Esquire Tavern

What a unique little gem!! We went right after checking into our hotel around 4, so we probably beat the crowd (and the weekend, since we went on a Friday). It wasn’t crowded and we didn’t have to wait long for anything! I ordered the Hush Payments cocktail. I don’t normally like overly sweet drinks. My waitress was knowledgeable enough about the menu to let me know that it was a sweeter drink, but that she could let the bartender know to cut back on the sweetness of it. It came out the PERFECT drink. Props to her for being so top notch. We shared the empanadas and they were delicious. It was the best spot to start our night and I would love to go back and try more off their menu.

Fun, nostalgic bar with unique drinks and food. The buffalo burger was incredible. Downstairs from The Canopy by Hilton.

On this visit to rustic San Antonio River walk area we had opportunity to visit the vaunted Esquire Tavern. Which is reported to have the longest bar in Texas, well they did not disappoint, This place was nothing short of awesome! It gives off a very old world and rustic feel where you could imagine walking into a high end saloon in the wild west or in a Frontier town. The huge 100 ft bar top is made of real polished wood and the bar back is real heavy wood too. They have the largest selection of premium liquors that I have ever seen in one bar. The place can be loud and blostious depending on the crowd and time of day. I'd say the revelry was at a medium pitch when we entered. It did require raising your voice a bit to be heard. I could go on for a while about the charms of the rustic western decore but since a picture is worth a thousand words I'll let my pics tell that story (see below). The staff here are all very friendly and are not opposed to letting you sample some of the exotic selection before you make your choice. Daniel was our Bar Tender and the man is a true specialist, super friendly and really knows his selection and was a great help with our decisions. While Amy crafted me one of the simplest yet best tasting Old Fashioneds I've had. (I would give it a top 3 rating) meaning I'd have to have the 3 best ones ever, side by side to tell the best one. Great Job Amy, kudos to you. Thank you Daniel and Amy for making our first visit to the Esquire Tavern an experience that we will never forget. We also sampled some of the food while we were their and the cuisine is far above what you would expect from a bar. My wife sampled the 8oz Delmonico Steak with black garlic butter and it was delicious! We both had their famed fried pickles and they deserve their fantastic reputation, delicious with a twist! I sampled The Bison burger topped with crescenza cheese, bacon jam and shaved onion with French onion spread (mouth watering delicious)We shared a side of chili fries at (Amy's suggestion- thank you again M'Lady) because the portions are indeed very generous. Overall I think this magnificent bar has earned a visit from us everytime we visit San Antonio, definitely our new favorite spot! I recommend this Tavern with my highest praise, I would grant it 6 Stars if it were possible.

+6

Very good atmosphere for a good night out to drink with friends and dates. I overall enjoyed the byson burger. I recommend you try this place out indeed.

Everything was great. Got here around midnight so food options were limited to a couple of things as per their late night menu (11p-1a) of which we got two - the deviled eggs and the cheeseburger. Both were delicious. The drinks we had (Walkin’ After Midnight, a moscow mule, and the Esquire’s Winter Martini) were also great. Can’t wait to come back during the daytime!

Elegant, historic and dark. Love this restaurant as it is seeped with history. The food & service are also always great. The restaurant is dimly lit and the bar is crazy long. Our waitress, Gabbie, did an outstanding job and food all was very delicious. Note: Even though you can enter from the street, the host/hostess is located near the river entrance. All the plates were generous portions but if you are really hungry, get the bison burger. It's huge! Forgot to get the fried pickles. Oh well, next time!

