I visited Bar Moxy at the Moxy Hotel in downtown while having a sushirito from Let's Roll PDX.
The bar doubles as the hotel check-in desk, which is an interesting concept. Contrary to their website's claim of 24/7 drink availability, I was informed that the bar was closed but they could still pour a beer or wine. It is not clear what their actual bar hours are.
The lobby area is spacious with plenty of seating options where you can enjoy your drink alongside food from Let's Roll PDX and Sun Rice. This setup gives off a casual food court vibe.
The drinks themselves were decent, and I appreciated the chilled glass used for serving beer. However, the large windows, which I initially thought would provide great natural light, are covered with decorations, making it less enjoyable on a sunny day.
One significant downside is their gratuity policy. They automatically add a 20% gratuity fee to your bill, even for simply pouring a beer, with a note on the menu saying, "We did the math for ya! 20% gratuity added," which I did not notice when just ordered a beer on tap. This wouldn't be as frustrating if the check didn't also include a separate line for additional gratuity, potentially leading to double tipping, which I did. It feels a bit disingenuous to automatically include a gratuity fee for counter service and then have another tip section on the check. Moreover, the check doesn't itemize your order, which could easily lead to confusion. I only ordered one beer, so it was easy to notice, but I can see how other customers might get confused by a total amount that has already included tips without itemized details.
To better manage what customers are charged and pay more clearly, I recommend that they clearly show what they charge, including the gratuity, and communicate better with customers. read more
