Serum's Good Time Emporium — Restaurant in Anoka

I used to go to serums a lot for the live music.

We began going to jam—and that is really where I started to come out of my shell and network with people. Jam night became karaoke night too. Music is my love. I was singing two nights a week there and dancing 3-4 to bands. We have grown children—and we are in our getting back to being a couple era… this was our way to spend time together.

One night 3 months ago, I walked in at 11pm and I was told “tread carefully” and it made no sense because I had had no issues before that. What had happened though… was that I started coming out of my shell, going to bands at other places, posting about those places online, and not spending as much time or money at serums. Because of this, I was obviously thrown off. I said WTH does that mean? And I was told—just tread carefully.

My husband and I decided that we didn’t want to stay—why be somewhere that we are obviously not welcome. So I paid for the one drink I had gotten, and on my way out the door, at the top of the stairs—I asked another bouncer what it meant. This bouncer informed me that the assistant GM Katie wanted to talk to me about my clothing. Again… made no sense. That night in particular…I had a shirt on, my whole chest was covered…. My clothing hadn’t changed in a year…if anything I had become a little more conservative in that time. I was like “that’s effed up.” Cause… as a chubbier girl, it was pretty clear that this was either an excuse or pretty privilege.

I walked down the stairs and when I got to the bottom, there was a garbage can by the door. I dropped my drink glass into it (it was a plastic cup) and tooled at Pete the head bouncer and said eff Katie.

Both bouncers apparently stated that I blew up and made a scene, yet I had someone with me, and he saw no such thing. I walked across the street to Billy’s and sat down in a booth and cried because these were my friends and I was genuinely confused.

But it didn’t stop there…. This crew then started making up wild accusations— stating that I was overly intoxicated all the time (never cut off ever)… and that I was sexually inappropriate (okay… umm… now I have things to say cause how you gunna say that about me when I have been assaulted by security?)… and that I physically groped men… which never ever happened. They spread these things throughout the community, and I said to my friends (who I thought were my friends) that I would sue Katie and serums if those things persisted.

Katie used this as a justification when I talked to her on the phone as to why a 90 day ban was dumb. She said “you threatened to sue us” but failed to take any sort of accountability for anything that she had spread or why I said that. As a person, I have the right to defend and protect my own reputation. Katie went on to state that no one wanted me to come back anyways—except one person. Except staff I would run into in the community didn’t even know I had been banned for 90.

So fast forward to the 90 day mark. My friend is playing at Serums and I wanted to go take pics of her band. My husband goes to see what the situation is— and he is told that I am now permanently banned … unless I take down my reviews… then they will reconsider.

So what I am saying here is—there are no policies in place. I have literally watched them I reserve people to the point of them throwing up all over the dining area… that person didn’t get kicked. My husband was grabbed on his crotch by a woman….she wasn’t banned when he told security. I was grabbed, groped, shown unsolicited pics, had people ask others to send them pics of me…. Been propositioned to go to a swingers party by the bouncer… all of that was okay. No accountability costs for staff. Their actions are not held up to any sort of standard. You, as a woman, are not safe in this...

Oofta. Where do I begin? Came out for a Saturday night meal with my 2 friends, we ordered some apps and some wings and pizza and a burger. Got our apps after about 20 minutes and that was fine. Wasn't until a little after and hour of sitting there waiting for our food that we got our pizza and burger. The waitress with the grey short hair talked to us probably 4 times within that span as she was walking by assisting other customers and it was only a quick hey how you doin and then walked on by. Not once did she apologize or even let us know that our food was coming out late. Finally the food runner said I'm sorry about the wings we forgot to put them on the ticket. Felt good to get an update. Wish it was from our server. The burger came without pickles which my friend was super excited about having pickles. Also we never got silverware and had to graphics some from where they are stashed. At this point we were almost an hour and a half into out night and none of us were even hungry anymore. The wings finally came out 15 minutes after we were told they were late. At this point my friend lost her appetite and didn't touch the burger I had 2 slices of my pizza and my other friend ate a couple wings and we asked for boxes to leave. We asked to speak to a manager at this point to let them know how our experience was. Manager came over and made us felt heard and in her words she said "ok I'm gonna go so something for you." We weren't looking for reasons to complain or get money off but we felt that that would be the right thing to do at this point and we felt good after the talk with the manager. Our server came to drop off the bill and my friends got $4 off their $47 tab and I got about $2 off my $20 tab. Server quickly said I'm sorry and walked away. We weren't looking for $20 off or anything but that felt like we weren't taken seriously in the slightest. Absolutely horrible customer experience. After all of this, I LOVE the food, but the customer experience is some of the worst I've experienced in a very long time. Beijg a retail manager myself I understand how important this is and that sometimes the customer isn't always right, but there was absolutely 0 effort from the server and the manager. We had to speak up about this where they should have spoken up and owned this experience. Unfortunately I will not be going to serums for a very long time. :( I really hope someone important see's this and helps coach their employees and management about...

For the last five years Serums has been our "go to" place for wings. We drive to Serum's from the SW Suburbs (40 min away) at least twice a month and spend $100.00 plus tip every time. However, the last three times we were there the service was terrible and the food was less than great. Two months ago we were with a group of friends and not only were we overcharged, but the waiter (Jordan) was rude and argued with us when we tried to explain it to him. About a month ago we were there with the same friends and again the service was terrible. We waited so long for drinks I had to go to the bar and order them. When the waitress finally appeared at the table we asked to have the tab split up and when the tab arrived it was split up, but nowhere near how we asked for it. Again, when we brought it to the attention of our waitress she was rude and didn't fix the tab. This last time we were in the waitress (Amanda) had the personality of a mop. Barely got a hello out of her. We ordered drinks and our food at the same time, since we always know what we want. The drinks arrived in a fairly timely manner. The food arrived and I knew right away the order was wrong. We had a sampler platter of 25. 10 Hot, 10 Colorado Coppers and 5 Garlic Garlic (our usual order). When it arrived we got 4 Colorado Coppers, 5 Garlic Garlic Garlic and 16 Hot. I told the waitress this was wrong and she totally ignored me and said the order was correct. After ordering the same thing for 5 years I know what the sauces look like. Not only was the order wrong, the wings were undercooked. In short, Serum's has gone way down hill. We always give a second and third chance but this was probably our last time at Serum's. We have since found a place much closer to home, where the service is wonderful, our order is never incorrect, nor is the tab and the wings are top notch. Just the way...