Sycamore is just not the same anymore. With so-so beer, the main draw that kept bringing me back to this place was the great staff. After not seeing any of my favorite bartenders for some time, I asked and was informed that nearly all of the staff that had been there for years was let go.
I cannot fathom why this would have been done. The service was friendly, fast, and professional. Sorry to say I can't say the same for most of the new bartenders. For an establishment that gets as crowded as Sycamore, i can't imagine why you'd get rid of staff fully familiar with the level of intensity and replace them with unseasoned newcomers. We're back to the days of it taking half an hour to get a beer on crowded afternoons.
Many of the bartenders seem to not even understand the basics of the food/drink industry. On my most recent visit, one bartender kept walking past many customers with empty glasses so that she could go to the end of the bar and chat with friends. She'd occasionally look over at the customers and pour a drink or two, then go back to chatting while many others were still left without drinks. If a customer's drink is empty and you just stare at them without asking if they need another, you're violating customer service 101 - don't make it hard for people to give you their money. None of the bartenders move with the sense of urgency that the old ones did. Incredibly disappointing. Now it's just a place with mediocre beer, bad service, and a pretty patio.