Skully’s Music-Diner
1151 N High St, Columbus, OH, 43201
Skully’s Music-Diner Menu
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Address :
1151 N High St
Columbus, OH, 43201 - Phone (614) 291-8856
- Website https://www.skullys.org
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Late Night
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Very Loud
Music : DJ, Live
Good For Dancing : Yes
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : Yes
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Jackie S.
My best friend and I eat at Skullys at least once a month together. The food is always hot and good and service ranges from extremely good to passable. Depends on if your server is high as a kite or not. Skully's has an amazing burger, on of the best in the city, and I always ask for the Steak Fries with it instead of the Curly Fries, the Steak Fries are oven baked and made in house with a great seasoning. If you like your sandwitches spicy as for the spicy mayo sauce. Its always a bit chilly in Skullys so wear a jacket. Good chips and salsa to, they make their salsa in house. Drinks are reasonably priced!
(5)Stephanie B.
Skully's can be a really good time. Or it can be kinda boring. It just depends on what you make of it. I know a lot of people who love this place - it's their first choice for night life. Me, I'd rather be across the street at Surly Girl. But I guess Skully's has its moments. Skully's is in the Short North right on High St., south of 5th. It's a restaurant, a bar, a dance club and a venue for local bands. Skully's has a kind of punk rock feel next to it. Maybe it helps that Magnolia Thunderpussy is right next door. Anyway, I always see CD101 parked out here, so it seems like they host events here a lot, probably to cover the local bands that play here. I've never been here to see a local band, but I know that they usually charge a cover when there is one. It is probably a good time to come here and see a show, but I usually only go out to see my friend's bands and they have never played here. What I have been here for is Ladies '80's night. Thursdays. It's not by any means my favorite thing, but it is pretty fun to come and dance with friends. I came here once with a large group and we all danced our hearts out to all that awful music that we were forced to grow up with. It was actually a really good time. But definitely not something that I would want to do every week. Skully's boasts that they are a great dance club, but I've only ever heard about people going here to dance for Ladies 80's. I think this might be their most popular night. They have a pretty nice dance floor. It's big, and when there isn't a band on the stage you can get up there and dance. And the night I was there, there were a lot of people on the dance floor. There is also a balcony. And it's really dark in here at night. Out near the front by the main bar is some seating with booths and tables because apparently Skully's is a diner by day. I like Skully's parking lot. It's free and when you can find a spot, it's great. It's pretty big, so I can usually find a spot unless there's some big event going on. What I didn't love about Skully's was the prices. Apparently they are supposed to have happy hour from 4 to 9. Even on Saturdays. Wells are supposed to be $1.50. Well, that night when I came here with all my friends, I got there around 8. I had maybe three drinks all night. Two of them I ordered before 9. We all had to work the next day so I left around 10. So how was my bill $12? I had two drinks that should have been the happy hour price, but they must not have been, unless a well is normally $9. I don't know what happened, but they wouldn't correct it. Sorry to say, but I just never felt the need to go back after that. I hate when places advertise one thing and then charge you another rate with no explanation. If I had known that, I would have skipped the drinks altogether. So Skully's isn't too bad, but it's not my first choice. I never go here unless I'm meeting friends or something. I don't really trust the bartenders and 80's music isn't really my thing, and I've never heard anything exciting about their other nights.
(3)Peter D.
Ladies 80's used to make this place. lately the crowd has turned to trash, drink prices have risen and the remodeling sucks. As far as the resturant part goes, its been so so. Food gets undercooked and people at my table are usually grumpy about some screw up. I don't even bother anymore.
(3)Lisa S.
In an ever-changing city where your favorite bar or comic shop might disappear over night, Skully's has remained a dependable rock of good music, good friends and good atmosphere. Skully's facade hasn't changed over the years, even though the surroundings have. The big red arrow points to many memories for me. Since the beginning of my college career and my move to campus, Skully's has been there for me and my traveling band of friends. The nights and line-ups might change (I remember when Skully's was the temporary home for Church, the goth and industrial dance night) but the song remains the same. Ladies 80's is by far the most popular night at Skully's and the best destination on a Thursday night in Columbus. As long as school is in session at OSU, you'll be packed together with intoxicated 20-somethings dancing on the stage, on the balcony, outside on the patio, and even dancing in your seat. And when everyone's "favorite song" comes on, you'll start moving as one continuous being - the energy produced at Ladies 80's could probably solve our current energy crisis. Skully's is also one of my favorite places to see hip-hop shows in Columbus. From old school Del the Funky Homosapien, to nerdcore rapper mc chris, to Ghostface Killah - Skully's keeps great acts pouring into Columbus and gives them a suitable stage that they might not be able to find anywhere else. So why 4 stars with all this praise? I've got to stop for a moment and take issue with the bartenders. The price for drinks at Skully's varies wildly depending on the day, hour or bartender - excluding any advertised price or happy hour. I've got a bitter taste in my mouth when just recently an underage friend of mine was charged $3.50 for a coke! Why should she be punished for being under 21? For the tl;dr edition, Skully's has really branded themselves as a great nightclub - possibly the most successful in Columbus.
(4)Patrick C.
I dont know... Skully's used to be real cool in my eyes but as of recently their staff have been nothing but a bunch of idiots... I love the drinks, the atmosphere, and the crowd. But something needs to be done with the staff. And I'm not talking about the bar tenders. you guys are cool. its the security guards. Last time we went they accused my friend of having a fake ID, and that it wasn't her in the picture because she isn't Asian.... Are you kidding me? For one she is Asian. and for two thats a totally raciest accusation to make. Like I get the ID thing because she has changed a lot since the picture was taken, but shit, to go out and call into her heritage seems wrong. This dude had glasses, and piercings was older and kinda cubby. if anyone sees this guy they should try to avoid him, real idiot. I'm really disappointed in you skullys. We just wanted to come dance but were denied at the front door. Maybe take into consideration who you hire.
(3)Paul F.
I went here for dinner tonight. It's very nice inside and very clean. They have a large menu with a lot of sandwiches. I had a steak with steak fries and a salad for $10.95. I thought the price was a pretty good deal. The steak was a small strip steak and it was a little tough. The fries were also a littlle undercooked which made them less than chewable also. The salad was okay. I'd like to go back for one of their sandwiches someday but not for a while.
(3)Gary M.
This place is great. The staff is cool, and the music acts are great. I recently saw Raekwon. Great Show & location.
(4)Ellen F.
"Party all the time, party all the time..." Always hopping, if it's late enough. Skully's has a knack for ensuring a crowd and entertainment. But the wild horses don't come out until after the neighbors have gone to bed. Wow, it sure sounds like I'm getting old. There's no hand holding here. When you get to the bar, know what you want, order-collect-pay and get out of the way. I almost have it down. Expect an edgier crowd mixed with Short Northers, Campus kids, Vic Village, and Olde Town Easters. Even though it's the farthest from a neighborhood bar (like I think Grandview Cafe is), Skully's kind of is, for the neighborly rock star appeal. I dig it and encourage you to wear comfortable shoes. You will dance!
(4)Seth D.
5 stars for having Charles Bradley and the best concert of my life. 2 stars for service. You seriously have to keep your eye on these people. I ordered some fries, and told them I would be right there next to the bar. 15 minutes later, the guy I ordered them from goes to the other bar. I wait another 5 minutes, then ask about my fries. They bring out soggy cold fries for me. At the end of the night, I close my tab and notice they charged me for 1 more beer than I ordered. They tell me there's nothing they can do until I ask for a manager at which point they grab a few bucks from the tip jar and give it to me. Not even as much as they charged me. Whatever, I'll get food and drinks from Bodega beforehand next time.
(3)Susan H.
Uhgg. I wanted so much to like the food here. A friend saw a photo of the BLT somewhere and insisted that we go for lunch. The menu says that they have a veggie BLT also so we went. Our waiter was "new" so the service, well, was not great. The food arrived stone cold. The veggie BLT (which I ordered without mayo and it arrived slathered in it) was unbelievable. The veggie "bacon" was a piece of totally brown deep fried provolone cheese. Huh? that's not a veggie BLT, that's a fried cheese sandwich folks. For those of you that are carnivores they actually make fake bacon (and it is usually pretty good), which was what I was expecting. Not a soggy, overfried, greasy piece of cheese. I sent it back and ordered the veggie burger. It was took forever and when it arrived it was charred on the outside and raw on the inside. The fries were warm this time however. My friend hated their regular BLTs and cold french fries btw and don't recommend eating there either. I'm sure it is a great place to see a band or drink but avoid the food. Yuck.
