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Mon-Sun. 6:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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They open at 6 a.m!!!! I will be going here every day before work to get my fix....just kidding, I am NOT an alcoholic...
But if YOU are, this is one of few places in the area that you can get a cocktail before 10 or 11 and you probably already knew that. If your like me and need a bloody mary shortly after waking from a long night of boozing in order to not feel like baa-cock the next day, this is the place for you. You can even order breakfast from a place across the street and they deliver it to you. What more can a girl ask for? Lots more and not getting ripped off is one of those things. $5 for two bloodies is my definition of not getting ripped off.
My gal friend and I were in there on a Saturday morning and there were already about 10 other people in there drinking. Everyone knew everyone and they all chated with us like we were regulars too. One guy even bought the whole bar a round! The bartenders I have had have all been overly friendly...not rude...
Well at least they got rid of the cover charge, because that was like a joke that anybody should have to pay to get into this place.
#1 annoyance- its cash only.
#2 annoyance- it gets super packed with a lot of tourists dressed terribly all very drunk .....not a huge locals hangout.
#3 that pool table that they leave in the middle of the karaoke room when its not even to be used, they just throw a cover on it and it is totally in the way and it needs to be moved out of there.
Only redeeming factor- in an area that usually has street parking available, and its funny to watch people sing that can't try. Honestly if Scolari's office was still how it used to be in North Park, nobody would be coming here if it wasn't for the Karaoke.
Oh yeah and the fact that you have to "tip" the DJ to karaoke sooner is absurd. The more $ you tip him, the further up the line on the list you go. If you dont tip him at all expect 1-2 hours for your name to be called even if you are the 4th person on the sign up sheet. Oh and the fact that they allow the same songs to be sung over and over should be banned- nobody wants to hear 5 no doubt songs in one night.
Cover Charge?
They should of Paid Me to go in!
I got dragged there by a friend....It smells like Dog! The Alcohol is watered down... the staff was rude........and the people were annoying!
Not recommended
A great place to meet new people and have some drinks. It is super casual attire and there is a lively ambiance and feel to the place. Parking can be a pain, but you just have to be patient, or just take a cab....it is worth it and you can drink all you want. CASH ONLY so bring enough for drinks and a cab. I am not sure about an ATM, but not wise to depend on one.
Yeah its not a classy downtown joint but cheap stiff drinks nice people and pretty good karaoke is what you come here for. I came here because I knew a KJ there ( mitch ) and I had a ton of fun. I can't speak to the other peoples experiences with Karaoke but maybe it depends on the KJ.
Karaoke! First off, there is NO way I would do it, but I enjoy watching people that do. Nothing like getting sloshed in a crowded venue and watching people do there thing.
Man this was supposed to be one of those bars that we where going to waist time at before we got the night hoppen. We ended up having such a great time we staid for a long while. We weren't into the singing stuff but watching the others is what made it so great. I don't know it could have been the night because we had soooooooooo much fun. The drinks are cheap, every type goes through this bar and karaoke oh yeah and pool. Yes you get all this under one roof. I totally want to go back for a few. Gosh darn it thank you Lamplighter. That was fun!!
This is the place if you love to karaoke. Nice staff, always packed inside, but the karaoke keeps on going. Cash only though which kind of sucks if you never carry cash. No cover, so that's always a plus.
They are kind of anal about the no smoking in front of the door, so you may have to walk to the corner, depending on the bouncer.
One of the first karaoke bar that comes up every time me and my friends want to go out and drink. Cheap drinks, songs are almost up to date (unlike most karaoke bars, they only have old school songs), gets crowded during weekends. This place actually opens at 4am!
Look for the Asian guy who sings Pony by Genuwine =]
Cheap beer and karaoke. Nice if you dig dive bars.
I HATE dive bars.
Karaoke was a nice distraction from our good conversation. There are some really terrible vocalists out there.
They don't care about letting this place get PACKED. I could barely move around the bar. It was uncomfortably hot and stuffy in here too.
I was in good company but I would never come back here, even for karaoke.
