The San Diego Comic-Con celebration got too big for the convention center years ago, now it spills out all over the Gaslamp District and beyond. Take a look at what some of the local restaurants are offering next week in honor of Comic-Con!
Bleu Bohéme
Bleu Bohème will celebrate Comic-Con International with a cocktail that will have you weaving a web of justice – the ‘Femme d’Araignée,’ or Spider-Woman. Inspired by the superheroine, the cocktail will be available Thursday, July 19 through Sunday, July 22.
Located in San Diego’s charming Kensington neighborhood at 4090 Adams Ave., minutes from the convention, Bleu Bohème’s Femme d’Araignée is made with rye whisky, Ramos Pinto fine ruby port, lemon juice and simple syrup, topped with soda water, priced at $14.
Primavera Ristorante
Mamma mia, it’s-a Mario time at Primavera Ristorante. Located at 932 Orange Ave. in Coronado, Primavera Ristorante will celebrate Comic-Con International with featured dishes and a specialty cocktail inspired by the beloved Super Mario series, available Thursday, July 19 through Sunday, July 22.
In honor of the annual convention, executive chef Ryan Moore will prepare two Mario-inspired dishes: Super Mario Brothers Meatballs, house-made pork and beef meatballs topped with creamy ricotta and served with house-made marinara and basil crisps, available for $12; and Mario Marsala, lightly breaded chicken breast sautéed in Sicilian Marsala wine with cremini mushrooms, priced at $28. The Princess Peach Bellini, made with prosecco and fresh peach slices, will also be available for $12.
Monkey King
Monkey King, located in the Gaslamp Quarter at 467 5th Ave., will toast the annual convention with cocktails inspired by Mortal Kombat.
Available Thursday, July 19, through Sunday, July 22, the cocktails, priced at $12, include:
• Sonya Blade’s Special Force, made with Old Forrester bourbon, ginger, lime, mint, tamarind and R&D aromatic bitters #7;
• Liu Kang’s Shaolin Fury, a combination of Ketel One vodka, Thai basil, lemongrass and lime;
• Kung Lao’s Hat Trick, made with sake, Ketel One botanical peach vodka, lemon, green tea and honey;
• Skarlet Blood Bath, a combination of salted plum-infused rum, lemon and demerara;
• Baraiden’s Electric Fly, made with Henebery whiskey, lime, almond orgeat and R&D sarsaparilla bitters;
• Jax Punch, a combination of Ron Zacapa rum, toasted cashew orgeat, lime, orange liqueur and R&D house bitters;
• Rain’s Purple Storm, made with hibiscus-infused Don Q rum, Campari, pineapple, lime and demerara;
• Sub-Zero’s Snowball Grenade, a combination of Kaffir lime leaf-infused Tanqueray 10 gin, lime, coconut liqueur and spiced milk syrup;
• Tremor’s Earth Shaker, made with Azuñia Blanco tequila, lime, Benedictine, pineapple, cherry and R&D house bitters;
• Tanya’s Edenian Betrayal a combination of gin, lychee, jasmine tea and citrus oil;
• D’vorah’s Hive Nectar, made with Monkey Shoulder whisky, mint, white tea, honey and R&D smoke bitters;
• Takeda’s Lasher, a combination of Russel’s Reserve GBOD single barrel bourbon, Aperol and pomelo-infused Carpano Bianco vermouth;
• Shang Tsung’s Your Soul is Mine!, made with Iwai Japanese whisky and Jägermeister Manifest.
Prohibition
Comic-Con International is here, drink cocktails at Prohibition you must. The force will deliver five Star Wars-inspired cocktails at the Gaslamp Quarter’s underground speakeasy in honor of the annual convention, available Thursday, July 19, through Sunday, July 22.
Created by beverage director Ryan Andrews, Prohibition will offer five new cocktails inspired by the Star Wars series. The cocktails, priced at $14, include:
• Never Tell Me the Odds, made with Redemption Rye, demerara, Averna and R&D house bitters;
• I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing, a combination of El Silencio Mezcal, watermelon cordial and R&D smoke bitters;
• Let the Wookie Win, made with bourbon, lime, ginger and Fernet;
• Fly Casual, made with Jameson Black Barrel, Lillet, lemon and maraschino;
• NO, I Am Your Father!, a combination of Henebery Rye, Ancho Reyes liqueur, lemon and peach.
