I came here last Friday to watch my friend's band play. "Young Professionals" (Seriously, check them out.) I was pleasantly surprised with the bar. I'd seen it from the outside and had gone in once to talk to the owner for a work-related matter so I'd never been there socially. The place is awesome. It's small and dark, but also intimate. I think it's great that they have local bands performing and the vibe of the bar was a lot of fun.
Prices on drinks were reasonable. I do have to hand it to them on giving out free popcorn. All you can eat, I might add. It's a great idea for the bar. You drink and you crave salty foods. You eat the salty food and you get thirsty and order another drink... I see what you did there Maui.. Don't worry though, your strategy is safe with me.. Well, until I open a bar of my own and steal your idea.
What a fun bar, with some really interesting decor, and awesome music! Â
I live in Riverside, and this is TOTALLY not in my area. Â However, my best friend sings in a band, and she was invited to sing at the Maui Sugar Mill Saloon, along with some of the house musicians. Â A friend of ours and I went along to support her, and found ourselves in the San Fernando Valley.
The drink prices were really high, compared to prices in the Inland Empire. Â Examples: Â A bottle of Bud Light can be had for $2 - $3 in the IE, but was a whopping $5 here. Â A shot of Fireball in the IE ranges $4 - $5, and was $7 here! Â So I would say it's expensive.
The music was awesome and my girlfriend KILLED IT! Â Way to go, Christina & Doug, of the Hollywood Wranglers! Â The house band, the Just Dave Band was great too, and I could see there were other, awesome acts that would be playing, had we stayed longer.
They had a pool table at the back of the bar, and we played a few games while we were there.
In reply to the owner comment about my review: Â I did not take any stars off due to the drink prices, I did, however, state my opinion about the prices. Â 3 stars = "A-OK", according to Yelp, which was my impression, as a whole. Â And since I did clarify that I was comparing your prices to IE prices, I think people who know the difference in cost of living between the two areas, are smart enough to take that into consideration when they read it.
I lub this place! You know those stupid phrases that some obnoxious tool made up and the media glom on to, like "stay-cation" for exploring your local area rather than travel? Well here's my stupid phrase - Lubbing (local hanging out at a pub/club), as in, now that the gas prices in LA are hovering around $5 (plus or minus, depending), rather than drive to downtown LA or Hollywood, just stay local and hang out at your nearby club or pub.
Maui Sugar Mill saloon is my favorite place to lub, after my my friend's band BrainSpoon played at Maui Sugar Mill Saloon in Tarzana (right next to my favorite local sushi place. How convenient!). What's not to lub? It's cozy, with a fireplace blazing when it's cold. You can play pool for 50 cents, there's free popcorn, inexpensive drinks, great service and fun staff. Best of all, they have good live music many nights a week for no cover charge, only the price of two inexpensive drinks. Okay, I don't exactly hang out there all the time, but just knowing it's only a few minutes away is good enough.
So if you hear the media parroting the obnoxious term "lubbing," you'll know where it started.
I didnt even know this place existed in Tarzana. I have been trying to find a good dive bar spot in Tarzana/northridge for the last two years and never realized that I kept driving by this place. We walked in on a whim, two extremely brown people into a bar that screamed your going the wrong way. We walk in and realize we were the only color folks around. I walk up to the bar and the fancy fella who according to him proudly belonged to the greatest fraternity "Kappa Alpha" decided that he wants to buy us a shot in honor of making us feel welcome. Immediately after the bartender offers us a shot. I think within 20 minutes we knew everyone there by name. We left the place extremely happy and cant wait to go back again. Its a dive bar so dont expect a fancy bar, go in with no expectations and you shall walk out happy
Review Source:I visited this Valley establishment on a Wednesday night, there was a facebook posting for a gathering of artist meeting at this bar for drinks and drawing. Â I am down for that, so I went to this place to see what was up. Â
 When I arrive at the place it seems pretty quite which is cool, dirty little booths and tables filled the mostly empty room. Old nineties music seemed to warm the stale air.  I glanced a pool table in back, and as I am surveying the room, I notice my friend in the corner waiting for more people to arrive.  I go say hi, we start talking.  A couple more apparent artist come in and sit near by, we start meeting eachother,  I am beginning to get a feel of the place when the waitress comes up to advise us of the two drink minimum.  No problem we say a lot of us are coming and we'll all be drinking plenty.  She does not seem to believe us, and actually seems kind of upset when I order a Sam Adams.  A few minutes later another gentleman approaches to again inform us of the two drink minimum, and recommends we leave if we are not getting any drinks.  A few more assurances did no good to ease their stress, and I could see he walked off feeling frustrated.  The Bartender/Waitress walks the fifteen feet from the bar to my table as though it were the longest most perilous journey ever, puts the beer down and announces the price, I start grabbing cash then remember 'Two Drink Minimum' and ask to start a tab. She asks for a card, fair enough, I start looking for a card to give her and feel her irritation growing by the second, so I give her a twenty and she heads back to the bar.  I am not fond of the idea of this poor woman having to walk all the way over to my area again, so I go to the bar to get my change, and I hear her comment on how it is easier on her if people come up to the bar to order drinks...  No kidding, if you don't want people to sit at tables don't have tables then.  I was not planning to drink all the alcohol in the bar, but I am a waiter and have been a bartender,  I do tip well.  I am aware of the sacrifice it takes to cross a floor the give someone a drink, and I am fully capable of tipping appropriately.  Now they may have been having a bad day,(most of the posts I have read have extolled the kindness of the staff) It is possible I was an anomaly, but I am reluctant to believe they want my business. Â
That combined with the critters (cockroaches) crawling on the walls means, I will not be going back to this place again, and something tells me they won't be very put out by the idea.
