6362 East Santa Ana Canyon Road
Anaheim, CA 92807
One thing that drives me crazy is how restaurant influencers exaggerate how great a place is. I know most of them are getting paid by the restaurant to be there, or maybe they are trying to drive traffic to their accounts by over-hyping a restaurant. That's not my style. I like to tell it like it is, which probably accounts for all my two-and-a-half and three-star reviews. I don't give a glowing review because I occasionally get a free meal. I don't want to see the three of you who read this blog throw your money away by going to an average restaurant. I also always add a disclaimer at the end of every post that my meal was comped, which these food influencers rarely do.
Okay, end rant. A well-known Instagrammer had visited The Hive in Anaheim Hills and gave a glowing review. I needed a place to meet my parents for dinner and decided to try it. The Hive is in the former spot where the original Slater's 50/50 used to be. This shopping center, anchored by a Big Lots and a few smaller storefronts, has always seemed out of the way, lacking the foot traffic to make a restaurant successful. For a point of reference, it's between Imperial Highway and Weir Canyon, on the corner of Fairmont and Santa Ana Canyon Road.
On a recent Friday evening, when we visited, many people found themselves here. There was a steady stream of guests throughout our stay. The inside of the restaurant is similar to when this was Slater's. They made the bar wrap around the dining room side, which helped to open up the space and make the bar the focal point of the restaurant. They also added more flatscreens, so there's no bad seat in the house when watching a game.
The menu here is top-heavy with many appetizer options, which makes sense while watching sports. Salads, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and more extensive entree options are also available. Prices for starters range between $8 and $16, while entrees will set you back anywhere between $10 and $26. They offer breakfast on weekends, and their happy hour is Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Let's see if I thought the food was as good as the Instagrammer did.
Since all the Marie Callenders by my house closed several years ago, I've been craving their famous Frisco Burger. This craving led me to get the Big League Deluxe ($19.99 + $2.50 upcharge for tater tots instead of fries). This burger/sandwich includes bacon, sliced avocado, Swiss cheese, and buzz sauce on parmesan-crusted sourdough bread. The bread was a little light on the parmesan, but I enjoyed this burger. Like Katie's burger, the patty was tender and juicy, and the creaminess of the avocado and cheese went well with the smoky bacon and the beef. I will ask for extra of their buzz sauce next time, as I need more, and I'd like to dip the sandwich into it. The tater tots were a good choice. They had a nice crunch, and I alternated between dipping them in ketchup and ranch.
Our visit to The Hive was a mixed bag. We all liked the mains, but Katie's burnt and lack of onion rings and the over-fried fries were a bummer. Their prices were a tad high, especially when you get hit for an upcharge by not getting fries. The portion sizes are big, which helps lessen the hit to your wallet. We experienced excellent service this evening, as plates were cleared, drinks were refilled, and the pacing of our meal was nicely timed. Unlike the food influencer who came here before me, this is not a glowing review, but The Hive is a great place to catch a game, have one or two cocktails, and have some solid food. Something that this area of town sorely needs.
Out of five drones (because male bees in a hive are called drones), five being best to zero being worst, The Hive Sports Bar and Grill gets 3 drones.
For more information about The Hive Sports Bar and Grill, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.thehivesportsbar.com/