El Chingon
El Chingon, located in the Gaslamp Quarter at 560 Fifth Ave., will bring out the superhero in anyone with Comic-Con cocktails made with tequila and mezcal. The Avengers-inspired drinks will be available Thursday, July 19, through Sunday, July 22.
• Savory Star Lord, made with El Jimador Blanco tequila, fresh lime, salt and choice of Jarritos soft drink;
• Gamora Delight, a combination of El Silencio mezcal, fresh lime, house-made almond orgeat and R&D sarsaparilla bitters;
• Vision’s Watermelon Treat, made with Azuñia blanco tequila, house-made watermelon cordial, lime and tajín;
• The Infinity War, a combination of Olmeca Altos Blanco tequila, lemon, ginger, honey, St. Germaine and Ancho Reyes Verde;
• Captain America’s Revolution, made with Espolon Blanco tequila, fresh pineapple, fresh lime, cream of coconut and dry Curaçao;
• Iron Man Blast, a combination of Milagro reposado tequila, Mexican Coca-Cola reduction, R&D cherry apple bitters and sarsaparilla bitters.
Havana 1920
What’s more powerful than the Power Stone? Hand-crafted rum cocktails at Havana 1920! The Gaslamp Quarter’s classic Cuban restaurant will celebrate Comic-Con International with specialty cocktails, available Thursday, July 19, through Sunday, July 22.
• Dr. Strange Daiquiri, made with Havana Club Añejo Blanco rum, fresh lime juice, and fresh sugarcane syrup;
• Mind Stone Mojito, a combination of Havana Club Añejo Blanco rum, fresh lime juice, yerba buena, fresh-pressed sugarcane juice, and sugarcane syrup, topped with club soda;
• Loki’s Tesseract, made with Don Q Blanco rum and fresh lime, served with a Mexican Coca-Cola;
• Drax The Destroyer, made with Pusser’s Navy Rum, fresh squeezed orange juice, house-made coconut cream and fresh pineapple juice;
• Ant Man Apricot Special, a combination of Diplomatico 6-year rum, fresh pineapple juice, fresh lime juice, apricot liqueur and R&D aromatic #7 bitters;
• The Star Lord, made with Brugal Añejo rum, Curaçao, Mancino Secco vermouth and house-made grenadine.
Mezé Greek Fusion
The best way to celebrate 10 years of Marvel movies is to celebrate with 10 Marvel-ous cocktails during Comic-Con International. Mezé Greek Fusion, located at 345 Sixth Ave., will honor the franchise with superhero-inspired cocktails available Thursday, July 19, through Sunday, July 22, priced at $13:
• Power Stone Poison, made with strawberry-infused vodka, fresh lime, ginger and R&D house bitters;
• Star Dust Dream, a combination of Ketel One vodka, fresh raspberry, St. Germaine, fresh lemon, honey and prosecco;
• The Black Widow, made with açai-infused vodka, raspberry, fresh lemon and Demerara;
• Thor’s Hammer, a combination of fig-infused Redemption bourbon, fresh lemon and honey;
• Hulk Smash, made with Henebery rye, blackberry, fresh lemon and Demerara;
• Nebula’s Special Treat, a combination of Metaxa brandy, Greek red wine, peaches, orange zest, cinnamon and sparkling ginger;
• Thanos Juice, made with green apple-infused vodka, fresh lime and R&D cherry apple bitters;
• Asgardian Ricky, a combination of Tito’s vodka, Masticha liqueur, fresh lime, cucumber and mint;
• Mantis Mojito, made with Havana Club blanco rum, fresh lime and fresh mint;
• Spider-Man Mule, a combination of fresh lime, rosemary, ginger beer and bitters, with a choice of Nolet’s gin or Ketel One vodka.
BANKERS HILL BAR + Restaurant
BANKERS HILL BAR + Restaurant will offer a futuristic cocktail inspired by the animated sci-fi series Rick and Morty. Get Schwifty is a combination of rye whiskey, green chartreuse, lemon, mint, cane syrup, ginger syrup, Peychaud’s Bitters and Angostura bitters.
Cafe 222
Superheroes deserve super breakfasts, and Cafe 222 is answering the call with waffles inspired by Captain America’s shield, available during Comic-Con International, Thursday, July 19 through Sunday, July 22.
The golden brown malted waffles will be shaped like the hero’s famous shield and topped with fresh berries and whipped cream. They will be available on the children’s menu and will be made in limited supply each day.
Information courtesy of Wicked Creative, photos courtesy of Bleu Bohème, Cafe 222, Primavera Ristorante and Monkey King.