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| - Did you know that February 22nd is National Margarita day? I sure didn't! But Smoke sent an e-mail advertising $5 Margaritas and a special Brisket Queso for $5.95. You can't beat that deal! So, after work, we went over to Smoke.
To our surprise, not only were Margaritas $5, but Martinis were as well. SCORE!
We decided to sit at the bar. This was not due to a wait for a table, but instead because we liked the look of the bar itself. The stools had full backs and I always enjoy the near immediate service from a bartender rather than waiting for a server to make their way to our table. I wish we had taken a table...
We sat at the bar for nearly 10 minutes before the bartender came to take our drink order. We both ordered Gin Martinis which, while tasty, did not fill the glass (those must be the $5 versions). It was another 10 minutes before she came to take our food order. At this point, she apologized profusely for our wait. I had noticed that she was also taking care of the 2 tables behind us and mentioned how impressive that was. She then admitted that she was the only bartender and that it was normal for her to have those tables but, with 2 drink specials, she was busier than normal.
That was an understatement! She was swamped! The more we watched her, the more it was apparent that management should have scheduled a second person to tend bar. I could understand a beer special with Margaritas, but the bartender was making complicated cocktails back to back to back. That is a clear case of Corporate greed. Instead of trading one special for another, you have 2 specials which brings in more patrons, but you are too cheap to pay another person to be behind the bar. I just hope the bartender received good tips that night. She is the reason I gave the 2nd star.
As for the food: it was really good! 4 stars easily. But, I cannot give 4 stars to a restaurant that would rather save money and overwork their people than make certain they are properly staffed.
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