(1)Kiarash Z.
Free rock shows, great happy hour specials and cheap drinks make Skully's my favorite bar/diner in Columbus. I would go just for the food, but you can't go wrong with a Skully Burger for $3 on a Tuesday night. And the well tequila is surprisingly drinkable.
(4)Heather A.
I have always loved the look of this place- so funky and wonderful! Whoever decorated Skully's should decorate my apartment as a nice change. haha Anyway, I know it nearly qualifies as sac-relig in Columbus to acknowledge publicly that you aren't a fan of Skully's but I'm going to do it anyway. Granted, my only experience there has always been their infamous Ladies 80's night but I just cannot warm up to this place. There is nothing blatantly wrong with it- the service is good, the place is unique...it's just that it's so loud and crowded and claustrophobic I can't even think straight. And Lord help us if you're with a group of people- forget about it! You will lose them the second you look away never to be found again. On the plus side, I love the wide array of people that come together simply to enjoy good music, each others company as well as the nice selection of tattoos, piercings and pretty people to be observed.
(3)becca p.
Love skullys, bartenders are awesome, drinks arent too expensive and for the most part strong. There are three bars and one outside so theres never a long wait. Ladies 80's on thursday nights is hit and miss but for the most part its a blast and ladies get in for free which is a plus. Any music they play here sounds great. Its a pretty big place, huge dance floor which is usually packed, nice balcony overlooking the stage and a nice outdoor area for the smokers or anyone who needs some fresh air after dancing their ass off. If you havent been you should deff go.
(4)Shawnie K.
Skully's is located just south of Fifth Avenue, in that transitional space which is "not quite campus" and "not quite the Short North". It tends to tout itself as a Short North bar, so do not come here expecting rock bottom campus drink prices- but I still don't find the prices overly expensive. $3 for a bottle of beer and $5 for a glass of wine seems about average for the area. I have been to Skullys a few times and have always had a good time. The burger was acceptable the one time I ate here, but every glass of wine I've ever orderd was awful and I'm not sure why. I saw them cork a new bottle and it still had some weird taste- maybe soapy glasses? I don't know, but I now stick to bottled beers. I will say it is positively the darkest bar I've ever been to. No need worry about how you look because you can't see anything- except the stage! Skully's is home to the annual Elvis-a-thon, which I attended just last night. The $10 cover charge is well worth it to see 15 bands or so cover Elvis tunes... Plus, the proceeds go to a homeless charity. It's fun to see how different musicians and bands interpret The King's music and it's a good way to sample what Columbus's music scene has to offer.
(3)Matthew B.
Skully's is a cavernous rock-and-roll night club attached to a bar and grill of sorts, complete with back patio space and a balcony o' billiards. I've never eaten at Skully's to my memory (despite numerous thoughts of doing so over the years) but I've been there more than a few times for shows, the famed Ladies 80's and even, in a complex fit of high school nostalgia and wanton illogic, the first few nights of a goth-themed night where my friends and I were more or less the entire scene (by virtue of being the only ones there, no matter how goth or not we may have been). (We were not.) (No really!) I've always thought the bar was just a bit too short at Skully's. When it gets really busy- and in my experience Ladies 80s in particular is busier than a Wal*Mart on Christmas Eve- it can be an outright hassle to get to the bar and get served. While it's hard to really fault a place for being popular, the ugly truth is there are better places to go if you just want to drink. Of course going to a nightclub on a themed night just to drink is a pretty stupid notion anyways, so let's forget I mentioned it. Skully's doesn't always seem to have their sound system quite figured out (I've seen at least one band become fed up with the way they sounded in the place), which is a shame for what is really a decently sized club. The bands that usually play there don't tend to be quite my thing anyway, but I'd definitely go back for Ladies 80s. What can I say- I'm still a sucker for New Wave. I don't know if it's "cool," but I recommend getting there early. Things might not be hopping yet but you can run a savage tab up before it gets eight people deep around the bar, savoring a good long drunk without the hassle.
(3)Sally Q.
Has anyone else had their coat "lost" by coat check? Last night I went to Skully's and the coat check girl dropped my coat on the floor. Then when I went to leave for the night, my coat wasn't there. She gave my coat to her friend who then put a huge hole in my pocket. The girl and guy she gave my coat to said "Don't be mad, that's our friend, we can explain". What? It's not that hard to match numbers. It's a nice professional looking black coat. Many people may have similar looking coats but I also had a big fuzzy purple scarf and a white thermal with it which her friend also took. B/c there was a huge hole put in the pocket, it is clear her friend put the coat on and stuck her hand in the pocket which means she had to have noticed the white thermal and purple scarf and know that stuff wasn't hers. However, I still had to chase her down to get my coat back. Thanks for the hole. I have been here a few times and it's a pretty sweet venue. It's much bigger than I thought it was and the upstairs bar is a hidden gem. Don't drink much though b/c they only have one bathroom with 3 stalls for the ladies which is not enough for a place this big. Ladies 80's night was really fun. The parking situation is great for this area.
(4)Derek S.
Skully's is a pretty hot night spot in the short north area. The layout is huge with an upstairs, patio, and decently sized dance floor, all with bars in an eyeshot. I typically just go here for the amazing dance parties and its always a blast. The bar kind of has a rock theme and most of the bartenders are sporting tattoos and piercings. Drinks are reasonably priced, mixed drinks are usually light handed on the liquor from my experience. Parking is a hassle, they have a parking lot but its very small and street parking in this area is redonkulous. Sound system is amazing its one of my faves in cbus; mixed very well. Alot of the more popular shows can get very very very crowded, but that is only on the dance floor. I love Skully's can't wait to go back.
(4)Chris B.
(fart noise) This place sucks. When do they serve food? I'll have the poo poo platter. They do pour heavy shots of Maker's. Other than that, you can count on having to rub elbows with people that don't have jobs and smell bad. You might think you'll have more fun if you brown out, but really, you would have more fun if you went to see 5 Fast 5 Furious. Seriously. I wouldn't take my grandmother to this place. I will never go to this place again and you shouldn't either.
(1)Kris H.
Skully's is a great place to see bands. An awesome place, really. If the band sucks, you can hit the patio or hang out around the bar area. If the band is good, you can usually elbow up to the front and stand wherever you want. Never waste your time at Skully's unless something especially cool is going on. It's probably the single worst bar to hang out at when nothing's happening. It's so big that, if nothing's going on, it feels deserted. Like the party's over, the band left with your girlfriend, and you're just too drunk to stand up. I've had a few good burgers from Skully's though. Pretty standard stuff, but delicious. Just get it to go.
(3)Sarah E.
Today will be my third Thursday in a row going to Skully's! I absolutely love this place on ladies 80's night which is admittedly the only night Ive gone. Im not real into live music so have skipped those days. But on Thursdays, they play some kick ass 80's music (sometimes it sucks and i wonder why they are playing certain songs) and groovin on that dance floor is a blast! One thing I could do without is the huge fuckin crowds on the dance floor that refuse to let you by. Also, a couple thursdays ago i was minding by own dancing business in my tiny little space when the people next to me started a shoving war. Not cool. I just shimmied out of their way and waited for a clearing. Alot of people mention the crappy bartenders...yeah they dont look you in the eye and slosh your drinks towards you but its fucking packed on Thursdays! I dont blame them for moving fast and using a ticket number system. Ive never waited more than 5 minutes for a couple beers and a cran vodka. Prices are kinda iffy and once my friend was charged twice when she checked her account the next day. Personally, ive never payed more than 20 bucks and had an awesome time dancing til close with my friends! I tend to get there around 9 though, so I can have some dancing time that's not bombarded by what seems like millions of arms and legs. The crowd is mixed which is great. Oh another thing Ive noticed is people are very touchy at Skully's. I dont even know how many times Ive been grabbed, rubbed or grinded on. All in all, a great time!
(4)Today Y.
me: Why are all those lights out on the new decorative arches over High St? It was kinda cuter last time. mel: Oh, that's our new joke. me: What? the Short North already pretending to be too progressive to use energy or something? It's called ShoNo now? mel: No, they had an artist design it, who didn't know anything about electricity, and so the lights just stopped working for the past 2 years or so. me: Can't anyone fix it? mel: The city doesn't want to pay so they're still fighting about it instead. me: Oh. sure, that makes sense. mel: C'mon, we can get in free at Skully's, it's "alternative ladies' 80's" night. me: ok. -- 4 stars because Skully's had lights, and a loud, working sound system with lots of people spending money on drinks and dancing about not having to pay taxes. --
(4)Michelle R.
