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Tin Lizzie Saloon
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Dive-y
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
156 reviews for Tin Lizzie Saloon
Review Highlights
"My bf took me here while visiting Orange County."
(in 19 reviews)
"Also, it has the best jukebox in town."
(in 35 reviews)
"but 3 weeks ago, I had such a good time here."
(in 12 reviews)
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156 reviews in English
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Review from Chris S.
CORONA DL MAR, CA
11/23/2011
I always have a great time when I go to "The Tin."
It's small but that's alright. They have a jukebox and that's really fun. You can always hear people laughing and having conversations. I always talk to someone new when I have drinks here . . . and the drinks . . . they're good! You definitely get your money's worth.
Cheers!!! -
Review from Luke M.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
How do you write a review for a gay bar in Costa Mesa?
My best attempt:
"I can confirm that this bar is gay." -
Review from Jen T.
2/6/2012
Located next to rooster pm/am, Tin Lizzie is a gay bar. The bar is small and really cramped inside . On a Friday night there were so many people , the room gets super hot fast.
Pros:
Strong drinks, the orange julius with vodka was good.Not cheap on the vodka at all.
I don't like drinking , but if I do drink I go for the fruity ones.Not really a place to pick up guys, my friend didn't have much luck here and he is pretty cute. -
Review from Isabella O.
Costa Mesa, CA
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wednesday night at 10PM and poppin?
I like it!
The music was great, the beer was cheap, all was good
I also loved the array of different hipsters walkin 'round, great for some people watching -
Review from Chelsea K.
La Verne, CA
2/19/2012
My friend and I are straight but we love the atmosphere these types of places have to offer. The bartenders here are so nice, drinks are strong and inexpensive on weeknights and overall I had a great time coming here. I'm not sure what the prices are like on weekends but Wednesday nights are perfect!
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Review from David G.
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
What on earth is Tin Lizzie doing here? I mean, there's no way that this place is really in Orange County. Tin Lizzie is a little slice of Victorian-inspired retro New Orleans that is inexplicably located on an industrial-looking dead-end street behind The Camp in Costa Mesa. I can't think of the reasons why Tin Lizzie set up shop over here -- but no complaints out of me.
I arrived here with a friend on Saturday night, fairly early (9pm or so), and it was quiet, with the two of us chatting over cocktails while a handful of locals were playing pool. I loved the retro lounge vibe. However, within a few hours, Tin Lizzie was packed solid, with handsome boys and girls of all persuasions finding themselves shoulder-to-shoulder. Mercifully, the vibe was not too meat-markety. Still, if you're afraid of catching somebody's cooties, Tin Lizzie might not be for you (at least on weekend nights).
Here's the rest of the crib sheet about Tin Lizzie:
The drinks? Cheap. My towering gin and soda was $5.
The bartenders? Sweethearts. Even made an out-of-towner like me feel welcome.
The locals? Also sweethearts. The rowdiness of LA but mixed with SD's lack of pretension. The result is a combo that is uniquely Orange County.
The jukebox? Always on.
The bathrooms? Terrifyingly gross.
Despite the skeezy toilet stalls, Tin Lizzie is fantastic. With the great atmosphere and perpetual party going on inside, it's definitely the best spot for fun times and a cheap drink in Costa Mesa. (I confess that it may be the *only* spot for fun times and a cheap drink in Costa Mesa...)Listed in: Orange juice
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Review from Elizabeth R.
Bakersfield, CA
2/15/2012
We found this place after much searching after we left The Commissary Lounge (which closed way too early by the way). And it was great! Took a while to get the bartender's attention but I guess that is how it is when it's a really busy establishment. The people here can get down! Crazy times. Dancing, the music is chosen by guests I think, because there's a jukebox, and there was always someone surrounding it, so that's what you get.
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Review from Angela B.
Fountain Valley, CA
1/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
I like gay people. I like getting drunk every once in awhile. And my drinks were free. YAY.
