Best of 2003: Best Dive From Down Under

Australian Pub
1014 Grand Avenue, Pacific Beach
858-273-9921

The Australian Pub has been open in P.B. for six years now, and the decor includes Australian flags and World Cup soccer memorabilia intended to invoke a Down Under feel. Sailing artifacts are also plentiful because owner John Kelsey is a noted sailing enthusiast. Popular Australian dishes include meat pies and sausage rolls stuffed with cheese and rolled in pastry. Both dishes are priced from $4.95 to $6.94, ˆ la carte or with chips. Bartender Jeremy Elbert says the most popular Aussie drinks are Cooper's pale sparkling ale and Cooper's stout ($3.50 per bottle). But, wait, isn't Foster's Australian for beer? "We have a lot of Australian customers and none of them like Foster's," says Elbert. "What real Aussies usually want is VB beer, but we can't find a distributor for it."