Oh how I miss Skully's, OLD Skully's & Mustard's! The food is good, the drinks are silly cheap and stiff and Thursday's make me 18 again! Chuck still rules! Always the highlight of a trip back to the bus.
(5)Maitri E.
Fuzzy leopard-skin walls; great 7&7s; lovely tattooed bartender; admirable Scotch whiskey selection and a Queen tribute band!
(4)Nick T.
I always have a good time at Skullys. Mimosa had a sick show on April 6th and the lights were incredible. The drinks are cheap. It is rarely expensive to get in. Last but not least I never get in trouble for smoking.
(4)Kate K.
Everyone on yelp seems to like the place except me. I am just not hipster enough, apparently...
(3)Brian K.
Skully's is always a good time in my opinion. I like the layout and the sound system is good.
(4)Lauren H.
Fun late night atmosphere and great place to eat during the night. I love the look and feel of the place and the shows are always a good time, even if the band isn't the best. Always had good service and decently priced. Great place to go out and have a good time. Best Ladies night I've ever seen!
(5)John Q.
Came here with a few female friends for ladies 80s. The cover charge was $5 for men and a $2 coat check charge upstairs. This place is nice and spacious inside but the parking for it is horrible. Not many people dressed up in 80s outfits but it was still a fun time overall.
(4)P W.
Skully's was not too bad of a place. The front room is a lot more relaxing.
(3)Kitten H.
I performed here the other night. Since I'm underage, I wasn't drinking, which was probably my first mistake. The stage is nice and big and seriously, the whole bar was bigger than I thought it would be. Ordered some hummus and fries.. Good food, a little greasy. The bands sucked for that night and I was surprised to see such a diverse crowd. I got a little creeped out at the end of the night when all the drunk guys started to hit on me. It's a good bar if you want to meet new people and listen to crappy local bands who are too full of themselves to listen to their own music. Make sure you bring money for lots of drink. I think I'll go back for Ladies 80's to see how it is.. but that's it.
(3)scott p.
I went there on a wednesday night and saw some local bands, that was cool- Skully's has a very professional stage set up- this would be a viable venue for a Casbah size band on the west coast. Not sure how they handle ticket sales for a touring act, or if they regularly host touring acts. They have a spacious stage area and a large back yard. People were eating the food but we didn't. The crowd was your basic rock crowd (think Casbah +15 pounds) with some punks mixed in for good meaure. On Thursday night I observed the fucking nightmare that appears to be "Ladies Night" Yikes! The music sounded terrible (90s classixs) and the crowd looked laaammmmmeeee. I was standing in front of Surly Girl making these observations. But on the whole this would be my pick if i was booking a touring rock band in Columbus, with Surly Girl as the back up. It looks like weekends are mostly dj nights.
(4)Kevin M.
Different nights at Skully's have different themes. Thursday night is Ladies' Night / 80's Night, and is a popular draw, with the dance floor usually full by 11:30. Other nights include Indie rock on Monday, garage/no wave on Tuesday, disco Saturday, and other nights with live bands. The staff is fairly efficient (though waiting for a server instead of going to the bar can be a thirst-inducing mistake if it's busy), the crowds are eclectic, and the happy hour lasts until 9 (with $1 domestic bottles and well mixers). As a side note, the food here is actually pretty decent for bar food, and adds a few healthy and/or vegetarian items to standard diner fare. Food is served until 10pm or so.
(3)Corey P.
Never a bad bet. always have a stocked supply of alcohol, immense dancing space, and a vast array of patrons that provide a nice mix of college party lifestyle with responsible, solid ground professionals that we all strive to become. Plus with theme nights like "ladies 80's" among others, it is hard not to have a good time.
(3)Toby T.
Ladies 80's night Thursday. Lots of fun.
(3)Jay D.
I went to Skully's for the first time this past week for 80s Night, and it was a blast! The place: There's a small area near the entrance with tables and booths. The bar "begins" up here too, and wraps all the way around the left side of the space back to the dance floor. The bathrooms are located near the front. They're a bit sketchy, but nothing disgusting, as I remember. The bar (counter) is quite large, and there seemed to be quite a few bartenders working. There is a large dance floor and stage area in the back, and that is most definitely the highlight of Skully's. When bands aren't playing (i.e. - on 80s night when I went) you can dance on the stage and on the dance floor. Both spaces together equal one very large area to shake whatever goods you have. There is also a balcony overlooking the dance floor, although I didn't go up there during my visit. Of particular note is Skully's sound system. They had the loudest system I've ever experienced in a bar/club, which made for a pretty intense dancing-experience. The drinks: I'm no expert on the drinks at Skully's, as when I stopped by Bacardi was sponsoring a free-drinks-until-midnight special. That meant free rum and coke, rum and sprite, mojitos and shots until midnight. That equated to about $300 worth of free drinks for me and my friends, which, to say the least, was quite nice! I will comment in the future on their "standard" drink selection. The Price: Again, I can't say a lot about price because of the aforementioned deal, but drinks after midnight seemed reasonably priced -- nothing exorbitant. The Service: The bartenders were nice, knowledgeable and readily available. No complaints here! The Crowd: The 80s Night crowd was a lot of fun. It was (as expected) an interesting mix of 21-25ers and those others who actually remember the full spectrum of the 80s (30-40ers). I didn't run into any particularly unsavory characters, so that's always a plus. Overall: Skully's was great. The building is a lot of fun, especially the large dance floor/stage/balcony area. The service was great, the deal was great, the music was incredibly loud, and the night was a lot of fun. I highly recommend visiting Skully's on a Thursday night for 80s Night. X-Factor: if you like to dance, go on a Thursday and buy ice packs for your dancing muscles, because you're going to be sore on Friday.
(4)Gordon M.
Go on the live music nights. They get some pretty impressive acts in... not too long ago, the Platinum Pied Pipers were there... time before that when I went it was some charity thing, and I watched this paralyzed girl who sang in a style reminiscent of Jewel... sing this really violent song about an ex-boyfriend in that very happy-folksy way Jewel does... It was awesome. Other local bars are played out... Skully's is great for what it is: it doesn't try to be trendy, or sophisticated. It isn't yet another hip-hop wannabe bar. It's just a real cool place to catch some cool tunes, and have crazy conversations with strangers.
(5)Matthew M.
I've enjoyed some banging good times and revelatory musical moments at Skully's--Thee Silver Mt. Zion and Gil Mantera's Party Dream to name two--and have met some happening people who i may or may not see again. I feel the drink prices are meant to convert your wallet to anti-matter though, and i second Kris H's opinion that Skully's is the lamest bar to hang out in when there's no live music or DJ. But, Skully's fills a niche by giving small national acts and other up and coming bands a place to play.
(3)Donna O.
Honestly, if you haven't been here for a meal, you're missing out. Delicious sandwiches and seasoned fries - almost makes you forget your last drunken Ladies' 80s evening (if you were able to remember it at all).
(3)LJ W.
I love Skully's. I am a big rap fan and they always seem to book some of my favorite artists. I love they setup and how close you can get to the stage. And for the most part it is a safe place to party!
(5)Steve P.
I have been to a select few music venues in Columbus, but this one has been my favorite so far. I walked in and really, it felt like home (I grew up going to concerts in Detroit). Sure, it's a little dingy, but it's the right kind of dingy. As a music venue, this place is exactly what I was looking for. There is a nice space around the stage with a bar backing up pretty close to it (but not too close). There is a balcony area that you can look upon the stage or look out the other side and people watch at the main entrance. There was a great crowd and everyone seemed to have a good time. The front of the place feels more like a "music cafe" if you will, with a bar and some food. Whereas, you head toward the back and you know you're at a concert. My only complaint is that I'd like to see more nationally known acts, but maybe that's my own problem. I am not familiar with the local music scene here. There are a lot of acts I would see that would fill this place up but not be able to fill up someplace like the Newport.
(5)Brooke M.
I was reading the other reviews and thought some of the things people were complaining about was pretty funny.... Loud music? - its a DANCE club! Homeless people in the lot? - you're DOWNTOWN Sweating? - again, its a DANCE club, that is usually packed Long story short, this is a great place to come especially on the weekends, there is always something going on, good music, and a great event every gallery hop night. They have a lot of other themed nights too, check the website. There is sometimes a cover, and it is a higher cover if you are 18-20 for 18+ events. I've never had the food I usually just come for the music, a local show, and the drinks I have had were good.
