A friend was leaving the Thursday opening party of Analog Burger Bar just as I was entering the mob scene. She offered this parting counsel: “Stand near the kitchen and pounce quickly when the passed appetizers come out.”

The wall of album covers at Analog.

^{Photo by Ron Donoho}

It was spot-on advice. We stood guard near the service exit and got in a few rounds of cheese poppers, burger halves and shrimp served in fancy spoons. But soon, the wait staff grew wise. They began entering the crowd with plates held up way over their heads.

“I’ve got to serve the other side of the room, too!” said one rather tall server, who smiled, but had obviously been ordered to get some apps to the front area.

Analog is a retro-hip eatery that takes the Gaslamp Quarter location of the former Mr. Tiki Mai Tai Lounge. (No one will miss Mr. Tiki, and its frou-frou drinks served in coconut halves over smoking dry ice.)

The new project is a partnership between Cohn Restaurant Group (this is number 14 for the Cohns) and nightlife entrepreneur Matt Spencer (Firehouse in Pacific Beach; downtown’s Vin de Syrah). Spencer is co-operating partner with Tyler Charman; the design was handled by Michael Soriano.

While the rest of the world goes digital, Soriano went analog.

“Yes, it’s retro in a lot of ways,” says David Cohn. “Of course, it’s funny that what is retro to me is much different than what is retro to a 25-year-old. But Analog is kind of like ‘Dive Bar Meets Foxy Brown.’”

A wall decorated with 1970s and ‘80s album covers—like Frampton Comes Alive!—grabbed quite a bit of attention. Throwback décor also included some shag carpet, pong video games and a Mel’s Diner-esque kitchen/bar.

Other highlights include a “Super Karaoke” set-up (with band instruments), and a menu that boasts sliders with bacon, “tachos” (nachos with tater tots) and a Twinkie tiramisu.

The packed house prevented guests from getting a glimpse at all the retro details. But I’ll go back (it’s a dinner-only eatery) to check out the table service set-up that serves up tall-boy beer cans in plastic Playmate coolers.