Small sports themed dive bar in Escondido. I don't usually come down to this neck of the woods, but it was a fun spot to hang out and get cheap drinks. A friend was playing a show there, with a classic rock set and everyone was boogyin down to Jimmy Buffet! Anyways, good times, bathrooms were small and kinda dirty, this place is exactly what its supposed to be.
Review Source:Pounders is a good dive bar in Escondido and one of the only bars worth going to in Escondido. Â Mainly because the Irish pub across the street actually closes its doors at midnight and all the bartenders end up at Pounder's anyway.
It can be a pretty rough looking crowd in here at times, but fights and such rarely happen.
June 15, 2013
We set out to conquer the Escondido bar scene, but Pounders was our third stop, and we just ended up staying here for the rest of the night. Â Our quest was derailed by Stella pitchers, new friends, foosball, a dance floor, and a live band. Â On this Saturday night, the Stone Wolf band was on stage -- check out the lead singer's epic hair in the wind!
Pounders feels like a very large dive bar. Â They feature a dance floor, foosball table, and two pool tables. Â If you're not into it, there are a few other bars a block or two away.
I don't normally venture North of the 52. It was my friends birthday and he lives in Escondido. When he said that "he wanted to hit up Pounders" I thought he was talking about a strip club! I was obviously wrong.
I have to say that I had a blast! Hot dogs are served but we missed them. The place does get very busy but our party had no problem getting drinks. Good pours and a cocktail waitress walks through the crowd selling shots.
The staff was really nice. Had a few conversations with both, though I am unable to recall their names. In the back is Karaoke and boy are there good singers! American Idol could come here and find some real talent.
There was a guy causing a scene and a fight broke out outside. Huh, must be why it's called Pounders.
If you are in the neighborhood, why not?
Again I would give a zero if I could.... I went to this bar again over the weekend. I really didn't want to go based on my precious experience but since my friends were there I decided to give it another shot. Who knows, maybe this bar could redeem itself.....I was So wrong. Before I could even get up to the bar to order the bartender (different from the last incident but equally as surly) told me that I had to leave because, get ready Yelpers, I wrote them a bad review on Yelp!
In fact when I questioned this bartender saying "That guy called me a c***" The bartender replies, "Well guy is my cousin so you have to go."
Obviously we can all see what kind of a shit show this business has become. I think it's time to urge our council people to clean up classy Grand Avenue.
Perfectly ordinary dive. I can't speak to beer selection or prices because I don't drink beer, but they did have two kinds of hard cider, which is usually a good sign.
Tuesday night is trivia and karaoke. During trivia, the crowd seemed to all know each other and have a friendly rivalry going on. The game was glacially slow, though. The karaoke catalog is modest but has a decent selection of music from 10 or more years ago. Anything newer is a crapshoot. There's a cute stage and decent sound system, and the regulars can carry a tune.
This place is very gross, Once you walk in all you see is Fat old men siting at the bar with there ass cracks showing. The peeople behind the bar is totally rude. The bathrooms have pee and towel paper all over the bathroom and there small it feels as your pissing in a closet..
I sat down and the old men just sit there and stair at you like a pieace of meat.. Its gross and I never go there again, Its all white trash and hookers that go there. And the old gross saggy men that go there. If your looking for a place that you want to die in thats the place to go
Since I cannot give it 0 stars I have to give it 1.... this place is disgusting. Not only has it been busted several times for drugs, prostitution and the likes it's just filthy, far too small for the amount of people they let in and the crowd is something to be ... um... undesirable.
Overall, I'd rather go drink beers in the dumpster behind Albertsons before I'd ever go into Pounders.
Go there once, experiment, see for yourself... but then if you're smart you'll NEVER go back. It's more of an oddity than a bar, you go there to get a reason to feel better about how your life doesnt suck as much as the people in there.
I thought the pint of Pabst for a $1.75 was a treat. Â We were there yesterday evening during Cruisin' on Grand and sat right at the open front window. Â Great place to sit and watch the world go by.
I thought the ladies room was fine. Â Someone said to avoid it. Â Not sure what's up with that.
good beer selection, GREAT $5 Sunday morning Bloody Mary.
Very nice, smart friendly bartender girl makes the BM's from scratch and they are delicious! Â
Great place to see and hear Crusing Grand on Fridays.
