The four years I went to college at UCSB, I never went to OTT. Although I heard good things about it, I just never got the chance to go. Also, I'm just too shy to be singing in front of people.
Fast forward 3 years.
1st time at OTT on Wednesday. It wasn't that crowded. Looked through the song list, chose a few songs and gave it to the DJ. We got a few tall beers (Blue Moon $9), and waited for our songs. Soon after, the DJ was no longer accepting songs, lucky for us!
Needless to say, after a few drinks, and seeing that "singing" was more of yelling. And if you choose a popular song, everyone will chime in. I felt better about the songs we were about to sing. I had so much fun that night that I understood why everyone had so much fun.
2nd time OTT on Wednesday. SO crowded! Barely able to walk through the crowd. Bathrooms took forever, even some girl cut EVERYONE in line just to use the bathroom. Besides that, it was still fun!
Go to OTT with a group of friends if you are shy about singing as I am. Go to OTT for an awesome night full of yelling, the good kind of yelling.
Oh Karaoke (Wed., Fri., Sat) is fun here and the tall beers (even of the good stuff) are cheap. Beware the Wednesday college night crowds though. When it's not a karaoke bar, fear not; there would pretty reliably be one or two grizzled veteran drinkers hanging out as a biked past at 10:30 AM.
PS memo to the G-Man (Karaoke MC), you're too old to hit on college age girls!
We love this place for Friday night karaoke for several reasons. The bartender is a laid back, friendly individual. The karaoke emcee, Gary, has a positive and friendly demeanor, and he will get your songs in. But mostly we just love the crowd on Friday night. It's a slightly older crowd, but I always feel like I'm at a family reunion. Before too long, dancing erupts on the dance floor, and we find ourselves cheering for people who, moments  before, were perfect strangers. The support and good vibes are mutual.
Review Source:good ol' OTT...it's been 6 months since I graduated and left Santa Barbara and I miss this place already. Â OTT was the spot if you just wanted to chill, talk, drink beer and karaoke. Â This is where all the 21+ gauchos go on a wednesday night. Â Way more fun then hanging out with freshmans and softmores in IV. Â They always have $5 32oz PBR's and the bartenders will hook you up once in awhile if they know you're a regular. Â Be sure to tip them nice if you want them to remember you. Â The karaoke list can get full around 12:00, so be sure to put your songs in before then. Â The cool thing about this karaoke system is that you can sing any song you want. Â Even the really new ones. Â Also, get there before 10:00 if you want to avoid a huge line. Â Sometimes the lines could get really really long and you might not get in if you're in the back half.
Review Source:What night did we come out?
Thursday
How was the line?
No line
What did we have?
2 32oz. Drafts
How was the crowd?
Average Looking
How was the scene?
Very Social
What's the demographic?
Equal numbers of men and women
What's the ambience?
College Folks
What kind of music was playing at Old Town Tavern?
Rock and Soft Rock
What's the noise level?
Very Loud
Will we hang out at Old Town Tavern?
Yes
Patience. Patience in waiting to look through those thick ass karoake books to find the ULTIMATE song. Patience to grab the mini pencil and struggle to clearly (with all your leftover soberly might) to jot down that song title and number . Patience to not break the seal before you get on the stage.
And then boom, you hit the crowd with a Spice Girls number, and you're flying high.
The bar tenders aren't friendly and this guy who was just cleaning the bar refused to help me by adding a little juice to my drink which adds me to my next point which is a pro I guess but the drinks are about 90 percent alcohol 10 percent juice. Made it worth the price but was difficult to get down. The place itself is kind of just a rundown little hole in the wall but I must admit I liked it. Karaoke night so close to home is a good thing to have. And the seedy feel to it is kind of welcoming and seems to say.. "come in. get wasted."
haha I'll go back soon, hopefully with the guts to get on stage next time!
Late afternoon, this place rocks. Â Great bartenders, trivia/poker playing machine thing, chill. Â I like.
At night, there's the karaoke scene. Â I personally wasn't into it. Â The scene was very local and not especially friendly, in my opinion (obviously).
At one point, Â it seemed like one girl was singing and her 20 friends were dancing along with her on the dance floor. Â Like bar aerobics or something. Â Weird?
So, for afternoon drinking, all good. Â Then go to Pepe's across the street, have dinner, go home! Â No night scene here for me!
Stopped here last Friday to finish out a night of bar hopping with my cousin. (I'm from San Diego). Karaoke was in full effect with GMan at the controls. Friendly crowd in the place. Bartender was a lot of fun and the singers were killing it. Good times had by all until last call. Looking for a laid back, fun night away from the crowds? Â This is the place.
Review Source:OTT is pretty great on karaoke nights. Â The regulars are really fun, and who doesn't love super drunk people trying to sing 500 Miles. Â
I think you have to go with good expectations - it's not the place for your Prada-wearing, Newport-Beach-living high school friends that are up to visit you. Â It's shady AND apparently they're too poor to buy locks for the bathroom stalls. Â Go expecting to be at a karaoke dive bar and you'll be happy.
