Smog Cutter

06/23/08

black listed

by sleepylaura at Citysearch

i dont want to sound like a hater but the older asian lady who works the bar is mean and crazy. i went to smog cutter because i wanted to sing kareoke, not to drink. the bartender caught an attitude with me, expecting me to understand her over loud music with her thick accent. the service was terrible. she even approached me after i left the bar-stool to sit in the corner which bordered a pool table and the entrance. its not that i dont drink, i was just feeling lousy that night and after telling this to the bartender she said "Well why don't you just go sit home?" yea thanks for the advice, i'd rather be home than at a lame bar. peace.

• Pros: the crowd in the bar seemed easygoing, easy to find
• Cons: watch out for the older ________ with glasses!

Rowdy, no-frills Silver Lake karaoke bar where the vocally challenged are the stars of the show.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
You'll have to dodge pool cues on the way into this small, wood-paneled dive and wait awhile for drinks, but that's part of its charm. With no stage, hipsters and yuppies looking for yucks stand in the middle of the crowd and belt out off-tune lyrics. Patrons come as they are--ratty jeans, a prom dress, a bathrobe--whatever. No one stands out here.

07/27/06

Ahh the cutter

by iheartla at Citysearch

This was the first bar I ever went to when I arrived in LA from England. Its as friendly now as it was then (5 years ago). Its true its not the cheapest dive bar in town but everyone is super friendly and its a great place for a laugh.. its actually the kind of bar a woman could go alone and not feel weird. Charles Bukowski is said to have drank here (where didnt he?!)

Get there early at weekends to get parking as the street parking is awful (I know I live three blocks away). Bring cash (no ATM or cards accepted) and be prepared to buy the bar staff some drinks!

• Pros: Friendly staff, great atmosphere, fun times
• Cons: Can get packed, hot in summer, not the cheapest dive bar

10/27/04

Great little bar

by fabioq at Citysearch

Great dive bar. The locals are friendly. However, it's a cash only place, so stop at the ATM before going. Also, Karaoke is every night except Tuesday night!

06/11/03

Nice dive

by peter07 at Citysearch

It's a dive but it's a friendly one. It ain't hard to talk to people and connect. Of course, the interior could be better but well, it has its own character.

• Pros: Cozy, Friendly, Cheap
• Cons: Old interior, Not enough girls

07/20/02

unique place

by discofix at Citysearch

i love the smog cutter. the atmosphere is different everynight, but never full of typical hollywood attitude, bar staff are great, feisty, friendly and fun. a real regulars spot.

06/14/02

Sunshine Rocks My World

by breakbeat_addict at Citysearch

This place is great. Karaoke, beers, pool, karaoke, did I mention karaoke? On any given night you might catch a Scotsman belting out the Proclaimers or a fiery redhead doing Richard Marx covers. Go for the booze, stay for the floorshow!

• Pros: The manager is a babe, Karaoke is rad, I think I'm in love
• Cons: The manager is scary, Karaoke has no cons, She doesn't love me

06/13/02

Scary but great!

by emdalton77 at Citysearch

This bar is amazing. Besides good, cheap drinks, the bar also has karaoke almost every night and lots of volunteers to sing. I was able to talk a guy into doing a duet of "Endless Love" with me. That's just the kind of place that the Smog Cutter is. There's also a pool table, if you don't like to sing. Go and check it out. You might be scared of it at first, but it's worth it in the end.

• Pros: Great karaoke scene, Inexpensive
• Cons: Small, Somewhat daunting