Eatin’ with Epi-Curious, and Drinkin’ Some Hooch

BLACK WATCH PUB

497 North Central Avenue

Upland, CA

982-6069

The Black Watch Pub is one of several dart-throwing, soccer-loving [football-loving–ed.], British wannabe locations in the area [the British owners of the Black Watch might be surprised to hear they are wannabe Brits–ed.]. It features a UK menu with such items as bangers and mash, scotch eggs, steak and kidney and shepherd’s pie. As importantly, the Pub features about a dozen quality draft selections. Located on the corner of Central Avenue and Arrow Highway, it is close to the Colleges and is an okay place for draft beer and snacks. If you are looking for a smoke-filled bar with a rowdy atmosphere, the Black Watch might be for you.

Our sojourn to the pub started with draft Boddington’s (creamy and cold) and a low-end chardonnay in a screw-top bottle. For dinner we shared a Chef’s Salad ($7.00) and a Black Watch Beauty (sausage wrapped in bacon, topped with sautéed onions, mushrooms and peppers, served with fries) ($6.95).

Our server, who was also the bartender, returned to say that the kitchen was out of hard-boiled eggs for the salad. No problem, just add more tomatoes. The salad was fresh and tasty, but what can you really do to a salad? The banger sandwich was also good but the bacon was mysteriously missing.

The Black Watch Pub is inexpensive and close. As they are apparently exempt from the no smoking laws in California, it is a great place for smokers and others who don’t mind a blue cloud surrounding their food and beverages. The Black Watch earned one-half chef’s hats for ambience and one and one-half hats for the food.