Great place to hang out…read more Come through!!!!! The owner is the BEST!!!! Great service!!!

Very tasty hookah, nice vibe with billiards, cards, and board games, and good prices!read more

Great food ! Huge portions ! This place is an absolute go to if you're wanting some yummy…read moreMediterranean goodness.

The only thing I'd have to say is they should change their gloves more often. The guy at the…read moreregister had gloves on, went outside, came back, picked up a coin off the floor, and then went back to the register and started helping prepare food . The food is delicious, and the place is spacious and nice, but please change gloves more often.

I didn't realize Flame and Skewer had a location downtown…read more We stopped in today to order a chicken kabob plate for myself and a mixed kabob (beef and chicken) plate for my husband. Food is good at all locations, the taste the same, but my dislike came for the portion of the chicken. We got short changed and only had 4 pieces when I swear it's more at other locations. Service was good, the purple haired girl who tends the front is nice and, just by asking if we want hot sauce goes above and beyond. Usually at other locations you have to ask for it. Restaurant was fairly busy but clean and well stocked.

Flame and skewers is consistently delicious and reliably perfect for years. I love their falafel…read moreoptions: plate, pita, and salad bowl. Their red hot sauce makes everything better and I cannot separate it from their meals. The salad dressing seems to be homemade and I could literally drink it if I could. Admittedly, I have taken shots of it in the little cups that were unused in my order and intended for their salads. Baklava can be a little wet but still delicious. I would give their baklava a 6/10 as a self proclaimed bakersfield baklava rater. As long as they are there, I will keep ordering take out from them periodically. My favorite Greek salad, my favorite dressing, and my favorite Mediterranean rice. I can go on raving but I will stop here.

Nobody plans to spend an evening in Bakersfield. You pass through it on the way to somewhere else…read more-- Mammoth, the Sequoias, the long flat grind up the 99 to Sacramento -- and if you stop at all, it's for gas or a bathroom or because your BMW's brakes have decided, somewhere around the Grapevine, that they'd rather not. Thank you, Weatherford BMW of Berkeley, for the near-death experience and, inadvertently, for one of the best nights out I've had in years. Stranded and waiting on repairs, we checked into The Padre, the only hotel in Bakersfield that feels like someone with a subscription to Dwell had a hand in it, and set out walking through a downtown that time has treated with more kindness than reputation suggests. There's a Woolworth's luncheonette still hanging on. There are old brick facades and wide sidewalks and the particular quiet of a Central Valley evening when the heat finally breaks. And then, on 18th Street, there is Tiki-Ko, and suddenly you are no longer in Bakersfield at all. You are, instead, inside someone's magnificent obsession. Tiki-Ko is a proper tiki bar -- not a tiki-themed cocktail lounge, not a place that bought some bamboo at a craft store and called it atmosphere, but a genuine, committed, floor-to-ceiling shrine to mid-century Polynesian fantasy. The carvings are real. The lighting is correct -- which is to say, barely there. The mugs are serious. There are pufferfish lamps and carved totems and the whole glorious taxonomy of tiki ephemera, accented here and there with a skate-culture edge that keeps it from feeling like a museum. It's reverent without being precious. The drinks are the real thing. Mai Tais built with actual orgeat. Zombies that earn the name. The bartenders make them with the kind of care and enthusiasm that tells you this isn't a gig -- it's a calling. They want you to be here. They want to talk about rum. They want you to try the Painkiller. In a city that most Angelenos regard as a punch line, somebody built a world-class cocktail bar and filled it with joy, and the regulars clearly know it. You will not plan a trip to Bakersfield. But if you find yourself there -- by mechanical failure, by accident, by the peculiar mercy of a bad brake job -- walk downtown. Find the tiki bar. Order a second round. Stay longer than you intended. Bakersfield has been underestimated, and Tiki-Ko is the proof.

Haven't been in here for probably 15 years. It's changed- a bit. I love Tiki bars and I go to every…read moreTiki bar I can find. It's tiny- like a lot of tiki spots. Decor is nice. Little hidden gems. Lighting is dark with bits color and neon popping through. The Bar Top curves around the bar- there are two booths that seat 5-6 and two short tables next to them- one seats 4- the other will comfortably seat two. There are a few bench style seating areas at the front with some short coffee tables. Think- skater tiki bar. The drinks were good- small menu if you're not sure what you want or are new to tiki. Both sides of the menu are the same menu. There are some nice mocktail options as well- you don't see that often. The service for me is mixed- it wasn't busy- steady but not busy- 1/4 full. I ordered two drinks to start for our table- (no cocktail servers here/not unusual for a small Tiki bar) I asked for a soda water- the bartender looked at me without a word- popped open a can of soda water and walked away. When he walked back by, I asked for a glass of ice- he said nothing and I got an eye-roll huff. I almost left. I don't think providing a glass with ice to pour your canned room temp soda water in, is too wacky an idea to be perturbed by the request. The female who took the order was friendly, smiled and was professional. We got a third cocktail- the Mai Tai. The grumpy bartender was friendlier this time. So, that helped. Maybe he felt overwhelmed and I threw off his groove by asking for water- then a glass... either way- being annoyed wasn't cool. The music.... Wasn't Tiki- it threw off the "Tiki Vibe" and made it feel typical small local bar that serves only Tiki drinks with some Tiki decor. It didn't take you to the land of Tiki- disappointed. Drinks were good.

