Started slow but it quickly became a hit after we left and came back. I like the two dance floor with different music. I had a blast here, only thing I was fearing was if my dance partner was going to vomit on the dance floor.
"Lets please keep the overly wasted from within please!"
My friend told me about this spot and now I can check it off from my to do list. LoL!
I've been here twice and had great experiences both times. I usually head over right around 5 and have been pretty lucky with free street parking. The happy hour special is $2 well drinks and a free individual size appetizer with EACH drink. Â Half off You Call Its. Â The Mr. and I got 3 drinks each and 3 apps each, and ended with a bill under $20. Pretty awesome deal. Â Bar keeps are attentive and the drinks are strong. Â
It must be said that great people watching can be had as well! Â On both nights, I witnessed: your typical girlfriends out & about catching up (likely chatting about guy problems), groups of friends (or coworkers) looking to get as much alcohol intake for as cheap as possible, the duo of guys who are scoping out the joint for any slutty sluts to take home and said slutty sluts who will eventually find that douchey pair to get a few free drinks and look forward to an inevitable morning walk of shame. Â Truly, this place makes for a fun night on a budget.
Really what you see is what you get with this place. I can't complain about a bar that can act as a dance club, lounge, and pool hall. Not to mention the price is second to none for a bar by the beach.
Clearly the bad reviews have to do with the type of crowd that this place draws. Don't blame the player, blame the game.
It's just a strange spot in PB. When I was in college and not of age to drink, I remember that this was a pretty happening clubby type spot. Now it's a restaurant with music and palm trees mixed with a Tom Cruise from Cocktail and sports bar vibe. I don't know what the heck this place is and I sometimes don't care. I follow the leader and the leader tends to make bad decisions. If you're already liquored up then maybe you won't mind this place so much. The appetizers are frozen microwaved things and the drink specials tend to be cheap as hell. Great place to stop at for bar golf.
Review Source:You generally get what you pay for, so I figured this review makes sense.
Johnny V's on the outside has the look of an upscale bar/club in the affordable PB bar scene. Don't be fooled though--drinks are incredibly cheap on Friday nights along with the appetizers that are served until 10 pm. This is an easy way to drink a ton without bleeding your wallet.
My main cripe with the place is that you should never, ever pay cover here. It just isn't worth it. And if you happen to be here on any other night other than Friday night, you'll find the drinks overpriced and the ambiance overrated. The dance floor is okay, mainly because every time I've been the music was pretty bad. I think the only fun time I had here was when I had a really large group and we had our own side of the bar.
The staff is really anal about where you stand so be aware of that if you're not paying attention and roaming around. I got the sense that the bartenders were just into getting tips and didn't really care about making it an enjoyable experience for the guest.
Overall, I'd say if you find yourself passing this place on any given night, keep walking.
I've heard their HH special is amazing and unfortunately we missed it by 30 minutes. I will not be going back. It was smelly and damp in there and reminded me of a bar in New Orleans. There wasn't a big crowd I think people take advantage of the cheap drinks and then venture on. I thought it was dirty.
Review Source:I've walked by Johnny V's many times and never cast a second glance. But a friend was having a birthday party there last weekend and I must say that I'm impressed. While it doesn't look like much from the outside, the inside is a different story.
The decor is lovely (my friends and I kept commenting on how it reminded us of Vegas and the inside of the Venetian or Caesar's). Â It's surprisingly spacious and I couldn't believe how many rooms there were. We couldn't even find our friends when we first arrived!
To make the night even better, their happy hour is amazing! A free appetizer with every drink purchase before 10 p.m.? Yes, please! Â I accompanied my vodka cran with a chicken slider and side of fries. Delicious! As I had already eaten dinner, one drink was plenty for me but several in my party took advantage of the deal multiple times.
My only complaint is as the night went on, the location turned into more of a night club. The music got louder, the lights got dimmer and I became increasingly annoyed with having to shout to my friends. We hung around until 11ish and then headed out.
I'll definitely be back for happy hour though!
If you enjoy being around a bunch of fat chicks in tight clothes who smoke pall mall non-filters like they need them for survival, then definitely hit this place up. Â Men wear women's jeans here! Â It's a gay bar for straight people. Â If you're straight but love men, you should probably wait in like on a Saturday night for 30minutes for no F'n reason and hit on some dudes once you get in cause the dudes are prettier than the chicks here. Â Gay bar, for straight dudes..........
