Palais Royale — Restaurant in City of Albany

12/10 dive bar experience (solid pours on the drinks, disgustingly good mozz sticks, and a pool table with a good crowd) EXCEPT for Juan Picasso...

This absolutely sorry excuse of a human being, after being asked to jimmy open the locked women's bathroom by myself and another woman when a younger woman had been in there for over half an hour with no response, became clearly embarrassed to find her sitting on the toilet with her pants down. He then decided to try and hide his blatant embarrassment behind unwarranted anger and project those feelings onto me, saying sarcastically "Thanks for making me open the door..." before walking away?!

Listen, you douche canoe, I'm sure by now you realized that the woman in there actually needed a little assistance - I only wish someone had made YOU clean up the vomit on the floor. Pick on someone your own size next time, eh? Your attempt to hide your personal insecurities and your inability to handle your "big feelings" behind a facade of machismo is laughable at best and incredibly sad at worst. If you own a bar, you take care of your people - I wouldn't be surprised if someone ends up dying on your watch.

The bartender, Jeff, was cool, though....

That clueless bartender clearly has no idea what he's talking about--or how to do basic math. He took one look at my vertical ID, saw "Under 21," and immediately handed it back without actually reading it. I repeatedly asked if he had even bothered to check my birthdate because, surprise, I'm well over 21. Instead, he just kept parroting, "It's vertical," like that somehow overrides reality. Then he had the audacity to suggest I should've updated my ID early--like he was going to cover the fee himself. Right. Anyway, I'm at a new bar now. Hope the old one gets a lovely surprise, maybe some decorative eggs. (Aka...

the year is 20XX. bars in NY are slowly closing earlier and earlier. The Empire State used to be a land of bars open until 4am. Some even told legends of bars that managed to stay open until 5 or 6 despite the alcohol control board demanding that no such establishment could have that kind of power.

one bar on Jefferson street however still manages to shine like a star amidst a black and empty void. it’s light beaming through the darkness. in a time where clubs serve $20 cocktails but close at 2, and where sports bars are more concerned with A T M O S P H E R E, there stands Palais Royale....