What happened to the Speakeasy I used to love going to? What happened to the Speakeasy that was the #1 bar in Austin when I turned 21?!
I graduated from the University of Texas in '99 and was down visiting from Dallas where I'm from since a friend of mine was speaking at the UT graduation ceremony the following afternoon and I suggested we go to where I loved going to my Senior Year at UT. The band performing downstairs wasn't a bad showing but could have been more creative than being called the Spacerockers, we decided to head up to the rooftop. It got even sillier almost every table we tried to take a seat at had a reserved sign on it. What is going to happen when this place is going to be standing only and no reservations show up? It's also rude I think to the bartenders since we all know how bottle service venues work. Hence I was a bartender when I was in college. Sadly the part that got to me was we wanted to watch the Lakers/Thunder game, we got to watch the first half and then during half time while I was at my seat surprisingly got one I saw someone who didn't even look like they were in work attire and just turn it off. Really? I said to my friends and we went to the bartenders and asked if they can turn it back on, and luckily the staff behind the bar decided to since we were fans of the Thunder, not to mention some other people were also watching the game and actually left the rooftop since they could not watch the game... it's playoffs you know? Sadly again I am waiting on another drink and then this young man who looks like he is still in college comes to the bar yells at the bartenders saying "Who turned the tv back on?! I said it has to be off and can never be on after 7". I wondered who the hell is this guy? Does he know what city he is? Does he know what University is in this city? What the heck would it be if UT was playing for the national championship in baseball in late june? We can't watch that at a bar? This is longhorn country thank you very much. Which is the common thing? I know this sounds ridiculous to be talking about this, but for a place that charges me $6.25 for cheap horrible vodka out of Kentucky and $5 for a Corona at a venue called "Speakeasy", I would like to get something out of my time there. These little things just tick me off, I don't know who this General Manager of yours is, but he isn't the kind of GM that would want running a venue like this, and there are some other things I noticed about this GM that I won't bother typing up here. Also get some more seating for non-bottle service guests on your rooftop, your cocktail waitresses need to stop acting bitchy if someone dares to sit down, also your drink menu is way too complex only 10 drinks and each are $9.50? FYI you are a high volume venue. Come on, there is no bar in Dallas that uses almost most of the ingredients on that menu. There is no excuse for the bartenders working hard, because when there are problems with a venue, it's not the employees, it all starts at the top, and that looks like management. So Speakeasy owner, owners, management group, whatever, if you read this, please bring the old speakeasy back. I don't like people bashing on places that I enjoy going to when I'm back in my other hometown, because this place used to be 5 stars. read more