The Mint Karaoke Lounge

Mixed feelings

What I like: The entertainment value; you can order sushi from the restaurant next door What I don't like: 1. I ordered a Hot Buttered Rum from the bar. The bartender told me and the owner that the bar ran out of butter. The owner ran to the restroom to go to the storage room to check on the butter. I don't think it is a very good idea to have the storage room behind the restroom. People will get the wrong idea. I never have my hot buttered rum because the place ran out of butter. Not good for business. 2. It takes a long time for your turn to sing. 3. The mic sometimes does not work.

Challenging venue even if you do like karaoke

First of all, it's almost pointless to review this place unless you adore karaoke bars, and I do not. But having been dragged here several times in recent months, I'm reviewing for all the folks willing to get passed that for the sake of their friends. Even if you can ignore the karaoke (and you can if you maneuver to the right places), it's still an incomfortable venue. Despite being labeled a gay bar since 1968, the year I was born, it's overwhelmingly straight. Mostly gaggles of girls in college drama departments who bring the occasional gay bff or reluctant boyfriend. It's way too crowded and the horseshoe bar in the middle of the room occupies way too much floor space. It's hard to get attention at the bar, only to end up with a relatively small/weak drink by Castro standards. And that's a major flaw, because seriously, the only way to halfway tolerate this place is to be way too drunk to notice.

Karaoke for the Braves

If you love to belt out your Madonna's and Britney's; you gotta come check out Mint and join the enthusiastic and friendly crowd. Great place for a birthday celebration as well; but remember, you gotta wait for your turn to light up the stage... which could be a while!