+6

Leaving The Magestic and you see the mass of people flooding out to get to their cars and you think to yourself….. self, do I want to spend an hour in the Travis parking garage getting out (ps much easier than the one near the theater!) or do I want to sit at the oldest bar in San Antonio and the longest bar in Texas with a cold cocktail, amazing food, and some of the best service I have had in a while? No brain answer there. When we arrived we were instantly greeted and we decided to sit at the bar. After settling in, Breck came greet us. Probably the friendliest bartender ever. He made an amazing old fashioned for the hubs and I had a French 75. When I say the attention to detail was there… man it was. I almost didn’t want to drink my beverage it was so pretty. Food came out quickly and pipping hot. Husband had the burger and I had the mussels with fries. All the mussels were open which means the kitchen pays attention to detail. Yall I wanted to drink the sauce from the bowl, but I decided to drop my fries into the sauce and let them swim a moment before eating them. I had a bite of my husbands burger. When you bite into the burger, it melts in your mouth. They do not overwork their meat and they know how to cook a medium rare burger (those that don’t like the redness in a burger, move on. It’s worth the risk). Such an amazing texture and perfectly seasoned. Since it was 5pm and approaching my bedtime (don’t judge me) I had a coffee and we split a key lime pie. They do the coffee right with the French press and the key lime has a meringue topping that was perfectly toasted. Yeah definitely made the right choice and had a better experience then waiting for an hour to get out of the garage. I hope yall try this place and ask about the history. Good food, amazing drinks, and a history lesson on the side. You won’t regret it!

+3

A must visit when you visit San Antonio. Ask for Daniel. The absolute best service and mixology in San Antonio

The staff is great and very knowledgeable about the drinks and the city itself. We had a great time just hanging out at the bar. Love the vibe here! All the staff here on 10/27 were very nice! Shout out to them!

The Esquire was a must for our several day visit to the Riverwalk. Absolutely worth the visit! We are always up for visiting unique bars on our travels. It was the perfect evening for some light eats and speciality drinks. The bar is incredible with it length and history. We enjoyed the Homemade Chips and Caramelized Onion Dip, Tomato Soup with Baked Cheese Toast and The Esquire Salad. Washed it all down with Moscow Mules, Bidi Bidi Conundrum and an Old Fashion. The atmosphere is nice, quaint, dimly lit, and cozy. Our server was fantastic and we enjoyed great conversation. Being that the The Esquire is one of the oldest establishment on the Riverwalk, full of history along with excellent cocktails and food, you just gotta stop in to experience it. Thanks for making our visit so enjoyable!!

Definitely a must stop if you are traveling through the Riverwalk or just passing through San Antonio. The historic restaurant has some great menu options as well as a unique bar top that is a must-see. The servers and wait staff are nice, and the drink menu has a lot of great options on it. Great place to have stopped at, will be back again.

+2

I forget exactly how my friend and I came across this place, but we made the right decision to eat here. It was hot outside that day, but it was much cooler indoors. The service was quick, the food was great, and our table had a lantern, which reminded me of the one my grandmother used to have. Very fine establishment!

+3

Grabbed dinner before going to the holiday bar downstairs. Dark theme to match its prohibition era history. Great service.

+6

We come here once a month when downtown for our season tickets. We love the history of the Esquire and the vibe, and as an added bonus, the staff are always attentive and friendly. We highly recommend! Today, there is a parade representing Eastern Indian cultures!

Stopped by in early November, prior to attending a concert at the Majestic Theatre. We were greeted by Daniel and immediately knew that we were in for a fun time. Daniel's personality flows from one end of the 100 foot bar to the other. Both Daniel and Diana kept us entertained, the entire time we were there, however, they did not ignore the other patrons. Diana made a superb Old Fashioned and the wife and I shared a Prime Rib (Medium Rare, of course). The meal came out surprising quick and was delicious. This is a definite MUST STOP location for anyone looking for great drinks, fantastic food and entertainment. Thank you for making our trip enjoyable.

Came for the downstairs but ended up upstairs. If you’re not sure, just go, place is a vibe, bustling but not too much. Sit at the bar and Daniel will give you the best drink and food option based on your vibe and feels at the time, he nailed it. Dans the man.

