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Batter Up! Serves Up American Classics For Padres Fans Headed To Petco
944 Magazine
(April, 2006)
 By Michele Nguyen
RESTAURANT CRITIC
With baseball season here again, the most eager sports fans know that the sights and sounds of the field go hand in hand with the taste of some delicious, keep-coming-back-for-more eats. All-star Chef Melvin Johnson successfully melds that irresistible combination at Batter Up!, a new sports-themed restaurant likely to cure the virtually insatiable hunger of the biggest appetites to the eager snackers who insist on coming back for another helping. No one says it better than the folks at Batter Up!: “This is a place where big league flavor meets major league appetite.”
At Batter Up!, it’s evident that what keeps diners coming back (besides the food) is the lively environment. The sports and baseball theme dominates the brick-lined walls, with a vast array of sports memorabilia comprised of countless colorful banners, photos and sports equipment that generate a lively mood, providing a healthy dose of competitive spirit essential for a great game. The restaurant is decked out with a batter’s box ordering area and on-deck circle with authentic fold-down stadium seats. Four large plasma screens hang in different areas of the restaurant so avid fans won’t have to miss the game of the day.
But at Batter up!, it isn’t just about the looks. The food is where this big league restaurant shines. Johnson, a San Diego native, has lived and worked in America’s top culinary cities _ Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. Once a sous-chef to Food Network star Bobby Flay, he expanded his international palate, studying traditional Western cuisines in Europe and experimenting with exotic flavors in Japan and India. Johnson later decided to return to San Diego Because he believes there is no better place to celebrate good old American sports culture and dining than with Batter Up!’s menu. The establishment offers favorites such as juicy burgers, loaded sandwiches and the restaurant’s signature Batter Baskets.
home run eats...
WHAT Batter up!
WHERE 342 Euclid Avenue,
Southeast San Diego
HOURS 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 12 to 7 p.m. Sunday
INFO Call 619.262.3333 or visit www.gobatterup.com |
944 has its own gluttonous share of favorites worth mentioning. One is the Triple Play Combo, a basket for those who don’t like to make tough decisions. Instead of choosing between the battered fresh fish fillets, golden fried shrimp or crispy chicken wings, all three are served in one basket along with a heap of perfectly seasoned fries that can only be resisted by a full stomach. Nothing tastes like it has been frozen or processed in Batter Up!’s kitchen; every item is juicy and dipped in the perfect amount of batter – not too skimpy and not too much. As a testament to the freshness, the fish fillets are so tender inside, they practically fall apart when you bite into the crispy batter shell. If all this talk of frying and batter are scaring those who are actually sticking to their New Year’s resolutions, the menu does have a selection of specialty salads, burgers and sandwiches featuring lean turkey breasts and grilled chicken packed with flavor. Another standout menu selection, the Double Shrimp Clubhouse, features plump smoky flavored grilled shrimp and crisp bacon with a satisfying blend of tartar sauce and secret Batter Up! sauce. The only trouble encountered while eating this double-decker sandwich is how to fit it in one’s mouth.
Johnson has played the role of innovative chef and has consistently performed brilliantly. His career spans successful stints at Baker’s Café in Atlanta, The Grant Grill in San Diego and the Juke Joint Café in the Gaslamp Quarter. Yet at Batter Up! he has combined his passions for food and family, creating a friendly, inviting and fun atmosphere where the food matches the quality and excitement of the environment.
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