The Blue Abode Bar — Restaurant in Bellingham

Here is my experience with the blue abode.

Customer is at THE BLUE ABODE BAR. 17 hrs · Bellingham · I like this spot but come on guys. I know they are busy but i put my card down on purpose 35 minutes ago with a full beer so I could get it out of the way. Don't wait till I'm done with it to make me wait longer.

THE BLUE ABODE BAR Hi customer. It was our busiest Thursday night ever and we aplogize for the wait. If you notice the bartender is clearly slammed -- I recommend you simply get his attention and ask for what you need (or cash out right when your beer is brought over). Rather than assuming he noticed the small card quietly placed down in a busy bar. Just holla at Kurt next time ;-) Cheers!

Customer: What a disappointing response to a post on MY personal page. I have been frequenting your bar now for about three months at about three times per week. I always order the same thing and the same three pints. Here is what I recommend to you. A customer shouldn't have to baby the staff. The staff, or in this case and more importantly the owner (Kurt) should be attentive enough to see a bright blue card put down on the edge of the bar when a beer is 3/4 full. It is not the customers job to make sure the staff is paying attention. I purposely put the card down at almost a full beer because I realized the bar was busy and I know that every single time I have been a customer there you guys wait till you see an empty glass before ringing up a bill. Knowing this I figured 35 minutes was enough time for the bartender to realize this person wanted to pay and go. I have tried it at 10 minutes, I have tried it at 15 minutes, 20, 30 and now 35. Rarely will you see a customer put their card down with almost a full beer or plate. A customer shouldn't have to cash out right when a beer is brought over. It is to be assumed in any establishment that a bright blue card at the edge of a bar is noticed and it is to be assumed that common sense would say hey let me ring this up before he finishes a his almost full beer. the card was not quietly placed down and as the first customer in the bar at around 4 pm it should be common sense to simply look at the customer and see a bright blue card against a dark wood bar. Yes I realize it was busy but a card sitting there for 35 minutes is ridiculous. Now, with all that being written, I wont be back. Word of advice. If you are going to respond to posts that you were not invited to respond to, be sympathetic and apologetic to your customers especially when they weren't even looking for a response. Never in my years of being a daily regular in the Barkley neighborhood where I have lived for 20 plus years has a business actively sought me out to give me advice on how to pay my tab. I will not be back.

Customer : THE BLUE ABODE BAR also rather than assuming it's somehow the customer's fault for poor service, pay attention to things that would be normally assumed as common sense at the bare minimum normal customer service. Lean from this as this only happens consistently at this bar.

THE BLUE ABODE BAR Customer your post is a check-in and we can see that. I have many customers put cards down and order more. I will typically ask if you want any more even when a card is shown just to double check. And with a busy night a little communication from everyone always helps. Sure I could have said something like hey I see your card do you want another beer or are you ready to go - sorry. Hope that makes sense and my wife did apologize in her response (see above). Obviously we want everyone to be happy at our bar and typically you are so hopefully we'll see you again. -Kurt

CHECK OUT MY...

On a Friday night around 630 I decided to stop in with my boyfriend to grab a beer at the Blue Abode. Here's how it went:

Walking up one notices that this is a small venue. There was seating outside and seating inside; most of the seating was taken inside except for a strange table in the middle of the restaurant, (that awkward middle table -we all know it). My boyfriend and I opted to sit outside. Immediately greeted by the young gentleman working the front of the house. Okay.

The server checked ids and and asked our drink choice. Literally sat there for 15 minutes for a beer that was on tap. The gentleman never came back to check in on us. Not to be a Karen, but our propane heater went out and it's getting chilly. This server came out with our drinks and left immediately before we could mention the propane being out. (I get that restaurants can get busy but at 50% capacity I expect people to be a little bit more on top of things).

I was fully prepared to order food and buy a couple cocktails but the service was a so exceptionally poor I had to leave. So I walked in to pay my tab and he was standing in the kitchen eating while I stood in the lobby for another 6 or 7 minutes. I mean come on, really? Snack breaks are one thing but leaving guests unattended... lame... I'm sure I wasn't the only person tonight. Sheesh.

I'll never go back. This place isn't worth your time. Overflow has decent service and Haggen's is there to grab some gin and champagne to make your own drinks....

This is for the new owners , I'm sad to see this place diminishing after Kurt left. They don't even recognize the regulars anymore. I noticed one of the regulars asking for a beer, and they just opened the can in front of him like it was a dive bar; Kurt used to serve the beer for him in a glass. Sad they don't recognize the regulars anymore. My boyfriend ordered a pink basil sour (as Kurt called it) which is now the gin basil sour. The quality went down; drinks don't taste the same. I was surprised when he ordered a Manhattan and the bartender shook it; that's not the way a Manhattan is made. My boyfriend asked why and she said it was something about the ice quality...really? For the new owners you need to find someone who knows about drinks and how to make them. Sad to see this nice place slowly becoming a dive bar. They asked for our ID even though we were regulars when...