Warning to women--Avoid the womens bathroom if you possibly can and go elsewhere, it's made me want to hurl more than once in there and not because of anything i drink. Â ick! ick!
Tis, Tis....... decided to stop by last Friday and check this place out. All I have to say is YIPES. The crowd is pretty mixed...white trash, bikers, girls who looked like they were ready to throw down, and rednecks with NO teeth!
I love going to Dives but this place is gross. who knows when the last time this place was cleaned....NASTY. Â You might want to bring your own seat covers before sitting on their chairs.
I do not recommend this place UNLESS you fall into the above "categories".
The service sucked too.
Yuck. And no, I'm not a snob. I just learned to put away my goth and emo outfits after high school.
Bartenders, drinks, and service were okay. It was the overwhelming smell of pee and vomit combined with the equally pissy and vomit-y attitude of the regulars that will keep me from coming back.
Just read that Pounders got busted for selling drugs. Is that a "real" bar? Then point me to the nearest coffee shop.
God I hate this place. I feel really bad that I hate it so much, because I have nothing against the bartenders or the drinks I've gotten here.
Don't get me wrong though, the drinks aren't good either. You could expect the same quality mixed drink at a house party. I love dive bars, but not every gross shitty bar is a good dive bar. Sorry.
Unfortunately, I have also not experienced the stand-offish crowd mentioned in another review. Actually, I've been hit on by creeps every single time I've visited. Not bikers. Middle aged clean cut looking men who are either looking to cheat on their wives, or having a mid-life crisis. Do real men come here to drink? Lemmy would never drink here, and if you don't know who Lemmy is, then you are not a real man. Period!
They have this cover band that plays really awful pop-punk covers of 80's pop music. They're so loud on the nights they play that you cannot have a conversation with anyone you came with (nor can you enjoy the music). They're so bad that if you actually like music, you should spare your ears and just not go.
That is, unless you enjoy watching middle aged plastic surgery laden cougars dance like strippers in front of the mirror while watching themselves like Patrick Bateman screwing hookers in American Psycho.
In the summer it is unbearably hot in Pounders, which only aids the vomit smell. You can escape into the seedy alley in the back, but that sucks too.
I think I have a pretty good sense of humor, I would go to any shitty bar and people watch....but just being in Pounders makes me so unhappy that I cannot even people watch there.
After reading so many diameterically opposite reviews of Pounders I had to check it out. Â I thought it was great. Â It is a bar where real men go to get drunk quickly.
I suspect that those who don't like it are pretencious yuppies who think they are too good for real bars or just don't know how to act in one.
If you read my previous review, you'll know that Woodies is about the worst place in the world. Â Cockroaches and schmutz in my beer glass do not a happy Heather make.
Pounders should thank Woodies for being so terrible, because that's the only reason I have given them two stars.
As at least one previous reviewer has alluded to, you know it's a good night at Pounders if it *doesn't* smell like vomit. Â There was one time I went in and immediately turned on my heel and left because it was so strong.
This last time was hot on the heels of the Woodies debacle, and while we considered O'Sullivans (my favorite), it was around 9:30 and they close early during the week. Â Escondido being Escondido, the only option left was... yep, Pounders.
It wasn't crowded at all and didn't stank, so that was an immediate plus. Â There was no shitty cover band, and whomever was manning the jukebox was doing a decent job. Â The bartender is sort of a surly fellow, but our service was prompt and the glasses were clean and there were no cockroaches.
Then, I had to pee.
Okay, so having been here a few times, I know the bathroom is not the greatest in north county, so I never expect to be handed a hot towel or anything afterward. Â However, I don't think it was unreasonable of me to expect that there NOT be dried puke (see the running theme here?) all over the outside of the toilet. Â And I mean, crusty... like, it was there for a while.
Maybe I'll upload the photo I took of that.
But still, no cockroaches.
So congratulations, Pounders. Â You get two stars for not having cockroaches, and you were still able to have your puke reputation left intact.
People, give Pounders a break! You know it's a dive bar before you even walk in the door, so know what you're getting yourself into!
Here's why Pounders is awesome:
34 oz beer is only $6 for domestics and $8 for premiums. Can you really beat that? It's more than two pints and you don't find beer that cheap anywhere else in Escondido
Pool is only 50 cents! I don't know any other place in north county with pool that cheap anymore. And they have foozball for 50 cents too. Only other place I know of with foozball in Churchills in SM.
