16-Bit Bar+Arcade — Restaurant in Cincinnati

DISCLAIMER: This review only pertains to the Cincinnati location. I have been to the Columbus location multiple times and had a great time. As a result, I was very excited to visit the Cincinnati location.

BOY WAS I WRONG

Here we go...

Absolutely horrendous people. Awful. Disrespectful. Dishonest. Offensive. Aggressive. I am running out of adjectives.

We were out celebrating a new engagement and graduation, and we were having a great time. My girlfriend was loud and was asking the bartenders about the glassware. Her friendly nature was confused with belligerence and she was "reprimanded" by the servers and management. She was berated for drinking too much despite the fact she did not even have a tab open. One of the employees told our group that "she obviously isn't drunk but we have to side with the bartenders."

Ok. Fine. That's a bit unfair, but we told them it was their bar and we would respect that.

That is not why they get a 1 star rating.

THIS is why they get a 1 star rating:

Once Management asked us to leave, we complied with their request. As we left to go outside and wait for the rest of the people we came with, the doorman began yelling obscenities at the women in our group.

From that point on, we were treated extremely, unbelievably, ridiculously, absurdly poorly. Despite our efforts to remain reasonable and diffuse the situation (close our tabs because we had absolutely no intention of staying there any longer that we HAD to), the people at the door told us "get off our f* corner" and "get the f*** out of here you f* b**."

"Never f** come back here"

"Get the f* out of here"

"Go f* yourselves."

I could go on and on with the complete abysmal treatment that we received. At one point we were even taunted in terms of engaging in a physical altercation. From a "professional" establishment this is unacceptable. I expect this sort of behavior from drunk frat guys, not employees who are paid to maintain order.

As we were trying to leave, I even had to get between the doorman and my girlfriend because he was aggressively approaching her as she was waiting for me to close my tab, all the while yelling insults and obscenities at her. The other woman working outside tried to gracious and thank us for being level-headed as she helped me close my tab but the fact that I had to physically get in the way of the doorman who was going down the sidewalk after a woman was downright pathetic to me.

Needless to say we were extremely disappointed and despite our best efforts to keep a collective level head, we were treated like garbage.

I spent four years as a server in a restaurant and bar. Because I know what it is like working in a place and environment like this, I am always extremely understanding with management and try to over compensate the people working in the trenches monetarily. It is an absolute pleasure for me to over tip people. I outright refused to tip the people here because of their utter disrespect and distain for us.

I have even been with a group of people where there some of them were deservedly thrown out for not being able to behave. This was absolutely NOT one of those instances.

I appreciate the tough situation that bar owners and employees can face, and should we have been in the wrong and were causing a scene...well of that we're the car I wouldn't be writing this. Believe me, I don't really like Facebook.

I would like to think that this sort of treatment was just bad luck because I certainly hope that not many others have the same experience that we had.

Before this weekend I would have agreed with every single five star rating about this chain because it really is an awesome place with a great atmosphere and a legendary theme. BUT, when the employees, especially those working the door (who are supposed to de-escalate things) call your girlfriend a "stupid a* b*" and get in her face, I draw the freaking line.

We will never be back. We will never recommend this bar. And, if I could give them a negative five star rating, I...

Ok. I was SUPER EXCITED when this place was announced. I even went to the Columbus location to see what was in store for us. I went opening weekend and right from the start they rubbed me the wrong way. Yes I understand you must buy a drink to play the free games. But I went at noon when they opened. I did buy a beer when I came it (they have a great selection and prices aren't too horrible) but as soon as I finished it a server girl came by and asked if I needed another - I politely declined. She came back maybe 3-4min later and asked again. Both times interrupting me while I was playing pinball - which actually costs $0.50/game unlike the video games. I declined the second time. Then maybe 2-3min later she came over and told me if I didn't buy a drink I'd have to leave. I was shocked. I understood the rules. I did buy a beer, I guess I drank it too quickly. I told her I'd leave after I finished the game I'd paid for that she had interrupted three times. She was unappologetic. I did return a few times after that to play pinball. On one occasion the change machine was broken so I went to the bar for change. They price everything in even dollars so they don't have any change. I asked why they didn't send someone to get change since the machine was broken and they just blew me off. Ok, guess I'll leave. Then something wonderful happened. Arcade Legacy opened a barcade in Northside. So I started to go there instead. Their pinabll was also $0.50 and I've never had someone pressure me to buy a drink. Plus their machines actually work and they are constantly rotating in new machines. I did recently return to 16-bit because I'd heard they got two new machines... on my way in I told my GF, I hope they work, I hope there isn't some switch not working that prevents me from getting multiball. Well that was the EXACT problem with Road Show. Attack from Mars did work pretty good and was fun... however I'd guess the temp over near the pinball machine was around 85F. I was pouring sweat. We only stayed maybe 20min but when I left I looked like I'd been jogging for an hour. This place is a victim of their own success. Why care about the games or customers when you are packed all the time and raking in cash hand over fist? This place reminds me of the bars on the TV show bar rescue. Where they talk about how great business was when they first opened... then after neglecting the business for years the customers finally get fed up and find better bars. Arcade Legacy is that better barcade. 16-bit is a nice place to go and hang out with other bros and drink cocktails with bomb pops in them. But it's not much...

When I first heard of this place, I was so excited to go here. What's better than booze and games. But, unfortunately I left more disappointed than satisfied. When first arriving it was very open which was nice. You weren't feeling crowded or bumping against each other. I went ahead and order a Tequila Sunrise, and wow it was good but so extremely strong I was tipsy by the second drink. Ain't to much of fan of getting buzz quickly. Secondly, they did have a good handful of games however besides the big known ones (centipede, Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, Space Invaders, etc), their were ones that I have never heard of but they weren't even intriguing to play. A lot of them were the same and that was a bit disappointing. Plus with the games I did find that I use to love to play a lot of the joystick were very loose like with Rampage and with Galactica the fire button wouldn't work half the time. The pinball machine are high in price, $1 to play. That to much for me wanting to play a few rounds. The most disappointing factor of this place is the atmosphere/ambiance. It was way too modern and didn't fit the mood of a bar arcade. I was hoping to find more of a retro feel since you retro games. Some neon and idc add nerdy stuff from back then. Something to make it feel like you went back in time. I won't be returning due to the main fact of...