While visiting San Antonio, The Esquire Tavern was our first stop along the Riverwalk, and wow, did it ever set the bar high! The vintage speakeasy feel of the oldest bar on the Riverwalk immediately entranced us when we walked in. The back shelves are lined with an impressive collection of all different spirits (especially bourbon) and the warm backlighting beckons customers to order their favorite cocktails. Daniel enthusiastically welcomed us to San Antonio, and walked us through the menu, giving us his suggestions and recommended go-tos. We immediately felt at home on the plush leather bar stools, and as we sipped our drinks, Daniel told us about the city and even made a list of places to visit. Phenomenal service, ambiance, and the cocktails were delicious. We didn’t order food this time around, but we will definitely back to try their full menu!

I absolutely love The Esquire! The food is amazing, and the cocktails are next level — my favorite is the Hotel Nacional. We went for our anniversary dinner, and it did not disappoint. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxing, lit beautifully with tea lights throughout the restaurant. The waitresses were super attentive and so sweet! The view from the balcony overlooking the River Walk is stunning, and they even have a bar downstairs. Overall, 10/10 experience!

This is the oldest bar in San Antonio. Very dimmly lit with dark woods. Awesome atmosphere. Handcrafted cocktails and try their own beer that is only sold there. The food was amazing, as well. There is also a downstairs area that is more intimate with a more limited food menu. Definitely a place to go to.

Born and raised here in San Antonio still my favorite restaurant!!! Mmmm get a pimms cup!!!! Get everything!!! Can I live here!!?!?!?!? Girl approved for a date! The food is creative the menu is not boring the atmosphere is romantic and classy i loooooooooovvvvvveeeeeeee itt! I always come here but i never left a review lol 😆 try to keep the good stuff to myself!

+2

Lots of history with The Esquire, but also a nice spot for a cocktail and food. Go with the happy hour drink menu. Like bourbon? Esquire won't disappoint. Sat inside, but a nice table outdoors would be much enjoyed. The onion dip was excellent. 100 footlong bar is uber cool to saddle up to for a cocktail. The history of the bar is worth exploring. Cheers!!

+1

Fantastic restaurant with the best atmosphere bar in San Antonio. I got the best bison burger I've had tasted in my life. Also tried their drinks and it was fantastic. You can tell they take a lot of care with their food and drinks to make them the best. The Food is good, check this place out.

Las hamburguesas son súper buenas

es clasico es un lugar obligado de visitar en san Antonio

Era la primera vez que ibamos a este lugar y la vdd quedamos muy contentos con el servicio que nos dio nuestra mesera ya que nos hiceron sentir como en casa porsupuesto que volveriamos a ir sin duda alguna ademas de que ya se volvio uno de mis lugares favoritos.

Muy amables!!! Las papas fritas son excelentes. Variedad de whiskys

Excelente atención, bebida y comida rica, todo hecho desde cero

Excelente lugar para disfrutar una bebida frente al río, la cerveza oscura es genial.

Excelente servicio Gracias! Muy buen ambiente por la tarde noche!

Muy impresionado con el bar, tiene una atmósfera muy interesante que nos remite a los bares de antaño, una gran variedad de cervezas y bebidas a precios razonables. Muy recomendable.

Como siempre. Excelente atención. La cerveza drat buen helada. Y los ricos fried pickles.

+3

Era el final de un buen dia y decidimos caminar a buscar un lugar donde tomar unos tragos y llegamos a The Esquire y wow fue un descubrimiento mágico. Que gran atmósfera tiene este lugar! La música increíble, nuestra mesera nos sugirió unos aperitivos extraordinarios y las bebidas fueron lo mejor de la noche. Sin duda alguna cuando regresemos a San Antonio volveremos a este lugar.

Rarely, do I provide 5 stars, however, Esquire has earned all 5 time and again. Consistently clean with exceptional service and great food! Dining on the fire escape and listening to the band inside - priceless.

I had such a great time at Esquire Tavern. The drinks were absolutely amazing, and the whole atmosphere was lovely, cozy, and inviting. Everything about the experience felt pleasant and easy. Perfect place to relax and enjoy a good cocktail. I’ll definitely be back.

