Darryl Rudd
Google
I don’t usually leave reviews, but my experience at Lucy’s Bar in Center City Philadelphia with my three brothers was disappointing and honestly felt racially motivated. From the moment we walked in, we didn’t feel welcomed. No greeting, no acknowledgment—just my brothers and I standing at the bar while staff avoided eye contact until a waitress finally told us to seat ourselves.
Once seated, before even asking what we wanted to drink or eat, the first thing the server said was, “Before y’all order anything, we need a card on file to open a tab.” She went straight into the restaurant policy as opposed to extending any welcoming conversation or even introducing herself. It felt to us as though she wanted to secure our financial payment before allowing us to order.
Throughout the meal, the same server walked by our table giving side-eyes, like she was waiting for us to leave. She past by our table at least 7 times in such a short time frame. We noticed that the same behavior was not reciprocated to the other tables around us. It was uncomfortable. The moment we finished eating, she was quick to grab our plates and hovered around like we were overstaying our welcome. At one point, two of us were still eating and having a conversation, and she came over again asking, “Everything good?” We said yes—twice—but the vibe was clear: we weren’t welcome there.
To top it off, when it came time to pay, she stood over me as I tipped—literally watching the screen—and quickly grabbed the machine the moment I hit submit. She gave a very forced “thanks for coming,” then hovered again as we sat for a moment before leaving. We felt pressured out the door, like we didn’t belong there.
We came to eat and enjoy each other’s company. But the treatment we received was unwelcoming, passive-aggressive, and carried a clear undertone of racial bias. I hope Lucy’s takes a serious look at how their staff treats patrons of color, because no one should be made to feel that way.
And to our server Mary—thank you for reminding us that fake smiles, forced hospitality, and racial bias are still alive and well in 2025.