While this place is definitely a hole in the wall (in fact it's in a tiny shopping plaza) it's a great little dive bar. The live music is amazing, and the atmosphere merits a visit. The drinks are well priced and strong, while the bartender's attentiveness will keep them coming. My girlfriend and I showed up in the middle of a blues set and were immediately entertained. The comfy looking couches and roaring fireplace are definitely a plus. While this bar isn't packing a huge crowd I would definitely recommend this venue to anyone living nearby, looking for a good time.
Review Source:Really nice waitress. Very attentive. I wish all bars had someone come around as often as she did to make sure we didn't need anything without being intrusive. My friends and I didn't have to make one single trip to the bar, the waitress was that good!
Bar and bathroom were clean. It didn't feel dingy or dirty as some bars can be. They have a pool table too. Music was great. Free popcorn to nibble on. Drinks reasonably priced. Parking was easy.
This place knows music
Lately you go to a bar and all you hear is top 40, hip hop and someoned failed attempt to play dj on the jukebox. Well not here. This place is the home to blues bands garage bands and aspiring musicians toss in with few cover bands once in a while. A crazy variety of flavored vodkas. Guys dont shy away either they also have a good section of bottled beers. So if you like live music with the feeling of home. Come on down
Nice vibe and not too crowded or crazy. All the patrons seemed pretty cool and laid back, and the bartender Arnella was typically warm and fun and had a good time jiggling her chest at everyone. $3 fireball shots were strong and tasty. Drinks flow pretty easily here it seems -- not a real stressful or uptight place. If you are looking for a couple of drinks with some cool folks without having to shout over a din of 100 other people, check this bar out.
Review Source:My husband and I were very thrilled when we found this place. I love to dance and get my boogie on. My husband not so much. Soooo at times night clubs aren't always the answer. We looked up bars around our area and found this chill place. Everybody was nice and they had multiple live bands play while you sip or take your drink to the head. They also had some popcorn baskets on the table which is great for snacking while you drink.
I loved that the place wasn't over crowded, it was very low key ambience and friendly staff.
This place is a block away from our place and we will definitely be visiting this place often.
Friday night Review
Small venue. Seats at the bar, couple of couches, stage for the band, bar stools with tables, few out door tables, and a pool table. Popcorn is provided at every table. NO FOOD But...they encourage their customers to grab some food from adjacent eateries and bring it in. "Whaaaat" That's what is said... There's a Round Table and Sushi joint next door so we brought food in!
The service is exceptional! The server will come way before you finish your beverage and inquire if you need a refill. You never walk to the bar cuz they just do it well! Â The band (The Red Muffs) rolls in around 10ish playing a wide range of music from Cash, alternative, rock, 70s, and 80s. By the 10, standing room only. They move the pool table for a dance area. Wide range of people from 20s to 50s. It's nicely lit not like your traditional dive bars, which are usually very dark. Nothing pretentious at this place, people come here to experience good music, cocktails, and share the experience. Great place to chill, has a wonderful vibe to enjoy the evening with friends.
I came to LA looking for a jam. My harps packed and ready to blow.
Where else could you see Ellis Hall, Jimmy Z(etta james) and Lucky Otis perform with the house band before getting up and playing with a bunch of great musicians.
waitress service to the table and Cadillac Zack hosting a great night be prepared to stay till 2am on a monday night.
thanks to valerie smith for your company and videoing the show
Danno (london england)
Very convenient location with tons of parking.
