I was with my friend at Tipsy Tavern that night, and as a professional African American man who's been in plenty of bars and restaurants, I can say the experience was disappointing in a way that went beyond a simple misunderstanding. We walked in hoping for a better vibe than the last spot, but the tone shifted immediately. The bartender took the other guests' order first -- no issue there -- but when she finally addressed us, it was with a flat, dismissive "what do y'all want," delivered without eye contact or even basic courtesy. My friend paused because it genuinely wasn't clear she was listening, and she snapped back with "I'm listening," in a tone that made the entire bar go quiet for a second. Then my friend ordered a Hugo Spritz. Instead of a simple "I'm not familiar with that," the bartender hit us with a confused "What?" followed by an irritated explanation that she only knew an Aperol Spritz. Not knowing a drink isn't the problem. The attitude that followed was. She came back with an edge, telling us to look it up for her, then got defensive with "I don't know what the issue is," even though no one had raised a complaint or even a tone. The whole interaction felt unnecessarily hostile and dismissive. We left shortly after because the energy was clearly not going to improve. What made the situation even more disappointing was what happened afterward. When my friend shared the experience publicly, the owner chose to argue back and forth online instead of taking responsibility. Watching a business debate customers, deflect concerns, and hide behind phrases like "communication is key" while refusing to acknowledge the actual issue was unprofessional and honestly surprising. And here's the part that really makes that response hard to take seriously: multiple reviews before ours mention the exact same thing -- the bartender's coldness, her attitude, and the uncomfortable energy she brings to the bar. This isn't a one‑off. It's a pattern. So for the owner to double down and defend behavior that so many customers have already called out... I genuinely can't conceptualize it. From what I witnessed firsthand -- and from how the owner handled it afterward -- I can't recommend this place to anyone who expects basic respect and professionalism. Hospitality isn't complicated. Treat people with dignity. That didn't happen here, and I won't be returning.
But, of course, due to not being a regular, I will not be treated with the same care and respect. read more