Lompoc’s hottest club is Hangar 7. This place has everything—comfy chairs, card games, a bucket full of old propellers, Dan Cortese, and even fuzzy mustache mirrors (the thing where, like, when you go to the bathroom, there’s a bunch of gag shop mustaches glued to the mirror so you can line your face up and see what you’d look like with various styles of lip foliage). And, hey! Who’s that standing by the piano? Is it world-famous astronaut Buzz Aldrin? No, my bad, it’s just an empty space suit on a hanger, but it’s still kinda neat!
My wife and I go to Hangar 7 semi-regular-like for the trivia night, and I’ve got to say, it’s a damn nice spot. It might be the most perfectly concocted bar I’ve ever seen. First, they run a clean ship, by which I mean it looks like the employees spend a lot of time cleaning. Bar patrons aren’t always the tidiest people, but Hangar 7 has always looked spotless every time I’ve entered. Earnest kudos for that.
Second, the building’s layout is perfect for allowing special events without intruding on basic walk-in service. Some people just want to enjoy some food and drinks without having to remember how old Olivia Newton-John is, and the two-room feel of Hangar 7 lets customers choose their own adventure.
I, for one, love going to concerts but absolutely hate random live music at bars. I like talking to friends over drinks without having to yell over or pretend to listen appreciatively to a local musician. More power to them. I admire the gumption and the craft, but if I want to listen to a band play live, I will pay money to see that particular band on purpose.
At Hangar 7 though, local bands can have the front area by the bar, and my friends and I can chat in the big back room. I’m going to move on though because I’m praising something that’s mostly just luck of the architecture—but it makes a huge positive impact on my customer experience to be able to choose whether or not to engage in the venue’s promotional event of the eve without having to leave the bar.
Third thing! The food. It’s good, better than bar food should be! The menu favors small, shareable plates: wood-fired flatbread pizzas, creative sliders, and cheese and charcuterie (quality deli meat) platters. It’s clear that the owners cherish quality over quantity. This isn’t a place to gorge on big portions but to complement fine wine and craft beer with decadent finger foods.
I haven’t tried the desserts, but the cheesecakes look great with pomegranate and blueberry toppings. The chocolate cake even comes with the option of adding sweet and spicy candied bacon. What more could you want?
Fourthly, the draft beer selection is superb. And although I don’t know wine very well, they’ve got 26 local offerings to choose from, so I’m sure there are some indubitably exceptional varietals on that list.
Fifth, it’s clear that painstaking effort was taken to create a fun environment. The bar’s decor leans heavily on Lompoc’s history as an Air Force hub, with flight-themed art and quirky references to NASA throughout. There are card and board games available for patrons and tables set up in a manner fit to accommodate actual game play. A television behind the bar plays Netflix comedies on mute with subtitles, and even the bathrooms are fun with those silly mustaches.
Long story short, the atmosphere at Hangar 7 is so good that it would be Lompoc’s best place to enjoy a night out even if the food were mediocre. To be clear, the food is good, but it’s just a piece of the whole environment, which is the real star of the show.
The only room for improvement is that the place feels like it ought to offer inventive cocktails, but there’s no liquor license, so what can you do? Also, they shouldn’t charge extra for balsamic drizzle on a pizza because that’s patently ridiculous.
The rest is perfect.
Contributing writer Nick Powell is looking for a personal chef—for talking to, not hiring. He ain’t made of money, but he’d love to chat at [email protected].
Powell’s picks
• Dude, you guys. I think I had the world’s best breakfast burrito (pictured right) last weekend. Look at it, and tell me I’m lying. Are you seeing the grease leaking out the back of this bad boy? That shredded meat is goat birria, wrapped with eggs, potatoes, onions, peppers, queso y crema in a tortilla that I watched a guy pound out of masa at Mariscos La Rancherita in Mission Hills outside of Lompoc. Phenomonal. It cost $12, which is high for a breakfast burrito, but I’d pay $20 right now to eat it again, and it’s nighttime. Get one for yourself at 1410 Burton Mesa Blvd.
• I’ve got no qualms admitting that the late, great Anthony Bourdain was a better food writer than I. The man was an icon that the world lost too soon to suicide. Full of Life Flatbread in Los Alamos is celebrating his memory on his birthday weekend June 20 to 23 with a Bourdain-inspired menu and art auction. They will donate art proceeds and $1 from every dish this weekend to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call (805) 344-4400 for details.
• Head to Downtown Fridays Santa Maria at Broadway and Main Street every Friday through late September for live music, beer tasting, food booths, and kids attractions from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free.
• Looking for a unique experience? How about the third annual BedaFest in San Luis Obispo, June 28 to 29, a celebration of German food and beer complete with the Spanferkel Pig Roast Party? The adults-only pig roast happens Friday night, but kids are welcome to eat bratwurst and groove to German jazz (that’s a thing?) on Saturday. It all goes down at 4900 Davenport Creek Road near San Luis Obispo airport. For more information, visit bedasbiergarten.com.
Contributing writer Nick Powell is still confused about German jazz. Send MP3s and sauerkraut to [email protected].