Daniel is an outstanding bartender! From the moment we sat down, he made us feel welcome and taken care of. He’s friendly, professional, and really knows his craft — every drink he made was perfectly balanced and exactly what we wanted. You can tell he takes pride in what he does, and his positive attitude makes the whole experience even better. Whether it’s a busy night or a quiet afternoon, Daniel always keeps things running smoothly and with a great smile. Highly recommend grabbing a drink with him behind the bar!

I had a great experience, except for a bit of menu confusion. First, I want to start with the good. The atmosphere was very cool. The decor was interesting. This is the perfect spot for a unique experience. They even had old style matchbooks! The waitress was on top of things and very friendly. The tables were lit with little candles, which made a neat atmosphere, but a difficult time reading the menu. I was "That guy" who had to pull out his cell phone light to be able to read the menu, but I felt awkward like I was hurting the atmosphere and I read very quickly to turn it off. ...which led to a bit of menu confusion. I read the headlines and saw "Half Cornish Hen", "Prime Rib", "BBQ Shrimp"......but didn't read the details. I ordered the Half Cornish Hen, which in retrospect was officially listed as "Hot Fried Half Cornish Hen", expecting a Cornish game hen cut in half, then maybe some mashed potatoes. What I got was completely different. I got 4 pieces of fried chicken (with bones) piled on top of a piece of Texas Toast, slathered in hot sauce, with a couple pickles. By the time I was done, in the candlelight, my hand looked like it could have been in a horror movie, with all the red sauce dripping down my hand. I kept dropping pieces of the breading into my lap, which I couldn't see because of the lighting. I'm so glad I wore a red shirt, as a white shirt would have been ....toast. (They should have provided wet wipes, but I had to use a cloth napkin) I guess it tasted good, although my spice tolerance is Taco Bell Mild. My mouth was burning and nose running, so I can't say I enjoyed the meal. I survived it. The toast tasted like it was soaked in butter, but I couldn't see well enough to really know what I was eating. All this to say....I would go back for the atmosphere. I'd order anything but the Cornish Hen. And maybe my review will help them clarify the menu.

We really enjoyed our dinner and drinks at Esquire Tavern. The French Dip was the best I’ve had in a long time. We also had the loaded baked potato, which was broiled to perfection before adding cheese and scallions. The bartender, Rob modified a cocktail for me and it was perfect. Loved the long bar and the vibe. Highly recommend visiting if you are in San Antonio.

When no kitchens were open late at night, we called The Esquire Tavern and Mark answered the phone. Their kitchen was closing in just four minutes, but he still took our order for eight cheeseburgers and four fries without hesitation. We arrived within two minutes and made it just under the wire. The food was fantastic, and the service was even better. Truly outstanding customer service when we needed it most. Highly recommend The Esquire Tavern!

We enjoyed the Esquire Ta ern very much. We sat at the bar and talked with the bartenders who helped us decide on what to drink. Our drinks were delicious. My Manhattan was about the best AI have ever had. Great atmosphere.

We enjoyed stopping at this spot two weeks ago visiting from out of town, prompted by the historic aspect of it. We were able to sit on the balcony overlooking the Riverwalk and that was a unique and beautiful experience seeing the boats passing by and all the Christmas lights around! The burger and the drinks we ordered were tasty and the staff was friendly. We'd definitely return

Muy buen lugar para cenar

Muy ricas hamburguesas

Unas bebidas mmm deliciosas

La taberna más antigua de la ciudad

Muy bueno todo

Genial

😍😍

Excelente lugar

¡Excelente!

