Local bars and restaurants are gearing up for St. Patty’s Day.
Many are offering traditional corned beef and cabbage dinners with green beer and March Madness basketball games.
Eastlake Tavern and Bowl event director April Synnott has worked with Tavern for five years, however the Eastlake location opened in 2009.
There is also a Tavern and Bowl in downtown San Diego and North County.
“It’s just a family-friendly sports bar and bowling alley,” Synnott said. “It’s a very relaxed atmosphere.”
But once 9 p.m. hits, it’s time for the under-age kids to leave and time for the DJ to play.
Synnott said she expects a big crowd Saturday, but will not meet its 450-person capacity.
Eastlake Tavern is promoting its corned beef sliders with Yukon gold potatoes for $5 for customers to wash down with a glass of green beer.
Synnott said there will be some decorations and staff will wear March Madness T-shirts, which they will also sell.
The Tavern has 50 flat screen TVs and 10 lanes for those who prefer to bowl.
National City’s Stoney’s Bar and Grill co-owner Justin Thomas has run the business with his father Mike for the last six years.
Thomas, 41, said Stoney’s has been in business since 1967 and although its kitchen will close at 5 p.m. Saturday, drinks will be served.
The specialty is an Irish combo which includes a shot of Jameson and a pint of Guinness. They will also serve Irish Jell-o shots.
Stoney’s is open until 2 a.m.
Thomas said the bar usually starts getting crowded around 8 p.m. and has a maximum capacity of approximately 150.
Although there is no live entertainment, they’ve got a jukebox.
Chula Vista Lion’s Den owner Susan Rosene, who named the bar herself, said there is an annual tradition on Saint Patty’s Day.
“Every year I make corned beef and cabbage and serve green beer,” she said. “It starts at 3 p.m.”
Rosene said a jukebox provides any song a person wants to hear and there will be free pool as well as darts.
The maximum occupancy is 49. She describes customers as coming “from all walks of all life and ages.”
As far as decorating, Rosene says The Eastlake Brew House challenges customers to “get your green on” for St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
Chula Vista Brew House co-owner Doug Chase has been running the bar and restaurant since it opened four and a half years ago.
At 9:30 p.m. a local cover band called Traxx will play.
Chase said dancing is not only allowed, but encouraged.