Went thereafter Saturday for my friend bday party. The var was classy nice benches and barstools…read more The KJ was great the crowd cheered every one on and danced. The prices are good as well.

The female bartender was not only rude, but just trash. She yelled at us in front of all of the bar…read morebecause we didn't pull out our ID's quick enough for her. This was a regular place I'd visit. No mas. Not ever again. I won't spend a penny here again .

The Botanist is such a vibe. From the outside, The Botanist is unassuming. But don't be fooled, a…read morehidden oasis lies just beyond the front door. The food was toptier. I was especially surprised by how great their chicken wings are! They also make a mean old fashioned. Our server was very welcoming and attentive. If you're looking for a nice, positive, and slightly secluded/intimate vibe with great drinks and food, I definitely recommend The Botanist.

The atmosphere The…read moreservice she was attentive, got everything right. The food the menu is pretty limited. The NY steak wasn't worth the price- The tacos were nice and well seasoned. The fries were amazing. The drinks- craft cocktails

If a dive bar and a queer bar were to combine, The Mint Bar is exactly what comes to mind. Located…read moresmack dab in downtown Bakersfield, this spot features cheap drinks and a relaxed vibe. What I appreciated was how laid back the patrons and staff were. They have an outdoor space with a few patio benches and a tv outside. Short & Sweet - it's a safe space for everyone and all in Bakersfield. Not too shabby of a spot.

Not knowing what this place was, heard music and out of curiosity I walked in .... oh boy lol…read more This is an eclectic group. No cover charge Pool table outdoor space with music Plenty of parking as it sits near the corner Came in and left

Had no idea this place has been open for four years, and I'd never tried it…read more Went on a Thursday night, we ended up being the only ones there. I understand weekends has live music. It's rustic and clean, it's very clean. There's a very large side room for events etc. the main bar area is small with some nice chairs to sit in and the large tv was set to a fireplace. The floors are covered in various beef/farm brands, adds to the rustic western vibe. Bartender was friendly and attentive. She kept busy cleaning and dusting bottles- like I said- it's clean. Drinks for a "speakeasy" were not special. Very typical bar drinks- no special menu etc. I visit a lot of speakeasy's- this is, speakeasy-ish. Our two drinks & a club soda were nearly $40. They were made well. Unfortunately, they didn't have the ingredients to make the drink I had asked for. Overall, I'd like to see this place on a weekend night with music. The drinks were over priced for what they were- IMO. That said, I'll likely return, at least once. Still bummed KC doesn't have a nice speakeasy.

Our favorite local spot with THE BEST ambiance. I have never had a bad experience here…read more Haley is a delight and is very knowledgeable as both a bartender and server. We love coming here just to see her. This is a great spot for a quiet date night. It can get pretty pricey, but half of what you pay for is the location and the service, which is second to none. This is a great spot to host a private party as well and does require a password to get in. A great way to ensure your party stays private!

Foxtail doesn't feel like Bakersfield. The decor, lighting, the whole ambiance is brilliant…read more Service is fantastic. They are attentive and prompt. No food here- drinks only. Cocktails are very well made-craft cocktails. They had 90's playing when we were there and it was great.

Very very nice bar, a little compact I'd recommend reserving a table. I want to say thank you to…read morethe door guy. I wasn't completely dressed up. I just needed a drink, when I saw the dress code I was nervous. he was pleasant and understanding, I felt very comfortable. I had a shot of Don Julio and a cactus bloom! Of course the Don Julio was Don Julio, that cactus bloom... YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY tasted so fresh Anjelica and lily were also great! Thank you all for a great experience

Asked advice for a dessert drink. Friendly, 1960's style split down the middle, long dark haired…read morebartendress suggested a Bailey's Kahlua & Cream or Peachy Frangelico.  She's professional, informative, empathetic, good customer rapport as well as having a cultured sense where she could be quite comfortable working at a très haute restaurant. Did customer call out Tony? I went for the Peachy Frangelico. Excellent with hazel nutty, white chocolate taste. refreshing bitterness as an end note to the overall sweet peachy fruitiness and nuttiness.   Laid back atmosphere, and contemporary urban music like from Amp or New Music is not so loud that it interupts conversation. Darts for a Brit pub touch.  Mixed crowd, mellow scene. Kick back, unpretentious,  relaxed, chill out kind of place. Neighborhood bar. VIP may stand for Very Informal Place. 4 stars

The VIP Lounge has been in business since 1976. Just a great neighborhood bar. Dark & moody with…read morethat old school vibe. Red leather banquets, tables with red leather chairs, very comfy by the way. A fairly long bar seating 11-12 . The lounge is very well maintained. The carpet & room is clean and the upholstery is in great condition. A good selection of libations. TV's for the sports fans. A juke box for your listening pleasure. A dart board for those so inclined. Karen was my friendly mixologist today. She seems to have quite the Sunday afternoon crowd. She knows everyone, is friendly providing excellent service.