
“30-year OB dive slinging $10 burger-and-beer deals where the bartender knows your name and the pool's free.”
One reviewer notes they've 'frequented this awesome spot for the last 15 years' and the bar has been running '30 years and going strong.'
Multiple reviews highlight the weekday special: 'burger, fries, and any beer for $10-11' with 'legitimate portions.'
Bartender tells patron 'we are the cheapest bar in town' and reviews confirm $5 cocktails and $10 burger deals.
Google summary notes 'dog-friendly patio' in a neighborhood where that matters.
Reviewer explicitly mentions 'free pool' as one of the draws alongside the drink specials.
Reviewers call it a 'local dive bar' and 'popular spot' that 'gets a bit rowdy and crowded' — small, snug, Ocean Beach regulars.
“The Tilted Stick has been pouring cheap beer and flipping $10 burger-and-fries specials on Voltaire for thirty years, outlasting trendier spots by staying exactly what it is.”
While Little Chef offers takeout sustenance and OB Noodle House chases the sake-bar crowd, The Tilted Stick keeps it simpler: this is a dive bar with a kitchen that happens to nail the fundamentals. The burger special—ten bucks gets you a patty, fries, and any beer—isn't a gimmick, it's the backbone of the operation. The burger comes properly seasoned, cooked to order, with fresh-cut fries that actually taste like potatoes. The chicken wings run tender and well-sauced, sized for serious eating, not Instagram.
The room's small enough that it fills up fast on weeknights, locals staking out bar seats while the dog-friendly patio handles overflow. Free pool keeps things loose, and the weeknight $5 cocktail list means you can drink something other than beer without feeling ripped off. Bonnie's behind the bar most nights, the kind of bartender who knows what you want before you finish ordering and treats first-timers like they've been coming for years.
It gets rowdy when it's packed—this isn't the spot for quiet conversation—but that's the trade-off for cheap drinks and real food portions in a neighborhood where rents keep climbing. The menu runs deeper than bar-food basics, surprisingly varied for a place this size, though most people stick to what works: wings, burgers, whatever's on special. Parking on Voltaire's easier than Newport, and they do takeout if you want the food without the crowd.
Thirty years in Ocean Beach means something—plenty of spots have tried to out-cool or out-craft this place and closed while The Tilted Stick kept pouring. It's not trying to be anything other than the cheapest functional bar near the beach, which turns out to be exactly what the neighborhood needs.
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Venue · Ocean Beach · $
Venue · Ocean Beach · $$
Venue · Ocean Beach · $
Ocean Beach · Venue
The Bowl Ramen & Izakaya offers a complementary late-night food option with Asian cuisine to balance The Tilted Stick's American grilled fare, perfect for a dinner-then-drinks pairing.
Ocean Beach · Venue
Pacific Shores Cocktail Lounge provides an elevated cocktail experience to follow casual bar dining, extending the night with craft drinks in a nearby upscale setting.
4970 Voltaire St, San Diego, CA 92107, USA
9 months ago