The Go Lounge

My friend's band was playing here one night, so I thought I would check it out. It definitely has a rocker vibe. The regulars were nice and the bartenders are welcoming. One unique thing about this bar is they sell absinthe shots prepared with the sugar cube and fire- kind of cool. My only complaint is the inside of the bar is tiny. The outdoor patio is fairly spacious. I wish the music could have been outside. While this bar might not be for everyone, it definitely was a fun and memorable experience for me.

I've been in this place many times now. I keep going because a few friends of mine live walking distance from this bar. We usually go to The Blvd, but sometimes for a change and sometimes to avoid annoying people, we go to The Go Lounge.
Again, I say, I've been here many times always dragging my feet. I just don't like it. The vibe is just off to me, but hey, that's just me. Not any cause to write a bad review....right? Just my opinion....however.....
Proof was Monday when we went to enjoy a celebratory drink with my friend who just got a new job. We sat at a table because all the old guys were spaced out perfectly at the small bar and wouldn't move down. That's okay, there's tables and comfy booths. We all had a beer and a shot. There were five of us. We talked, laughed, drank, and watched a bartender named Daisy do 6 shots of Crown Royal with the men at the end of the bar in the matter of one hour. Damn, girl!! She's the only one on shift, no other employee is there. Wow, that's a lot to drink for one little girl. She talked to the men at the end who were buying her shots and she pretty much ignored everyone else.
Now...I realize more than most that table service is annoying for bartenders. We hate it. BUT!!! If there are five people at the bar drinking slowly and five people all laughing and happy at a table, (half of your bar is at the damn table....) then COME OVER to us and at least ASK us if we want another round. Five beers and five top shelf shots!?! You don't want our money? Or....a tip? I'd have tipped her ten bucks if she would've brought us something, anything!! I'd have even relayed the drinks from the bar to the table for the rest of my group! She just needed to freakin' acknowledge our existence!
Drinking behind the bar is ILLEGAL and something bad IS going to happen. How do I know? My friend's car was stolen from outside the Go Lounge a few weeks ago when she was responsible and did not drink and drive but rather left her car in the parking lot. Went back at 6am (six hours later) to pick it up and it was gone. There is shady business going on El Cajon Blvd, you need to be alert and able to help rectify a situation if it occurs. This ain't La Jolla, honey.
A drunk employee is a careless sloppy employee.
Everyone I was with was very upset and we opted to get some bottles and head back to my friend's house to finish out the night.
I LOVE meeting bartenders, conversing, commiserating, getting to know them for next time. This girl won't ever remember anyone's drink let alone their name as long as she's drunk on whiskey.
Mackenzie, wherever you went, you were the only one that saved this place for me. You're a good responsible bartender.

I stopped by here with a girl friend on a Friday night a few weeks ago because a band I liked were there. We arrived about 9:30 and they were playing. There weren't many people there, and I felt bad about it, but I didn't want to stay because it's a dump. Not, I'm sure, the "hipster dive" they are trying for, but anything you have to try for, especially that, should be avoided.  It was just tiny and dumpy and cold. I didn't try a drink. Maybe with the right person and after other drinks it would be ok, or maybe in the afternoon, but I doubt I'll be going back unless it's to support a band and I'm in the mood. I'm fed up with places that just don't what they look or smell like, don't clean, and try to pass it off as a "dive bar".  A real dive bar is one that is a hole in the wall frequented like old men who have been going there since they were young, which is still in it's original `50s or `60s decor (or even `70s! but you never see that), a dive bar would not have a band- maybe a jukebox with 45s in it, and you find the place by accident because it is not on the hipster list or reviewed in City Beat.
The Go Lounge quite far east down El Cajon; almost La Mesa. Plenty of free street parking there anyway.