(4)Andrea B.
I had the best time ever at ladies 80's night at Skully's. It was a fun late night atmosphere, tons of energy/sweaty dance party, my friend and I danced for hours and didn't have a care in the world! I don't remember much (thanks for those strong drinks, bartender!) but I will defiantly be back!
(5)Brian P.
Started coming here for Ladies 80s Thursday nights nearly a decade ago. Great scene - people from all age brackets, income levels, and parts of town come here to listen to DJ Chuckstar's musical stylings, which, of late, have included way too much non-eighties, but I am straying from the point. Excellent food served before 9 or so - brunch, lunch, and dinner. I have had burgers, hummus, french toast, nachos. One gal I worked with swore by the steak and eggs before dancing the night away. We've seen bands here on other nights. Good stage/ dance floor, patio out back for smokers, and cool little upstairs bar area for crowd watching. A Columbus gem.
(4)Chris E.
Sign on the door says it opens at 11 am. We went in and sat down at 11:45 and the bar tender kicked us out. She said they don't open till noon. When asked about the hours on the door she simple said its wrong. She was rude and disgruntled. The cook came out and even tried to help us but she still kicked us out.
(1)Alexis S.
Absolutely the WORST experience I've ever had. Rudest staff I've encountered specifically the sound guy who yelled at people on stage while they got ready, then he couldn't even get the mic from giving feedback during the first number. I'll NEVER go back.
(1)Steve G.
Skully's is a mixed bag of a venue. I've never had the food because I only come here for shows, so this review is solely for the customer service and the establishment. Let's start with the bad news: customer service. Skully's is one of those bars where they know they are in a prime location and will always get customers for events at least, so the staff feel they can act as they will. I've dealt with straight up, unnecessary rudeness. I've seen door boys (maybe if they looked intimidating we could call them bouncers) make over the top, disrespectful cat calls and objectifications of patrons bodies. I've come in for a show in mid February with 15° temps out to be told that there is no coat check, and they blocked off the top floor so people wouldn't set their coats down up there. Who wants to dance in their winter coat? The last instance was while I brought a friend here who is a prominent figure in the short north and Columbus businesses, and she was extremely disappointed in her first and last time here. For the good news: the establishment. A bit shorter of a list, but here's your two stars. Skully's has a nice sized venue, frequently has shows worth seeing, and has great potential. Yeah, the drinks and event prices are as over priced as other music venues that are actually in the short north. Yeah, the customer service is terrible. Yeah, the bathrooms are indescribably filthy. But maybe you can manage to come, avoid the door creeps and the customer service, sneak in your own drinks, enjoy the show and leave before you have to use the restroom and you'll have a great night! Heres to hoping.
(2)Jonathan E.
par for the course, in terms of college-town music venues. the A/C didn't cover the middle section, we were sweating until we could crowd our way into the main section.
(3)Roberta L.
Fun spot for live music. We saw The Flex Crew over Memorial Day weekend. Not a fan of giving them my license AND credit card to keep our tab open but it seemed to work ok (just made me nervous). Sound and lights were good and the people watching was OUTSTANDING!!!!
(3)Mandy M.
Beware of giving your card out to start a tab. For whatever contrived reason, they request you give them an ID as well. Unfortunately, they also have zero regard for their patron's security, since this past evening they gave out my boyfriend's driver's license and debit card to a random person. If any of the bartenders had seemed even a small semblance of apologetic for what could be a very big deal, I probably wouldn't be writing this review. But no, instead of apologizing, offering remedies for the situation, etc, we were yelled at by security (who walked up in the middle of my saying something along the lines of how unbelievable this is that they just gave out a government issued ID and credit card to a random person) for "disrespecting" the bartenders. Neither of us were swearing or yelling, we were both just pretty flabbergasted by the situation. Apparently, if a bar gives out your ID and credit card to a random stranger, you're not allowed to be upset with them at all. And yes, no one there seemed to have any clue as to how to handle the situation. I was actually the one that suggested they take down our info so they could call us if the ID was returned. We never received a single apology from anyone there.
(1)Sarah G.
First I will say I've been going to Skully's for years because, honestly there just isn't much else around sometimes when you want to dance and Ladies 80s is a crowd pleaser. But it's been a while since I've been there and recently I revisited my old stomping grounds for the 80s dance partay! I had a great time, but it wasn't because of the leopard booths, or the cement patio with broken chairs, and it certainly wasn't the remodeled bathroom (which was sort of nice-ish) or the swaying drunk guy in cargo shorts whispering unwanted one liners in women's ears, it was my awesome friends' dancing powers! BUT I did notice something about Skully's .... this place is SLEAZY I must say! And, it makes you feel like people in hell who want ice water when you are in there!!! They will not give you an ice water after 10 pm at all, (bartender told me so) even with an alcohol purchase. They force you to buy a $3 bottled water every time you are thirsty and dancing, which I think is horrible. I was reduced to picking up a dirty glass and washing it with hand soap and filling in the sink. Also the alcohol pours are minuscule. I've been a bartender for over 8 years, I know what a shot looks like, the pours we were getting were less than a 3 count, should be a 4 :-( the well liquor is sick. This place is not as great as I recall it being. My advice, bring a flask and a Camelback or skip Skully's all together.
(2)Gwen W.
I've been here before for music shows, but this was the first time trying their food. Based on a few friends good comments of the dish, i decided to try out their Friday night special: Fish and Chips. We got to the diner just after 7. at that time, no booths were open, so we took seat at a table. Our waitress, Dana, took our drink orders as we waited for a third friend to arrive. Upon her arrival, we all three decided to go with the FC dish and placed our order. A booth had come open, thus we shifted to a more comfortable eating arrangement. It took close to 40 minutes to get our food - which normally I would be perturbed about, but all our chit chat made the time go pretty fast! Dana also came out to inform us that the kitchen had to make more fresh tarter sauce, thus food would be made promptly when they finished. The two fish sticks where nice in size. Lightly breaded, hot, good flavor. They tasted great with the tarter sauce to dip in! The "chips" are wedge-cut French fries. As I meandered thru them, some of them were not cooked all the way through. But hot and soft for the most part. The small serving of cole slaw was good. I don't like tart slaw, so this made it past my lips. The fish was the best part of the dish, in my opinion. I would have no problem coming back in the future to order this Friday nite happy hour special again.
(3)Krista L.
I can't speak for weekend nights as I've only stopped by here after work. I don't mind less crowded places after work, but I also generally expect less assy service when there are three people in the bar. My food was good, their prices are great, but I hate having to beg someone to take my money. Will I return? Not with this bartender.
(2)Katie S.
I used to be a fan of Skullys and would be happy to change my review if they respond to my urgent request. One night, I went to LeBoom, a monthly event held on the 3rd Saturday of each month. The sound system is nice, the outdoor area is convenient. Parking is sometimes difficult, best to get there early for larger events. I'm a graduate student and don't have many opportunities to go out due to limited time, so I dressed the part and put on my best leather jacket (HUGE mistake). My boyfriend did the same. We were having a good time, walked upstairs and noticed that there was a new "coat check." (I say that sarcastically now). We PAID for said "service", $3/coat, took a number that was associated with our coats, #9. We go enjoy LeBoom, then after it's over we head upstairs to retrieve out coats... The girl working at the coat check had brown hair, she searched and searched to no avail. I believe they've removed this now for the FOLLOWING REASON: Our two genuine leather coats were STOLEN from the coat check, including my car keys... Drivers license... $20... Two Audi keys... All gone. Ok, at least no one was hurt, right? We stayed afterward for 45 minutes, waiting for everyone to clear to see if we could spot someone carrying our coats and small items... No luck. So, as it stands now, I contacted several people from their business. I am *STILL* waiting for a reply and plan on taking more stringent steps very soon if I continue to be ignored so disrespectfully. I'm a graduate student and I'm not made of money nor time, but am hoping to somehow receive some type of justice/support. I paid for a service and the service was not upheld. Do you support a business that isn't willing to help in this situation? If you PAID a valet to take your car to park it, and they never brought it back, isn't this the same idea? I have not been back since, but hope this story changes. I enjoyed it while it lasted, but I simply do not agree with the way they ignored/didn't handle my situation. I hope they take responsibility for this situation as any good business owner would do. I feel 2.5 months is more than enough time to figure out how to help handle our situation and feel very strongly that my boyfriend and I were wronged. Again, I hope this changes and I can change my review accordingly. I tired of calling them once a week, seeing if there was any news of their help, but nothing. I may not have been the only one to have been wronged here, and if anyone else experienced this, I hope they know they at least have a voice here. I love writing positive reviews, not negative... Please change my mind. Restore my faith in humanity, maybe?