Trivia on the tv! I'm a sucker for trivia and while other bars have trivia nights with a host that can be fun, Pounders trivia can be great to do with your friends and just challenge each other.
O'Sullivans on Grand has over priced beer and NOTHING to do. Your option there are to sit at a table inside, sit at a table outside, or sit at the bar. WOW. Boring night. Pounders has things to do, unpretentious crowd, and cheap drinks.
Only thing is, drinks are more expensive on a Friday or Saturday night. Even on those night though, there's ive bands that, while sometimes bad, are a ton of fun to dance to. It's probably my favorite bar in Escondido.
Pro: Open Christmas day, enough said.
Con: Parking
Came here with friends after dinner, the 15 of us took up most of the bar and front entrance. Being really crowded that night, it was probably for the best since we got some fresh air from the front door.
Drinks are cheap, mistress behind the bar are easy on the eyes and friendly, service is a bit slow compared to high end places... but you are in Pounders, what's the rush?
Pay attention and talk to the gentleman in the electric wheelchair, for he have good stories to tell yea.
I dig dive bars. Â I really do. Â But authentic dive bars. Â Not some suburban, mullet required, shitty cover band, camo wearing, I've got a couple mounted fish on my wall, hick-up (er...I guess I mean pick-up) truck driving, one tooth losers served by employees with an attitude (how the 'eff' does that happen in a shithole?????) Â Thank God for crusing grand and morning drinking alkies.....
Even Larry the Cable Guy would walk out of this shit pit.
This place is seemingly a haven for Nascar lovers/hunters. The dead animals and countless race car hoods scattered about speak for themselves.
Shitty coverband music poured through this bar and halfway down the surrounding city blocks. The only highlight of the entertainment was when they stopped and we were able to play music from the jukebox...but then the shittiness started back up and our money was wasted and the bleeding of our ears resumed.
The patrons were indescribably eclectic, but not in a good way. I just can't figure out a better adjective lol.
There was one stall in the bathroom that wasn't completely unacceptable, but for some reason someone felt it a good idea to frame a butterfly puzzle. Really, that's the best you could do?!?
I guess maybe I wasn't drunk enough to enjoy this place and it's lack of marvel...and let me tell you I was pretty effing wasted when I went here.
Oh the wonderful Pounders, a great escape for those looking for a classy and elegant bar where everything is as beautiful as you are. Â They have all the fancy fruity drinks you would expect and a very unique selection of wine and beer. Â NOT! Â Pounders is totally the opposite of what I just said, grungy and cheap there is nothing classy or elegant about this bar!
I feel kinda dirty, but Pounders is a dive bar that can be super fun! Â It is nothing to write home abot, but if you are seeking a good time for cheap and don't feel like getting ready to go our anything, then Pounders is the palce to go! Â The clinetelle is mainly other people just like yourself! Â Personally, I prefer Churchill's in San Marcos but sometimes I am in the mood to be a dirty little boy lol (no pun intended). Â It can be great fun, and they often have bands come and play, don't expepet bee-boppy shit, this is the real deal, grunge and rock!
The prices are pretty average as far as aclohol goes, but you can get some good deals on their beers every once in awhile! Â You should definitely try it out at least once, just to see what I mean. Â You are either going to love it or hate it, but it is definitely an experience!
Pounders is never a first choice and it's always a last resort. Â
This is one of the worst bars in Escondido. O Sullivans is much better .
The beer is overpriced. The bands they have here are horrible. Bathrooms look like something out of a prison. Go to North Bar or O Sullivans. Bad excuse for a dive bar. Bar is very tight with  a lot of people.
I don't want to admit it (likely because it underlies that whole "classy" aspect that I pretend to adhere to), but I like myself a good dive bar every once in a while, and this place hit the spot.
Pool tables, foosball table, dart board, and a small (what looks like) a stage for whatever your hearts desire.
Between this place and O'Sullivan's across the street, I'd rather come here; there's just more to do.
Looking for a late night bar still open after 10PM on a weeknight is a hard find in North County Inland (Escondido).... it really is! Â Why is that anyway?? Â After much research my buddy and I stumbled across this place.
It's dubbed a "sports pub" but from the looks and feel of this place it was more a north county version of a dive bar (sketchy, a bit dirty and eclectic with the patrons to match). Â Which is exactly what I like and was looking for! Â The only thing that made this a sports pub was probably the flat screen TVs! Â This place looks lived in, edgy and kind of pieced together....more reason to like this place. Â For north county this is a big deal for me.
