What began as a backpacking trip to Queenstown, New Zealand, became a full-blown restaurant concept when co-founders Matt Baker and Phillip "PJ" Lamont discovered Fergburger, the legendary hole-in-the-wall burger joint at the foot of the Remarkables. They secured the rights to Fergburger’s recipes, brought them stateside, and in 2005 opened Bare Back Grill at 4640 Mission Blvd, 92109—one block from the Pacific Beach sand. Every burger starts with 100% organic, grass-fed New Zealand beef ground fresh daily, served on organic buns baked in-house each morning. The Bare Lil Lamb tops two patties with blue cheese, beetroot, mint jelly and sweet tomato chutney, while the Kiwilango adds jalapeños for heat. Beyond burgers, the menu includes New Zealand meat pies, lamb skewers, fish and chips, and a swordfish sandwich with spicy coleslaw and avocado. Craft beer fans juggling where to eat along Garnet Avenue often split the evening between Bare Back’s burgers and a flight at SD TapRoom, five blocks east, where twin brothers Kyle and Kevin Conover have poured local drafts since 2006. Baker and Lamont have since expanded the NZ Eats family to five San Diego locations: Queenstown Public House in Little Italy, Raglan Public House in Ocean Beach, Dunedin in North Park and Queenstown Bistro in La Jolla. Both owners are avid surfers and active Surfrider Foundation supporters, a natural fit for a restaurant whose patio doubles as a front-row seat to the Mission Blvd boardwalk scene. The rotating local craft tap list changes frequently, and the Cocktail of the Month keeps the bar program fresh. The restaurant recently celebrated its 20th anniversary with throwback Thursday pricing matching 2005 menu rates, a nod to its deep roots in the community. Dogs are welcome on the patio, happy hour specials run daily, and the no-dress-code, no-attitude ethos reflects the same honest, laidback spirit Baker and Lamont fell in love with on the South Island. Weekend brunch draws a loyal crowd, and the second-story rooftop at Pacific Beach AleHouse on Grand Avenue provides a natural post-meal spot for ocean-view pints. Bare Back Grill remains one of the most original dining concepts on Mission Blvd, blending Southern Hemisphere soul with Pacific Beach sunshine.