For a place that's LGBT oriented that prides itself on being your "cozy, neighborhood bar" I've never been somewhere more hateful.
A crowded, small bar on a Saturday will naturally have some jostling. As soon as we arrived, a woman behind us--apparently a "regular"--made a pointedly rude comment about my friends and I, saying, "I don't come here on weekend nights so I don't have to deal with people like that," while gesturing toward us. We chose to ignore it.
Later, my friend supposedly bumped into her table, she immediately began yelling at her saying "watch where the fuck you're going bitch you're spilling my wine" which was not spilled, had it been, and had she addressed it in any remotely civil manner, we would've gladly bought her another drink. I said there was no reason to be so rude, it was an accident which only escalated things. She doubled down, shouting, "I don't know you people, I don't have to be nice to you." The first part may be true, but the second? That's just miserable.
At this point, a bouncer came over. We explained what had happened, but instead of diffusing things, she also became aggressive--condescendingly telling us to "act like adults" and dismissing us by saying, "Well, if you're going to 'complain' (yes, with air quotes), go somewhere else." When I asked why she was being rude, she had no real answer.
Frustrated, I went to the bartender--who I was told was also the general manager--to request a refund, as we just wanted to leave at this point. She said she couldn't refund poured drinks, which is understandable. She asked what happened but when I explained what had happened, she (unsurprisingly, given the theme of the night) started yelling at us too. I mentioned that the woman behind us had aggressively called my friend a bitch over a minor accident, to which the bartender/manager responded that she probably would have done the same. Exactly the type of person you want in a leadership position.
As we were leaving, she (the general manager) loudly shouted, "Who the fuck are those dumbasses?"--a completely unnecessary, mean-spirited remark that only confirmed how toxic this place is.
I've been to this bar multiple times, recommended it to friends, and always had positive experiences--even with this same bartender before. I don't have unreasonably high standards; I've worked in the industry and understand that things go wrong--long waits, stressed-out staff, minor inconveniences, all fine. But outright hostility from staff and regulars, with zero regard for basic respect? That's a dealbreaker. I won't be back and don't recommend unless you're into being berated and bullied by three different people at once over something as simple as spilled wine, if you are definitely go to Anchovies! read more