I came here for my 21st with a couple of my friends.. I think it was like 9 drinks for $60 bucks? I know we got like 4 Shock Tops, some pear thing, a nasty Adios, a Jack and Coke .. I'm missing 2 other drinks.
Cover charge was free. This bar is on the tiny side (probably as big as a huge kitchen.. or like 500sq feet?) but people were nice.. you got some people making out in the corner which was nice. The bathroom is not that great (as it was on the dirty side and missing toilet paper) but who goes to a bar to pee?
I didn't really talk to anyone but this one guy's ass kept rubbing up against my back only because he was dancing and we were just sitting that close because that's how cramped Tin Lizzie is.
It's nice to have a gay bar in OC without having to drive to LA area :) I guess you can say I'd come here again to people watch and get drunk. -
Review from Patrick I.
Westminster, CA
2/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
went on a monday night and it was super empty.
like 3 other people in the bar - handsome bartender though. no music or sounds from the tv which made it awkward when youre talking out loud.
no free pool? tho?
place is small so not great for a lets get away and hide moment -
Review from Sara O.
Costa Mesa, CA
1/27/2012
I love going to Tin Lizzie despite being a girl because 1. cheap drinks, 2. cheap drinks and 3. awesome people! Need I say more! it just kind of sucks cuz you know that basically every cute guy there is gay but that's okay it's fun to go, chill and meet new people.
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Review from N. V.
Garden Grove, CA
11/27/2011
Love this place! Drinks are at amazing prices. (Blue Moon for $5). Fast service...well, if you can catch the bartender first, the place is usually packed.
Small place with pool table and a jukebox. Simple just how I like it.
Forgot my credit card there on tab once, came back the next day to get it. They never charge me extra for forgetting to close my tab. Really nice bartenders. -
Review from M P.
Irvine, CA
10/16/2011
Great great bar. Tucked away and hard to find unless you have insider information - which I'm glad I had. Went on a Saturday night and it was crowded, but not shoulder to shoulder. The parking lot was small, but there was also parking on the side streets. The bar serves great and generous drinks, and had a very cool decor with some seating. Relaxing and upbeat. They have a pool table, tv, and jukebox. The patrons were primarily gay, but not all. Even though the music came from a jukebox, the selection was excellent and really better than some DJs (gay guys have great taste in music lol). I put in my name on the pool table, but got intimidated by some obviously skilled players. I'd love to come back soon :)
For those that are familiar with the area - it's across from the anti-mall, next to Roosters Cafe. -
Review from Krystal R.
Irvine, CA
11/9/2011 3 Check-ins Here
My gf and I come here for the occasional beer, pool, and chats. We're not pool sharks but our names are always on the board.
Since our recent visit, I'm not too sure of they suddenly switched the whole bartender crew or we just came in at the wrong day. But they're all very friendly. So-so at tending your needs.
Overall, since it's the only gay bar in town, we don't mind visiting when we need a night out. -
Review from Sukhraj B.
Lake Forest, CA
This place is...interesting. Not my thing but it works with a few close friends, some drinks, and music.
I've been twice and the music varies depending on who's running the juke box. The crowd will entertain you. It certainly entertained us. We joined in and danced a little.
There's a full bar and a pool table. Other than that, the place is tiny with an equally tiny parking lot but there's street parking available. Come late night and be amused.Listed in: Late Night Hangouts and Bars
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Review from Celina L.
Placentia, CA
Updated - 9/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went from 5 stars to 3 stars. My 2nd visit wasn't too terrible, I had fun (because of the people I was with) The reason why I gave it a lower rating is because the bartenders SUCK. It took me 10 minutes to get a friggin beer.
I hate selective bartenders. Just give me beer, and I'll give you my money!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/22/2011
Probably the first gay dive bar I ever been to in California. Not disappointed at all!
I met up with… Read more »
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Review from Kelee K.
Cypress, CA
7/22/2011
So my friends and I were sick of getting creeped on by a bunch of balding, single by divorce, creepy old men every six minutes, so what did we do!? We drunkenly stumbled into the gay bar conveniently located across the street! Problem solved.
