I brought a group of 60 here on a Friday night, unannounced. The bouncer/bartender was happy to see us, which is exactly the kind of reaction you want and don't get at places like conga lounge. They did a great job of accommodating our group. Premium drinks were only $7/each and they had beer specials on their board. I especially liked that they had the big jug of water out publicly for us to rehydrate. Great place for a large gathering if you Iike to drink and talk loudly. There were also many seats available as most of wanted to mingle. The few regulars in the bar were very friendly as well, great experience, thanks for having us!
Review Source:Great sports/dive bar. They have games on, good beer great feel. I walked in and the first thing the bar keep said is "what will it be boss?" That's what I'm talking about when I mean good service. I go to businesses to buy, and I want to buy service plus product. You guys did everything I asked. Grrrreat job, now I have a spot to come check the games out post work. Oh yeah Bring cash though, no cards here bruh!
Review Source:Regulars are pricks after 5:00 pm (daytime crowd is real, but once proper amount of alcohol is in blood, they head back to west Oakland to make way for the graphic designers posing in plaid and Ben Davis,and, even worse, CAL students).
Speaking of CAL students - there should be an internment camp for those people where they live and drink for 4 years so the rest of us do not have to be subjected to their alternate universe. Fucking retards ruin a good buzz every time. Who told you that you could drink with grown-ups??
Back to G&W's: Tall PBR and a shot of Jaeger for $5 = Â jail for $20.
My only complaint about this place is that I didn't know until the second time I went there that shots came with a free beer back. Â I guess that's my bad for not taking a shot the first time! Â And they don't hide the cost of the free beer back. Â A shot of jamey was only $6, and Stella was the back. Â Yes, please!
A couple of friends and I just moved from Charlotte, NC, and have been able to watch the Panthers (I know they suck just shut it already) games in what I call their 'living room'...the dark corner by the fireplace with cozy chairs. Â
I was worried that I wouldn't be able to watch any of my college games out here, but the bartender informed me that they have all sports packages and OPEN AT 9 AM ON SATURDAYS during football season so I can catch all of my shitty ACC games that are at noon on the east coast. Â
This place is cash only, but you can get up to $50 from the bartender using your debit card (assuming they have enough cash) on hand.
In case those reasons aren't enough to return, the staff is friendly, the bathrooms are clean, and it's an easy walk from the Rockridge station. Â
Now that I have shared this information with you, please don't bogart the best seats in the house...unless you happen to be a Panthers or Clemson fan...then the more the merrier!
Get your dive bar on!! Â This place has some of the cheapest booze prices on the block. Â If this place had wheels it would be on the second turn at the Daytona Racetrack. Â If only their beers came wrapped in a beer cuzzi. Â Honestly there aren't too many places that have combo booze menu items and for that I rip off my wife beater t-shirt with a kool-aid stain and tattoo my chest with a GW with an anchor going through it. Â Buy a shot of Jager and get a 24 ounce PBR for free....or a hangover...whatever you want to call it.
All I know is the people are great, the jukebox is spitting out random hits and there are enough games to make picking up random mates easy. Â Get your drink on, just don't blame me in the morning.
It's a solid sports/dive bar with pool tables, golden tee, and other things as well. Â
always seems to be some type of special, like $3 Sierras, or a random concoction.
Plus, it's like the only bar in the region which seems to carry all the sports networks: Pac Ten, Big Ten, SEC, whatever. Â They get the games.
Only negative for me is that it is smoker friendly, but at the same time it didn't bother me that much because it's not like they're douchebag smokers. Â They're people that recognize most people hate them, so they sorta cower in the corner...or outside.
After all, it's CALIFORNIA! Â GO OUTSIDE.
Solid bar.
This neighborhood dive bar is my favorite. Â The bartenders are awesome and somehow, there is NEVER a line for the ladies bathroom even though it's a single stall situation!
Oh yeah, and they can make yummy girly drinks too. Â Try the pear vodka and ginger drink, it's delicious. Â If necessary, you can eat pepperoni sticks and beer nuts for dinner. Last time, the bartender hooked it up with some free salt and vinegar chips.
While they're CASH ONLY, you can get some cash from the bartender for an additional $1.50 fee. Â Head to the far left of the bar to enter your pin/sign for it. Â
Be on the look out for the annual chicken wing competition!
