J Mark L.
Yelp
I was thrilled when this place opened, even paid up for their "membership" thing ($75). And it was good for a while. I don't know what happened but three times in a row I've been there now and basically walked out.
First, they no longer have anywhere where you can see a list of beers, other than reading a QR code, which does not seem to work on my phone (a new Samsung). This last time, two different employees tried to get it to work and couldn't. So basically you're just shit-outa-luck, they just shrug and that's that. So all those beers and I have no idea what they are. When I suggested that it wouldn't be that difficult to print out a list, they got pissy, obnoxious. "Actually it *is* difficult, they have to be updated and it's easier to do it this way." Hm. OK.
So the bartender generously offers her phone to me this last time (which was an improvement, of sorts). And I scan it and pick a beer. And she then ignores me for an inordinately long time, waiting on people who came in after me. Finally she returns, and I tell her my choice, and she says ok and walks off. And 15 minutes later I still don't have a beer. While people who came in *after I ordered* are already drinking theirs. I try to catch her eye and she clearly sees me, but just continues to ignore me.
Another thing - when you do their membership thing, you get a huge beer for a regular price, like 24 oz. But I don't like having a glass of beer that big, it gets warm and flat by the end. So in the early days, I would politely ask for a regular glass, and "if you could just add a little to it at halfway or so that would be great." Sure, no problem. When I asked the last two times, it was a flat "No." Not even any explanation, just "No."
So, yeah, the burgers are good (the fries suck), the physical place is nice, but the service sucks and the whole QR code thing is ridiculous. There's other places in the general area to get a burger and a beer - Cask-n-Rasher has a list on the wall, and Freehold Pub, while a bit eccentric, has friendly service and good fries. So, I'm throwing away my Tasting Lab "membership card," you can keep this place.