Upon arrival, I was immediately distressed at the fact that 95% of the male population inside had more shapely and groomed eyebrows than my own. I overcame this insecurity with the help of the most delicious Fuzzy Navel and kept on moving!
It is very, very crowded in here, so order two drinks and double fist them, as it's going to be a long wait to a) navigate through the sea of sweaty people and b) wait in line for the adorable bartenders. Drinks are tasty though, very balanced. The music is whatev, as the crowd is at the disposal of whomever is in charge/standing in front of the jukebox.
All in all, it's dark, drunk, sweaty and steamy--a petri dish for late night, passionate endeavors. And such diversity! It was truly a cornucopia of gays. And most of them were really, really friendly too! They all graciously recommended places to get my eyebrows done at. :)
This place brought the fun sauce. And the gay sauce. And the sassy sauce. And the most definitely, very, very drunk sauce. -
Review from Lan N.
9/22/2011
Oh, you know, just another night out with the gays. Fun and mellow environment. One pool table, bench style seating along the wall, candle lighting, juke box music and creating your own dance floor.
One incident I must mention. My friend ordered two strawberry something or rather shots. The bartender had at least 2-3 straw testers and said something was not right (needed more alcohol!) and wanted 12bucks. meh. -
Review from James M.
Laguna Hills, CA
6/29/2011
Love Tin Lizzie Saloon.
At first I was quite skeptical of Tin Lizzie Saloon. Moving back to OC from Los Angeles, I was not accustomed to the dive bar atmosphere. I was use to roaming West Hollywood, going to Cantina and the Abbey. But let me tell you, Tin Lizzie may not be as big and glamourous as anything in Weho, but it still holds its own.
Best part of Tin Lizzie is that there is no pretentiousness. You don't have to come here looking AMAZING or wait in a long ass line to get a drink. Even though the Tin has a steady set of typical OC (gay) bro types, it's still a mixed crowd. You have your lesbians, asian gays, bro gays, fashion gays, etc...just in a smaller dosage.
And I lied about the best part earlier. The best part is the alcohol prices. I can drink like a fish here and not have to worry about my wallet the next day, hallelujah!
Worst part is the music. They have this small little pay-only jukebox in the far corner of the bar and you basically have to sit through sets of good and bad music depending on people's own subjective taste. I'm sorry, but I do not want to listen to Adele or your country music at a gay bar. There is a time and a place for that! Thank you.
Anyways, great spot to hang and talk with friends, just wish there was a dancefloor and a steady set of better music. -
Review from Steven H.
Aliso Viejo, CA
9/6/2011
Tin Lizzie you are in business because you are the ONLY gay bar in this area lets face it. Super small, no dancing, it is just a cruising spot. The drinks are ok the decor is ok.
Worst experience here I went to use the bathroom. The guy in there didn't lock the door, he turned around and flashed me then told me to come in...um no!!!!!
The gay scene or lack there of in orange county makes me sad...Tin Lizzie makes me sad. -
Review from Jackie W.
9/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Too small, too crowded, and too much. I came here for a friend's birthday and Tin Lizzie couldn't accommodate us. We were ready to pay for our drinks but it just wasn't working out. The billiards table is inconveniently located next to the bar so dirty looks were exchanged between people waiting to put in orders for drinks and people trying to play billiards.
Please let me be more options in Orange County! -
Review from Jean L.
6/6/2011
Okay, so call me clueless, but when my boyfriend and I came here, we had No idea it was a gay bar.
...well, until iwe looked to the other side of the bar and there were rainbow mini-flags hanging.
We had stumbled in because Rooster PM (next door) was opening later than scheduled.
Anyhow, I thought it was a little weird why there was such a big male:female (aka me) ratio, but everyone was so friendly, I was like what the hell. Plus, I had time to kill.
The bartender was super nice and attentive, which is pretty much why you go to a bar in the first place.
