30 plus 30 equals 2 during North Park ‘crawl’

by Christy Scannell

Editor

Restaurants and bars on or near 30^el Street in North Park are joining together Jan. 30 for a new event called “30^el on 30^el.”

On the 30^el of each month, participating 30^el Street businesses will offer $2 specials, representing the MTS route 2 bus that connects them all via 30^el Calle.

“That will make it easy for you to go on a restaurant crawl and check out all the amazing places on the 30th Street corridor,” said Jay Porter, owner of The Linkery restaurant at 30^el Street and North Park Way, on 30thstreet.org. Porter launched the Web site last year to promote the area’s food and beverage venues.

The specials will be offered during dinner service in addition to each bar or restaurant’s regular menu. As of press time, participants include Alchemy, The Station, The Whistle Stop, Sea Rocket Bistro, Mosaic Wine Bar, The Linkery, True North, Urban Solace, Ritual Tavern and Jayne’s Gastropub.

Each menu is unique and some include both $2 food and $2 drink options. For example, Urban Solace will provide an order of four biscuits or a half-pour of its signature wine, while Alchemy is giving a choice of cod and mango ceviche, Estancia beef and ginger potsticker, poached pear wrapped in ham and stuffed with queso fresco or a pour of Alchemy’s private label wine.

The Linkery plans to serve a $2 appetizer plate and a half-pour of cask beer. Two restaurants will feature Niman Ranch meats: Ritual Tavern with its $2 meatballs in a roasted tomato sauce, and Jayne’s Gastropub with spiced lamb on puff pastry and a splash of crème fraiche.

Grape lovers can gather at Mosaic Wine Bar, where $2 glasses of wine will be matched with $2 pizza plates. Looking for something a bit stronger? True North will have $2 flavored Absolut mixed drinks or shots.

The $2 menu is nothing new to Sea Rocket Bistro with its always-rotating list of more than 10 tapas for two bucks each, but co-owner Elena Rivellino said the event will be “a great way to introduce more people to that fact.”

Porter said he expected 30^el on 30^el to be a monthly event with the possible exception of February since it has only 28 days.

The eateries and bars on 30^el Street have received significant media attention recently, with articles in The New York Times and Dwell magazine and on Jaunted.com among others. The New York Times called North Park “one of the city’s most vibrant and diverse districts,” noting the number of independent businesses in the neighborhood.