(1)Darren Y.
Rudest staff in town, so at least they have that going for them. Also they serve shots of whiskey in plastic cups, and that is not ok.
(1)Heather D.
We were the only people eating. We were a little early for happy hour. That's okay as we weren't drinking anyways. I got onion rings and breaded mushrooms with garlic aioli. The mushrooms were great the breading was very light and flaky. The aioli was interesting, not my favorite. They would have been just as good served with ranch dressing. The rings were good even had a couple that had more than one onion in them. My man got the Skulky burger..."the best burger in town" with seasoned curly fries. The fries were good even without ketchup. He said it was "excellent and a damn good burger".
(4)Drew S.
I went to go see one of my favorite music artists at Skully's with 5 of my friends. My friend told the bartender "Mike" he wanted to start a tab but pay in cash. The bartender said that was fine and no problem. After watching the first two bands and the headlining act about the begin that same bartender "Mike" came up to my friend and said "Pay your tab scumbag!" Apparently what had happened was that Mike the bartender ran my friends card even though my friend said he would pay in cash and then tried getting my friend kicked out. While I was trying to diffuse the situation a bouncer tall with long hair and glasses was incredibly rude and disrespectful to paying customers. We ended up settling my friends tab by paying in cash as we had announced at the entry of the establishment and spent close to $500 in between the 6 of us at the bar. It is unfortunate that an establishment would treat their customers that way.
(1)Sandra N.
I was in Columbus in September visiting my brother. I had found out that Deerhunter would be performing here during my trip so I bought my brother and I tix for the show. Cheap tix! Like $18 each, not bad. (I'm from Miami, shows here are like $35+ always) There was a line when we arrived but it moved along quickly so I was happy about that. I hate waiting too long to get into a show I already bought tickets for. The space was a lot bigger than I imagined but still, this venue is on the smaller side. It was nice and dark inside with pretty lighting decorations. The drinks were so cheap! $3.50 (again, Miami girl here. Well drinks in this city are $9-15) And they weren't watered down or anything. Just right. I ordered a few vodka & cranberries and got a good buzz going on during the show. I thought the sound was great! I was able to enjoy one of my favorite bands to the fullest. I was very happy with my experience here.
(4)Aaron A.
Skully's easily deserves four stars. The theming in the dining room is cool. The dance floor and patio are spacious. The second floor is quieter and ideal for people watching. They book great local and national acts. The new PA sounds great and the new LEDs make the stage look really nice. Jon is nice enough to let me do lights down there sometimes which is fun for me. The food is good. I would try to go for lunch because it is much quieter. Try the fish sandwich, it's nice and spicy. The fries are delicious and so is the garlic aioli. As far as drinks go I'd look for a bartender that's your friend or a friend-of-a-friend to ensure value for your drinking dollar. Ladies 80's is a Columbus nightlife institution, don't show up before 11pm. They also help bring reggae and hip-hop acts to the Short North. You can't miss the place with its gigantic sign out front, but you might struggle to find parking. It's best to be cool like me and live within staggering distance to get the full experience.
(4)Brad D.
Skully's is a decent venue and they book a handful of good bands, but ask for a tap water and they'll tell you that you can buy a bottled water or stay thirsty. I guess it's just business... a business I'm less likely to support.
(2)Catherine J.
I'm between 3 and 4 stars, but I'll round up because I think Skully's is probably only one of two decent places to dance in Columbus. Dancin' gals, get thee to Skully's on Thursday nights! This review is primarily for the Thursday night Ladies 80's experience. As a lady, there's (1) no cover (2) reduced levels of creepy dudes humping you from behind (but it still happens a little, and (3) fun, silly music to dance to with your lady friends. I went with my ladies for the Michael Jackson tribute night. Now, if I were ranking that experience alone (without having been to Ladies 80s multiple other times), I might have given that particular visit a 2 or 3 star review. Mostly because *gasp!* they barely played any Michael Jackson! Actually, they barely played any 80's music at all... although the website now describes it as "80's and more..." probably about 75% of the tunes played after 11pm were early-to-mid 90's tracks. Okay, still fun to dance to I guess, but maybe it's time to update the title of your evening. Also, it was about 100 degrees that night, and there was no respite from the heat. Sweaty, hot dance floor, and going on the patio didn't help. Fans would have been...erm... cool. My most recent experience made me feel kinda old, I guess. Not because the crowd was younger than I am... one of the best things about dancing at Skully's is that you'll see all types, all ages, so you'll most definitely "fit in." In fact, the lighting is pretty dark (with crazy flashing lights to accent the song), so no one can really see you, and you can't really see anyone else. This is mostly a plus. No, I felt old compared to how I used to feel when I'd come to Ladies' 80's pretty much every week during the summer about 4 or 5 years ago. Back then, I could drink more, stay out later, wear cuter outfits, and my body didn't hurt so much from dancing. This isn't something I can do on a regular basis anymore-- big girl job or not. Back then, the music was also more 80's. As about 5 years have passed, perhaps the music has gotten about 5 years newer. Despite the catchy, rhymey name, Skully's needs to not call it "Ladies' 80's" anymore. Hilarious side note: taking a break from the dancefloor, my group of gals sat in a booth near the front and did a little "booth dancing" to give our feets a rest. In a neighboring booth, a woman (probably in her mid 30's?) was doing some kind of homework/studying and would look over at us, all annoyed. Like "gee, it's too loud in here to get any work done!" Haha, wtf? Bar service is kinda terrible. I'd recommend bringing cash because the whole credit card thing gets a little shady. They have minimums for your cc usage, and I've known them to add extra drinks to my tab. It also gets busy and the bartenders never seem to have come up with a good system of handling it. So, I'd recommend getting your bevs early and dancing it off later to avoid the crowds and rude bartenders. Another plus, pushing my star rating into the generous 4-realm, is the location. There's plenty of spots to pre-and-post party nearby!
(4)Zain K.
Finally experienced "Ladies 80s" ($5 cover for men; free for women) here last night, and had a solid time. The vibe here is pretty intense: very low lighting with piercing strobes and seizure-inducing disco lighting, and an excellent sound system that delivers high volume without being ear-splitting or distorted. The crowd is about as diverse as it gets in Columbus, and the place gets *packed* and pretty hot. As for the music itself, it was about 75% 80s with the rest from the early 90s. I can see myself coming back here every couple of months, though I don't see myself stay more than a couple of hours at a time.
(4)Luke T.
Been here a ton of times (most recently to see Gogol Bordello) since way back before it moved down High St (Skully's was one of the more fortunate victims of the Gateway Project*). I guess I should write a review already. But I kinda don't wanna. It's that kind of a deal. I'm not passionately for or against this venue/bar/restaurant. I do have some opinions regarding it though. Maybe I'll just do a list. 1. Cover charges are way too high, for everything, from legit shows to bullshit dance nights. 2. Food is mediocre, but reasonably priced. 3. The old Skully's was more of a bar sports type spot, and I mean that in the good way. I actually preferred it. There were several pool tables, several foosball tables (a rarity on campus or in Columbus in general), several dart boards, and if I recall, arcade games, pinball machines, etc. The new Skully's (not so new anymore, but you get me) has one pool table (upstairs). That's it. 4. Hosts what really is Columbus' best dance night - Ladies '80s. Free cover for ladies, not so for guys. It's a good place to be single too, for what that's worth. 5. Gigantic patio. 6. Needs bigger restrooms. 7. Hit or miss crowd. 8. Poor design layout, imo. Capacity doesn't accurately reflect how many people can actually watch a show if it sells out. There is a big front area with no views of the stage that probably takes up a good chunk of that capacity. * yelp.com/biz/south-campu…
(3)Tom E.
Took a small group here on a Saturday night based on a recommendation by the hotel concierge. We were expecting a diner with Rock music. While we found damn good sandwiches, we also found blaring offensive Rap music. I'm a fan of dance music, and even some Hip-Hop but when it crosses over to F*ck F*ck my D*ck in your *SS I'm less than enthused. If you're a mindless college kid with your pants hanging half way down enjoy! Otherwise make sure you check what's playing that night before you head this way.
