Steve B.
Yelp
Let me start with the positives.
Excellent live music on the patio, which can be enjoyed with any outdoor seating. Great jazz band featuring David. Really enjoyed the band.
The food was quite good. My wife had a burger and I had the Shepherd's Pie. Very tasty and enjoyable.
The surroundings - we sat on the patio across from the restaurant itself. Nice seating and wonderful side-alley vibe.
The service was good and helpful. I asked for a recommendation and received an excellent suggestion.
Now the bad, and why I knock this place down two full stars from what I would give them otherwise.
The menu, signs and web page clearly state that Tasty Tuesdays and Thirsty Thursdays feature specials like $3 martinis during Happy Hour, which goes from 4pm to 10pm. As evidenced on their web page, menu and advertising.
On the menu itself there are apparently TWO separate pages which reference Happy Hour, but the first page and online menu never reference that the martinis have to be flavored in some way. Those are not true martinis, as any reasonable bartender will tell you. The menu page specifies $3 martinis.
Look at their social media and website. Their online photos and features alone substantiate my position.
The reference - according to staff - apparently applies only to flavored martinis, not the real deal. You only discover this if you page a couple more pages to discover the details, which aren't featured on the Happy Hour page.
When we got the bill we discovered that the discount only applies to flavored martinis, not actual martinis. The couple at the table next to us had the same surprise.
We objected and - after attempting to rectify - were told by the waiter that we were subject to the full charge of $18 per drink, not the advertised $3.
I asked to see the manager, and was at first denied, then led into the bar to speak with the bartender in charge. I admit I was, at this point, more than a bit upset that we'd been misled, but the bartender stated outright he didn't like my attitude.
What followed is a classroom example of how not to handle an angry customer. At one point he specifically said "Go write us a bad review, I don't give a damn."
It was confrontational and unnecessary. We felt that we were victims of a "bait and switch" and the people in charge basically told us to to go #### ourselves. I don't write many reviews, but this was a restaurant begging to be written up.
(And again, the table next to us were equally surprised.)
I am not normally a confrontational person in this sort of situation. I attempt to diffuse. But the attitude of the lead bartender escalated the situation unnecessarily. A trained manager/bartender is fully capable of de-escalating this sort of scenario, and in this case did not even try.
Was I upset? Absolutely. When you expect a $12 charge for four drinks, per the menu, and are faced with a $72 charge it's upsetting. Did we feel abused? Absolutely. Was I angry, yes. Guilty as charged.
But the bartender in charge threw gasoline on the fire and refused to accept the responsibility for the inaccurate menu. That was unprofessional and frankly unacceptable.
I've been to hundreds of restaurants/bars worldwide. And only once before seen this sort of in-your-face rejection of responsibility. See attached screen shot from their online menu for evidence. Tasty Tuesdays $3 martinis. Heck, it's even featured by them on YELP!
Caveat emptor.