Live music, cheap drinks-find it all at the Stage Bar and Grill

The Rhythm and The Method rocking the Stage Bar and Grill

Walking or driving down 5th Avenue in downtown you might miss this hole in the wall hangout, with all the flashy clubs and restaurants around. But the Stage Bar and Grill is the place to be if you’re looking for live music, inexpensive appetizers and drinks, plenty of room to dance, and no cover charge. Let me repeat that, there is no cover charge every night of the week.  The Stage is owned by musicians so music is the centerpiece of this bar.

As soon as you walk in to the bar you’re greeted by the stage at the other end of the room. You’ll see the large bar on the right and a few tables and chairs along the walls. The decor makes you feel as if you walked into an old fashion country saloon decked out with laser lights and some modern touches here and there.

The entertainment at the Stage is eclectic and can appeal to young and old. You can find something for every taste throughout the week.

On Sundays they have an open mike night which is perfect for those looking to loosen up before they start the work week.

Mondays are host to a live reggae band.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays showcase San Diego’s best local bands. Recently they hosted up and coming blues and rock band, The Rhythm and the Method.

Friday night starts the weekend and the Stage does not disappoint. Vent all your work week aggressions with metal band Trainwreck performing all of your favorite hits. You can also enjoy some delicious Tennessee BBQ from 5 pm to 9 pm.

On Saturday nights you will find another reggae band at 8pm and The Disco Pimps starting at 10pm. Don’t let the name fool you, The Disco Pimps only dress like they play hits from the 70s but really they’re an awesome cover band that will play all of your favorite songs. If you are looking for a more traditional club setting, just head down stairs where you’ll find a DJ spinning top 40 hits, another bar and even a stripper pole for the ladies who want to put their pole dancing skills on display – hey it’s good exercise!

The best part about venturing out to the Gaslamp during the week is for the happy hour specials, but at Stage you will find half price appetizers, well liquors, beer and wines from 5pm to 8pm everyday! They have a lot of favorites on the menu like jalepeno cream cheese poppers, nachos, and chicken wings. If you’re feeling weight conscious they also have a nice variety of salads for ten dollars or less. As a matter of fact, nothing on the menu is over ten dollars, which makes it perfect for anyone on a budget. I really enjoyed the grilled chicken sandwhich which was served on a lightly toasted onion kaiser roll, yum!

Overall, I really enjoyed my night out at The Stage Bar and Grill, the staff was friendly, the music was good, the food delicious and you can’t beat the fact that there was no cover charge and the drinks and food were not outrageously priced. If you’re looking for a new place to chill and are sick of pretentious clubs and ludicrous cover charges then you should definitely head to the Stage Bar and Grill.