Lo mejor de lo mejor

As we entered the Tavern from the Riverwalk Steps we were immediately greeted by a group of very friendly faces, we took a seat at the bar where our Mixologist Daniel began our evening. First explaining the Specialities of the house, which led us to allowing his guidance to be the choices for our beverages and food. This was an excellent decision as Daniel was able to make libations for the Wife that satisfied her taste. The food we had the Bean Burger (definitely not a vegetarian burger at all) the name is surprising as it is a decadent Chopped brisket burger, with a house made bean paste on top! This Was absolutely fantastic, the Chile Salt Fries were ordered with the burger Perfection at is best. The atmosphere coupled with one of the greatest staffs we have encountered in a long time from the GM, wait staff, they all of them were friendly, fun and welcoming you felt more like a member of their family than a guest in a restaurant. There is an atmosphere here that allows for A group of friends to a family with small kids to feel very welcome, and enjoy a great time with some very amazing food.. Kudos to the owners and managers for creating such a wonderful experience, it makes for easy planning of our next trip to San Antonio!

The hostess was accommodating to our unplanned extra guests (note: weekday), and our server was very tolerant of a rowdy group. For drinks I recommend the margarita and French 75 with cognac. Beware the drinks with orgeat if you haven't tried before, strange flavor. For dinner I ordered a French dip and it was insanely delicious and one of my favorite bites of my trip. My guest ordered a BLT and the bacon was incredibly thick and delicious. Sides are purchased separately, not included with entree but good to share with the table.

Perfecto para tomar copas. Excelente ubicación, muy buen ambiente, precios asequibles

Magnífico lugar comida y bebidas deliciosas.ambiente familiar. El lugar también cuenta con balcón y una vista espectacular al River walk y la barra más larga de San Antonio.

Riquisimas hamburguesas y muy buena variedad de cervezas. Muy ricas! Muy amables los mozos y mozas. Lo recomiendo!

Sólo venimos unos gin tonic que estaban excelentes...y el precio nos pareció favorable

El mejor lugar en San Antonio para tomar unos buenos tragos, escuchar buena música y ser atendidos muy bien.

Excelente decoración, buenos precios. Un lugar tranquilo que vale la pena conocer

Excelente lugar.. personal agradable,comida muy rica, excelente relación precio calidad..

Cantina viejo a y en excelentes condiciones, muy ricos tragos.

Excelente lugar y muy buenos tragos!!

Buen lugar para pasarla bien y tener un buen trago

Un lugar tranquilo agradable bebidas riquisimas

Super....bien lugar!!!#1 in town.

Lindo ambiente . Buena cerveza .

Great Chiles rellenos.

I loved this place. I always like to go to places with history, they have been here since before the Riverwalk was built, before prohibition. I sat on the outside balcony and had a great view of the Riverwalk. It took them roughly 15 minutes before I got a waiter to ask what drink I want, I think they just forgot I was there… BUT the food was good and the scenery too. Downstairs is where the speakeasy was during the prohibition era, they disguised it as a barbershop back in the day. It is very nice too, very warm ‘vibes’. You should go to both if you are there.

Great ambiance and atmosphere. Historic bar/restaurant in downtown San Antonio. If you are visiting San Antonio it is certainly a place to check out. I don't really drink much but the drinks on the menu looked interesting. I just got a local beer which was nice. THe food seemed to be just OK from the opinions of the people I had dinner with. They got the chicken fried steak and were not impressed - chicken fried steak is hard to not do a good job. I am vegetarian and the only option they had was a salad. It is a meat eating restaurant so I did not expect much so I just got sides which was a nice alternative. All in all not a bad experience but I think the food could have been better. Certainly worth a visit if you are visiting San Antonio.

+5

It’s a bar that offers food. Limited menu. Everything is al a carte. Work mate got the Bison burger and it looked fantastic, but the Reuben was basic. Very salty and tough meat. This place is overall not for me, but it has a cool vibe and others liked it.

Cool bar/restaurant. Food and drinks were good and came out hot. Fried pickles were spear shaped, which is different from what I'm used to but still good. The signature burger was really good as well. I tried the Bexar hug and it was like a Mimosa.