I have been here on two different occasions and had very different experiences. The first time was similar to most other reviewers. It was crowded and the only way you were going to sing was if you were raining 20's on the KJ or were boys with him. This is definitely not cool. I'm not against tipping the KJ, but there is a complete difference between tipping and flat out bribery! Usually the people making it rain on the KJ are the ones doing an 8 person rendition of "Pour Some Sugar on Me". Those performances are as annoying as the "5 dollar foot long campaign". There is no need for that to be done on stage. To those who practice this behavior, please, keep your 20 spot, stand with your posse, and sing along to other performances. It will save you money, keep the crowd less annoyed, and will be a step towards stopping this KJ's scandal. Like other reviews I had read, I finally got hip to the scheme and dropped a 10 spot on him for my friend and he still never sang. So bogus!
My second experience was much better. Granted it wasn't as crowded as the first time and there was a different guy operating the songs. He was an equal opportunity karaokeer for the most part except for one or two guys, which I think were his buddies. He let them go more frequently than others, but at least they were doing good songs and being funny. (One guy did all 80s and 90s sitcom theme songs.)
Besides the shady kj, this bar is a pretty cool place to hang. People are always friendly, bartenders are pretty hilarious, and the drinks are some of the cheapest you'll find around town. (Its cash only so hit up that automated teller machine.)
It's unfortunate that one kj can ruin this place for so many people because it's a fun spot. You'll get yours one day shady kj. You'll get yours.
the door man, john i think, was way cool. but still, a $5 cover for THIS place. for WHAT?
i'm pretty sure that they regularly exceed their maximum occupancy limit on weekends. somebody call the fire marshall.
that white-haired douchebag of a kareoke host needs to be FIRED. are you listening business owner??
what would you think if you walked into your neighborhood barbershop/hair salon for a trim and the barber/stylist REFUSED to do your hair UNLESS you tipped them FIRST?? how much sense does that make??
i have no problem tipping someone for doing a good job and being cool, but this a$$hole is none of the above.
a few other reviewers mention another kareoke host on some weeknights and apparently sunday nights. if i could be GUARANTEED that this karoke nazi would NOT be there on a given night, i MIGHT consider going again.
Cheap alcohol? This is a great place for that.....although it is off the beaten path for you visitors.
The karaoke isn't good on Saturday and I cannot imagine being any better on any other day. The KDJ obviously takes bribes from drunk bitches and hoes to sing over and over and over again. I think you are a real douchbag Mr. KDJ guy!
There are other places to frequent. You should come here if this were the last bar on earth.
Good crowd, hipsters, locals, after work white color folk and some college students make for a decent mix of conversations. Stiff drinks, great atmosphere, karaoke almost every night. Parking is tough and it's only cash here, but the one big hit on this place is that dive bars like this place shouldn't have a cover!
Lo and behold, I ended up back here. Dinner with friends in the area, so we decided to hit up some karaoke. I knew pretty much what I was getting into, but...
We walked in the door and it reeked of FEET! There were only about 10 people in the bar when we showed up. We stayed for about an hour and a half and the smell never disappeared.
Some of the lights are busted, some of the seats have springs that will poke you in weird places.
The karaoke? Well, the sound system still sucks in a inconsistent way - meaning sometimes you can barely hear the person, other times they are way too loud. The KJ looks like all the soul has been sucked out of him. He didn't crack a smile once - except when he was laughing at his own jokes, supposedly. I'm not 100% sure what he was saying, because the sound was so bad, I couldn't understand him. Or, maybe he was just already on his 6th or 7th Miller Lite.
I came here when I first visited SD in 2005, and have been back an handful of times since. You have… Read more »
First off, cover charege, for a shithole like that? Ummm, negative captain.
Second, the place reeks. And I've been to just as dive-y dive bars with the same atmosphere and vibe that don't smell like poop.
