I wasn't going to post this review, but then I realized the nice older women I met that night might…read morewonder why they never saw me again.
This was an extremely empty neighborhood bar on a Tuesday night, and they actually ended their Bingo/Singo activity early because there weren't enough people. I decided to stay for one more drink, a double mezcal pineapple (my first drink had been free with the game), and later ordered their $10 microwaved mozzarella sticks.
When I got my check, I was pretty confused to see a $44 charge for one drink and the mozzarella sticks. I politely asked, "Hey, can I see the itemized check?"
The bartender laughed in my face and told me no because he had actually given me a discount. He then started proclaiming, both to me and the gentleman sitting next to me, how generous he had been to give me the free drink at the beginning of the night (which was part of the advertised game promotion and something I had specifically asked about) and how expensive doubles are.
While he was yelling, I decided to just pay the tab and leave. Given the way he was speaking to me, I did not leave a tip.
Apparently, that made things worse. He started yelling to the other patron about how I wasn't tipping, trying to embarrass me in front of him, and saying, "Looked like she loved it though, 'cause it's empty."
I calmly told him that this entire situation could have been avoided if he had simply given me the itemized receipt I asked for. I wasn't refusing to pay. I just wanted to understand what I was being charged for, especially since it was my first time at the bar. Instead of simply showing me the bill, he chose to argue with me and publicly embarrass me in front of his only other patron.
He finally printed the itemized check, at which point I told him it was too late. He then explained that he had poured Casamigos Mezcal, which I never asked for, and that was why the double was a $30 drink.
Again, this is an empty neighborhood bar, not an upscale cocktail bar. I was expecting something in the $18 to $24 range and never asked for a high end pour. If you're going to serve a premium spirit without the customer requesting it, especially in a simple mixed drink, it would be reasonable to mention that before charging $30 for it.
I have the money and paying the bill wasn't the issue. The issue was the way the situation was handled. When a customer politely asks to see an itemized check, especially at an empty neighborhood bar, the appropriate response is to simply hand them the check. There was absolutely no reason for the bartender to laugh at me, yell at me, or try to embarrass me in front of another customer.
I would have happily paid and probably would have come back. Instead, I left wondering why a simple request for a receipt turned into such an unnecessary confrontation. And the owner, the hosts of the game, the nice old folks who live down the street who all asked to see me next week - absolutely not.