Review Source:4 stars for the awesome and ridiculously cheap Friday happy hour!
We came here to celebrate a friend's birthday last night and were pleasantly surprised at how awesome their happy hour menu is. $2 beers, $3 mixed drinks and with any drink purchase, you get a free mini appetizer. I got the buffalo chicken flatbread, which was yummy, our friends really enjoyed their fish tacos and sliders with fries.
Happy hour starts at 4pm, so we're planning to come back for a nice, relaxing afternoon in PB.
I had to dock a star because it seemed like within a matter of minutes, it went from cool, chill bar to annoying, douchey club.
Came here for a mixer, had one bartender on with a group of over 20+ plus their normal patrons on a Wednesday night from 5-8. Even with the one bartender wasn't on top of everyone's orders, getting distracted by other things. I had some tanqueray and tonics, $8 during a happy hour seems pricey even so...food served during the mixer was def frozen apps warmed up. To be expected in PB I'm guessing but the place could have potential...just my 2 cents :-)
Review Source:You have to go on a Friday! Cheap drinks and FREE appetizers. It's so cheap you can barely get your bar tab over $10 to close out!
Get there early or it's hard to find a place to sit. Large dance floor and the music is pretty good. They have a pool table and it's a good place for groups. Good atmosphere, good crowd, good bar!
This is my Friday hotspot. Order a drink for $2 and get a free appetizer. Came with a group of friends and we had several rounds and after a while we had dozens of appetizers to go around and share since they were free with the drinks. The dance area is nice once people get a little liquored up at night. Good DJ and choice of music that creates a fun atmosphere that is not too crowded most of the time.
Some nights they charge a cover but I try to make it out early to avoid this unnecessary fee.
They have a few pool tables to hang out and play while you drink and spend time with friends.
GO HERE ON FRIDAYS!!!
Cheap, Fun, and good music!!
This place is such a joke!
I used to like going here, but you can ask many PB goers and they'll all tell you that Johnny V's is pathetic. From the douche bag bouncers to the poor bartending service. It seems like everyone has their noses in the air!
What set me off the edge:
Last night I had my ONE AND ONLY (Hawaii) I.D. taken away by a bouncer because he thought it was fake! I flagged down one cop who verified my age and my residence in both Hawaii and California (still pending on Cali I.D. replacement), but said that "the bouncer is an expert on I.D.'s so he can't help me." I got another cop to actually look at the I.D. and did so with the dumb bouncer. Apparently my REAL I.D.'s colors weren't right, the picture quality wasn't good enough, and there wasn't a fine print next to the Hawaiian islands. So because of that the cop, again, isn't an expert so he can't help me.
I am far from pissed right now! Why the fuck would I make a fake I.D. if I'm 21?! That bouncer is an idiot.
I have been to Johnny V's before to meet friends here and take advantage of their awesome happy hour specials but  I never thought it would be a place I'd spend my last night as a single woman!
The night before my wedding, my bridesmaids took me out around Hillcrest and somehow we made our way to Pacific Beach. Because it was a Wednesday night, there wasn't a whole lot going on Garnet but Johnny V's sucked us right in with  their dance music and lights. It was the ONLY happening place on the street!
So happy we ended up there...it was just what we needed..a place to get down and dance...
Jonny V's is a very spacious venue and is divided into several different areas.... large dancefloor is the first thing you see then table around the side and back and a very accessible bar kind of in the center of the place.
What really impressed me was the large layout and all of their tv screens. They were even so kind to put a "Congratulations" message on the screens for me to help celebrate my bachelorette party and upcoming Wedding... all on the fly.
I definitely want to give props to "Marvin" at Johnny V's. He went out of his way to make my night special and provided amazing service to all of us that evening.
So, if you are planning a bachelorette party or just out on the town in Pacific Beach, Johnny V should definitely be one of your stops on Garnet... you' re guaranteed to have a good time!
Went here on a Friday for $2 drinks and a free appetizer.
This is NOT a place to go for a romantic dinner, but a good place for cheap drinks and quick food.
Pros:
- Cheap drinks AND you get a free appetizer (decent food).
- We ended up getting three drinks each (and three appetizers, a total of $6 each), which was out dinner for the night.
- They don't hold back on the alcohol in the drinks.