Went on a Saturday evening and it was fairly empty which I'm perfectly cool with. The vibe seems retro and laid back. Worked for me, may or may not for others. They have a couple of TVs that were showing the games, so that was cool.
Overall drink selection seemed fine, beer selection was pretty bad. Apparently they're famous for serving some fruit loops drink (milk + fruit loop flavored vodka + fruit loops), which we were curious to try and did. Not too bad. The bartender by the way was pretty cool, so that's a plus!
I can't comment on the food as we didn't have any (went for drinks anyway), but they did serve free popcorn which was nice.
One big pet peeve, and the reason I'm docking this down from 4 to 3 stars, is the bar ledge. It is awkwardly sloped making it really uncomfortable to lean on it as you talk to the person next to you.
The Sugar Mill is one of those places you go into just for a quick drink, then end up settling in for the long haul. Â
While talking to some interesting character at the bar you start singing aloud with the band or the jukebox.  Then you realize you'd better get something besides popcorn in your stomach.  They have a sturdy bar food menu b/c they are attached to the  Greystoke Grill next door.  You can order off the full menu, too.  Once I saw a specialty menu with stuff like an Elvis (deep fried PB) sandwich.  They used to have complimentary appetizers (fresh restaurant guacamole, nachos, chicken wings) but I don't know if they discontinued the practice.
The drinks are super strong and well priced. Â
They've switched up the bar staff recently and gave the place a sprucing up. Â I don't go as often as I used to, for which my liver is grateful, but the same regulars are there (they've been at this a lot longer than you whippersnappers)! Â There's an influx of young 'uns as the night wears on, because let's face it, at the end of the day it's about economical drinks.
The only thing they could stand to improve is steam cleaning the women's restroom to eliminate unpleasant odors. Â One of those air freshener systems would be great.
This place is cool without trying.
NO WAITING IN LINE. Â STRONG DRINKS. GRUB. Â ENTERTAINMENT.
A WIDE VARIETY OF GREAT PEOPLE.
Upon writing this, I wish I were there right now.
ok, so make me feel like an ass now. Â As I am more educated, I appreciate the knowledge and send my deepest apology to the Folks on MONDAY night at the SUGAR MILL, if they would SAY hey, folks, we are this, and we support that, so please we dont charge a cover, we only ask that you buy two drinks, and we promise they will put you on your ass, and maybe help you get lucky....
Review Source:Sadly the restaurant next store closed, so no more burgers, but on Monday's Zacks' Blues Party and Jam has a different food truck show up each week at 7:30, so you can eat and see the show. Â This weeks show was incredible, Albert Lee, backed by a great local blues band, and some local blues stars showed up and played some amazing music. Â The house band includes guys who for years backed up guys like Freddie King, Muddy Waters, Roy Buchanan. Â This is the most amazing show in the valley. Â Busty bartenders serve up drinks, free popcorn. Â I go there about every other Monday, and often feel like I am missing out if I am too tired to go.
Review Source:I love me a good dive bar and the Sugar Mill fits the description perfect, actually it goes a few steps further b/c on three different occasions they have had a band and I've enjoyed each of them.... someone mentioned the Blues bands here... I can attest to that, I was blown away (and I'm hard to please).
Drinks are strong and cheap. Â The buxon bartender is cool and fun. Â The fact that I even walk over there for a couple of drinks on a dead night is a testament to this place as a good old fashioned watering hole. Â Believe me, I was shocked too when I saw that it was in a strip mall in Tarzana. Â I dislike nearly everything about the valley (and will soon be moving) but the Sugar Mill is a glimmer of light in this area (along with a couple of Indian restaurants).
I likey it there love it on Sundays when its empty get to cuddle with my love bugg next to the big fireplace and have a lemon drop mmmm. Â Strongly recommend to those who want to relax and enjoy socializing. Great servers and best bartenders they make awesome drinks. Â Atmosphere is positive. Â Oooooh and you never know what famous person may walk in ;). Â They hand out baskets of popcorn and you can order from next door if ya got the munchies.... Â they have a pool table . Â Check it !!!! ChiaaaO
Review Source:This place was great. My boyfriend and I went there for the first time last week. I must admit there was a time before that we went, but after looking at the outside I passed on checking out the inside and we went somewhere else. Good thing we gave it another chance :) The staff was friendly, the drinks were good, the free popcorn was tasty and the people watching was AWESOME.