+3

Really lovely drink and service from the bartender, and the food was good too. The house made condiments really elevated the salad and the fries! The only thing that doesn’t fit the vibe are the TVs, otherwise very moody and cozy!

We ate here on a weekday evening. The food was very good. Burger was great, fries were seasoned well, quail was delicious, and the drinks were tasty. However, the service was slow to start and not very helpful. Also, the restaurant was very dark. We had to turn our phone lights on to read the menus. I lightened the photos so you can see the inside. There are two entries to the place, one in the street side and one on the Riverwalk side (pictured). It's got a vibe, and the food is good, just not for us.

Menú limitado. Todo lo demás muy bien.

Gran experiencia de taberna. Probar y compartir es la clave. Excelentes sándwiches

I came here for a drink after getting a recommendation after tour to go here. The drink was great I did not order any food while I was there. The reason why the service only got three stars is because the waiter was pretty rude to my friend. We asked a question about the menu and though it was late at night the place was not super busy and he seemed annoyed that we were asking questions and asking for recommendations. I want to go back and try more next time I travel to the state to give it another chance since the recommendation was so high.

We so enjoyed sitting out on the balcony, but our server felt like she was put out to have to come out and service us continually Waited for napkins and for her to actually put in the order for french fries after we had already asked her. We felt as if she didn’t want to service the balcony. The vibe of the location is incredible.. Hopefully, the next time we come back, it will be a better experience.

Great location and nice service. Had a table for 3 in the Terrace, we enjoyed the great Nov Breeze with the delicious food. View is nice, cool weather, quick and fine service. Recommended for Lunch . The Lamb Burger was perfect , liked the fried pickles too. Will definitely come again in my next visit to the town

Unas ricas hamburguesas

El romantico

Le falta un poco más, van en buen camino. Buen servicio.

El es original y te la pasa muy nien

I dropped in on Sunday the 15th, I was very happy to get out and about with no kids and husband taking care of them. I enjoy when I can get out by myself. First off the atmosphere is lovely. But the bartender, was unattractive. She was at the bar, however she didn’t delegate her time very well with guest and when she did stop by if I didn’t have my drink order ready, she would walk off not even say anything, patience is very low. Couldn’t even get my question out. I was very low maintenance, so you better have your drink order ready. She was very dry, or out of it, couldn’t tell. Both drinks I ordered off the menu, wasn’t a big fan. But that’s ok. It was the fried pickles for me. As soon as you touch them the batter fall right off. Flavor was there tho. However, I do have any mild allergy to raw onions and anything in the onion family I would’ve never guessed to say no onions in my buttermilk ranch. Even tho the ranch taste good. It sounds have said there were raw onions in it. I didn’t see them until I asked for a second one, and at that time my stomach started to hurt. That’s when I asked. Manager showed deep concern and sympathy. Very nice lady. The meal was taken off, I just strongly suggest taking them out or writing it on the menu. My stomach was upset for 3 days. Thanks- in a respect.

I went to have a drink before a show at the Majestic Theater to check out the place. Nice long bar and sweet little balcony overlooking the River Walk. Looks like there was unique taxidermy everywhere with hats and costumes, but it was sooo dark you could barely see anything in there. The margarita wasn't shaken and tasted like lime and tequila, no triple sec.

+1

We almost didn't come in because it looked so dark that we thought they were closed. In order to see the menu, we had to use the flash from the phone. We ordered the Esquire burger and the Classic Cheeseburger with fries. They were topped with so many onions, all taste to the burgers was completely masked and hidden. The fries were chili-salt seasoned fries that were so salted, all you tasted was salt. This meal may be great for some, but it didn't suit us.

