The one thing that San Diego County has no shortage of is a place to get a good drink. San Diego has one of the best nightlives around with a plethora of clubs and bars to choose from. But what’s missing? A tavern that sells great food, made with the freshest ingredients and enjoying said food with a pint of your favorite beer.

The Ritual Tavern fills that void with its open, neighborly atmosphere. Harking back to the days of old where friends, community members and neighbors would gather and enjoy a meal and a drink after a long day of hard work. This tavern continues this long appreciated tradition with meals that include farm fresh vegetables, U.S. farmed meats and locally caught fish.

Located in North Park, the Ritual Tavern is accessible to all its patrons and certainly draws them in with their Thursday special of fresh oysters served raw on the half shell with house made mignonettes. The fresh seafood offered at Ritual isn’t the only thing that brings in the hungry Tavern-goers. They have also created and continued the tradition of a United Kingdom-inspired pub menu with classics like Shepard’s Pie and Fish & Chips. The Ritual also boasts vegan alternatives to these classic dishes for those whom are so inclined.

The Ritual makes it a point to transport its clientele to a “simpler time, when people knew all the ingredients in the food they ate and the names of the people who farmed them,” by happily stating the ranches, farms and breweries that make the Tavern’s culinary achievements possible.

But farms aren’t the only businesses that give the Ritual Tavern its flare for great food and drink. Many San Diego breweries give the Ritual an edge in regards to getting some of the best beverages possible.

“Over the past three years the Ritual Tavern has developed strong ties to breweries that have won international acclaim. Our care in selecting ingredients and focus on cooking on in many ways similar to the production at the local small scale breweries. As such the Ritual has access to limited releases of Brewery specialties,” stated owners Michael Flores and Staci Wilkins.

With decades of restaurant experience between the two of them, Michael and Staci have grown up in North Park with the considerate attention to creating a striving business and giving back to the community. The Ritual Tavern has a prominent relationship with North Park Main Street which is geared toward revitalizing North Park to its true potential with regards to “respect infrastructure and building improvements, street side patio dining, and improved approachability of storefronts.”

“The Ritual regularly provides catering for NPMS fundraising efforts, including Taste of North Park, North Park Festival of the Arts, and the Toyland Parade fundraising dinner.”

The laundry list of community involvements that the Ritual has taken part in is a testament to their great service and amazing drive to give back to the community. The Ritual Tavern has participated in the first inaugural Taste of North Park Main Street benefiting North Park Main Street, the North Park Festival of the Arts benefiting North Park Main Street, hosted North Park Community Association Mixer event twice, the North Park Toyland Parade Fundraiser food platter donation, the Pro Peninsula Summer Lunada fundraiser food platter donation and so many more.