Victor H.
Yelp
You would have troubling guessing, given how quiet La Mesa Boulevard is on a Saturday, that inside this one nondescript door awaited a lively, noisy, busy, and incredibly fun pub, The Hills Pub.
I was there a couple of Saturdays ago because I heard their pub food was, God forgive me, 'elevated,' but elevated it was, enhanced by Jade, one of the best bartenders I've ever been served by. There were probably about a dozen of us at the bar, each with our own dietary and time-management needs, and Jade danced circles around her patrons. The energy was infectious. And when bartenders take the time to know your name, it's endearing. And fun. And Jade is both.
Despite her burger suggestions, I stuck with my first choice, the El Diablo Burger (but I still love hearing what the staff eat). I literally felt my serotonin getting erect when I took my first bite. The moist 6-8oz patty was slathered in a kind of Serrano Jam Puree that satisfied every primal urge I could bring and it was a wonderful thing. (Though I'm still curious how a fresh, medium-well burger can be served in, I'm guessing, less than three minutes.)
The place was packed. And I liked that there were all kinds of age ranges. There was a sense of community more than anything and it should come as no surprise that this bar stands over the last couple of decades (give or take) where others fail. This is, for sure, a keeper. Great job, guys!
(P.S. The one criticism I do have, just because it's so weird and icky that it bares mentioning, is the hat the bar back was wearing; it had a rifle emblem with the words 'pedophile shooter.' Um. Awkward. And real inappropriate for a place selling us on fun and good times.)