+1

First, the servers were awesome. Also, the place did an awesome job with the decorations for the pop up holiday bar. My issue is with the manager. We had a group of 6 reservation (which were an hour and a half). We ordered multiple drinks and apps. We weren't loud or obnoxious. We cashed out early, that way we could leave on time (still had drinks to finish however). The manager told the server to tell us that "we have to leave now" THIRTY MINUTE EARLIER THAN OUR RESERVATION ALLOWED. She wanted the table for other guests. Again, we had 30 minutes left. Frankly, extremely disappointed, and just disrespectful. As tourists, we were excited to check the place out. However, with that type of behavior, we certainly didn't feel welcomed. Overall, would check out other places more tourists friendly if you are in town. The management here doesn't care about your experience, just turning tables and getting you OUT.

I walked in from the river-side entrance because the place looked interesting and unique. I walked around for a while, but no one greeted me or explained how seating works. I ordered a drink at the bar and found a seat on the balcony. After only a couple of sips, a server came over and placed a “Reserved” sign on my table without any explanation. I had to ask before being told that I was only allowed to sit if a server seated me. Fine — I moved inside. Then, again after just a few sips, a different server told me I couldn’t sit there either because the table was for their guests. I was confused and said that there was no sign on the table indicating that. The response I got was dismissive, saying that the front door says you need to find the host. The problem is: I wasn’t greeted when I came in, I don’t know who the host is, and the staff aren’t clearly distinguishable. From a guest’s perspective, there was no clear guidance at any point. Either clearly post and communicate your seating rules, or have hosts proactively guide guests instead of making customers feel at fault for “sitting in the wrong place.” The concept is interesting, but the experience was frustrating and avoidable.

Not a fan of food. We were given someone else apps at first. Ice box lemon pie was just gross. Tasted like a block of cream cheese and was no were near lemon pie. Apparently it has freeze dried lemon. Still nothing of that was put in food description in menu. The atmosphere was nice but not fan of food there.

It’s dark, which made it really difficult to read the menu. The Keanu Freeze drink tasted like licking a bbq pit and the French 75 did not taste like a French 75. Additionally, there is a $10 per person reservation to hold your place. It looks closed from the outside as well. The Moscow mules were good, as was the French dip and chips. The Cornish hen were overcooked breaded chicken legs/wings. The BLT was good. Parts of the experience were really good and other parts really bad. Also waited quite a while for drinks and food. Our waitress was very sweet and working very hard. We won’t be back.

We headed into The Esquire around 6:00 PM this past Saturday. While the host greeted us and seated us immediately, the experience went downhill from the moment we hit the chair. We were tucked away at the furthest table near the street entrance, which wasn't an issue in itself. However, we were sat in what felt like a black hole. While every other table in the joint enjoyed a warm glow from a lamp, our table was draped in total darkness. When I pointed this out and asked the host for a different table, I was told the remaining tables were "saved for reservations." What baffled me was the lack of basic hospitality. Instead of grabbing us a lamp, the staff watched us struggle to read the menu using our phone flashlights for a full ten minutes. It wasn't until our server finally arrived for the drink order that a lamp was offered. The Food & Drink: Unfortunately, the meal didn’t make up for the poor start. Across the board, everything was aggressively "mid": Cocktails: Average at best; nothing stood out. Fried Pickles: Fine, but forgettable. Chicken: This was the biggest letdown—overcooked to the point of being burnt. Between the "pitch black" atmosphere and the mediocre kitchen performance, there isn't much of a reason to return. I’d suggest looking elsewhere.

We did not stay because there was no place to sit, not because the restaurant was busy. There were multiple empty tables with no one sitting at them and no customers waiting, yet we were told there would be a 20–30 minute wait for a table. This made no sense given the number of visibly open tables. We were also told that only 11 bar stools were usable because the rest were broken, which further limited seating. I also do not understand how a place with a 100-foot bar could have only 11 working bar stools. Considering what is charged for drinks, it is reasonable to expect that broken stools would be repaired or replaced promptly. It was frustrating to be turned away under these circumstances when there was clearly available space. Because of this, we chose to leave, and the restaurant likely lost $200 or more in sales from our group. This experience was disappointing and reflects poorly on the restaurant’s management and readiness to serve customers.