(2)Cherie R.
Dropped by here for a quick bite to eat during Holiday Hop. I would say that if we were in similar circumstances, we'd drop by here again, but wouldn't go out of our way to get here. Fried mushrooms were tasty, but huge, and sandwiches hit the spot. I'm sure it would have been better if we had been there later at night with live music, but that's no longer our type of hangout. Getting old, perhaps??? :-)
(3)Jen T.
I was there last Saturday night (08/13/11) with a group of friends, about 13 of us. The hostess was not happy AT ALL about serving a table of 13. We showed up at 6:00, so it's not like the place was busy. We pushed a couple tables together, and then tried to push them against one of the booths to accommodate everyone. The hostess came over and asked we didn't push the tables against the booth because she couldn't get to the people in the back. She also asked us to not move around/switch seats so we could be served efficiently (neither request is a problem, but there was a very strong tone of anger). Oddly, they were out of two very popular beers--Blue Moon and Magic Hat. ON A SATURDAY NIGHT. And they wouldn't be getting more until the next day, SUNDAY. That being said, our waitress was very polite and accommodating and was able to keep everyone's orders straight. I have heard great things about Ladies' 80s on Thursdays, so I will probably go back for that, but why eat there when you have a great dining establishment (with better food) like Surly Girl across the street.
(1)Libby R.
Holy Fistbump, Batman, we aren't in LA anymore. It's Friday night. My first weekend out of LA in a long long time. So when my cousin (the local who is taking my sister, her girlfriend and I out on the town) asks us what we want to do after our bar crawl, the lil sis and I decide dancing is the way to go. We were concerned that my sisters paramour wouldn't make the cut as she is only 20, but the friendly bouncer assured us it was 18 and over and only 5 bucks. After the not-so-friendly boucer took our money, we walked into our first offical dance club in Ohio. Holy Shit. Lemme just put this out there....I am no stranger to hipsters. PBR, skinny jeans and tattoos are not deal breakers to me in anyway. I have shopped at American Apparel, I listen to indie rock, hell I even have had scene hair. However, I have never before seen what my eyes beheld this night. Hipster Douchebag hybrids. It's kinda like the girls from Jersey Shore had babies with (insert hipster band name here). And, I know it sounds like I'm talking shit....but it was ironically beautiful. As we shuffled our way to the dance floor, my sister (who is, in fact a big old lesbian hipster) turned to me in glee and shouted "Oh my GOD! They're FIST PUMPING!!!" That's right kids. I wanted to hate it. I wanted to pretend like I was appalled. But it was totally giggle inspiring. Fuck yeah. Columbus Shore up in this bitch. And it got so much better. While we were dancing to electronic breaks and beats, I glanced up to the stage and noticed something else that let me know I was a stranger in a strange land...There were 3 DJs. And I don't mean over the course of the night either. Three. At. The. Same. Time. And the best part about them were that, unlike all the djs I've seen in LA (and I've seen my share) these guys weren't just jockying the discs, they were performing. One was flashing signs...I didn't know Ohio guys flashed "westsiiiiide" but hey, I'm open to new things. Another was so into himself I thought he was gonna start rubbing his own nipples. And the third one couldn't stop himself from stopping, turning to a friend and discussing what I'm sure was a deep discussion on Brechtian theater, before fist pumping some and getting back to his turntable. People, it was a perfect storm of awesomeness. If it wasn't for one of the less hipster-more douchey guys in the crowd starting not one, not two, but three fights which resulted in my sister getting clipped in the face and almost kicking his ass after pushing him across the floor one handed, with out even one security guard batting an eyelash, we'd have danced there all night, and continued to have a fucking blast. I sincerely hope and pray that i get to come back to this place if only for the Alice in Wonderland like quality of seeing this acid trip of a crowd again.
(3)Eddie J.
Rusted Root at Skully's!! (Novmeber 13, 2011) Are you serious? The last time I saw them was in their "heyday" in the mid/late 1990's. And that was at the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State, a 10,000 (about) seat arena. Skully's was rather full for the show and I would say there were 300-400 people at the venue. It was great to see such a big name band in an intimate atmosphere. I was literally ten feet away from the musicians. The opening band, The Floorwalkers, is a local Columbus band who put on a good performance to warm the crowd up for Rusted Root. Keep pulling these big name bands and I will keep going back to Skully's Music-Diner. See pictures from the show in the photos at the top of the page.
(5)Diana U.
Warning: do not attempt a Ladies 80's night if you are not open-minded and do not enjoy dancing like an idiot. Keeping that in mind, I love Thursdays at Skully's. Prices on drinks are decent and the company is always interesting. Ladies 80's also consists of 90's music, so don't fret if you don't know much about the 80's. No crazy gross people dancing all on you because there is no grinding type of music playing. All you need to do is free yourself on the dance floor and everything will fall into place. :)
(4)Nuri G.
I was pleasantly surprised last week when I caught the Ohio Takeover tour at Skully's. My co-worker and I saddled up to the bar for a ton of cheap drinks, and hung out on the balcony overlooking the stage. The sound was incredible, it was nice and frosty, and we never had to wait for drinks as the bar was well-staffed (and well stocked!) Drinking the entire show (and fairly heavily too) our tab was only $35. That's all of three drinks at most other venues (or anywhere in NYC). For downsides, the door to the "Camel Smoking Lounge", or outdoor patio, remained open all night. The smell of cigarettes wafted in the entire night. The worst thing for me was the sign that said "Only bottled water after 10." As someone who has been involved in the night club industry, I understand charging for water if you have no bar sales, but seriously... after drinking all night at your bar and really wanting a glass of water to help ensure I don't feel like ass the next morning (that you could shoot from a gun behind the bar) you can't come off a f**king glass of water? Seriously? MINUS ONE STAR! My co-worker and I both grabbed a bottle of water and walked back to the hotel. Pros: Cheap and strong drinks, great sound system, nice outdoor patio, good AC Cons: Ridiculous bottled water policy, smoke wafting in from outdoor area
(4)Michael U.
Went in with low expectations, came out having seen one hell of a show by Los Campesinos! Surprisingly well controlled crowed, nice and cool, no ridiculous bathroom lines, and overall a really nice job mixing.
(4)Meghann T.
What's not to love about Skully's? Skanky decor, loud music, full bar, great bar food. Lots of great local bands, as well as Ladies 80s night on Thursdays! I don't interact too much with the staff, besides the bar tender, so I really can't give you a full thumbs up on that one. That being said...... The later it gets, expect the women's bathroom to be adorned with vomit and spilled drinks. There is always a shortage of toilet paper, so one roll gets passed around from stall to stall, unwashed hand to unwashed hand. If you have to pee, ladies, either hold it, or bring your own contraband TP.
(4)Nick W.
Ive seen King Chip (fka Chip tha Ripper) and Pusha T perform here. Awesome small venue for up and coming artists. The gallery hop "Get Right" DJ's are the best in town.
(4)Valissa W.
Call me a slow learner but... When I was in high school I thought Skully's was the coolest diner ever with their giant flaming marlin on the wall and leopard print bar. (Even though they kicked me out at 10pm for being underage) When I started college I thought Skully's was the best grab-a-drink bar ever with their ladies' 80s nights and awesome drink specials. (Plus they no longer kicked me out, regardless of age. Yay!) When I got to my third year of college I realized Skully's has a HUGE room in the back and is a great place to dance and party with other "normals" (read: those who like to dance but are not part of your typical club scene) When I got into my last year of college I realized Skully's has some pretty decent shows there too. (Alllll ranges of music for all kinds of people. How did I miss this before?!?) When I graduated college I realized behind the big dance room there is a sweet patio. (Perfect for summer nights... ahhh) When I left Ohio, I realized I really missed this place. Skully's is a Columbus staple and a Thursday night tradition. It's a shame it took me so long to realize Skully's full potential!
(4)Aaron C.
Hate to do this as much as I like skullys, and nrmally the food is awesome this time I was very disappointed. Went there for the BLT lunch special. The wait was long, which I don't know why it wasn't busy, and bacon cooks up in no time. Well they brought it out to me, took a look at the sandwich there was only 3 thin strips of bacon on it. I got more bacon on my rico burger there, which shouldn't be the case. A BLT should have bacon, should be the main ingredient in the sandwich. But there was more lettuce, and bread. Glad I didn't get tomatoe, or I would of missed the bacon completely.
(2)Jessica K.