Only complaint? There were a few worn down seats which really turned me off. -
Review from Greg S.
8/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
My bf took me here while visiting Orange County. He said it's pretty much the only gay bar around that area, so I was intrigued.
It's not much to look at on the outside, but the music pouring out the door invites you in. The decor is what I'd call "chic saloon." It's small, but intimate, and was in full swing on a Friday night.
Tin Lizzie has a laid back feel to it, so much so that they had the FX channel playing on the television monitors instead of the normal music video fare at other gay bars. A good mix of ages and genders, with a few flame dames and their gays littered about.
After a big supper earlier, a singular Shock Top filled me up and we called it a night. But I'd certainly come back...not to have a crazy night in Orange County by any means; but to soak up some local "rainbow" color. =) -
Review from Jackie D.
10/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's very small & way gay. Oh and strong drinks
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Review from Aaron L.
4/14/2011
It might be naive of me, but I really didn't know there were any gay bars in Costa Mesa.
I tried out Tin Lizzie on a Yelp Drinks CMYE with a busload of fellow Yelpers. The locals were super friendly and warmly welcomed us. Everyone wanted to strike up a conversation. Some guys were even pretty flirty with me. I'm not gay (not that there's anything wrong with it), but I'm also not at all homophobic, so it was all in good fun!
There's a pool table, a small area for dancing (one gentleman was taking full advantage of this and having a blast by himself; good for him!), and a decent amount of seating.
I felt bad for the seemingly overwhelmed solo bartender who was mixing drinks for the entire bar AND walking around to check IDs as people came in. I quickly conversed with him about it while he finally got around to making my drink, assuming he wasn't used to such a large crowd. He led me to believe that they actually get much busier (up to 200 people..?!), but didn't really hint at the idea that he usually has any extra staff to help him out.
Be prepared to wait for your drink, but at least partake in multiple interesting conversations with very friendly dudes in the meantime! -
Review from christopher h.
Santa Ana, CA
4/4/2011 1 photo
There is no reason to not love this place other than parking
The staff and the community are amazing and its across the street from where i work which may not be a good thing :) -
Review from glory o.
9/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
things that make me happy:
good conversations, dänsking, cheap drinks, cool bartenders, cool people, and an honest good time!
you can find all above the above at tin lizzie. i really don't think i can elaborate more on how awesome this place is. its an opposite to the snobby vibe you sometimes face at the bars across the street. i've actually gone here alone (not intentionally...) and ended up meeting some of the coolest people ever. there's always a reason to dance, a reason to take that extra shot, and always something to talk about :D
trust me- just let go and have a great time! tin lizzie is by far one of my favorite places! they dont have food here but you can always snag a seat next door at roosters to get your grub on! :D (and come back and continue to have a blast..!!)
and as we all know... tin lizzie is a gay bar and its f**cking amazingggggg. -
Review from calleigh j.
Placentia, CA
3/21/2011
This bar is great...the decor is pretty cool. Me and my gay friend went here for drinks and i would definitely say up to par. Drinks weren't overpriced either. The bartenders were absolutely attentive and very socially inclined. I was surprised that they checked my I.D. though but that's fine, they're just doing their job and i was actually flattered. hehe.
You know...i wonder way back then if they even had any I.D.'s. I mean, if George Washington got carded, I wonder if he would just pull out a quarter. -
Review from Vanessa H.
Aliso Viejo, CA
4/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Our group descended on the Tin Lizzie this past Friday night, and it was a short but memorable stop.
This is not your typical gay bar (says the straight girl, so take it for what it's worth). After living in Long Beach for years and enjoying a brief stint as a fly at the Executive Suite, I am used to the young, uber-metro joints with a steady stream of Cher, Kylie, and Britney in the background. This is not that kind of place. It hosts an older crowd (which is probably why this place is so laid-back and unassuming), cheap & super stiff drinks, and pool tables. I even got propositioned by a venus flytrap outside as I was leaving the bar. How have I not heard about this place before?
