Bar Open — Restaurant in Melbourne

So some time ago, my lovely work friends and I head out for a few drinks on a Wednesday night. It was a little late you see, maybe around midnight, but after a hearty meal we were all feeling inclined to 'wet our whistles' so to speak. We decided on the notoriously Fitzroyish Bar Open, because it was open you see. So we occupied a booth and enjoyed each other's company with some standard chin-wag, washed down with crisp beverages.

Now it is important to note here that we were sitting in our booth chatting and laughing, nothing too crazy or unusual. We're a tame bunch. It was late, however, so the lanky, bearded, long-haired bar tender came to our table and announced - with an expression that conveyed both impatience and impotence: "Yeah guys we're closing now-" As it is fair to proclaim, you might say, followed by, "So time to get the f[ire tr]uck out."

"That's a bit rude," I respond

"Yeah well either way you can all get the f-[naughty word]-k out."

This beanstalky-Jesus looking grogan figured it was just fine to use vulgar language at a group of gentle, tax-paying patrons, and why? Because it was late and he was cranky at us for taking up his precious time? Because when you're cool enough to work at Bar Open you can swear at patrons with impunity? Because Judas received 30 pieces of silver and all he got was three nails, a lance in the ribs and a whole bunch of virginal followers?

"Ok mate, there's no need to be a [censored]hole about it," I replied. "I can get security to take you out if I have to," he says, as we're getting up to leave his 'domain'. "No, we'll leave. I won't be recommending this place anytime soon." "Yeah whatever."

So Joaquin Phoenix (after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights) hovered over my friends as we all exited the booth and Bar Open. Some of my friends still wanted to be able to go back to this mishmash bar of 'bohemian Fitzroy' style mixed with "Let's move a bar into this crackhouse and if we pretend it's cool, maybe people will believe us," because they do have good gigs every now and then. Therefore I couldn't write this review until sufficient time had passed, such that the guy with Andre the Giant's testicle hair on his face would forget all- or most of our faces. So, as per my promise to man-with-Hobbit-foot-for-head, here is me not recommending you visit Bar Open.

And that's the story of how I met...

Whilst this may have been a happening place for some, I was made to feel most unwelcome here by the staff and can't relate a positive experience. I had popped in for a beer after work with some friends and within seconds before I had even had a chance to decide whether I'd like to stay or not, I had some obnoxious bearded hipster yelling at me from behind the bar, referring to me as "dude" in a condescending tone, without any greetings or niceties, and carrying on about signing in to their establishment. If that is how guests are greeted in the first instance, then you certainly can't purport to be in the hospitality game. I should have known better, coming in all clean shaven, showing my eastern suburbs privilege of bothering to be gainfully employed by wearing my work uniform under my jacket instead of pants that are 8 sizes too thin with the crutch somewhere around my knees. I guess I also wasn't tattooed with the logo of the Australian Greens, a prerequisite for entry to most similar establishments along this strip. Lord please strike me down with lightning if I should ever even consider going back to this dark, dingy den of...

What a sh* hole! Rude obnoxious staff, filthy place, disgusting toilets, over priced crap beer, there is nothing to like about this place! I mean they really really couldn't be any further off the mark when it comes to hospitality; I think the qualities they looked for when hiring staff was to lack any form of personality, not wash for a week, and have an upside down smile! Engage your brains and realise that people will come back to somewhere to spend their hard earned money in a place they feel warm and welcomed by caring, attentive, friendly and cheerful staff, all your staff are doing is keeping people away, it feels like they're doing it on purpose??? Hence why it is like an abandoned squat in there. Wouldn't be surprised if bar open became. . . BAR CLOSED!!! Brunswick street does not need places like this to ruin it's image, it's like a big sh* stain in a new...