Extremely disappointing service and an experience that left us feeling discriminated against…read more
We had been at this bar for about an hour and had already purchased multiple rounds of drinks. As closing time approached, we went to order one last round, which is a completely normal part of going to a bar. Unfortunately, what should have been a simple interaction turned into an extremely uncomfortable experience.
The female bartender, a Caucasian woman with black hair in a ponytail wearing a black tank top, had an attitude from the start. While chatting with her coworkers instead of attending to customers, she was approached by my friend, who politely asked for three Mexican candy shots. Her response was, "I guess," with a clear attitude. When my friend asked if she didn't want to make them, she bluntly responded, "I don't." She then refused to make our drinks.
A second bartender, a Caucasian man wearing a Texas tank top and a hat, ended up making the shots. When we questioned the unnecessary attitude, he had no explanation and offered no comment. He could clearly see that we were upset, so he proceeded to take a shot with us and say, "Cheers." We never offered to buy him a shot, and taking shots with customers while on the clock raises another concern entirely.
What makes this experience particularly troubling is that we observed white patrons being served without any apparent issues or similar attitudes. Meanwhile, we were met with hostility and an outright unwillingness to serve us. As people of color, it's difficult not to question whether our skin color played a role in how we were treated. The difference in treatment left us feeling singled out, unwelcome and discriminated against.
This wasn't about being upset over a bar closing or being denied drinks after last call. We understood that closing time was approaching. We had been there for an hour, had already purchased multiple rounds, and were simply trying to order one last round while the bar was still serving customers. There was absolutely no reason for the bartender to speak to us that way or openly refuse to serve us.
If you don't want to work in the service industry, perhaps it's time to find another line of work. Basic courtesy and professionalism should be the bare minimum, regardless of who walks through the door.
Management needs to take this incident seriously. If this establishment genuinely has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination, then there should be meaningful accountability, not just a slap on the wrist. Customers should never have to question whether they'll be treated differently because of the color of their skin.
We came here to enjoy ourselves, not to be made to feel unwelcome. This experience has left a lasting impression, and based on how we were treated, I would not feel comfortable returning.