Bonus points for playing "From Here to Eternity" on the TVs on Friday night. For once I wasn't the only one lusting after Montgomery Clift. -
Review from drew m.
Irvine, CA
1/21/2011
Tin Lizzy, I owe you a review. You have inspired me to be a better person and to treat people with more kindness. Probably one of the coolest, nicest, attitude-free places in OC (tie with Johnny's in HB). People here are friendly, and the music that is played is awful, like Lady GaGa awful,,,but you can tell that they are so over Lady GaGa that when someone plays it, they are all like "ohhhhhh." I like to walk in and que up nine inch nails so they can experience what manly music sounds like. It's good to try new things gays! Uhh, yah, right in your face!
Please patronize this bar if you are a gay guy or a chick who wants gay friends. Also, if you are straight you can hit on the hot girl friends of the dudes. Rule #1, gay guys always have hot chick friends.
Smooches Tin. -
Review from Drew M.
4/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
As I walked inside Tin Lizzie for the first time, I thought to myself, "How on earth have I never known about this place?" Red walls, chic, conscious design, yet still a dive bar feeling... awesome!
About 5 minutes later one of the people in our group points out a magazine rack with a few sultry photos of men on the front. Then I looked around the bar again with a new set of eyes on and it all started to click.
"Ohhhhhhhhh...." I thought to myself. I get it now. Then I mentioned it to my friend standing next to me and watched him do the mental math as well.
No wonder this place was so damn cool. The drinks were amazingly cheap, it's in a good location right near the Lab/Camp, and everyone in the bar was very friendly. There was only one bartender working when we arrived, but really, who would expect 40 people to just come waltzing in your front door.
There may or may not have been Grease on the jukebox, there may or may not have been dance off's, and this may or may not seem stereotypical, but compared to so many of the pretentious bars in the area, Tin Lizzie is a breath of fresh air. -
Review from Christina Y.
Santa Monica, CA
12/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
Hey ladies, want to know about a spot where you're guaranteed to receive little to no attention from skeezy guys? You can thank me later! Seriously, no matter how hard the girls were shaking their booties the guys didn't even raise an eyebrow. I'm guessing there aren't too many gay bars in this area so hey, I can't blame the fellas for being goal-oriented!
That being said, everyone was very nice and friendly, bartenders and bouncers were cool, there's a very casual vibe (nothing special to report in terms of decor, but nice and divey if that's what you're in the mood for), and I walked out of there in a good mood. What else could you want, really?! -
Review from Stephen W.
Aliso Viejo, CA
3/29/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Went here with some friends last Saturday. I had a fine time. Nothing special, just sort of average. I had definitely been to worse, and definitely been to better. I liked that they had Guinness in a can, which is actually almost as good as Guinness on tap and so much better than Guinness in a bottle...
Anyways, pretty cool decor, the space is pretty small, they have a pool table, and they have a full bar. Service was good and the music was good. It just didn't really strike me as a place I would love to go back to. but there's probably a reason for that! Next time I am out with my hair salon friends, maybe we will go again and I will have a better time. -
Review from Kelly C.
Irvine, CA
10/7/2011
Love this bar. Usually walk over from Memphis or the lab.
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Review from Pim L.
Garden Grove, CA
11/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
I know this is a gay bar, and yes I love gay people, but this is a bad place for a girl to come to if she be be lookin for free drinks, cause you ain't gettin them from these guys. It was a gay sausage fest for sure, too much ineligible man meat, in a small tiny hole of a place.
Next time I will disguise myself as dude, and be pimpin it with the free drinks, that's for sure. It was definitely a new experience for me, couldn't even find any hot lipstick lezzies to mac on either :(. My hopes for free drinks are gone, back to a straight bar for me.
On the other hand the bartenders were awesome and the drinks were cheap. WIN -
Review from Diana J.