I've been here a few times for shows, mostly of bands I know I like or know a member of. The sound system is pretty decent, or so I've been told. Their shots are ridiculously priced. I only know that because I've overheard the price tag for a set of 2 or 4 here and there and been flabbergasted. Mostly the 3 stars comes from the absolutely shitty services, in all aspects. The doormen are annoying and usually clueless of what's going on inside ("Do you know how many bands have played?", "No", "Do you know if any bands have played?", "No". Oh, okay, well let me give you $5 so I can go find out myself.). The bartenders (I'm sure not all, but the ones I've dealt with) were so damned rude I wanted to take back my drink order. Service with a snarl. Not a cute, atmospheric snarl. A shitty, annoying, "I'm too good for my job and don't want your tip" snarl.
(3)Renee H.
The atmosphere was nice. We went on a saturday night, but it was kinda empty :( We mainly stayed upstairs where it is quieter, and watched the performance that was on the stage. Parking was difficult, but as long as you wait for someone to leave, we didn't wait more than 5-6 minutes in the neighboring lot.
(5)Zack R.
Just went for 80's night, and it was actually a lot of fun. Good people watching, and a really great sound and light system. I have to say, I haven't had drinks poured that stiffly in a long time....a long time.
(4)Lyndsey M.
Hey Skullys, Remember that time I lost my shoe under the stage and insisted on dancing barefoot? Yeah. Me neither. Or how about that time I jokingly said I should sleep on one of the front booths because I was there four nights in a row? It's been a while, but I still love you. Although, since I've mellowed out (errr got a real job with weekday morning hours), I only see you about once a month. I'm sorry. It's better this way. My debit card thinks so. My liver thinks so. And my shoes (who like to stay in pairs) think so. So, what I'm trying to say is, I'm sorry, I've moved on. That being said if you want to have a one night fling every now and again...
(4)Mike E.
Put on your dancin' pants and a heavy dose of deodorant and get ready for a kick-ass time at Skully's Music-Diner! I have had so many great times at Skully's, more specifically at its infamous Thursday night special "Ladies 80s" dance party. Ladies get in for free while guys have to pay a small cover of (I believe) $5 (unless you're a dude who has a wig...seriously...I have witnessed a bearded dude with a wig pass for a 'lady' and get in for free). The DJ plays nothing but 80s dance jams all night long and many people get decked out in insanely odd (sometimes 80s) attire. I mean, if you can handle dudes in wigs and girls in glow-in-the-dark leggings (to say the least) then you'll probably end up loving this place. The bar sits in the front of Skully's (win one on the back patio as well) and then there is an enormous open area and stage (this is where the dancing takes place on Thursdays). On many/most nights, there are live bands on this stage, and onlookers on the "dancefloor." So, if you are not quite into the 80s dancing scene, then you can definitely get your feel for hipster, indie, alternative bands that frequent Skully's Music Diner. Like I mentioned, there is also a back patio which is great to cool down at after getting all sweaty dancing (or jamming to the bands). It is really dark (maybe TOO dark) in Skully's with crazy neon lights and, if I remember correctly, fog machines (that could have been the shots causing me to see things a bit blurry). If you're not there for the music, you can definitely plop yourself down in the red booths located at the front of Skully's and order an array of drinks. They have some decent drink specials, and also have some pretty good grub (although all I've ever had there is the fried mushrooms). Definitely check out Skully's...especially on Ladie's 80's nights...you'll dance so much you'll probably drop a few pant sizes!!
(4)Ian K.
Skully's isn't necessarily my scene, but I had a good time nonetheless. I sort of feel bad reviewing them for a Monday night high school cover band concert, but here goes anyway. The music, for its part, was surprisingly good, and the venue part of Skully's is pretty decent for being a small setting. We paid $5 at the door, which turned out to be worth it for a couple hours' entertainment. Props for clean bathrooms (again, Monday night). I also bought a Columbus Pale Ale (Just go with the IPA) and Brooklyn Winter Ale (won't try it again) for $4.50. Carling Black Labels are supposedly $2, which would have been a better bet. My girlfriend got her money's worth out of the Long Island she ordered, since it was pretty strong. The irritating side was when the bartender kept disappearing, but it was a slow night so I don't really blame her. Altogether in my first foray into one of Columbus' music venues went well and I'll definitely keep my eye on the concert schedule.
(3)Brett P.
I recently went to Skully's after having not been in a few years. Previous experiences ranged from horrible to "someone please burn it down," though my most recent experience left me with a very distinct "I'm too old for this" feeling and a slight embarrassment for the people there older than me who haven't realized that yet. Each time I've gone it's been during club hours, and then Skully's is distinctly a club, complete with the a cover charge, flashing lights, blaring music, stage dancing, guy/girl peacocking, and, yes, a bar. Most of the angst from previous visits concern the bar: overpriced with generally worthless bartenders. One particular time that stands out was finally having to ask the bartender if she could just put some 151 in cup after ordering 3 different very common shots and being told she didn't know how to make any of them. Another time was a severely grouchy bouncer who threatened to not let me in after I had paid because I handed my ID to him facing the wrong way. The clientele is extremely mixed: Gay, straight, young, old, newbie college kids, preppy, hipster, goth, alt...it's like a hodgepodge of pop culture. The people are what keep Skully's from having 1 star. Skully's does have some live music, which I dig, but it seldom (read: never) makes up for the level of service there. When the club scene is full on, it can be good times if you're into that sort of thing, but don't expect decent bar service or hugs from your bouncer. The best part of a Skully's experience? The $5 gyro stand out front.
(2)Morgan D.
If you go to Skully's at night, it's awesome. You feel like you're one of those people who's really in-the-know about underground bands. It's easy to get carried away in a dark place like that. If you go to Skully's in the day, it's a totally different vibe. I've been for lunch on several occasions. The food is good and greasy. The fries are tops. The service is a little on the slow side. If you're going on your lunch break, my suggestion is to scope out what you want from the online menu, order your food and drinks as soon as your seated, ask for your check to be brought when the food comes out, and have your credit card ready to hand over. That way, you can just add a tip and leave when you're done eating. Trust me, otherwise, you'll be late getting back to work. If you're a breakfast-all-day kind of gal, like me, you'll be happy to hear that Skully's serves it's pancakes and French toast whenever you want it. It's pretty good too; then again, I don't think I've ever had bad pancakes or French toast. But, whatever. There are plenty of vegetarian options on the menu as well. The bar/restaurant is much larger than it looks from the outside. There's a huge stage/dance area in the back; stairs leading to an indoor balcony view of the stage; a private, upstairs bar; and then, of course the front bar/eating area. The decor is a retro 50s/cheetah print look. It makes the waitresses look like pin-up girls. There's a tiny outdoor seating area in front with just two tables. The bathrooms aren't sparkling, but they're not awful either. The public lot next door is free and usually has a lot of spaces. The bottom line here is that Skully's food is good, but the live bands are better. Check out their online calendar for upcoming shows. They update the calendar regularly.
(3)Keith M.
Oh Skullys, how I would have given you a solid four stars if not for the atrocious treatment I received tonight. OK, so I've only been here more than a handful of times to see Zachary Allen Starkey and more recently (just last week) Marvin the Robot's re-debut after Miles, the lead singer, was tragically stabbed for no reason and left bed-ridden (until last week). I was disappointed by the turnout, since the band is one of my local faves and it turns out I was one of only a dozen to witness their comeback special and spend plenty of $ at the bar. I couldn't help but notice throughout the duration of the show that Miles was totally getting his shirt soaked with sweat (there was one remaining dry patch) as he gives his usual all. Sure, it was about two in the AM and I was going to grab a PBR, but was going to opt instead for a Guinness (and tip accordingly) until all of a sudden an employee (hope it was a newbie) yelled at me to, "get the f*ck out!; we're closed" despite the "Open" neon sign blazing on the window and a band that was still in the middle of playing their song. The guy pushed me out by the shoulder getting real physical, which just caught me off guard. Whatever happened to turning up the lights and announcing last call? "Get the f*ck out, drunkie", is the last thing I will ever hear from this establishment, despite the fact that I was not puking all over the place, picking a fight, or even stumbling in the slightest bit. Perhaps my appearance as a quasi-hipster vs. 100% hipster was what did me in. All I wanted was a beer and to say hello to the lead singer of Main Street Gospel, but the (likely) owner kicked me out as though I had sh*t on his bar. Whatever, like I told him he'd lost all of the money I would have spent there. Of course, I had to gesture to him that the "Open" sign was still lit up, bright as could be. He mouthed some obscenities at me, so what could I do? I gave him a middle finger followed by a double middle finger and finished it off with one under the left leg and one under the right: you can't keep your balance like that unless you're a professional, functional drunk. So basically, I'm rooting for those who I thought I never would; the new yuppie Jackson condo residents who will complain about the noise coming from Skully's. Duh, you chose to live next to a live music venue. Oh well, at least The Garden, The Chamber, What The Rock, and Rivet, welcomes my quasi-hipster @ss. At least I got to practice my Arabic with the friendly owner (a complete contrast to Skully's) of the gyro stand in front of that nameless, piece-o-crap music venue/diner, so not all was for naught. Ooh, this is my first 1 star review! Sweet...I'm no longer a virgin! In short, head up to Circus to listen to live music, grab some cheap beer, and gnosh on the magic that is Clever Crow Pizza: you can thank me later for one of the best nights you've had in this city.