Cons:
- It was hard to find a place to sit - we ended up in the bar and actually the security took our chairs at some point.
- I had to pay $4 for to drinks. I gave the bartender a $5. He didn't give me any change. The bartender should ALWAYS give you your change, and then you can decide what to tip.
- Took a long time to bring the food (we had finished our drinks when they came with the appetizers ordered at the same time).
Food (appetizers):
In general the food was fine the price etc. taken into consideration. It was kind of lukewarm and we waited a while for it, but the place was really busy, so it was kind of ok.
- Doughnut balls good as a sweet desert.
- Chicken kebab really good, but you don't get much food.
- Cheeseburger slider good. You get a small cheeseburger and some french fries.
- Chicken slider good. You get a small chicken burger and some french fries.
Overall this place is too loud and too crowded for my normal tastes, but they did a few things well and I commend them on that.
1- the friday happy hour is insane. Â We got 5 drinks, and 5 free appetizers (for being free, they are all a nice portion) for a total bill of $11. The apps came out fast, don't think we ever had to wait more than 3 or 4 minutes even being as crowded as it was. Â I loved the McDonald's fries with the slider... seriously.
2- service by our specific waitress in a crowded restaurant at 7pm on a Friday was nothing short of amazing.
3- even with their advertised happy hour deals, the better beers are only $3 (for about a 14 ounce pour)
If any of these three aformentioned things were not satisfactory, it'd probably be a 2-2.5 star place for me, but it was made tolerable, and actually a good time. Â I think I would be inclined to return during off-hours, like a calmer mid-day afternoon that's not so loud and I could take in some sporting events. It'd probably be closer to a 4 in that case.
This is such a weird bar. Â They have great seats in the front (when they open the windows, they wouldn't for some reason when we were there) and then they have this weird middle area that's like an indoor garden. Â So random. Â
Came here early on a Friday for happy hour. Â Got a great seat up front, but it was stuffy and they refused to open the windows. Â With each $2 drink, you get a free appetizer! Â Not bad at all. Â The apps are so-so, but for $2 you can't really complain. Â The chicken slider was ok, but a little dry, hummus and chicken skewers were good, donut holes were the best thing we tried. Â
We were here for a couple hours and not really paying attention and by the time we left, the place was totally packed! Â As long as you get here early, it's worth stopping by for some free food and super cheap drinks.
Amazing happy hour on Fridays from 4-10pm. $2 drinks and a free appetizer with every drink! Unbeatable happy hour deal. :)
My friends and I got here early at around 5pm, which was GREAT. Pleeeeeenty of open tables and available chairs. The service was fast.
The orange chicken appetizer was good. The hummus and pita was good. The basic cheeseburger slider also came with fries. You're going to get filled up on all these plates of food!
I like the vodka cranberry here.
The bill for both my sweetie and I came out to a whopping $10. Not bad, not bad at all. Definitely recommend this place for a super cheap (and tasty) way to start your Friday night!
This has been one of my favorite places to eat on Wednesdays and Thursdays over the past four years. Their dinner deals are unbeatable. Wednesdays they have a cheap pasta menu- giant plates of pasta (great for leftovers!) are $6-7, additional BIG side salads are only another $2.50. Thursday's steak night and you can get your choice of cut (my favorite's the petite filet with herb butter) with your choice of sides (i like mashed potatoes and grilled veggies) for $10.95! All of this AND half-off bottles of wine, $2.50 wells, and $2-3 drafts until 10 PM. It's really an unbelievable deal and I'm always surprised the place isn't more full than it is.
Friday's a crazy deal night too (a free appetizer with every drink)- but I avoid it because it tends to be quite a zoo.
It's also fun to go dancing here late night- Friday's probably the most fun but Thursday's usually good too (just less crowded).
Drinks are cheap.
Venue is nice.
Music is average.
Pool tables.
TVs.
I have a bit of a grudge against Johnny V's. My buddy turned 21 the day we went to Johnny's and they would not let him in because he has to be 21 for a full business day before he's officially  considered 21?!!!!! In short, we went to PB for our buddy who is 21, and he wasn't allowed into Johnny's. Other than that one incident, I've been back to Johnny Vs and was impressed. A nice, typical bar. It was not trying to be a club which makes this place great.
Wut? Over the past few years, I have been here a gazillion times. How have I managed to not post a review until now?
