Perhaps the worst bar I have ever been too. As a Ventura resident who enjoys to karaoke in the numerous places around town, I though I might try a change of scenery and try out the Hub, in Ojai, who claims to have karaoke on Wednesdays and Fridays.
When me and my friends got there, we found that they did NOT have karaoke. What they had was 2 microphones and speakers, that you could hook your I-phone up to, and sing along to your own music. This was disappointing but since the 7 of us were all dressed up and already in Ojai, we decided to buy a drink and give it try. My margarita came in 10 oz glass, and was more ice then drink, and it was $10. The service told us they would show us how to hook up our phone to their system. After sitting around for 30 minutes, clearly waiting for help, one of us asked the security guard again to help us out.
"I dont get paid to do that!" he told us. Rude!!! When we pointed out that he was in fact an employee and we had been waiting patiently for help, he told us if we didn't like it, then we could leave. And we did! The bar tender came out to tell us that she was so sorry about us having waited so long, and for the attitude of her co worker.
But do your self a favor, if you're looking to go out for a drink in Ojai, go to the beverage company! And if you're looking to go out for karaoke, I would have to recommend the Star Lounge in Ventura. The service is good, drinks are cheap and karaoke is every Tuesday and Thursday, where a nice woman sets up REAL karaoke.
After this night, I was equally laughed at/with and redirected away from this bar from locals, and told to steer clear as other people not only had similar experiences, but wholeheartedly agreed with me regarding Ojai being a better town that this bar.
Se here's what went down in arguably one of the worst dive bar experiences I've had.
First off, this bar sits right in the middle of the main road downtown. How this place hasn't been shut down or fined is beyond me.
Despite the bartender being friendly and having good taste in music, my evening was spend avoiding the three unbelievably shitfaced, wasted, crocked patrons that drove me nuts during my time there. I don't mean that they were obnoxious or loud, I mean that they would have been tossed from any bar, anywhere. While two were fairly harmless, the third one was one of those stumbling, shit talking drunks that you want to knock out but can't because of the intoxication level. And because of his being unable to talk without elbowing me or grabbing me, I had to move. Three times. Being my first night in Ojai, I wasn't about to start shit... that's what I assume any reasonable bartender/staff would do.
What is amazing about this is that aside from all the derogatory things being said to the bartender, the drunks causing problems with other customers, and the flat out challenges to us "normal" people, the bartender kept serving him and buying him shots.
This bar was cash only, and the bartender demands the cash in hand before handing you the drink. Apparently that's how the boss likes it, and watches constantly through the eye in the sky. Paranoid anyone? Either the boss is truly batshit, the bartender is on something to make her paranoid, or the customers are so trashed that they have problems collecting on tabs. Probably a combo of the three.
A pint is $5, and a basic shot is $8. No thanks.
My awesome first night in town ended when I was served at last call, only to have it taken away from me and poured out thirty seconds later. In my demanding my money back and giving the burnout that took it crap, I walked outside to find the police waiting, who did nothing aside from figure out if I was drunk or not. Â I talked to them the next day (recognized one of the cops in town) and we had a few laughs regarding that dump. I'm seriously surprised that this place hasn't gotten fined, as they clearly don't know when/won't stop serving people, and seeing how strict Ojai is regarding DUI's, I'm more shocked. Â
Avoid this place at all costs. You're in Ojai, why would you want to slum it anyways? This place needs Bar Rescue. BAD.
ROADHOUSE!
Cheap drinks. BRING CASH BRING CASH don't get all butthurt, get your lazy ass to get cash BEFORE you come here. Â Seriously with most bars I highly suggest bring cash.
The people are actually nice, I had a great time going. Â
I go for the booze and friends. Â I dont' get these babies that goes to bars expecting a handjob at the door. Â
I was happy Ojai even HAD A BAR. Â
so yay! BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE! :D
The house band played some awesome blues like tunes with a dash of country.
I will DEF. go back!
lovely courtyard in the back.
The people here are real, not all fake and horrible like in Los Angeles, so if you tourists can't handle that, go to San Fransisco where people there think they are better than you. Â
Its a dive bar. Â A REAL one not a HIpSTER one. Â
jeezus. Â
I say check it for the booze!
They charge for water. Seriously.
I'll go if friends insist on going, but this isn't a place I would seek out to hang at. I'm am Ojai native and this bar has always had a divey reputation, and not in a cool or kitschy way.
And they only take cash. What year is this? I'll be anywhere else.
Nice cool break from the Pottery festival in Libbey Park, Saturday afternoon. A very local place. Nice and dark. Friendly bartender who garnished my Hef ($4 on tap!!)with an orange she had picked that morning in her "grove"! It fragranced the entire bar with citrus goodness! She let us bring Bridget girl in and gave her a big bowl of water. We had 2 rounds and were on our way. The back entrance/exit is a really nice courtyard area that we enjoyed checking out with Bridget. This is a cute old timey little area, we grew up in Ventura and have been coming here for decades.... not to the Hub, but to the little strip it is in. Love Ojai!
Review Source:lots to look at, so if you're a people-watcher, stop in here for a late-night drink. Â we visited once on a slower night with a small crowd. juke box playing, and cheap-ish drinks. Â another night, we returned after dinner and caught a live band. Â enjoyable time but nothing amazing. Â atmosphere is a bit divey (which is fine if you're in the mood). Â pool tables in the front and back, and lots of locals milling around. if you're a bud-light or coors drinker, you might very well love this place. Â with the right make-over, this could be a hotter spot. Â as it is, since ojai has only a few places for an evening cocktail, they share the crowd with other, better-run and better-looking locales.
Review Source:Nothing special. A dive bar with some pool tables and a shitty jukebox. If you really need to play some pool and don't mind rubbing elbows with the local yokels, maybe it's your thing.
I stayed for a couple of beers with a friend a few months back. The place was dead, except for a couple of Larry The Cable Guy-lookin' fellas at the back of the bar eyeballing us the whole time.
The only thing that could up the creepy factor would be a few bars of "dueling banjos."
After dropping Dr. P off at a resort for a wedding, we decided to wander around the streets of Ojai. Â There was an art in the park event and after looking at some stuff that you could see almost every day along Telegraph, Hamburglar said he really, really needed a drink. Â Agreed.
So, we walked into The Hub. Â Typical dive bar but only one beer on tap. Â We played some pool, watched some of the Lakers game and then had an Irish car bomb at Lori's request. Â Since she never suggests shots, we immediately said yes. Â I can't even remember the last time I had one of those. Â
Ojai is not my kind of town but if you are passing through and need a drink, The Hub would be an interesting choice.
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