Abigail B.
Yelp
I honestly hate to say this, and I keep hoping it will be different, but Barhop as a restaurant/service has a LOT to improve on in my experiences. I have been going as a local ever since they opened, and will continue to do so & bring in friends visiting town because its really the only option in town for the vibe, location, local beer, and pizza.
I don't normally get mad at the small things, but these issues seem to continue worsening, and just keep happening more and more. The issues that I hope they resolve-
1. customer service is so sad. I think there's a couple gals who are friendly when I have seen them, but I don't see them ever anymore. everyone else serving is extremely stand-offish, and have walked away in the middle of taking orders, just not being attentive, friendly or welcoming. Feeling like you're some slug that they have to deal with is not a nice way to start a meal. They have made people wait while they finish a convo with a friend they see in or another employee etc., like deliberately not welcoming the customer or being communicative. there have been several times when my guests & I have been like "wait, are we like in the wrong spot? Are we supposed to sit down first?" To be dramatic, it just feels like they hate that we are there and so beneath them lol.
2. Literally every time I have called an order in in the last 2-3 years, one of 4 things have happened. The most common is that
a) they answer the phone but dont say anything at all, and then you overhear, quite clearly, all of the conversations they have- taking multiple orders, talking to customers they know, talking to friends, etc., for 5+ minutes until the phone automatically hangs up (I'm assuming).
b) they answer the phone, but then put you on hold and, refer to a).
c) the phone keeps ringing and never ends.
in all of these cases, I have been the one to keep calling or call back until they can help me. I have literally yelled into the phone like "hello...??" After 4 minutes of listening to the chit chat. Like why are you going to answer the phone and have a customer listen to your banter? Am I not good enough to order food from you & banter too? Lol
Management needs to either pay more, hire better, offer training, or do SOMETHING to make their servers happier. Otherwise, make the product $ match the value of the poor experience. Word on the street is that employees are treated very poorly, so if that is the case, it would at least partially make sense why these things happen. Again, as a former customer service/restaurant employee, I always give people the benefit of the doubt. but this has happened so consistently with all different folks, that I seriously am frustrated & just want them to do better???
if it weren't the only place in town that serves pizza & their own beer, I would never go here. That's what my 1 star is for. It's sad, bc it should and could be so much better. maybe being the only one of its kind around has given them a false sense of snobbery.
Management- considering that the pizza & location is literally the only reason people go, pay your kitchen staff more. Maybe treat all your employees better/pay them all more, and show what it looks like to be considerate to the people you are serving (bc part of what you do, IS to serve your employees).
anyway, hopefully they can make some improvements. Or maybe someone else will open up another brewery with good pizza, so that locals arent forced to fight for their service whenever they want beer & pizza.