Review Source:I haven't been here in years until my friend invited me last night and we had the best time. Â Definitely check out Monday night Blues: Â they had incredible blues legend ROY GAINES and his TUXEDO BLUES ORCHESTRA. Â He was in the zone and then a female blues artist came up and she sounded like Janice Joplin, wish I could sing like that... Â
The drinks were good and a fun crowd. Â Great atmosphere and they gave out popcorn which was perfect.
Definitely stop by on Monday for Blues Night. I had a roommate who was a drummer and used to come here regularly. I thought the name suggested tiki drinks, but it is really a good place to order a SoCo, according to a plaque I noticed on the wall. There is no cover, but there is a tip jar, and a suggested minimum if you are planning on occupying a chair. I did notice popcorn coming from the back, but I had no idea where it was coming from. When I went, one of the performers was Big Jay whose first hit was in the 40s. Nice to see an old man who can still jam at the young age of 80.
Review Source:This is a pretty decent place. The crowd varies depending on the night, but they have live music on most nights and some of the band's friends always show up which is always fun - because they talk to everyone and get everyone excited. I'm a musician and I find this place is a pretty good stage for up and coming acts - and also a good place to network.
I like this place because the drinks are reasonably cheap and the food (catered from the restaurant next door) is fairly good. The servers are cheerful and friendly, the music is usually good and they have popcorn on
every table.
I gave it 4/5 stars mostly because sometimes, it's pretty dead. It gets crowded on weekends though. But all in all, a pretty good place.
It's definitely a cozy little blues bar and the people who work there have been there many many years so am am told. I actually have had one of the best Lemon drop martinis there! They serve butter flavor popcorn on every table plus the actually serve some pretty yum bar food .
I am an avid live music junkie... especially for real talent!
I go to support the musicians who are my dear friends for many years and my man Kylae who is an astounding alto sax genius!
They play mostly down home Blues and sometimes some funky R& B every last Wednesday of the month. *Kylae Jordan* (Alto sax) Â Paulie Cerra (lead sax), Â Billy Haynes (bass), Â Sam Meek (guitar), Â Billy Steinway (keys),and the legendary James Gadson (drums)
It's always so much fun and everyone is uber friendly.
I understand that every night has different R & B , Blues & Jazz... come support live music !!!
Yeah, this place is no bueno.
I'm in a state of perpetual distress, as I'm always trying to find bars between my house in Valley Village and the homes of my friends who live in Woodland Hills. I grew up west of the 405, and couldn't get out fast enough, but unfortunately, some people still love it.
So my friend and I tried the Sugar Mill because we hate Little Rock. The parking there is a massive pain in the ass, and it's always the lifted Ford truck crowd there. While some Little Rock patrons are perfectly lovely, others, well, I could live without them!
The Sugar Mill caters to the 55+ crowd, and on Saturday nights features a boring cover band at an annoyingly high decibel level.
I have written this before, but I will write it here again: I do NOT want to hear a band at a bar, play pop culture trivia at a bar or sit through another karaoke night. If I wanted to play board games, see a band or sing badly, I'd do all of those things at an appropriate place- I go to bars to hang out and talk. And drink.
The thing that sealed the deal on how bad I thought this bar was is the condition of the limes in my $7.75 kettle/soda. They were 50-60% brown.
It's like the place is determined to never have anyone under 60 enter the joint!!! I would have loved to have a decent time here, and been able to see my friend in a pleasant environment. Sadly, the overall impression was that the details have been neglected by the management.
But, on the bright side, Wednesday night offers an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner for $4.95. That'll bring out the young people ;)
All I can say is... Holy Crap. One of the most bizarre nights ever.
I went here with a good friend, and everyone (definitely an older crowd) assumed we were a couple. But they were buying us drinks, so we went with it. A man named Randall who wouldn't leave us alone claimed to have written every song that played on the jukebox and to be Britney Spears' former manager. Then he took a "power nap" on the couch across from us. He also told my friend that it was obvious we had lived together for at least a year (probably because we weren't being very affectionate...)
Drinks are CHEAP and STRONG. The bartender gave us a number of drinks on the house, for no apparent reason. I am almost certain there was no coke in any of my whiskey-and-cokes (can't even remember how many I had). Maybe they're trying to lure in some young folks?
