Nightlife in Claremont

When barbecue-chicken sandwiches, teriyaki burgers, and a bunch of beef tacos washed up on Margarita Beach, the clouds began hurling large beerdrops earthward and the breeze blew away the sand to reveal a dance floor. Soon, DJs and bartenders flocked to the site, bringing with them stories of ‘80s-themed parties, beer pong, more beer pong, and Fist-Pumpin’ Fridays that quickly attracted crowds of people hungry for food and entertainment. TVs eventually got wind of all the excitement. So, they packed their vacuum tubes and flew in with visions of UFC fights and college sports. To this day, partiers still take in the open air on a patio that a nameless sailor left behind, feeling the delicious weight of turkey hoagies in their hands, thanking heaven for quesadillas, buying cocktails for pictures of bikini-clad models, and then watching the stars sputter out when Margarita Beach’s clock strikes 2 a.m.

Johnny's Tacos & Sports assumes multiple identities. At once a sports bar, arcade, and restaurant, the lively interior is lit by blazing neon signs and 15 high-definition TVs. The kitchen whips up dishes from an extensive of bar food classics—ranging from chicken wings to burgers to pizzas—and bartenders draw from 21 beer taps. Next door, the newly upgraded game room boasts a variety of arcade-style joystick games, shuffleboard and pool tables, and a prize counter complete with iconic bouncy balls that bounce higher than an astronaut on a moon trampoline.

Seeing nothing but kippers and meat pies when you look at the edible clouds in the sky is a sure-fire signal that your belly craves some British grub. Today's Groupon sends your appetite across the Atlantic for $25 worth of grub and libations at The Royal Falconer for $9. Journey to either of two locations, Riverside or Redlands, for genuine English fare, crisp brews, and the company of hearty pub goers.

After memorizing the menu, start a food-eating contest with yourself by devouring a basket of chili-cheese fries (shoestring fries, $2.99, plus jack-and-cheddar chili mix, $1.29) or sixteen Angel wings tossed in your choice of one or two sauces (buffalo, blazing habanero, firecracker, Thai peanut, spicy barbecue, garlic parmesan, or blasphemy, $14.99). For the main event, chow down on a pulled-pork sandwich ($9.99), or the dos tacos, stuffed with steak or chicken and lettuce, cheddar and jack cheeses, and salsa inferno, and served with a side of tortilla chips and salsa ($7.49). Burgers, wraps, and pizzas fill out the remainder of the robust menu.