Bartender was cool and was easy to chat up with.
Drinks = cheap (in comparison to TGIF ..our desperate back up plan)
Service = good
FYI
-Pool table available
-Juke box available
Pounders is never a first choice and it's always a last resort. Â
I'm not a regular, I don't like country for the most part and I'll pass on video keno. Â I could, however, watch the strange gentleman in the eye patch play pool with his prosthetic left hand for hours while studying human behavior. Â
The barely legal bother the old and bitter and it's such a strange mash-up that it doesn't lend itself well to becoming a charming or even endearing mix. Â
And whenever I'm there I feel like my "ethnic" friends get mumbles and eyes..
I can't believe I haven't written a review for Pounders yet! I am such a huge fan. Dive bars are simply the best.
My friends and I frequent Pounders on a fairly regular basis. Although, I am currently on probation with my boyfriend because he claims I get "Pounders drunk" which means I will probably try to hit someone in the nuts, cause a scene, and make friends with the most awkward people in the bar (not necessarily in that order, haha). But that means you know this place is fun, because I always end up sitting at the bar, taking shots, and blacking out. Oops.
One of the male bartenders also makes the best bloody mary ever! Huge plus because I heart bloody marys. Great place to hang out with your friends, chat, play some foosball, and enjoy the company of Esco's finest sleazeballs and cougars.
I do have to subtract a star for the bathroom though because it is always wet, out of tp, and usually some bag lady is washing her pits in the sink. But I am always wasted there so meh, who cares.
I don't usually lose my sh*t. Â I really don't. Â So the fact that the bartender @ Pounders made me lose my sh*t in under two minutes should tell you something. Â I'll start from the beginning . . .
The wife and I went for a hike by Lake Hodges Reservoir in the early a.m. but I had to catch the Hoyas game, so I searched Yelp for Escondido sports bars and this crap hole popped up. Â Punched it into the GPS and thought I had it locked up.
Wrong. Â The crew assembled at the bar consisted of a really old man, an even older man, and a woman who, while young by their standards, was still old enough to be my mother (I am not so young myself). Â No worries though, I'm at the sports bar to watch the game. Â I made eye contact with the bartender and smiled. Â I opened my wallet and retrieved a fresh, crisp Jackson, nodded my head towards the taps and prepared to order, while my wife skipped to the loo.
The human scowl machine aka the bartender did not return my smile nor my head nod. Â Instead he chose to regard me with that look . . . if you've ever gotten it you know exactly what it is, if you haven't, imagine a cheesy movie where an X guy walks into a Y only bar . . . everyone stops and stares as the music stops with the noise of a needle being dragged across a vinyl record. Â "The look" communicates this vibe without the need for such cliches. Â The bartender then proceeded to ask everyone in the bar, by name, if they needed anything (their glasses were all full), and then looked at me again with the same "f-u" look on his face. Â All the while, he never left his position at the end of the bar, never made any effort to approach me at the center. Â He just stared at me, with that look, half smirking half grimacing.
I retrieved my wife, told the guy to have fun serving the fossils and got the hell out.
I guess you had to be there, but be glad you were not.
(note-Where did I watch the game you ask?  I brought my laptop into the Stone Brewery <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/stone-brewing-world-bistro-and-gardens-escondido#hrid:A9yV8sDkCU2UALOiz5izQg">http://www.yelp.com/biz/…</a> and watched it on the CBS website.  Not ideal, but a helluva lot better than sticking it out at Pounders, I'm sure.)
Pounder's Pub has been established as Escondido's premier dive bar. I wouldn't call Pounder's authentic or rustic, but I think it could best be described as sketchy and creepy.
I don't even think it cool to go here for ironic purposes because the bar is so sleazy. Although the surrounding downtown area has become increasingly charming in recent years, Pounder's has still managed to maintain its' ghettoness.
I'm not in the military and I'm not a construction foreman, so I wouldn't expect to have fun here and aren't bars supposed to be fun?
The smell of sour beer welcomes you to Pounders--a bar where mid-day drinking is the norm.
I'm all for dive bars, but this one is just too much for me to handle. There are pool and video games to entertain, but mostly you're expected to just sit at the bar and drink heavily. I'm not into that anymore. I just can't drink like I used to--what a shame!
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