Chester Brunnenmeyer's Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Blue Ridge

I would give 0 stars if it were an option!! I sat at the bar with a friend. The bartender took our drink order and got his drink order wrong. She fixed it without hesitation as she should have. We ordered our food and He also placed a Togo order. We both ordered the prime rib sandwich to eat there. The food took longer than it should have to arrive and not all of it did. They brought all of my friends food packaged to go. We explained the sandwiches were to eat there and the food runner went back to the kitchen and came back with one prime rib sandwich plated. She explained there was only one sandwich, she reconfirmed what I ordered and said she would go back and check on mine. She came back and explained that the bartender did not put my order in, she retook the order and assured me it would be expedited. My friend finished his meal and then started eating his to go order as we waited for my food. We decided to cancel my order and count it a lose… when we were able to get the bartender to us, we informed her we would be canceling my order and check out with his. She asked if it was all going to be on one bill or separate. I questioned why I would have a bill as I was canceling my order because of her screw up, and surely they weren’t going to charge me for the drink as I never received my meal (because she didn’t put my order in!!!). She told me she would comp my sandwich but not my drink. I asked to speak with a manager. A young guy came out and also assured me that my meal (that never showed up) would be comped but informed me that I would have to pay for the drink I ordered. After screwing up drink orders, to go orders, not putting in orders, and making me waste an hour of my life waiting on a steak sandwich I never got, I was forced to pay for a $5 draft beer I ordered to enjoy with my meal. I have been here before and received great service but 2 of the last 3 visits the service has been horrible! I really enjoyed the steak sandwich in the past when I had gone but will never go back! Your playing Russian roulette with the wait staff!! If you get a good one the place is good, but if you get a bad one be prepared for a horrible...

Yes, i am a local and I've frequented this restaurant for many years, and when it comes to a cold beer the atmosphere is great(BUT WAIT). With that said, as of late the service has been absolutely terrible. For the past six months, in four visits, my wife and I have left extremely disappointed. When you walk in, maybe someone will ask you what you want but then again maybe not. Busy or not it doesn't matter. If you get a drink within 20 minutes of sitting down at the bar you're doing great, but don't expect to be asked for a refill until after you meal has been eaten which is typically 45+min. It's the only bar that I've ever been to that genuinely ignores you up until the point you're about to leave. The food was cold every, single, time. I ordered buffalo chicken flatbread this past visit and only half of the room temperature pizza had chicken. I ordered a side salad with it and so did the gentleman next to me. Well, after digging in I am wondering why my wife's salad comes out so much smaller and as it turns out you can only get a half salad with an App which is fine, but why wasn't I told this when there is a four dollar price difference. I paid 18 dollars for way too much salad and pie crust with hot sauce on it. Fries were cold the previous visit. Wings were cold before that.Your food is just chilling back there because no one is taking care of you. Once/if/when contact is made and they take a drink/food order you can forget follow up service. The last time we tried sitting at a table we had to hunt down the waiter. Gone. Non-friendly staff. Save your money and your time. Go somewhere where customer service is still a focal point. They are pumping tourists in and out like personified hot cakes. Don't let the atmosphere fool you your dollar can go...

Doors open at 4pm, we walked in about 4:15. Immediately stopped upon entry by a minor/teenager named Em who asked for my phone number. There were only 5 others seated in a sea of empty tables with no waiting so I do not see any reason beyond marketing & data collection - so I cheerfully declined this clear intrusion requesting my personal information, as I always do.

I was a bit stunned when Em told us she would not seat us without providing my number - it's policy!

So I told her "I don't have a phone" and Em replied that I can only sit at the bar, then - in a very snarky manner and just stared at us with a condescending grin.

8-10 seconds go by.

So......."I should just seat myself then?". Em, equally snarky again: As long as it's only at the bar and not at a table! So we walked around her, to the bar. My wife encouraged me not to immediately walk out due to this extremely rude and unprofessional behavior (MY policy!)....she was hungrier than I was so I ordered, sat, and stewed at this insulting behavior.

Hey, the food is great and the wait staff (bartender in this case) has always been good on prior visits when I also declined personal contact info for marketing and data collection.

Chester's got $63.15 including the 20% gratuity to...the bartender. Steak tips + 1 beer & Tomato soup/Grilled Cheese combo w/water.

It's the last time I will go but I will absolutely make certain to tell everyone, everywhere, every time for the rest of my life. I don't imagine management will notice given they are the ones who set policy based upon business decisions that are measured with little regard of how a guest might feel...they clearly don't need...