Acclaimed Local Bartenders Open Happy Medium Cocktail Bar in North Park | Eater San Diego

"A recent and welcome addition to North Park’s bar scene, I see the long‑awaited bar and restaurant from longtime friends Eric Johnson and Christian Siglin—Happy Medium—as a project over a decade in the making by two hugely respected bartenders who met in 2010 at Noble Experiment, trained under craft cocktail legends, and even earned Eater’s Bartender of the Year awards in 2013 and 2014. Replacing Streetcar Merchants at the corner of 30th and Lincoln, it fits the sweet spot between a high‑end bar and a lived‑in dive: you can get a simple beer and a shot or order a mojito without judgment, but the skillful bartenders also get creative with a comfortably priced, playful list of draft cocktails and slushees—highlighted by a vivid blue negroni poured from a tap and a classic Ward 8 that swaps in a splash of Tang for orange juice. The kid- and dog-friendly spot serves an evolving menu overseen by chef consultant Ami Cisneros, from roasted cauliflower with salsa matcha and avocado puree to corn dogs, fried cheese curds, bone marrow toast, and a bodega-style chopped cheese." - Candice Woo