So George and Walt's isn't exactly MY cup o' tea but if you're looking for a sports bar in Rockridge, George and Walt's is the spot.
Since moving to the bay from DC one thing I've noticed is the East Bay's serious lack of good sports bars. George and Walt's seems like at one point in it's hayday it was the king of bars. It has a comfy seating area (but some of the chairs have seen their better days). There is a big TV--not exactly high-def--but it does the trick.
Bar tenders are friendly enough but have never really gone out of the way to strike up a conversation with me or any of my friends despite being there on some pretty slow nights.
Be warned, cash only, but if you can get cash from the bar tender/atm pin pad scam deal if I remember correctly.
George oh George oh George, what would i do without you?
This place rocks, i live in West Oakland and i hop on Bart to Rockridge to come and get my drink on at this bar. The drinks are very cheap and when you order shots they come with a free beer back of any beer they have on tap, so in other words, the chances of you leaving this place sober is about 3%.
They have daily specials too, my friends i like to come here on Tuesdays for Tequila Tuesday. $2 off any tequila or mixed drink! This place can get pretty crowded on Friday and Saturday night, but it is pretty dead on the weekdays.
They do not accept credit cards or ATM cards, but they do have an ATM machine, CASH ONLY, so make sure you bring some delores. They also have a couple pool tables and a Juke box, this place is a riot, trust me, you  will like it.  It is a dive bar, but who doesn't like dive bars from time to time...
This place has a special place in my heart because it was the first place that I have EVER been to that had a mens bathroom line 6 people deep, while I waltzed into the womens bathroom without a hitch.
This sports bar was CROWDED for Sunday football! Â I mean, like "set your drink on the floor and hope nobody tramples you when you lean down to get it" crowded. Â
That being said, it's crowded for a reason. Â The energy is fun, vibrant, and full of life. Â No drama or too much testosterone. Â But you can cut through the amount of sports love in the room with a butter knife.
There are pool tables, some video games, and darts that would be cool at a less crowded time.
Decor is nothing special, but this is a real sports bar if I've ever seen one!
Walking into this place, I thought of my grandparent's bar. Yes my grandparents have a bar!!!
The bar was dark and had a wood panel background with old bottles lining the shelf which was mirrored. It was Sunday, and I was looking for a place to watch the Charger vs patriots game. I asked the waitress what their special was as i pulled up a chair at the bar and was told that Sunday was the only day that didn't have a special. The fellow Charger fans made a space for Mrs. Chubby Bunny and myself so we both sat down and ordered a drink.
Mrs.Chubby Bunny ordered a cranberry and soda (she was driving) and I ordered a Lagunitas IPA which cost a total of $6 bucks. The Lagunitas was $4 draft and the cranberry and soda was $2. That's when I started chumming it up with the couple that made space for us. They informed me that the chips and chexmix baskets were free and so were the hot dogs. My eyes widened after I heard that the dogs were free, especially after knowing that I was going to shell out $4 bucks a beer.
The place had a diverse crowd from  ppl wearing jerseys to hipster football guys, if there is such a thing. I started chatting it up with another person on my right, who said that he was from Boston and was casually screaming extra loud as the patriots started taking the lead. There were claps and cheers taking place from the several games unberway and their fans rooting on the big hit or the great catch or run.
After knocking back a few beers and hot dogs, I watched the demise of the Chargers. Overall, the place was above average and that was because of the free hot dogs and snacks. I gave it the extra star because of the atmosphere. It had a crowd that was football savvy. Seats could become limited making it standing room only which are signs of a good bar. It was a place where football fans could enjoy the company of other fans and meet up with fellow team fans. Oh yeah, Mrs. Chubby Bunny  told me to mention that the ladies bathroom deserved a big two thumbs up for its cleanliness. The minus a star was due to the fact that it was a CASH ONLY bar.
If you wanna watch a football game with average joes and are too old for the Bears Lair, then this is the spot.
To be honest, I was a bit scared to go in here. Â It was definitely not the type of bars I am used to going into, but since it was my friends birthday, I forced myself to go. Â
I was pleasantly surprised by this place! Â It was relaxed and the atmosphere was very friendly. Â There were plenty of places to sit on a Friday night and different things to do, such as play pool, watch a game, etc. Â The women's bathroom was also insanely clean. Â Light years more clean than other supposedly "nice" places.