Third, the 62-year-old kareoke king who controls the songs and such is a con. He is running some kind of racket that he must walk out of there with at least $600 a night. He doesn't go in order when you sign up, he expects tips (big ones) then doesn't even call your name after 4, 5, 8 songs even. IOh yea, and he's an asshole about the whole thing. In the 4 hours my brother and I were there we got one song in, and there were the "favorites" of this so-called king that got to go 3 or 4 times. NOT the way a friendly kareoke divebar should be run.
Oh, by the way, the guys name is EDDIE ADELAIDE (not sure on the last name, but the first is right)....somebody, please punch him for me.
A little rough around the edges, but that's what makes it awesome. Avoid weekends, covers are lame and the crowd is too college (if I hear 3-5 drunken girls sing "Pour some Sugar on Me" one more time I'll snap.) Karaoke is always a fun time, especially when the singing isn't perfect. Great place.
who doesn't love being able to belt out your song of the moment while you're in the zone?!?! i guess being a little inebriated does help a bit. my friends have been coming here on wednesdays for some time now. our little ritual consists of sake bombs down the street at rk cafe, then a semi-drunken stumble into this awesome facility. then bam, the sake bombs hit, and i'm more than ready to sing and yell out songs.
cash only, so don't forget yo dolla bills! and no cover on wednesday night, but i hear they do other nights.
Good drinks and karaoke = I love this place. I just wish the women's restroom had more than one stall.
Horrible service and lots of attitude from both the staff and clientele make this a place worth skipping.
First and foremost, this is a CASH ONLY BAR! make sure you know this since the bar ATM charges you $3.50 to process. Also there is a $5 cover.
Once you are in, there is just entertainment everywhere! The karaoke is usually very good, but don't let that scare you away, get up and sing!
I have fun here, but there's not much I can say about a karaoke bar since it really depends on the night you go. Have fun while you are here though and don't be the lame duck in the corner criticizing, if you are that good show your stuff buddy!
There is something I am kinda a stickler on when going into bars.
That is the issue of cover charges.
So ... Lamplighter. Midnight. Slow night. Cover charge?
WHAT?
To go to a Kareoke bar?
What?
No.
Good drinks.
Nice atmosphere.
Drop the cover and I might show up.
I remember when I first got into Karaoke a few years back. My lil sis told me that if you like Karaoke then the Lamplighter is THE place to be in San Diego. Boy was she right.
Although this place gets absolutely PACKED on weekends, I really dont mind. I feel the need to have a packed house when I do my thang...
Only problem for me is they dont take cash and the ATM there charges some stupid fee that I wont pay. So if you are rolling to the Lamp, make sure to hit your bank before.
Usually there are singers that have good pipes and can bang out some good performances, but like all karaoke joints, expect the drunk and utterly bad singers as well.
My Boy Russ is a bartender there and I can always count on a shot of Yukon Jack as soon as he sees me.
The doorman is a cool dude, once you get to know him. Don't piss him off is all I can say.
Overall, the best karaoke spot in San Diego. Check it out...
To begin with, Fridays and Saturdays are the worst days to go. The place is crowded and as uncomfortable as a Turkish bath house. As the night wanes down, the girls bathroom becomes increasingly filled with vomit. Not yumm-o at all.
The KJ is a total Hitler. He's the main reason why this place isn't 5 stars. He won't play your songs unless you tip him 10 and over. Anna L. and I went there on a Friday night. I gave him 8 bucks and he never called our names. It was a damn good song too. 'Ive Had the Time of My Life'....a song remembered for a crucial scene in Dirty Dancing. Alas, I was shot down with my Swayzian ambitions because he ignored me like he owed me alimony or something.
After that, my attitude towards the Lamplighter was very sour. Until our mutual friend invited us there on a Sunday. She insisted it was a totally different experience than the pain inducing Fridays and Saturdays. It was.
Usually quiet. More attentive bartenders. A wise and fair KJ. Three people stand out to me there. JJ, the acerbic doorman, who apparently hosts karaoke there on Thursdays. Russ, the bartender with a velvety voice. And Mitchell, the KJ who plays your songs and will often do Morris Day and the Time's Bird dance.
