Clarendon Ballroom — Restaurant in Arlington

Without question, the quality of Clarendon Ballroom has progressively gone downhill over the past 5 years since I've been going here. So...despite the growing # of negative reviews, a group of us (the majority) decided to go back this past weekend. To get in, we had to go thru a security checkpoint. Basically, a couple of guys frisking each of us, then searching thru purses, jackets, pockets, etc...and THOROUGHLY...literally TSA-style. a couple of years ago, it was a couple of guys checking id. This alone should have been a big red flag. After a quick bite to eat on the roof (great nachos and chicken bites, btw), we headed downstairs, ordered some drinks and cups of water at the bar and just pretty much kept to ourselves out of the way. Or so we thought.

A little over an hour in, we were dancing close to the bar area away from the bartender working areas and moreso from the larger crowd. Suddenly, we've got a bright light overhead as a very tall (~6'3), thin security guard tells folks to move out of the way as he ushers one of the female bartenders thru the crowd to the front area. (He was actually holding her upper arm firmly, so not sure if she was sick or drunk.) Some of us dancing away from the bar, scooted closer to our group/bar to make a path for them, only to be pushed even closer to the bar. This happened three different times (transport of bottles of alcohol to VIP booths, we guessed). Note, we're all huddled close to the bar, but 15'+ or so from where the bartenders are taking orders. Bartenders aren't telling us we're in their way or anything.

On the third pass, to make even more room, the guy resorts to aggressively shoving a couple of the ladies in our group…one almost to the floor…for no good reason other than he's "security". One or more people shove back and now he's on his mic, asking for help from his team. (After all, you know how rough these petite ladies can be.) When a female security person arrives, we and other folks nearby stepped in to explain the situation, that we were attempting to stay out of the way, we weren't drunk, and yet this particular security guy's aggression and attitude was creating problems where there hadn't been any. Really no excuse. She seemed to understand and agree, because from that point on our troubles stopped.

Best we could tell, these 2-3 trips were mostly for delivering bottles of alcohol from the bar area to the VIP section about 35-40' away. (Keep in mind, the bar runs almost the entire length... ~50'...of a side wall.) If accurate, it's inexcusable that the management/owner hasn't studied the logistics of moving whatever from source to destination without having to resort to pushing and shoving your paying customers in the process. I was a bar back in my youth. There are better ways. In this case, management was essentially setting his teams up for failure and the security guy's shoving and attitude almost got his clock rung in the process. Unless there's real and significant change here, this place is doomed to close. That or hopefully change ownership for the better.

A word to the wise. Having a large security checkpoint area in front of a bar like this, there are reasons why folks are being frisked so thoroughly (ie, fights, shootings, stabbings, etc). Is it really worth...

TLDR ~ A non-violent, sober, well dressed, paying customer was denied readmission to the Ballroom after smoking outside and was never given a reason as to why his reentry was denied.

I went out to the Clarendon Ballroom with a group of friends. As I was coming straight from work I was easily well dressed enough for the Ballroom’s rather lax dress code. We entered, paid the cover, got our reentry stamps and went to the bar. After about two beers I excused myself and went to the restroom downstairs and then stepped outside for a smoke. It was still relatively early, about 10:30 as the DJ had only been playing for about a half hour. I stood outside in the rain, had my smoke and then went to go back inside.

This is where the fun began. When I tried to get back inside the bouncer informed me that there was no reentry that evening. This seemed strange to me as the Ballroom has always let people out to smoke and come back in, but as I was the only one outside at that time it made sense. At this point, of course my phone had died so I took a cab back to my car, which was parked in Shirlington. I plugged it in and waited for it to charge. As it charged I drove back to Ballston as at this point my friends inside had no idea where I was. As I drove past the Ballroom I saw them outside smoking and thought “Aha! They will not be able to reenter either and we can then go somewhere else.”

After I parked I walked up to the Ballroom and my friends were not out front, and had sent numerous texts asking where I was. At this point in the evening there was a good crowd of smokers outside and they were filtering in back and forth. I walked up to the bouncer to show him my ID again as there was only two people in line waiting to pay the cover. He immediately became irate and said something to the effect of “I already kicked you out once this evening.” This revelation was news to me. I immediately asked to speak to a manager. The bouncer got on the radio and called him over.

The manager, named AJ, came over and stepped outside to talk to me. I asked his name shook his hand and he asked how he could help me. I explained the situation and asked why I was “kicked out” from the ballroom. At this point he had been talking to me for a few minutes and could see that I was calm and obviously not drunk. He stated that staff had kicked me out and that I could “try us again another evening.” I asked which staff had kicked me out and he responded with a terse “Staff.” He then simply walked away.

Needless to say at this point I was perplexed. I kept my cool and waited for my friends to come out to have another smoke. When they did I explained the situation and they asked the bouncer why I was not allowed back in and he stated that he did not know and that he was simply following orders. I am very confused as to exactly what happened last evening. Was there anything I could have done to make this situation better? I realize that once they make the decision to kick you out you are not getting back in, but there was no apology or explanation. The whole thing seemed...

Came for new years and left early. The music was outdated, the drinks weak and expensive, and the overall vibe wasn't fun. The VIP bar seemed to have old/not have enough ingredients, as the first bartender had to water down a whiskey sour since she said the sour mix was too thick. Honestly shouldn't have charged entry to the event, it wasn't good. The food was alright but the lack of tables kept many from enjoying it. They had 1 table that wasn't VIP/booth ($1500) so they put out serving trays instead after they realized it was wack. Also the bartenders were amazing but their outfits weren't a bar vibe. Perfect outfits for a strip club and they didn't match the theme of the night. Would have been better if all the bartenders wore those outfits but the men were dressed normally. Seems like a wanna be strip club with a fake fancier theme. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate sexy outfits but there is a very clear difference between sexy outfits and lingerie.

If the drinks were made with better ingredients, the bartenders would be provided better uniforms, and the music better we would have stayed for new years. It's a bad day when the dive bars nearby beat the experience of this paid event.

If the managers listen to reviews, I would suggest better ingredients/stepup for the bar areas to give an air of elegance that the building already helps with. You don't have to make strong drinks either but quality ingredients would keep people from complaining. Also the bartenders should have cute outfits that aren't just sex party outfits, it makes the facility seem cheap. They are lovely girls that deserve nice outfits so they are comfortable and still pull in the tips. We just felt bad for them honestly. Some seats and tables would also be great, even if there were only a few, would encourage people to stay longer. There is so much potential here for great events but you aren't hitting it. I hope to hear that you make these improvements as it would encourage foot traffic and make the ballroom the hit...