Bars in Riverside

Arcadia Evolutions enthuses joystick jockeys of all dedication levels with more than 1,000 game titles, as well as multiplayer games boosted by high-speed Internet, high-definition television screens and computer monitors, and a variety of vintage and current gaming consoles. An all-day gaming pass grants avatar aficionados with unlimited game play on current consoles such as Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and PS3, as well as retro machines that require human breath-blowing and other old-school tricks to remain in operating order. The gaming mecca houses multiple copies of each game to avoid long Paperboy lines and to encourage identical twins to creepily play Castlevania in tandem. Business hours stretch into late-night territory, allowing thumb athletes to swap hand-callus horror stories anytime between 10 a.m. and 12 a.m. on weekends, or 10 p.m. on weeknights.

Brickhouse Tavern draws inspiration from New York pizzerias and roadside diners in equal measure, compiling a menu of familiar American comfort foods. The eatery demonstrates its commitment to the region by sourcing as much produce from local farmers as possible, supporting growers who embrace organic and eco-friendly practices in particular. These ingredients lend vibrant flavors to the tavern's signature pizzas, which are created using generations-old family recipes as well as a bit of New York flair. With more than 20 toppings available, guests can design personalized pies with anything from meatballs and fresh garlic to salami and jalapeños. Classic pasta dishes also allow the tavern's Italian origins to shine through an otherwise all-American smorgasbord of burgers, wings, and french fries that don't understand the metric system.

Mambo Grill's chefs craft dishes of carne asada, burritos, red beans, and rice from scratch daily using fresh meats and veggies, punching them up with authentic imported seasonings and, when necessary, a burly gentlemen named Bugsy. They eschew the traditional spiciness of Mexican food for the full-bodied zest of Central American and Caribbean cuisine, ensuring each dish's taste and color is faithful to that of its country of origin.

3rd Base Sports Deli and Pub plays televised sports for fans seeking a streamlined menu of sandwiches and other classic pub fare. Revel in the primal pleasure of meat on the bone with 12-piece sauce-spun chicken wings ($8.99) or split a serving of cheesy bacon fries or tater tots ($3.99). Ring the liberty bell of deliciousness with a large steak and cheese sandwich ($7.99) or savor a tangy large buffalo chicken sandwich ($7.99). Between bites, guests engage in geometrically elegant games of pool or watch their favored franchise fight for victory on the venue's flat-screen TV.

At Craft 60 Ale House, more than 60 varieties of craft brews available by the bottle and on tap compliment the chef's menu of unpretentious modern American fare. Cold swigs of beer wash down bites of bacon-wrapped rib-eye or a Juicy Lucy—a beef patty stuffed with smoked cheddar and topped with onions, spring mix, and smoked aioli. For a little crunch and texture, the filet of fish arrives donning a layer of housemade IPA batter fried to a golden-brown crisp. Diners can savor each dish knowing that it was hand-crafted using local and sustainable ingredients.

Throughout the day, big windows let in a deluge of natural light into the pub, and at night, glowing TVs show sports and full-contact spelling bees. Craft 60 Ale House also hosts live music every Friday and Saturday night, and open-mic events on Sunday nights.

The weathered sign outside reads "99 Beers & Ales," directing visitors toward The Weekend Pub's beer list, which overflows with domestic and imported brews. Inside, pint glasses fill with an earth-toned rainbow of suds hailing from Ireland, Scotland, Africa, the Philippines, and France. Hands wrap around familiar bottles from St. George and Celis or slowly count off syllables when writing haikus about Weihenstephaner kristall. Glasses lift against the steady beat of clattering plates, laden with a menu of shaved-steak sandwiches and sirloin burgers crowned in Guinness-based sauce. As eyelids sink contentedly to half-mast, patrons toss beanbags or darts at their respective target in contests of eye-hand coordination. Some evenings, teams compete to correctly answer trivia questions in exchange for prizes and the right to high-five each other every hour on the hour. The sounds of acoustic guitars and tremulous vocals waft through the air during open-mike nights and live musical acts on the weekends.