The call
This page is kept as part of the dated record. The order notes below describe the place as Roger recommended it, not as it operates today.
What to order
Best for
- Board games with a drink and pub food, when it was open
From Roger’s notebookRoger, Google Maps review (2015-05-27)
American
Board games with a drink and pub food, when it was open
Latest recorded visit2015-05-27
“Packed, even on weeknighrs.”
American
Tabletop Commons
San Diego's first tabletop gaming bar, in Hillcrest, where Roger found it packed even on weeknights.
Closed
Tabletop Commons has closed; Yelp and Mapquest list the University Avenue location as permanently closed, with no confirmed reopening or successor announced.
Yelp — Tabletop Commons listed as closed (2026-09-21) ↗From Roger’s camera roll
More photos from Tabletop Commons
Posted 2015-05-27 
Posted 2015-05-27 
Posted 2015-05-27
Source-backed notes
Visit history
Checked in 3 times on Swarm, most recently Oct 29, 2015. See the check-in log
2015-05-27day precision · source explicit
“Packed, even on weeknighrs.”
Roger noted it was packed even on weeknights (his draft has a typo, 'weeknighrs'). (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)
Stay in the neighborhood
More in Hillcrest.
RecommendedPrice varies
Hillcrest
Cigar Cave
Drinks
Roger's Hillcrest cigar-bar pick, run by an owner (Raul) he calls the friendliest in town, open later than most local lounges with a strong Belgian beer selection on tap and bottle.
- From the order notes
- A cigar paired by Raul · Belgian beer on tap or bottle
- Go for
- Late-night cigar hours · Belgian beer drinkers
Latest recorded visit2025-01-15
Not recommendedPrice varies
Hillcrest
Hong Kong Restaurant
Chinese
A Hillcrest Chinese restaurant Roger says declined after the pandemic, dropping from a two-star review to one star, after an earlier visit he'd already called just okay and Americanized.
- From the order notes
- Go for
- A cautionary tale on a post-pandemic decline
Latest recorded visit2022
Worth trying$$
Hillcrest
Nishiki Ramen - Hillcrest
JapaneseRamen
A Hillcrest location of the Nishiki Ramen chain -- a separate address from the site's existing Kearny Mesa entry -- rated a middling three stars by Roger.
- From the order notes
- Go for
- Ramen in Hillcrest
Latest recorded visit2019-02-02
Keep exploring
More like this.
Browse the American page, or continue to another place with a matching cuisine.
MixedPrice varies
Mission Valley
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar
American
Good for one thing in Roger’s book: a dog-friendly patio. The Black & Bleu burger was bland on a cold bun.
- From the order notes
- Happy hour beers · Cajun fries
- Go for
- Bringing a dog
Latest recorded visit2017 · approx.
ClosedPrice varies
Pacific Beach
The Patio on Lamont
American
Great food, slow service: the birthday dinner where Roger was charged $1.50 for a truffle nobody ordered.
- From the order notes
- Russian snow crab ahi tuna tower · Jidori chicken · Portuguese garlic shrimp
- Go for
- The food — not the wait
Latest recorded visit2013 · approx.