It's V NOT 5!!! (This is what gets stamped on your wrist some nights, after you pay cover)
This place isn't particularly extraordinary or amazing, but it's a great go-to place on a weekend. Their drink prices are reasonable. They frequently have specials, even on Friday/Saturday nights. Sure, sometimes the special is something you aren't looking forward to drinking, like $2 for a house tequila shot - but it's special because the night will definitely be special after you drink it.
They always have Stone on tap. There's an area to sit around and chat, an area to dance, and an area to play pool. Service is typically pretty friendly. $5 cover on Saturdays (I think) but it's worth it. Best place for dancing in PB.
After exploring Johnny V's a couple of times now, I think I can safely say that it might hold the coveted "Leslie's-Second-Favorite-Bar-in-PB" title.
I like that there's a lot of space; I can actually walk around with a drink and not fear that I'm going to dump it on someone any second. I also liked the happy hour that we barely caught the second time we came: $2 well drinks with a free appetizer. Yes, free. Um, sign me up?!
I also feel like the couple times I've been the tunes were noticeably pretty rad and i always appreciate that.
After partying in Pacific Beach, most locals get into a routine of which bars they would like to indulge their alcoholism and sexual prowess and do not like to venture from the norm in fear of having a bad night. So I was pleasantly surprised when after my friends and I stumbled into Johnny V's one November evening.
Johnny V from the initial outside does not look like your typical PB bar. It tries to look more sophisticated than it is, which is why it took so long for my friends and I to try it. However, don't let that keep you away because the inside of Johnny V's is great. It has an indoor/outdoor ambiance with plenty of seating to drink and socialize with your friends and a large bar in the middle of everything. There is a dance floor in the back with another small bar. The times I have been there the dance floor has either been dead or somewhat full. However, I believe people go to Johnny V's more for the drinks and socializing rather than dancing. There is a cover of $5 dollars if it's a busy night, otherwise its free.
The main reason I really enjoy Johnny V's so much is the drink prices and specials. The evenings I have been here (Friday and Saturday nights) the well + single mixers have been either 2 for 1 or $2 dollars in price. So buying a round for all your friends can make you look like a baller without spending more than $20 bucks. Even if your are not taking advantage of the specials, the drinks are cheap so there is no worry to break the bank. The bartenders at Johnny V's are great. They are fast attentive and know how to make a drink! I like my drinks old school (Old fashioned, Martini, Vodka Gimlets) and they are the only bar I have been able to find in PB so far that can make them properly.
I would highly recommend you try Johnny V's if looking for a good place in PB to start off your night.
On Friday night, this is my hands-down FAVORITE spot in San Diego. $2 drinks plus free snacks (and by "snacks" I mean sliders + fries, chicken flatbreads, veggies with hummus, and on and on), pretty much all night long? Um, yes. I am so most definitely a fan.
The waitresses are, for the most part, adorable and quick to help. Service is always lightning fast...it always seems like my new drinks are in front of me practically before I'm finished ordering, even when it's ridiculously crowded. And, yes, this place DOES get crowded on Friday nights. If you're not there by, oh, 5:30, you probably won't get a seat.
This is one of the best kept secrets in PB.
It has killer deals for Sunday football. Food is less than $5, mimosa pitcher is $8, and bloody Mary's  are $3! It's not crowded at all either. They have plenty of tvs to watch any team you like. If you stay the whole day/night on Sunday there are $1 street tacos (they don't skimp on the filling either), $3 wells and anythiing on draft.
Other pros:
- never ever a cover!
- Huge dance floor (when open on certain nights).
- large ladies bathroom
- beer pong (on certain nights)
- can be crowded which means you can meet people (but the place is huge so you never feel squished)
- very chill for a more relaxing/hanging out with your friends kinda vibe.
- friendly staff who are prompt
- the interior is a little more classy than the rest of PB without it being pricey
Happy hour, happy hour, happy hour! Look pass any negatives you may see or hear and just enjoy the financial benefits you will receive from the happy hour.
$2 well and beers and a free appetizer with every drink. Imagine the money you will save if you found a girl that was just as much of a cheap drunk as you are.
Service is awful here... AWFUL!
The bartenders suck at making drinks. They take forever to get to you because they are so slow at making these crappy drinks... then they are pretty rude too.
Every person I talk to tells me this place sucks and I went for my friend's going away party thinking it can't be that bad but it was...
