San Diego Reader

This place right next to the Converse language school for foreign students is great to hang out at, partly to get an international feel, mostly to catch the bargains they always seem to have for the often hard-up students.

This is Time Out Sports Bar and Grill at 634 Broadway, 615-615-0933.

Most crowded time’s around 11:30 a.m., when the students crowd out of class for a break.

It’s got pool, beer pong, fights on a huge screen...

...and good prices for food and drink.

Like, last time I was in, Peggie...

...gave me a deal for a beer ($2.32 for a pint of Time Out brewski, a kind of Bud), and a plate of steak fries ($2.15), which were more than enough to help chug down the beer. Total with tax: $4.82.

This time I’m in early evening (they’re open till two each morning) and order me up another Time Out beer, but this time check for other happy hour (3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) possibles.

They have standard stuff: poppers for $2.95, sweet potato fries ($2.05), cheese stix ($3.25), or a quesadilla for $2.45.

Or a sampler of them all for $8.45.

I go for the quesadilla.

Good choice: There’s lots of this quartered “Mexican pizza," and the plate comes with a fresh salsa, a pile of guacamole and sour cream.

This time I get out $5.14 poorer.

I mean, for what you usually pay where you can get a beer downtown, this is a little treasure, hidden in plain sight.

The other great thing, unlike some of the happy hour places hereabouts, you don’t have to dress up.