They make the sunday nights fun. Now, we go there almost every sunday. Last week, I did all TV theme songs. It was killer. The songbook has a lot of variety. I gotta love a place where I can get away with a song like 'Sweet Transvestite' in a bar half full of bros. Best.performance.ever.
-A
This place gets way too crowded on the weekends and several of the bartenders are dicks. If you are jonesing for karaoke it's worth a try, just don't expect too much.
The previous reviews referring in a negative way to the karaoke M.C. are accurate. The door man / bouncer has a similar attitude. This place is cash only. The ATM charges $3.50 for a withdrawal. The drinks were weak.
The service from the single waitress was great, especially considering it was nearly wall-to-wall packed with patrons from roughly 10:30 until I left at midnight. For that reason alone this place gets two stars vice a single.
Sadly the ratio of sausage to taco at this place was around 2:1. I will note that even though the ratio was not in my favor, my ocular organs were pleased by a majority of the tacos that were visible.
The bottom line: This place just doesn't compare to more than several other weekend karaoke holes I've found. I do not plan on going back.
This is a great place to hang out and sing your heart out on week nights. It's not busy, easy to get a drink, and easy to get your song played within half an hour or so. They have so many songs, sorted by artist AND song title, so you can find what you want to sing.
It's a total dirty dive bar and I love it! Cash only place.
You can't buy better entertainment for $5! I went on a Saturday night with a group of 8. The place was super crowded, CASH ONLY, and charged a $5 cover, all of which I had known by going on Yelp before I went :-)
My sister and I found a nice spot by the stage and proceeded to watch all the hilarious and sometimes talented performers until we were finally called to sing.
And the only reason we were called to sing was because we tipped the man a $10 bill. If not, who knows if we ever would have got our chance.
Drinks are cheap, I had a fabulous time and would go back in a heart beat. But to make it worth your while...SING!
Do you wanna know why this bar is perfect? Do ya? Ya know ya do, so listen up.
Ladies this one's for you.
Let's say you are on a blind date. He looked cute online or at the bar after 10 drinks, but now that you have agreed to meet him, you've realized, oh my god, he's gross, he voted yes on prop 8 and he asked if they serve White Zin? You need to ditch this train wreck and move on to far greener pastures. Well, this place understands and here's why.
Right next to the ladies room is the back door out to the parking lot. You can't see this when you are sitting at the bar, newp, all you see is the ladies room sign, so if the proverbial shit hits the dating fan, here is your escape route. No more climbing through bathroom windows with your legs wiggling as many a lady friend I know has done. No more faking your own death while sitting next to him at the bar. No more "Look over there!!" and then dashing for the front door. Newp, now all you have to do is excuse yourself and go to the ladies room and Run Lola Run your ass away from him.
Thanks Lamplighter, you really do understand women ;)
PS: I would have given this place 5 stars, but I hear the karaoke dude is a real dick, so sorry, 1 star loss for him.
We went for a birthday gathering on a Friday night. There was about 10 of us. The birthday girl was big into Karaoke, and so am I, so I was amped for this place.
The bar was a bit crowded, but my group was able to get a booth in the back corner. After about two beers and some shots we all strolled on up to the Karaoke master and signed up.
What I loved is that they had fairly new songs that had been released in like 2008. I myself am partial to girl rock songs, so I was able to sing my heart out to Paramore and No Doubt.
I read a review where someone said that the karaoke guy only let you sing unless you paid. This is not entirely true. There was another birthday group and the girl kept paying the guy and he would let them cut the line, but when I approached him about it and asked him, he allowed my group to keep the order. No problem, no stress. After a while my group just kept going one after the other, and we developed a fairly good rotation with the people I could only assume was local.
The reason I'm giving this place 4 stars was because there was a $5 cover and the bar was cash only. Bars that charge cover kind of annoy me, but what are you gonna do? I only had enough for the cab fare to the bar and back home, so I had to take money out of the ATM, after cover. The drinks are VERY reasonably priced (including some VERY GENEROUS Patron shots), but the ATM charged $3.50. Kind of lame, but I would DEFINITELY go back again and recommend this place.
