The Collins Bar — Restaurant in Birmingham

The place was pretty interesting looking, but the service was horrible on the night that I went... A friend and myself walked here after a nearby show and had to wait about 25 mins to get a bottled beer, despite it being nearly midnight, us sitting at the bar feet away from the bartender and them not really being that busy... Admittedly, not knowing about the change, my buddy and myself showed up in casual wear (tshirt and jeans) and the majority of the crowd was the button-down, sweater and a jacket sort of attire - perhaps this is why the bartenders walked passed us and served the people who came in after us, but who knows - pure speculation...

The new decor is pretty neat - a drastic change from The Metro... The crowd is also very different from what was at the Metro - not saying it's bad, but don't come in thinking that you're getting the same 'hard rock experience' that you got at the Metro... This place is a bit more... modern - large paper planes now hang from the ceiling and a large element chart modified to contain BHam-centric things is behind the bar...

I am not saying the place is bad and I am not saying that I won't give it another shot, but that my experience was more on par with a 2 or 3 out of 5 as I feel customer service is important (yes, even in a bar) and this was something that they were definitely lacking on this evening... Furthermore, this place is more about the specialty drinks and I came in for a beer - so I can't comment on their drinks... just the lack of friendly service... so take this review for what it is worth - more of an observation of the changes in decor, crowd and the priority of service - not on their specialty drinks, which did look interesting...

Note: Since I was notified by a friend that I had reviewed The Collins Bar as 5/5 and I couldn't recall having posted the review, I thought I'd come and see what was up... In looking, it would appear that Google is carrying over my Metro Bistro review to the Collins Bar...

As it would turn out, I recently did visit The Collins Bar for the first time - but I definitely didn't think it was a 5 out of 5, so I am adjusting my review to a 3 out of 5...

Review of Metro Bistro [OLD REVIEW] - Was 5/5 before they stopped serving food... From the outside the Metro looks like "a little hole in the wall" joint (not a bad thing - I like holes), but the sandwiches are top notch. I personally sampled the chicken salad and "The Caddle" - A+ on both accounts. The chicken salad is 'in house' and made fresh daily according to the cook/bartender - something that the taste supported. I can definitely recommend that you give it a try if you are a chicken salad fan; you won't be disappointed. The Caddle sandwich was equally scrumptious - made up of ham, smoked turkey, corned beef, roast beef, bacon, white American cheese, cheddar, mayonaise & mustard served on a toasted french loaf. This sandwich is not for the faint of heart (or cholesterol sensitive) unless you are looking for a bomb last meal, in which case "go for it!" This is a meat, meat and meat sandwich that isn't lacking in taste just because it is lacking veggies. With your sandwich you also get a generous side (potato salad, pasta salad, or tater-tots) for which I chose potato salad - a decision I stand by as this potato salad was the chronic (Excellent in case you don't understand)! Summary: A++ Great sandwiches and excellent sides. Sandwiches are a flat rate of $7 and beer prices were 3/domestic and 3.75/import (with happy hour 5-7 @ 2.50/domestic). The staff is friendly and fast and the vibe of the Metro is nice and chill. The patrons were a mix of professionals from the downtown area and locals; all of which were also friendly and open to conversation.

Warning to the Metro: I...

My date took me here for cocktails, and let me just say this place exceeded every expectation. He told me it was a “made-to-order” cocktail spot where the bartender creates your drink based on what you like and don’t like. I had never experienced anything like that before, and now I’m obsessed!

The moment we walked in, the ambiance hit dim lighting, intimate vibe, and décor that felt modern but cozy at the same time. The lighting fixtures, the bar setup, everything was perfectly on brand for the kind of elevated experience they offer.

The bartender explained there’s no cocktail menu instead, you tell them your preferences and they customize your drink. I told her I wanted something that gave paradise feels but still had a wake-me-up energy tequila-based, no orange flavor. When I say she delivered, I mean it. The color, the flavor, the freshness it was literally a tropical dream in a glass that instantly lifted my mood.

My date ordered a gin drink and loved his too smooth, balanced, and perfectly made. You can tell the bartenders here take real pride in their craft.

The only small disappointment was that the kitchen had already closed, and I was craving their slaw dog. So yes, I’ll definitely be back to try the food next time because I already know it’s going to match the quality of their drinks.

Overall, this spot is a must-visit if you love cocktails with creativity, conversation, and character. Collins Bar I’ll definitely see you...

Visited Saturday evening, summer 2019

Drinks: 3 stars. The drinks are fine, but they do the hipster thing where they say, "just tell us what you like, and we'll make something around that". Really what they mean is we'll give you a variation of something like an Old Fashioned or maybe a Gin Fizz with some additional flavor. The drinks are ok, but they're not as good as they should be for an apparently upscale cocktail bar.

Service: 2 stars. Our service was very bad. The waiter was nowhere to be found and we had to ask other staff to get refills on our tiny water glasses. Of course that may not be the server's fault, but something needs fixing. Maybe this is a rare occurrence, but that's what we got.

Atmosphere was top notch. They have all the stereotype hipster decor and dark lighting. It's a cool place with a cool vibe.

If you go just remember to have medium drink expectations and low staff expectations. From the outside it looks like a 5 star place, but as I walked out I felt it was closer to 2 or 3 star experience. I'll update this review if I go again....