Now if you are looking for the prime location of where douche bags collide, Johnny V's would be the location, but if you plan accordingly, you can hit up the best happy hour at the beach before those "tools" get their tan on and gel in. Â I would say that a Friday night at 530-6pm, slide into Johnny V's, grab a table and enjoy your $2 beverage while you wait for your free appetizer that comes with every drink. Â It's quite genius. Â We went Friday night and our bill was a whopping $10 total. Â We were able to enjoy our friends' company and get a buzz on while snacking.
I must say, if you plan on staying out here for the evening, be prepared to see some awkward dances moves, fist pumping and potential guys grinding on girls who don't look like they enjoy it. Â The venue itself is giant giving you ample room to move around, sit, dance, etc. Â They have a number of tvs available if you want to catch the baseball game while you hang with friends.
Overall, I wouldn't stay here late night (primarily because i'm not a dance dance person) but for happy hour, 100% I will hit this place up and knock back some brews and snacks.
Looking back, I'm ashamed at the way I, my husband, and our friend Joe took advantage of Johnny V's amazing Friday happy hour. It wasn't intentional, but once they started bringing out FREE plates of donut holes it was a done deal. Before we knew it, we had ordered seven plates of them. SEVEN free plates, split among me and two boys. Kinda gross, in retrospect...
No, but really...a free appetizer for each $2 or $3 happy hour drink that you purchase? From 4-10 pm? It's ridiculous, really. We ordered a few other apps for variety (fish taco, BBQ chicken flatbread, ahi skewer) and they weren't half bad either. Especially for the price of zero dollars.
PB isn't normally my favorite scene, but I definitely find Johnny V to be among the yuppier, more fun, and less douche-baggy options in the area. Throw in the awesome happy hour, and you get one good time. Cheers!
If there were a World Series of Douche-bagging chances of it being held at night on a weekend somewhere on Garnet would be pretty darn good. It's no secret that PB isn't for everyone when the sun goes down.
Whether you're one of those "I'd never be caught dead in PB" people or not, a killer happy hour deserves props and Johnny V's is tough to top on a Friday. It's $2 wells with a free appetizer for each drink you order. The food selections are across the board with everything from orange chicken to sliders and I was totally shocked to discover them not being half bad.
Of course... a drink special like this might just be fueling the inevitable fire that is PB on a Friday night. So take precaution that you may encounter some less than desirable company. But heck, that ole happy hour of theirs goes from 4-10pm. Plenty of time to get some free tasty bar food, wet your beak, and get out of there.
Who knows...you may even drink enough not to care about the annoyances and stick around...I did.
My boyfriend and I decided to introduce my steak-loving brother and his Longhorn fan fiancée to our favorite Thursday dinner spot last night to eat $11 filet mignon and catch the second half of the BCS Championship.  Good steak, a bunch of wine, and football--a sure hit, and it was!
Been meaning to write a review update as Johnny V's Thursday night dinner special changed slightly a few months ago; there are now several different $10.95 dinner specials rather than just a fixed plate of filet mignon, garlic mashed potatoes, and veggies. Â Diners can now choose one of several different proteins as well as 2 sides to round out a delicious inexpensive dinner. Â Also on the specials menu is a group of $4 apps and some "sides to share" for $4 each. Â
Last night I opted for the 6oz. (looked more like 8oz.) filet mignon with 2 sides of veggies. Â I figured that, in light of my recent holiday binge eating marathon, I'd do my figure a favor and get veggies for my sides. Â The veggies (steamed and buttered zucchini, squash, broccoli, green beans, and carrots) were good, but I would much rather have the veggies that were part of the former filet mignon dinner special (sauteed onions and peppers).
The half-off bottles of wine and $3 off regular menu apps specials are still in effect. Â And it's sweet that the $3 off apps special applies to all apps on the regular menu--regularly priced $4.50 garlic cheesy bread included!
We left Johnny V stuffed and wine-giggly last night. Â Great time!
How to make a Johnny V:
1. Take one part 'gentrified' PB Bar & Grill.
2. Add generous swaths of the [employed] you-wish-you-were-25-again demographic.
3. Sprinkle in a dash of douchebaggery and self-importance bordering on delusional.
4. Stir.
5. Optional: Garnish with drunk-before-nine college coeds.
6. Drink up!
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