I agree with Anna T.'s comment about having fun while your there. Definitely don't be afraid to sing along with the karaoke, even the people who hold the microphone too close to their face and scream into it. There's also pool tables and I never had a problem getting a drink even when it was packed.
Have fun!
Ok so I have to defend my hood. This bar looks like a hole in the wall but it is fan-tab in a bottle when you get in. Karaoke-awesome! People-all kinds! Drinks-strong! I will say this about the Lamp...if i ever had a bad time there, i must of been blacked out. Amen.
I had no idea this place was so popular, it was packed. The people ranged from old men sitting at the bar, to drunk college girls singing karaoke. It seemed like a Michael Jackson tribute night cause everyone was attempting to sing, dance and dress like him.
A safe bet for a drink and a song. If you want to sing, go during the week. I haven't experienced any problems with getting called up, but I haven't been at peak times. I have encountered egotistical KJ man, but if it's not too busy, you treat him decently and are a good bar patron, you might be okay. I mean, imagine the sorts of things he has to listen to night, after night, after night. It's not healthy, man. That much bad karaoke will do things to your mind. I'd go when he's not there to be on the safe side.
There's always strange things happening around and behind the bar -- I'm talking to you, crazy-eyed-bartender-who-appears-much-more-intoxic ated-than-the-patrons. But if you go, cheer for the people singing, then get up there and sing so we can return the favor. But if you're going to sing The Humpty Hump or any other lyric-intensive or otherwise classic song, you'd better KILL IT.
I have gone religiously for my birthday 5 years in a row because I like the venue, the crowd and the bar staff. But this year I will not go back.
I have had enough of the jerk KJ who has a "holier than thou" attitude. I'm a good kareokier...I get high fives, people dancing and singing along and even the occaisional groupie. I sing fun 80's songs that get the crowd going and bring a good sized group of singers with me each time. I even dropped a $20 into his tip jar and made friendly conversation each time.... but still waited 2 hours to get called up. All the while he keeps calling up the same dudes singing counting crows ballads that aren there every time I go! People were even requesting me- but still no dice.
I am not alone in this. Another group of girls in the bathroom were complaining about the same thing. You can literally wait 3 or 4 hours to called up for your first song! One time he called up everybody on 2 pages of lists except my friends- and I tipped him and kept asking about it! I guess you have to be a regular or something to get a chance to sing?
I'm not sure what stick is up that guy's ass- but the owners of the lamplighter should pull it out. The place would be a 5 star karaoke bar were it not for him.
I refuse to spend another night getting frustrated. If you don't mind long waits and disappointment, then go for it. the crowd is interesting and the drinks are cheap.
Cash only. $5 cover sometimes. That's what bugs me about this place, no dive bars should have cover!!
BUT, if you're a big karaoke fan like me, you'll absolutely love the selection of songs that they have. The book is like 6 inches thick!!
Mini stage for you singers out there , with a jumbo screen with the lyrics as well as a smaller TV overhead. Lights flashing in your face, and speakers blaring...you almost have to do the Mariah Carey thing and plug your ear so you can hear yourself sing.
It was pretty crowded when I went there Friday night, so don't expect to find sitting room if you come late. Also, tipping the MC is beneficial to getting your song up if there is a lot of people on the list. If you go earlier in the week, you can get up at least twice no problem.
The Lamplighter can be best described as the following:
a)Smells of stale beer.
b)Patrons are lame.
c)Karaoke Nazi is a jerk.
d)Not worth it, at all.
e)All of the Above
Correct Answer: E
"You've never been to Lamplighter?!"
If I had a dime for every time I heard this, I'd have at least two dimes. The truth is that I've never really liked karaoke. Shocking for someone who has repeatedly put together the most amazing cover acts EVER and is now a karaoke host. When I got the idea to have a karaoke night that was really different, I actually had to go out to a few local karaoke spots to see what they were like because it'd been so long since I'd been to one. I wasn't about to pay to research, so I skipped Lamplighter and once I started hosting I definitely didn't feel like goin out to a karaoke joint!
