I, on the other side, was not expecting my Saturday morning tricycle ride to lead me to a dimly lit bar. But the vintage arcade games, 1960s paintings, and chill vibe reminded my parents of old stomping grounds in San Diego and Santa Barbara. So we stayed.
Needless, we - the bar and I - came to a mutual agreement to work with each other.
I parked my tricycle up front by the pinball machine, headed for a booth and ordered off the adult menu - grilled cheese with tater tots - only $7. That was the price for adults too.
While we waited for food, I went back and forth between banging buttons of the arcade games to dancing around the outdoor patio. Watching my dad play pinball, while he sampled their Vienna Lager, was definitely a highlight. Given the light crowd, my roaming went unnoticed - always a relief to my parents.
Then the food arrived. Having never had tater tots before, I was pretty stoked to discover what my parents had been keeping secret. My fascination with the fried balls a very little nutritiousness lasted just long enough for my mom to finish off a plate of fish tacos (which were just like the ones she'd had at similar bars in San Diego.) Dad enjoyed the other half of the grilled cheese and his beer.
At two feet, six inches, I could sit with my head just above the table and eat off a smaller plate the waiter brought. Mom made it through two and a half fish tacos (out of 3) before I decided that crawling over her and putting my feet up on the table was more fun. At which point Dad whisked me away to check out the tour bus pulled up out front.
I didn't make it to the bathroom to check out the changing-table-scene, yet given the look of shock on the hostess' face when we asked for a high chair, I have a pretty good idea what it was like.
Anyway, for a bar that had no plans (or probably interest) in attending to tricycle-riding clientele, I thought they did a rather swell job - unknowingly stocking the place with bright and flashy video games, tater tots and a staff who seemed to welcome whatever and whoever walked through the door. Hopefully my next tricycle ride brings be back.
