Aimee L.
Yelp
One Sunday, maybe 2 months ago, we were on a fun post-brunch cocktail tour of Prospect Heights and Crown Heights. Our first stop was Washington Commons, and it certainly did not help set the tone for the rest of the day. I'd been refraining from doing a review, but really, I know I'm not ever setting foot in that place again because our service was so shit-tacular.
When we came in, there were 3 or 4 people at the tiny bar, all with full drinks. Playing with his phone, the incredibly rude bartender looked over and barked at us that he'd be with us "In a couple minutes."
Next, we placed our orders, one of which was a margarita: rocks + salt. This is a standard cocktail that even the most novice of bartenders knows how to make. What the arrogant prick brings over is a drink with nothing but Rose's Lime Juice and tequila. Upon tasting that this, indeed, was an overly tart concoction missing the requisite ingredients of sweet and sour mix and triple sec, I asked for a splash of sprite to cut it down.
I don't know why I was trying to not insult this insulting jerk of a bartender, but I didn't think it was so horrible to ask for a splash of seven to cut it down a bit. It's not like I asked for him to REMAKE the whole thing. But, he dumped it out and remade it, returning a spilling, overfull glass to me, and then, in an obnoxiously chastising tone that was just ridiculous, told me "You know, that's how we make margaritas here. If you want it made differently you have to ask." I said "Oh, so your house recipe is only Rose's and Tequila?" He emphatically said "YES."
Maybe he was full of crap and trying to save face. Maybe not (which would be even more horrifying). But that kind of treatment is uncalled for. There are TONS of bars in that area that have exceptional and personable service, where they also know how to make a margarita. Unfortunately, I'll never know if Washington Commons has any nice, service-oriented bartenders on their staff, or if even that truly is their house recipe for margaritas. That dude, acting as representative of the bar, was such a colossal dick that we'll never be back.