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| - Came in here today around happy hour for a beer, wasn't sure if I'd get anything else , so paid cash for the Hop Knot IPA. I should have gotten the tall blond girl who took my fiver to give me a receipt for it, because for the first time in my memory, a bartender "forgot" they were paid cash for a beer. And it wasn't like I went to settle up hours later. It was like a half hour later, after I'd ordered the pita and hummus plate that I went to settle up the check with the gal who'd taken over from blondie, and the Hop Knot is on the ticket.
"Oh, no, I paid for the beer already."
"Really? Hmmm, she said to charge you for it."
"Yeah, I gave her a fiver. that's all paid up."
Really? Really??? Even though she quickly changed the ticket...there was that little questioning of me (and as a valued FIRST TIME customer?). Unbelievable. I told the manager "Either your barmaid has the WORST MEMORY EVER, or she's deliberately scamming, and I'd keep an eye on her." Luckily Hector the manager was very receptive and kind in his response, (offering to buy me a beer next time I came in), or I'd really have to cut loose on this place. In nearly 20 years of bar-hopping I've never heard of pocketing cash and telling the relief bartender to write it down. Not unless that person is an outright scam artist on the outs with the place. Get a receipt for cash payments!
Anyway, pita and hummus plate wasn't bad. Not wild about the regular hummus (very bland), but the jalapeno and cilantro hummus....now you're onto something. Along with the marinaded tomato and cuke salad. Yummy. Worth $8 overall, methinks.
Even though they're trying to do the upscale neighborhood sports bar/restaurant thing, they are way overpriced, even for Arcadia (I agree with Erica's review), and the ambiance is lacking that certain inviting...je ne c'est quoi.
In short, I was hoping to like this place a lot more than I did, though bartender Jamie is sweet , and management accommodating. Maybe I'll give 'er another shot someday. I'm giving it 3 for Jamie's smile, great hummus platter, and Hop Knot in the goblet.
I'm going to start coming into places with a "Beware - I'm a big Yelper" T-shirt. Maybe that will get people to offer even passable service, or respect? Who knows.
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