Great Place, but the Vibe Has ChangedOh my God, I used to love this place, and honestly, I still feel a connection to it, but it's definitely changed over the years. When I first came here, the vibe was different, and it had this underground Santa Ana subculture that I really enjoyed. The bar, which was run by Vanessa, felt like a underground haven--slightly rundown with the shoddiest restrooms, but it had that authentic, gritty charm. The pool tables were usually in decent shape, and the bar always had cool, unique brews, including microbrews. The place felt cozy despite being so small, and when it got packed, you were basically sardined into the whole space. They had an adjacent outdoor section that was rarely utilized, but you could tell it had potential.I've lived here for a long time, and I've always appreciated the diversity in Santa Ana. But this bar used to be about that punkish unique underground micro brew vibe culture(my opinion)--it was never overly focused on any one particular ethnicity. It felt like the space catered to a mix of people, but recently, I've noticed it's shifted. The atmosphere has leaned more toward a hyper-Mexican, Banda-style vibe. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about that, but it's definitely a change. In talking to locals, there's been a sense that just because you're from a certain country doesn't mean you want everything around you to be about that. As a Hispanic American, I get that--we don't always want the place we hang out to feel like it's only representing our cultural background.I'm not sure when this shift happened, but it's possible the pandemic played a role in it. Before that, the bar had more of a microbrew, underground beer culture, and now it feels like it's become part of the Santa Ana "Banda" norm. Whether it was the owner's vision or just the pressures of what sells, it's hard to say. But the place has definitely moved away from the punkish / alternative Santa Ana night scene and embraced something new. Now, if you're into Banda music, tacos, and a lot of Mexican-American influence, you'll love it. Again, no hate on that--just pointing out that it's not the underground, microbrew culture that originally drew people in. It's now a whole different vibe.
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"Came here for a coworker's going-away celebration and was impressed at the ambiance, service and food at this place. I had some wings, fries and melt and all of them were good and flavorful and my margarita was very refreshing. The price wasn't bad either. We played pool, darts, played some music on their digital jukebox and had a great time."
"We always hit Beach Ball and Blackie's when passing thru Balboa and Beach Ball is our fave! Wayyyy more welcoming and friendly! We'll be coming back thru tomorrow!"