NTN/Buzztime trivia is the draw for me since Old Town is the only bar in the area with it. They have a a huge vodka selection, digital jukebox to keep the party alive but a below average choice of draft beer. This is a bar for cocktails and a locals hangout with nice front deck overlooking a light industrial area street.
No points for looks but not a bad place to spend an afternoon with friends. Matt the bartender will take good care of you.
favorite sb-area bar. Â nicest most competent bartender and g-man karaoke must be seen to be believed. Â excellent mix of regulars and rogue college/grad students (outside of college night wednesdays). Â out of towners have pointed out what a honky-tonk lookalike this bar is... i just call it perfection
Review Source:pretty crowded and poppin but the bouncer was a bag and that kinda marred the whole experience. he asked a buddy who is up from brazil, after seriously scrutinizing his passport (understandable) whether he's "visiting" or "working" here--wtf? if you wanted to be a cop or a border agent, you're definitely not working at the right place, d-bag. since when does a foreigner's business here have ANYTHING to do with getting into some crappy local college kid karaoke night? weaksauce to the maximo!
Review Source:I come here, usually during the day to have a drink (or three) during lunch before heading back to the hell that is my job. The bartenders here are always nice, and I dig the older middle of the day crowd. Exactly what a small town bar should be. Â -
Good outdoor patio that's fenced in (meaning your co-workers can't see you drinking as they walk down the street during lunch hour.
A group of 14 of us went to Old Town Tavern on Saturday to celebrate my brother-in-laws birthday with some good beer and karaoke. Â it was awesome! Â they had some beers that i didn't think they still made and the karaoke choices were daunting. Â food would have been nice, but the lottery machine made up for that! Â this is a locals favorite and you'll the same faces go up and belt one out. Â fun times that i can only remember through pictures!
Review Source:I love this place! Hole in the wall, dive bar with karaoke!
Wednesdays nights it is college night! So be forewarned it gets very crowded here when 11 rolls around! Get here early if you want to karaoke because the list to get on is VERY long! They have a few books here and you fill out the paper and give it to the dj guy. There are always the favorites such as anything by journey, rock songs are very popular! Everyone likes to sing along. They have several tvs so you can see the words, they have a stage for people to stand on when singing.
They have pool tables but you can't use them when 9 rolls around on this night. They have one big bar on the right and then the left they started having a small window where people who have cash go. I would suggest bringing cash b/c if you don't then you have to spend a minimum on your credit card. The drinks are STRONG and cheap, so whatever you get do not worry, you're in good hands. The beers are cheap and MASSIVE! Â The bar gets super busy so if you're not there by at least 10 then not only you'll be waiting in line outside but in the bar as well. They try to go one by one and are very good about going in order of who came first. Theres a red head, she's kinda mean, so be nice and don't bug her! LOL They get sooooo busy that night that they are very stressed out. :D
Bouncers are kewl if you are. They kicked out a friend of mine for being too drunk! She broke a window! hahahaha.
They will not take passports or anything like downtown SB does, so bring your actual license!
They have two outside areas. They are both very small. The first is in the front where mostly ppl smoke, and to get fresh air b/c this place is SMALL and those who are short can't breath down below! hahaha like me! The second is in the back thats about 5x5 haha.
Bathrooms: only two stalls, and super small! the doors don't lock, just swing open.
So come and enjoy a great night with your college buddies and you're bound to meet some new ones as well.
O be careful there are some regulars, OLD guys that come here, creepers! No JOKE!
I think I saw this place through it's transformation- and those who introduced me to it can speak to times before I attended but frankly it went from SUPER Freakin COOL to a good time. This is only due to the fact that it became infiltrated with the DTSB Thursday night crowds...
Not sure what its looking like now but either way, if you like a dive bar, with friendly staff (unless they are super busy then they just need to serve your drink and have you get outta the way), and karaoke with plastic instruments as props... GO HERE.
I used to go here on weeknights when UCSB sponsered a bus service to Goleta and Downtown SB. During those nights, the bar is filled with 21 year-olds. It is a good place to meet up with old friends and meet some new college buddies. It is pretty crowded in here during those nights, though.
Getting a drink will take a little patience. The restrooms are really small too. Also the outdoor area is not too big, good for several smokers. I enjoy the karaoke. Nothing like rocking to some Journey or some Michael Jackson. Be warned, don't access the jukebox when it is karaoke night, or you might get thrown out.
Dive bar + Booze + Karaoke! = Good times.
There is usually a pool table free, and I don't remember it costing any money to play.
OTT is located pretty close to the hipper lounge, the Merc (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/KcGCtmMca0EjY_wCv_HN4Q">http://www.yelp.com/biz/…</a>). Merc only has beer and wine, so stay at the OTT if you're an alchy/lush.
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