(1)Sarah H.
Ladies 80s is now Retro Thursday! and Retro Thursday is 80s and 90s music. Is 90s really retro now? I feel so old! the DJ seemed a liiiiittle better than last time, but it was still pretty hit-or-miss. danceable songs were punctuated by completely undanceable songs. bummer. despite the horribly icy streets (hey Columbus, ever hear of salt?) there was a decent little crowd. and I'd like to reiterate that the crowd here is amazingly diverse. sometimes a little strange, but that just adds to the people watching- which is necessary since half of the songs are not conducive to dancing.
(3)Cheryl H.
My first week living in Columbus, I went on a date with some toolbag I met at school and he brought me here (the only good part of the date.) The first local bands I saw in Columbus played at Skully's. My first birthday living in Columbus, my friends brought me here (I puked on their shoes.) My first scandalous affair started at Skully's. The first time I fell off of a bar stool was at Skully's. The first time I chain smoked two packs of cigarettes in one night was at Skully's. My first "goth night" was at Skully's. The first time I met a million amazing people who I may or may not remember names and faces of? Skully's. + Fun people Live music - from hiphop to metal Affordable drinks Big ol' patio Decent grub - Not the cleanest of bathrooms Varying levels of inattentive bartenders Mysterious drink prices. I was here twice in the past week. The first tangueray and tonic I ordered was $2. The next was $6. The next time I went, the first was $4, the next was $4.50. WTF?
(4)Robert D.
Totally bizarre. I loved it. By day, Skully's is a diner -- a burlesque diner, but a diner nonetheless. I went on Friday, and had the special -- fish 'n chips. These were the best fish 'n chips I've ever had -- dry and crisp, not dripping yellow oil like at a lot of places. And the batter had a little zip to it, some kind of cajun note that I really like. Also, they're $6 on Fridays, which is the best deal I've ever seen for fish 'n chips. The waitress said I had made a great choice, but everything else was good too. In short, nothing but good to say about the food. Now, the ambience. If Elvis stepped down from the black velvet painting, he would feel right at home here. There was red velvet curtains separating the booths, red neon shining down from the bar a la Hopper, red nougahide in the booths. And the bar itself? Leopardprint. Yeah, you get it. Around 9 pm, Skully's transforms into a music club. Friday night is hip-hop night. I didn't actually catch the dancing because I wanted to grok some other places, but I wish I had. (Saturday night there was live music so I took a pass -- I usually have to know the music to enjoy a live shown.) The DJ was sounding very dancable when he/she was warming up tho. Looking forward to going back if I can make it before I roll out of Columbus.
(4)Melanie B.
I just wanted to take this moment *closes eyes* to collude with Cheryl's review about the bartenders/drinks/drink prices at Skully's. I know I've mentioned it before, but having been here a bunch lately I will say: 1. Drink prices are never the same. I'm not talking about each time I've been here, I'm talking about within the half hour. 2. This Saturday night, the boy ordered me a pint of PBR and I sweah ta gahd it was greenish. I ordered another and it was fine, but advice: stick to bottles (apparently I can't even take my own advice). 3. The bartenders will ignore you like it's their job. I actually watched my friend get yelled at by one of the bartenders to visit the bar closer to the stage if she wanted service. ?? Still, I really like dancing/going to shows at Skully's. It's always really fun - at least until you drop a cigarette down your shirt and burn your chest. Not that that's happened to me. ;) ((((Skully's))))
(4)David F.
Went there for an 80's night. It was ok, but nothing special. The DJ went between being ok, to being terrible. A problem with 95% of DJ's anywhere. The only time they are ok is when they get lucky, and then they totally blow the mood and clear the dance floor. At first I didn't think anyone would dance, but eventually there were plenty of people on the floor and it was much more social then. People weren't dressed for 80's night. Maybe that only happens in brooklyn. They have so many unfriendly signs on the front door, have a really weird way of handling your tab (you get a ticket with a number, instead of the bartenders trying to remember faces/names), and they had a $5 cover. Oh, and the drinks weren't as cheap as I'm used to for Columbus, but they were still cheap by the standards of other cities. The shots we got were super watered down (how do you water down shots?). The music was too damn loud at first, and loud in the wrong places. When I first walk into a bar at 8pm and its almost empty, I don't want my ears assaulted while I talk to my friends there. Do that at midnight when I'm drunk and dancing. Louder music won't get people to dance more quickly.
(3)Chelsea B.
Skully's is most well-known for the Ladies 80's (or, as it is now called, Retro Thursday) nights, but the times I've been there on other nights I've actually enjoyed myself more-- though it really depends on who's playing that night. Also, I've never had food here, so passing over that... The sound could be better and the floor cleaner, but the dancing is usually pretty good, which I'm assuming is the main reason people come here? There are surprisingly few places to get dancey in Columbus, particularly on weeknights, so this places often becomes the default, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The DJs are a bit hit or miss in my experience, but when they get a good streak going this can really be a fun experience; the people-watching alone can keep you entertained when you need to take a break from the sweaty mess that the dance floor becomes. As other reviews have noted, it's really quite a mix, from middle-aged men in mini-skirts (okay, just the one, but he's a regular) to country bros to glammed-up gals to peacocking skinny boys in cut-off jeans. The drinks are average in both strength and price, and the service neither excellent nor horrible. So if Skully's has a decent dance night, why only three stars? It's the crowd, man, because while it can be really cool, it can also really suck. Ladies nights in particular can get real gropey, real fast. Travel with a pack of friends and practice evasive actions, or prepare for ass-grabbing and grinding without regard. Then again, maybe you're for that, in which case, rock it out! Then there are the creepers in polo shirts who'll just watch from the side with a wide smile the whole time, saluting with their beer bottles. Note: this doesn't happen every time, and some nights are perfectly excellent, but it does happen-- not infrequently-- and it does detract from the experience.
(3)Jeana H.
10 fully grown females + a booth that's probably meant to seat 6-7 + realizing the band we went to see wouldn't play until after we were leaving + hardly being able to see/hear each other + shots that were way more expensive than they should have been = not the greatest first experience. I'm really hoping that I like you better next time, Skully's.
(2)Brad S.
Ah, Skully's. The first phrase that comes to mind when I think of this establishment is "hot mess." As in, I'm usually a hot mess whenever I spend any amount of time inside...as in, most of the patrons of Skully's are also hot messes...as in, you'll have to try very hard to set foot in here and NOT encounter a hot mess of some sort. I dig Skully's because you'll never have the same night there twice. I've been there for musical acts as varied as Tha Dogg Pound to Combichrist. I've been there at happy hour when there where 3 people in the entire joint, and I've been there when you could barely shoehorn another poor bastard in the front door. (fire marshal be damned!) I've been here in the dead of summer when the patio was hoppin' and in the middle of a snowstorm dancing to 80s music. The only constants you'll find at Skully's are that the service is poor, the beer tastes funny, and the decor is tacky as shit - but you can't deny the place has character and....SOMETHING always brings me back for more. (I can also vouch for the fact that I've received a green beer at Skully's before - and it sure as hell wasn't St. Patrick's Day. Turns out the glass it was served in was tinted green, but the beer still tasted like hot buttered ass. I shall never order a draft beer from here again - I usually go with the old standby - PBR bottles.) Give it a try sometime - just not during happy hour, when even though you're the only person in the entire establishment, the bartenders will STILL find a way to ignore you, and not on a night when a really super fantastic national act rolls through. It gets stupid crowded and you won't be able to get close to the bar. I bet you'll enjoy it in spite of yourself and be looking forward to your next visit the second you walk out the door.
(4)