We played erotic photo hunt on the video poker machine for a while, and then, as if things weren't interesting enough already, KARAOKE happened. The place had started filling up a bit more, and they turned down the lights and started passing out free (delicious) popcorn. After watching some truly strange renditions of "Wild Thing", "She's Like the Wind", "Sweet Caroline", and "Green Green Grass of Home", and having numerous drinks bought for me by people trying to convince me to sing, I ended up on stage doing a duet of "Unforgettable" with a sweet older man in a bolo tie. I might have been able to convince myself it was just a dream, but when I woke up there were videos of it on my phone.
In the end we were there for like, FOUR HOURS. Lots of regulars showed up - everyone seemed to know each other, and I have a feeling that when I go back they'll remember me. Probably next Tuesday for karaoke.
Seriously, there could be a movie about this place. It would be like if David Lynch made a version of "True Stories". Just go. Embrace the weirdness. Drink more whiskey than you planned to and accidentally sing karaoke. I promise, it'll be great.
My coworkers and I were overdue of a happy hour. Â Last time, we went to Vino, a wine bar. Â This time, I was in the mood for something casual with cheap drinks. Â
I chuckled over the amusing Yelp reviews, but had to check this place out for myself. Â I have found my new favorite dive bar. Â About 7 or 8 of us showed up on a Friday night, 6 PM-ish. Â We sat on the couches near the fireplace. Â The interior is your standard dive bar interior, but fairly clean. Â Lots of wood, the old tiffany like glass, carpet, high tops and adequate restrooms. Â Later on in the evening, after several $6-ish Tanqueray and tonics, a cover band came on. Â About that time is when things got a little hazy for us.
The service here is super friendly. Â I don't know who my server was, but she had brown hair and was totally on top of our drinks, brought us popcorn, helped guide us to the right round of shots and put up with our shenanigans. Â We also ordered some food, but I can't remember if it was good, but it wasn't gross because I ate it.
After a few Alabama Slammers and chanting, "shot, shot, shot," dancing with the locals and shouting out song requests, our night came to a close. Â Our server thanked us, invited us back and we chuckled over the weekend at our hazy memories of this friendly, laidback dive bar.
Definitely check this place out. Â I have to say, I enjoyed it more than Chimneysweep in Sherman Oaks, although this is more of a group hang out for people watching and reckless abandonment (not a place for your Prince Charming). Â Friendly service, cheap drinks and go incognito, my kind of place.
Part two of my unsuccessful "Learn to love your neighborhood tour," at least this place brought the curve up a bit. The decor here is cool-lots of rich wood, Tiffany style light fixtures, old fashioned signs and patrons as old fashioned as the goods on the walls. They are friendly but a little bit off-kilter and sorta trashy. I realized this as soon as I stepped into the bathroom before getting a drink. As I began to lock the stall door (there's only one) a lady ran up and begged me to let her go first telling me when you get old it's hard to hold it and by the way she just lost 220 pounds. Erm, okay. Then she proceeded to tell me her life story while taking a piss. Another woman talking on her phone in the room left because she was so loud, but not before exposing a whole lot of ass crack on her way out. Ahhhh, this would so be my Cheers bar if I was a little trashier and in my forties.
Drinks on offer were praiseworthy enough- Hefeweizen on tap and Irish Coffee available, which is what I went for. As the warm liquor lined my belly I was kept entertained by middle aged women in halter tops swinging their fried hair around to the live music like it's still the '70s. I liked the place, but I think more as a novelty than a place I'd ever be truly comfortable at. Still, zero attitude and friendly people-this is why Reseda ain't so bad if you're in the 'burbs for a little while longer like me.
There is only one reason to visit the sugar mill. And that's Marty. She is by far the friendliest bartender in town. She cares, she remembers your name, and she's got that "cool" mama vibe going. She's the reason for the 5 stars. Â You can find her there on Monday, Tuesday and Friday nights. She's been there since the late 70's and boy does she know how to pour a stiff one.
At the Sugar Mill you'll find an older crowd that might glare at you for entering their domain.. but don't pay that no mind. Once you've gone a couple of times, they turn out to be quite friendly. I prefer this bar over Little Rock ( which is almost across the street) because of it's laid back scene and better priced drinks. Â It's also cute to sit there and watch the older crowd mingle and dance.
I met a friend for drinks on a Thursday at about 6:30. Â The place was of course quiet at that hour. Â We were there until about 8:00, when many more people started showing up, including some live music. Â We never saw the live music. Â The atmosphere is pretty average, but there are comfy couches, booths, a few TVs, and music playing. Â The bartender and waitress were extremely friendly and accommodating, regularly checking up on us. Â Nice folks. Â The crowd was on the older side (50's+), but my friend and I (in our late 30's) felt totally comfy and welcome.
Review Source:
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