Irvine, CA
5/2/2011
Tiny but FUN gay bar. Seriously, this is the friendliest bar I've ever been to--everyone is so nice! The bartender even did a little dance for me when she made me my drink and it seems like you can strike a conversation with any of your neighbors.
There's one problem: The mixed drinks taste bad :(
Other than that, if you're looking for a quick game of pool or want to dance with some good looking people with moves definitely check Tin Lizzie out! -
Review from Trisha T.
9/12/2011
Fun little spot. Tin Lizzie is a gay dive bar, who would have thought. Drinks were cheap and strong, but I can see how things can get a little dicey when the place gets busy. Parking in the lot shared with Rooster PM & the hair salon and plenty of street parking.
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Review from Shawn S.
Long Beach, CA
12/2/2010 1 Check-in Here
It's small, but boy does it pack a punch. Oh, get your heads out of the gutters y'all, I'm talking about the Tin Lizzie Saloon, ya dig?
It's the size of a hallway, but it's got a cute old fashion charm to it. The outside is nothing fancy, and it's totally tucked away in a corner so keep your eyes peeled or you might drive right past it (I feel like it's trying to stay in the shadows so that the OC doesn't close yet another popular gay hangout). Inside it's very cute, very Cheers-y. There's a pool table and some TVs, and a big bar with bar stools, some tables, and a big newsstand with all your favorite free gay mags. How does all this fit in there? Basically, it's as magical as Mary Poppin's bag.
I went with a group of friends on a Monday night, and although it started out pretty slow, the crowd increased substantially. There was a bunch of merriment going on, some guy even did the entire Beyoncé "Single Ladies" routine right there in the bar. The bartender was adorable as well (I think her name was Karen). She was having just as much fun as the people in the bar, pouring drinks whilst dancing and singing along with one of those fancy jukeboxes that uses the power of the internets. And what a drink she can pour!
I've been in here once when it was crowded, but I think by that point I was wasted, so I didn't mind that much. It's a cute joint to hang out in, be it with one friend or a group...or on your own even, I guess. I'm not sure when their busiest nights are, but Monday had a pretty decent mix.
It's like grandma said, "It's not the size of the boat, it's the motion of the ocean." I don't care to know what she was referring to at the time, but I think that saying can apply here at the Tin Lizzie.Listed in: Booze Guzzlin' Shame Holes
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Review from Mia V.
Irvine, CA
1/10/2011
"it is primarily a GAY BAR."
I have not been here, but they get 4 stars for honesty! I called them to see if they have a bustling weekday happy hour as I was planning to drop by with a friend of mine. The owner was straight up and told me that everyone is welcome, but it is primarily a GAY BAR. I am SO thankful he told me and I didn't have to sit there wondering why no men were hitting on me or looking my way! -
Review from Ash L.
Santa Ana, CA
12/7/2010
I felt like getting buzzed this one night, so my friend mentioned to come here since the people were nice. As we walked to the entrance, there were a few men seated, who commented on us "causing trouble" or something strange. That creeped me out a little bit, but when I got inside, there were other friendly men which creeped me out some more...but then I saw this dude dancing along to a song playing on a jukebox. And his dance is flamboyant and spirited. And he doesn't care that he's dancing alone to his own tune. He looked kind of funny, but it made me smile.
Then I completely realized that I didn't have to worry about creepers or anything...because this was a damn gay bar! I had forgotten for a moment. But as soon as I realized it, I began to accept that everyone was being friendly for the sake of being friendly!
Oh, and the shots were reasonably priced. The red-headed slut/kamikaze drinks were def. manageable to down. And coming from someone who is practically intolerant to alcohol, that's pretty awesome. My first "good" buzz experience was here! And then Baskin Robbins ice cream afterwards? Uhhh hell yeah. -
Review from Steve L.
Newport Beach, CA
9/23/2011
I just moved back to So Cal after being gone for 6 years. Since then, Tin Lizzie's has really changed for the better. The decor is new and updated, the atmosphere is very friendly and nice, the staff is great. Love this place now!
