![4353 La Jolla Village Drive](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mhiweJkii9y9hHFv3LvEpz46cU8=/0x0:1200x925/1200x800/filters:focal(504x366:696x558)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61171459/eureka_20last.0.0.1414371219.0.jpg)
Joining Tender Greens and Seasons 52 in the newly-spruced up Westfield UTC mall is Eureka! Burger, which opens its doors to the public this Sunday, January 6. This is the first San Diego location for the California-based gourmet burger group, although more local outposts are in the works.
Eater San Diego stopped by for a preview (the eatery's located between Macy's and the ArcLight Theater) while Eureka! Burger was conducting a pre-opening whiskey training for its staff. Beverages are serious business here — mixologists will shop local farmer's markets (there's one on Thursdays in the UTC parking lot) for seasonal produce to use in cocktails and they'll offer 40 craft beers on tap and over 40 small batch American whiskeys, including a cache of precious Pappy Van Winkle (12, 15, 20 and 23 year) bottles that are only available by request.
At the new UTC location, nine beer taps will be dedicated to local breweries, from Green Flash and The Lost Abbey to Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits. Eureka! Burger uses Ballast Point's FUGU vodka exclusively at all their locations (check out Eater's distillery tour), plus Ballast Point's Three Sheets Rum.
If that doesn't convince you of their drink dedication, this might: all of Eureka! Burger's waitstaff are Certified Beer Servers (though the Cicerone Certification Program) and the restaurant requires its bartenders to pass the Certified Cicerone exam within six months of employment.
Beer's in the food too; the menu hinges on burgers, sandwiches and salads — and Exec Chef and Owner Ron Guidone pairs corn dogs with a spicy Stone Smoked Porter mustard sauce and a cheddar sauce spiked with Ballast Point's Sculpin I.P.A.
· Eureka! Burger [Official Site]
· All Eater Insides [~ESD~]