The bartenders are also super quick to serve, nice, and make delicious ass drinks. Â All down to earth. Â None of that douchebaggery some have come to expect from a bartender. Â Just kidding. Â The drinks are also very reasonably priced, which is a major plus. Â I was so surprised to give $20 for 2 drinks and receive a $10 plus some as change. Â Hahaha. Â I pay way too much at other places! Â Such a dumbass.
I also love the fact that it is fairly close to the BART station, but if you decide to drive, parking was also easy to find that night. Â :D Â Go here!
Just a reminder: they don't accept credit cards here. Â I think they can accommodate ATM cards, but don't hold me to that.
I'm not sporty but I can appreciate this somewhat sporty bar. Â
Especially when said bar has friendly staff serving up tasty, well priced drinks with a smile and a "here you go, sweetie". Â
Comfy chairs near a cozy fire place are also a nice touch for those of us who are completely content sans pool.
Just a few short blocks from the Rockridge BART station.
There was a DYL a few Fridays ago at George & Walt's. Â And since I had such a nice time at the previous event (Englander), I made time to stop by. Â Unfortunately, the starting time go moved back to 6:30 PM and I Â was squeezed between that and my son arriving at OAK. Â I showed up anyway at 5:30 and in the pouring rain. Â
There was not a Yelper in sight, but there was a hockey game on and and inviting seat by the window for a draft beer and a comfortable street view. Â There were also light munchies available and some fun people watching inside and out. Â The bartender and patrons were also friendly and the price was certainly right. Â George and Walt's also strikes me as a friendly neighbourhood bar, almost Midwest in attitude, clean, and not so divey. The only thing I didn't like was the smoking area that you had to walk through coming and going. Â They also allow you to bring in food. And I should have done my homework before I came in, as sometimes a nice cold pint of beer requires more than potato chips and pretzels.
I'm sorry for the missed DYL opportunity, but enjoyed the nice break from a busy week nonetheless.
The first time I went to George & Walt's was St. Patrick's Day 2009. Â I was wearing a top hat. Â Since then, I've toned down my presence and have attempted to be a normal patron. Â
First and foremost, they have free nachos. Â FREE NACHOS. Â I'm impressed with free popcorn, so I almost fainted when I saw that cheese machine and that bowl of chips. Â Anyone up for a nacho eating contest?
G&W is cash only but they have some nifty way of getting you cash out of your checking, if you're in desperate need of cash. Â
I just love this place. Â It's hard to walk down College ave without stopping by for a drink.
This place has been around forever  -  friendly happy place where no one feels out of place!!  The beer is always fresh and cold,  the drinks are strong and your could call it a dive .....  until you notice that the place is clean - they reupholstered the chairs in the TV/fireplace area and they have 18 year old single malt scotch - what dive has that??
Yes it looks a little funky and you have to wade through the smokers outside but it's worth it - just go  - watch a game and have fun!
This is an excellent place to watch college football on a Saturday! Cheap drinks, nachos to snack on, big TV's and a relaxed crowd to cheer with. I had tried to watch my game (Go Irish!) at a bar a little further down the road, but they wanted to switch my game to the Giants game after half time, luckily I ran into my boss who pointed me towards George & Walts. They have plenty of TV's and if you say you're watching a game, they respect it!
Cash only, and Toni the bartender we met was awesome. Also, you can bring in your own food to eat!
This place has an awesome friendly vibe going around it. It's a fun place to  hang out and meet new people. The drinks are well priced and fairly strong.
The pool tables make the socializing even more fun and convenient. There's some pinball machines for those that don't care for pool and tons of televisions around in case you don't want to socialize.
If that's the case, what are you doing there anyway?
This is a great neighborhood joint that I'd visit frequently if I lived in the area.