So I FINALLY went last night and got pretty much got exactly what I expected but it was actually better than I thought it'd be. On everyone's advice, I made sure not to go on a weekend, so I missed out on the most-packed-bar-I-will-ever-be-in-ever and the insane waits to sing, unless your middle name is bribe. It was a Monday night, early and mostly empty. The setup is not what I thought it would be, at all, as far as where the stage faced and how much of the bar could see it. Bartenders usually hate my Coke-orderin' ass but the guy was plenty nice and it was slow so I got served right away. (Russ, where were you?!)
There were basically three groups there singing.
1. Eric the host's friends, who were all amazing old school slow-jam experts (so was he!). Sadly, my Jodeci knowledge isn't what it should be.
2. A big, nice birthday group who exclusively sang Pour Some Love Shack type songs you hear at every karaoke place.
3. Me & my wingman, who regretted choosing the Outfield to sing.
I got some exercise lugging their 25,000 songbook over to our table. Purist wingman wants a recount with all of the duplicate entries but I don't care. It is definitely quality not quantity. Every popular song you'd expect in the most popular karaoke joint in town was there. The only song I was surprised to see was Sparks' "This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us", a ridiculous pre-Bohemian Rhapsody rock opera that would be sure to confuse any American karaoke audience. So I sang it....not well.
End result?! It was just fine! I don't know if it's always that empty on weeknights but if I drank alcohol and wanted to sing any and every mainstream US hit from the last 40 years not far from where I live, well, I just might come here, if only to see the man who calls himself The Moondoggie, brings his own wireless mic to properly work the crowd and made a website about how rad he is. Google him. It'll change your life.
I can't believe I never reviewed the Lamp. This place is home to my friends and me on Sunday nights. The bartenders Petey and especially Russ are great, Mitchell who runs the karaoke machine thingie is awesome, the crowd on Sunday is almost always great (except on holiday weekends when there is a cover all of a sudden and the place is packed). I don't go there as much as I used to because of my ever-changing work schedule, but I can always count on friendly faces to be there if I show up randomly on a Sunday night.
The drinks are good and cheap. Russ likes to make up experimental shots and use us as guinea pigs to try them out. It's completely a dive, the bathrooms suck, and seats can be tight, but it's always fun and you'll usually see some pretty odd characters. I've seen people fight, I've seen karaoke DJs come and go, I've even seen a lady strip (pretty sure she was homeless). My crew is always fun and we sometimes have birthday parties there or random theme nights. Come on a Sunday and have a good time!
This place used to be a lot of fun because..... the karaoke guy (old fag that's worked there since he missed out on his GED) was only half the dick he is today... Look, I'm no Sinatra mind you but to get to sing (poorly or whatnot) shouldn't depend on tipping the old douchebag. I won't bore with the details... Go for a good cheap drink. Don't go if you aren't willing to tip a loser 80 year old a minimum of $5 to sing "Cracklin Rose."
UPDATE:
No one said the bartenders are bad nor the drinks are bad. Quite the opposite. It's just the douchebag grandpa running the music! Yes, he has ,does and always will suck ass. Cheers!
I would have given Lamplighter 5 stars if my dirty martini actually came in a martini glass and wasn't quite so dirty. The women's bathroom is impossible to find, but shout out to the Target employee who escorted me politely from the men's bathroom to my proper destination. He tried to feel me up, and maybe I would have let him, BUT who wears their Target uniform to a bar and then tries to impress you by talking about their motorcycle?? I was drunk, but not that drunk!!
The karaoke is awesome!! There should be karaoke everywhere. Imagine the hilarity at the DMW. . .
Neighborhood: Normal Heights
Category: Pubs
La Mesa, CA
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: Kearny Mesa
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: Roseville
Category: Karaoke
Neighborhood: Kearny Mesa
Category: Karaoke
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