I recently moved to Pittsburgh from NY and have been missing the food culture there and I was very excited to read that the chef formerly worked in NY.
The gastropub menu at Alchemy N'Ale was enticing, especially the grass-fed beef burgers, something that can be hard to find at a local bar in Pittsburgh, so last week, we set out for a late dinner at what we were hoping would be our new neighborhood spot.
When we arrived at Alchemy N'Ale, there were 2 people behind the bar and maybe 7 people sitting around the bar. It was not busy. We sat with anticipation, ready to spend money, ready to see the menu, order some beer and some food, but our menus never came. In fact, neither did a greeting or simple acknowledgment from anyone working there. We sat there for nearly 15 minutes (what feels like an eternity on a slow night) before deciding to leave sadly, in utter disappointment.
I am stoked about being in Pittsburgh. As it turns out, I also love to drink and eat delicious food and have worked in the food and wine industry for a long time. Pittsburgh is such a great place to start a business and with a little love and effort, it could easily rival restaurants in NY. This is why I am so disappointed to see a place that HAS so much potential, fall flat on such an EASY and crucial element: Hospitality.
You'd think a new establishment in a new market would be enthusiastic to greet some of their first potential regulars. On the contrary, we felt like unwelcome guests entering a stranger's home. At times, we observed 3 people behind the bar (plus 2 floor servers), the lead bartender being obvious to us and often within arm's reach. To add salt to the wound, it seemed as though manager/owner was present at the bar just a few stools beside us. Not once did any of the 5 staff members make eye contact with us. A very simple 'Hello, I'll be with you in a few minutes' would have made all the difference.
We continued to wait considering the newness of the place. Maybe they were working out some kinks, I thought. And as we sat there waiting, we watched as the bartender downed a shot with a group of men at the other end of the bar. Outrageous. I'm not against a laid back, drink-on-the-clock bar style, but a good bartender knows how to multitask and should at least greet people who are sitting there before he puts one back. Instead, he avoided all eye contact and neglected those eager to engage. He apparently had no interest in putting more money in his pocket. We left without even a beverage to quench our thirst on a hot summer night.
I don't like to write negative reviews on yelp and maybe there were circumstances that I was unaware of, who knows. Before I decided to share my experience publicly, I sent Alchemy N'Ale a personal review similar to this one, and heard no response. I sincerely just hope they will read this and try to improve.
It's a shame that I wasn't even given the opportunity to review the real nitty gritty: the food and beverages. Maybe I can convince myself that it is worth going back and trying again. I really wanted to love them.