There's a ton a pool tables scattered in the front area, and a big screen TV complimented by nice comfy chairs and a few small tables in the back. Â Bar snacks are provided in the form of variously flavored (or not) potato chips, and you're welcome to bring or order in food, provided you clean up after yourself. Â
No happy hour, but the prices are cheap enough - it's $4 for most beers and wells, and a free beer back with any shot. Â Usually there's a few drink specials up on the white board too, which is how I had my first Dark & Stormy (and coincidentally re-learned that there is such a thing as ginger beer as opposed to ginger ale, which can be a rather dangerous mistake to make if you chug the first gulp or 3 like I did). Â
Great spot, not too loud, good for conversation. Â Cash only.
One word: DIVE. I love it! =)
This place is turning into my preferred watering hole these days. Â When I just want to chill after a long day at work and watch the game with a nice cold beer and some bar chow while listening to Bon Jovi full blast on the jukebox, G&W is the perfect place to be. The greatest thing about it is that it is literally 3 doors down from where I live. Great for crawling home if things get out of hand. ;)
I'm somewhat of a regular now and I see the same faces every time I go. It's kind of like Cheers to be honest. "where everybody knoowws your name". My friend and I actually go to play pool more than anything. There's a friendly competition that takes place every night. It's 75 cents to play, and winner keeps playing. We have a pretty good group who goes regularly now and trash talk each other while knocking back some good old Stella on tap (14 dollars for a pitcher!). Â
The only thing is that it's cash only. Last night, I totally forgot that and I ordered a pitcher and offered my card. The bartender directed me to the ATM machine they had which was actually a cash register which had a card sliding slot. (Looked like something out of the 60's. freaking hilarious) That's the first time I've ever seen anything like it. It didn't like my card so I had to go 5 blocks to grab some cash from Chase.
Other than that, the place is pretty cozy. The bartender is really friendly. He makes sure the bar chow never runs out, the beer keeps-a-flowin and the games keep the night-a-rollin!
4.2 stars. (I heart dive bars)
On the heels of a hideous week, a friend and I were in desperate need of an industrial strength salve one Saturday afternoon. Â Off to George & Walt's for a couple of vodka tonics, some profound conversation about urban development policy, other stuff, and a brutal headache the morning after. Â
Yep, your basic dive.
I guess in the end I can see the appeal.
Though a solid portion of the clientele are sad and lecherous hybrids of stripey shirt guy, college grad who forgot he graduated 10 years ago, douchy mcdoucherson, there are some people I have relatively high opinions of who also show up here.
And though the neon is garrish and makes a constant buzzing noise that would bug me much more if I had autism, it's not per se unflattering. Â
And though the set up is a little too deliberate sports-bar to feel very welcoming to the likes of me...
The bartenders are great. Â The prices are good. Â I trust nothing too awful will happen to me here.
My only visit to George & Walt's I had a great time. Â The crowd here was just rowdy enough but not overwhelming. Â Our service was pleasant and my glass never quite made it to empty.
We stayed until we started getting the gentle glances as the crowd dwindled and clean-up was beginning nearby.
Then we stayed a little longer until we got the firm but polite, "Hey guys, we need to close up now."
Overall, one of the better neighborhood bars I've been to, not just in Oakland but anywhere.
First time I came here, it was pretty empty. They were showing the MLB All-star game on about 4 TV's around the bar, and the bartender, an older man, was VERY friendly and talkative. Drinks were pretty cheap, and the lighting and atmosphere was pretty nice. It has 2 pool tables, a few arcade games, and a little sitting area with a couch or two with a bigger TV to watch a game on.
The second time I came here it was much busier, and the bartender was a younger guy. This guy wasn't outstandingly friendly or nice, but he wasn't necessarily mean either. It had a lot more people there, and it was pretty fun.
Overall I thought it was a nice place to hang out, cheap drinks, good atmosphere(brighter than most) with pretty friendly people. I will definitely come back to see a baseball game or a hockey game in the near future.
Are you a Shark's fan?
Well, if you frequent this place you will become one. Â On game nights this place is packed with knowledgeable and dedicated Sharks fans.
A Sharks bar... in Oakland.
They have tall cans of PBR for cheap and their "cheap pitcher of the month" is usually a very good mircobrew or import.
Game six was a little tough to swallow, but it was fun to scream, yell and live with every single minute of the 7 periods of that game.
Word of warning though, cash only. Â But they do have an "ATM" with ripoff fees.
