front of us while taking care of the bill. My wife said, oh my gosh they are aggressive and rude! She wouldn’t allow me to leave a gratuity, and we left from there while we could. I do NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE, instead I believe they need a serious BAR RESCUE!!! This place should really receive a zero review, the only good thing to look forward to is them being out of...

Smoking Gun is a gorgeous new bar space doing craft cocktails and solid food, thanks to non other than industry giant Eric Johnson.

I’ve been in here for a variety of reasons, both business and pleasure as well as a variety of times.

I find the revolver salad to be a little bland, but the lemon chicken helps more than the other proteins. French Onion soup could use more depth. Thick chicks are made proper with kennebecs. Fried pickles need more zing, perhaps a buttermilk ranch. The lemon peppered wings are not at all what the rest of the wing culture might expect, still delish. The cheeseburger sliders at HH are perfect, solid sides, but could use more entrees.

Drinks are delish with their bar set up really well. The drinks menu is varied and vast with flavors abound. Top shelf liquor selection. I like the frozen slushie offerings along with classic boilermakers. My little ponies are a nice tribute to simply being in San Diego.

The décor is pure 70’s, but elaborate. Grey leather, green bar, shuffly board, fooseball, a grand sign above you which you tend to miss. Art deco bathrooms. I feel the sink is weird being that shared trough sort of style. Little nooks and crannies to hide away at.

The staff is great, ever server, bartender, staff member I’ve dealt with has been great. It’s a place I frequently suggest and visit a place that is a great addition to Gaslamps...