Victoria B.
Yelp
Busy, loud, messy, inattentive....
This is a popular after-work spot, especially in warm weather because they have a patio and serve gimmicky cocktails. (The woman next to me got a smoked cocktail -- they put the drink in a little glass chamber and lit something so that the whole thing filled up with smoke -- for about $17.) Meanwhile, throngs of screaming millennials pushed up against us like a tsunami about to bust. I like a lively atmosphere as much as the next girl but the yelling and jostling for drinks and real estate seems like a tough-mudder way to relax after work. The inconvenience should be worth the tradeoff. At Precinct, it just isn't. There are better options....
This bar/restaurant is attached to a hotel, not that that matters. It's subterranean: down a few steps, the main restaurant, the bar, and the patio. The two interior dining areas are separated by a large bar area, although when I was there, only front bar (with about eight seats) was operational. The other section of the bar (leading into the back dining room) was dirty and empty. Because I was early to a group event (with rezzies in the back room), I sat at the bar to wait. I ordered a craft beer but lost the bartender's brief attention before I could settle up. I was there forever, all the while trying to snag the bartender so I could pay. He was busy, sure, but still taking other people's cash/credit and making drinks. When a customer at a bar (moi!) becomes invisible, it's usually just bad service. I was sitting smack in the middle of the place, right in front of him, and not once did he glance my way so I could say, "Here's a hundred. Keep the change." That's the bartender's dream,right? I had the large bill but wasn't in the mood to leave 900% tip.... so I waited and waited and situation normal turned to farce. I finally dug around the bilge of my purse and came up with a few singles and some coins of all colors and sizes, enough to cover drink, tax, and tip, so that I could meet my friends in the back without stiffing the inattentive bartender. What a bore!
At the table in the back, the server was kind enough to split bills and totally patient with about ten of us arriving and ordering at different times but she wouldn't do the checkouts in the order in which they were received. I was ready to leave first -- and gave her my credit card long before anyone else was even thinking about leaving -- but she waited until she had collected all the cards before she would even begin the transactions. And, of course, mine was on the bottom, the last one. What is it about this place that makes you wait to pay? Also, she gave no warning that the gratuity was added. Most people know that large parties are given a surcharge but a thoughtful server will often say, Oh, this line here is tip ... or something. I'm a plus-20% tipper and often tip 30% especially for small orders but not when the exchange feels smarmy.
Food was okay. I got the meatballs based on reviews and they were just okay. I brought most of them home ... and discovered a hair in them. Ugh. I know it happens but combined with the inattentive servers, the dirty bar, and the yammering clientele, it felt like part and parcel, like this is what they do.
I wouldn't go back. Well, maybe if I were in the neighborhood -- maybe -- and if I wanted to see if maybe I was wrong. But I would be totally wary. And I'd bring bills in all denominations so I could leave when I was ready, not when it suited the servers who seem to have other priorities.
tl:dr: dirty, loud, pretentious, but they have a patio