When you DON'T care enough to send your very best.....in a karaoke performance. Â
The crowd is a weird clumping of college students and the "under 30". Â Karaoke is obviously not the focal point of "Karaoke Wednesdays" at the bar. Â Instead it was sports and pool tables. Â
We played "Tell Me When To Stop!" and I ended up signing Mariah Carey...it was horrible. Even when the KJ brought it down an octave. Â I suck karaoke donkey balls.
Nice staff....a smattering of lame "duuuudes", but overall sufficient.
ATTENTION COUGARS!
Picture this: Â You in your expensive designer jeans, a gaggle of semi-reformed frat boys in their ratty sweatshirts and baseball caps, a few cheap drinks, nary another female in sight and voila! Â A night (or a few minutes, depending on your boy) of heaven. Â All made possible by George & Walts. Â Thank me for this later, after you've experienced the magic.
Hey ladies, ever wonder where all the boys disappear to on Sundays during football season while we're out shopping or getting mani-pedis?
I think they are all here, at George & Walt's. Â I'm not kidding. Â This place was wall to wall male today. Â Granted, there are at least five television screens with different games, which is bound to draw a crowd of football loving dudes...all kinds...from college boys to hippie boys to preppy boys to really hot boys with blue eyes wearing baggy khakis, Adidas, and a black hoodie smoking yellow box American Spirits (heh - my own personal CL Missed Connection)...but I digress. Â Yes, there are pool tables and video games (though no one dared to use them while the games were on). Â They have PBR in cans, they make my favorite drink (the Greyhound), and they pour heavy. Â
Add to that 25-cent Erotic Photo Hunt, and it equals one pretty kick-ass Sunday afternoon.
I have quite a few beginning nights here. Its a very odd spot for a gal like me. I enjoy the hustle and bustle of asses grinding and gyrating. Only b/c I love a good laugh and enjoy laughing at others. but none of that will go down here.
Instead u walk in get a beer...a good beer... and put some money in the jukebox. And while ur bottom is making its decent to the floor u may notice your surroundings... an odd mix of ppl drinking...heavily... just the way i like it. There are pool tables and video games around.
But i didn't have an interesting time once. I was taught how to play that silly game that they played on the Pirates of Caribbean. Something about a cup and some dice and shake and drop and yeah i was drunk i kinda forgot but it definitely wasn't a memorable moment.
So do urself a favor go here FIRST for a good beer... then go somewhere else
OR go here and STAY... but play Never Have I Ever AKA Dirty whore BKA Ultimate Whore. loudly.... free drink will soon ensue
cheers.
Stop #1 on the Trial Run Bart Crawl: Rockridge Station / George & Walt's.
We had a mix of East Bay-ers and City Dwellers, so Rockridge was an ideal middle ground for the story to begin. Â About 8 of us straggled in over a period of an hour... Â It was a good place to get organized.
The good: very laid back atmosphere, with bit a divey-ness, a super nice bartender and some friendly clientele. Â When they heard we were on a BART Crawl, some folks sitting at the bar (and let's be honest, the people here were ALL at the bar getting sauced up on a Thursday) gave a few suggestions and looked like they could've been convinced to join the rest of us with a simple non-verbal cocked eyebrow invitation.
The bad: (well maybe not that bad) the soundtrack to this place was 1970's prog rock... Not the kind you recognize and sing to. Â The deep cuts. Â The "this was Frampton's side project during a weekend-long cocaine and peyote haze" kinda deep. Â I ought to be more appreciative, but honestly not sure it gave the kinda vibe you want in a boozing establishment.
The ugly: (actually more funny than ugly) the "ATM" at this place is actually a standard retail credit card reader that allows you to print out your own receipt for cash and take it directly to the bartender to barter for alcohol. Â It was like a fugue-state reminder of my days working at Old Navy, sans headmicrophone.
I was never into divey places but I like this spot --- very lax. Â It's a good mix of people --- staff is friendly. Â Plus, I can roll in with whatever I want --- love me my sneakers! Â =)
I especially like that the drinks are so cheap. Â I pay half-price for my Goose at G&W's! Â Just overall chill atmosphere --- with chairs & tables in the rear and pool tables. Â
Con: Â Cash only!
