David G.
Yelp
I felt compelled to create a yelp account to inform the world of the horrible service at this place. Having travelled to dozens of countries, being subjected to my rudest service experience ever is quite a feat. I should start by making clear that the bartender/waiter seemed nice enough; it was rather the (presumed) owner who didn't seem to quite grasp the concept of 'customer'.
I was in a small group, we came in and were seated at a table; there was still some room for more people, had more customers required seating. I personally didn't want to get a drink, but the others in the group ordered. Now, I can understand the thinking behind a policy whereby if you're taking up space in a packed bar, you should order a drink. I've never actually experienced such a policy, however, and in fact have been to a number of places that will give free non-alcoholic beverages to those who don't want to order anything alcoholic (because they might be a designated driver, for example). But I can understand the logic behind it, and if politely informed that it was the policy of the bar that if you're taking up the space of someone waiting for a seat, you need to buy a drink, I would be happy enough to make a purchase.
That's not how events unfolded, however. Instead, though there were still free seats in the venue, and no-one was walking in demanding to sit in them, the owner rudely demanded that I buy a drink. Contempt and disdain were all too perceptible as he sneered at the notion that a member of a group would dare accompany others who wished to have a cocktail. At first I didn't think he was serious, naturally assuming an owner would not treat patrons as such. He must be trying to be funny in his own weird way, I thought. But it quickly dawned on me, as the owner exuded as much impatience as humanly possible, that humour was the last thing on this bloke's mind. Now, if that doesn't sound all that bad, it may be the result of an inability to translate the sheer insolence displayed into words, but to be clear, it is the impoliteness rather than the business policy itself with which I am concerned.
I was in a bit of a state of shock by this stage, not quite knowing how to respond to a demand that I pay for something I didn't want, for no apparent or logical reason. I decided to not walk out, but rather to buy the cheapest thing on the menu, seeing as my companions had already ordered. So I asked for a tequila. I thought it could get no worse, but alas I was wrong, for although the bartender/waiter appeared to have no other orders requiring his attention, it took more than five minutes for the shot to be poured and transported a full two metres from the bar to the table. With lemon, without salt.
Never again.
