Karaoke Box is one of those landmarks on Ste-Catherine St. that should be on every student’s nightlife list. It is positively hopping on Friday and Saturday nights, so it’s better to head over on the early side to keep from looking in on the merry crowd from the cold like a character in some Dickens novel.
With that said, it’s quiet enough during the week to go after class and relax with a few friends and a beer or two.
The prices are almost foolishly inexpensive. When asking the barista if there were any specials, she shrugged her shoulders and smiled. “Everything’s so cheap already,” she said.
To prove her point, she brought over a couple of menus. Four litre pitchers, with a choice of Alexander Keith’s, Budweiser or Labatt Blue, are $17.50, 23 shots go for $23, pints are $3.25, and most mixed drinks or hard liquor are just four dollars a glass. The beer’s no Guinness, but it most definitely does the job.
Karaoke Box may seem cramped from the outside, but that’s only because this classic is able to cram in a good time. Inside is a jungle of tables and chairs to navigate through which gives it a cozy and intimate vibe. The room is narrow but long, and decked out with rows of television screens. The bar is conveniently placed at the entrance to make sure priorities are set, ensuring no hand is without a drink.
At the far end of the room is the main event: the karaoke stage. It’s open for business as soon as the bar is, but as 10 p.m. rolls around, people begin to stumble their way to the open mic to sing their heart out.
They have a great selection of English pop songs, so get pumped for the fact that this is one of the few times, aside from driving alone and in the shower, that Carly Rae Jepson or Nicki Minaj can be belted out with no shame.
To accompany the music, an eclectic collection of music videos that range from the artist’s official releases to what looks like a montage of all the oddest videos the Internet has ever birthed. It’s almost more entertaining to watch the television screens than the person singing onstage. If singing isn’t your scene, there are also lotto machines where you can try your luck.
A night at good old K-Box is a great way to unwind from holiday family reunions or even just to congratulate yourself for going to your first week of classes. There’s no better place to kick off the semester – particularly from your wallet’s perspective.
Located on 2151 de la Montagne St.