Wanna have a reunion with the kids from High School who's social progress was measured by shere amount of glue that they huffed?? Well they're probably crowded around the trivia machine at the end of the bar here with the difficulty set to "retard". Â
Hands down winner of two very important dive bar categories:
Most likely to challenge your drunken "cougar" defense technique
Most likely place to be dry humped by a pool cue
One extra star for being across the street from my best friends' apartment. Â Another star for not giving me hep C.
"Where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came..." Okay, I admit it, I am highly biased on this one, as George & Walt's is my bar. THE bar. In the sense that when I say I'm going to the bar, most of my friends know we're talking about G Dubs, as we regulars affectionately call it, or G Dizzle, or just Dubs. On myspace it is referred to as simply GW, and it is referred to a lot as most of the funny, relevant, stupid, dramatic, or sports-related things in my life and many many of my friends' lives unfold here.
GW is the oldest family-owned bar on College Ave., been there since the 30's and good old George & Walt themselves are lovingly remembered by a large black & white photo at the back of the bar, with their names in neon lights above it. Speaking of neon, if you've been on College in Rockridge even once, you've probably noticed the large landmark neon sign out front. This place has history man!
There are a lot of pool players and sports fanatics in here. They have two pool tables and there's usually someone else's name on the board before yours, but that just means you should be able to find a challenging opponent. There are 5 TVs, one of them a big-screen (back by the fireplace in the lounge that's often full by 10 am on Sunday) and a flat-screen conveniently located right above the bar. The video bowling game is always popular as are the video poker machines. I dare you to try to beat my high score on photo match! A classic pin-ball machine, a golf video game, and a classic arcade machine (Pac Man, Dig-Dug etc.) round out the entertainment options.
That is of course excepting the colorful personalities of the regulars, bartenders, bar backs, door guys & owners. When you're at a loss for what to drink on a Sunday evening, Frank will mix you up a delicious creation of his own. Come in Wednesday nights for Karaoke, and watch Barb's face light up when the girls sing her favorite songs.
There used to be chairs outside, in fact there I am on the left sitting in one of them, but they were banned by the neighborhood, so now everyone mills around out front to smoke, and everyone always seems to go at once. Unfortunately, you can smoke & you can drink, but not at the same time. And don't be surprised if you accidentally take your drink outside to find many regulars on your case right off the bat. Don't take offense, they're just enforcing the rules to protect their bar.
There are occasionally really fun special events too---luaus, BBQs, jazz bands, local bands (like The Real Tom Thunder), food drives, raffle's etc. There is definitely a George & Walt's extended family that is very intrinsic to the College Ave. culture, but don't let that scare you. All you have to do is come in once to see why that is the way it is. No snobs around here! How 'bout a Jaeger shot & a Bud back? Cheers!
George and Walt's is my staple---like cigarettes, it is always there for me when I am down and never runs out, argues or steals my car (except when I am out of money or it is after 2 a.m. or when I was there and my car was stolen). Â
Without GW, I probably would not have finished grad school and made enough money to buy GW ... not that I bought it, but still. Â Obviously, the latter statement belies the previous statement regarding running out of money. Â Cash-in-hand is more like it ... thank god for their sketchy little "ATM." Â Seriously, when I was little I probably would have imagined that there was a small person inside each ATM handing out the appropriate denominations and vigorously scribbling out your receipt ... unfortunately I did not have much of an imagination, and even if I did, we were so poor that I had no cause to use an ATM in the first place. Â But I digress---my point is that at GW the ATM is actually a little person (O.K. average to medium sized person) who tells you to punch in your secret code and then hands you money. Â I am not sure why they hand you money, but I try not to question it.
Seriously, if you have read this far, then you are most likely sincerely interested in GW and, for some reason, you have to rely on Yelp to help you make a decisions as to whether or not you should go there. Â Just go. Â Alcohol is relatively cheap, they have pool and drunk people to play with, big TVs and video games.
HOWEVER (and this is a big one and the reason for only 4 stars), do not go there if you are looking to meet a hot girl. Â They are very very rare there and are almost always accompanied by some beefed up redneck who washes down steroids with Milwaukee's Best(TM) ... hmm, I guess you call them "frat boys" around here.
On the other hand, the owner's daughter is pretty hot (along with a few of her female friends)...I know she checks me out when I am there, but she has a boyfriend and I am now married ... so it was not meant to be. Â
Enough said, worth price charged.