Rodeo Bar — Restaurant in Dallas

While staying at the Adolphus Hotel a week before Christmas my wife and I wanted to get a drink or two after traveling all day. Per the front desk there were 3 options and we went for the least "stuffy" of the 3, The Rodeo Bar. Looked pretty cool and laid back. Not too busy, but certainly not dead either...maybe 2/3 full? Took some seats at the bar and waited to order some drinks. 2 bartenders and one barback ignored us for 20 min as we watched them make drinks and continue to serve others who had all been there a while (albeit slowly). Slow as they were, we watched as they managed to serve others, in one instance, for a second time without even acknowledging our existence. No one would even make eye contact...for 20 min! It was almost as if they were trying to avoid it! As a bartender myself for years, I found it truly bizarre. It became a bit of a game after 10 min with our curiosity being greater than our desire for a drink, we (mostly me) wanted to know how long it would actually take to even be acknowledged as existing. We lasted another 10 min of patiently watching them for an opportunity to make eye contact...nothing. They just continued puttering about, managing a blistering 3 drinks and 3 beers in 20 min between them as we languished in plain sight, elbows on bar looking thirsty. At that point, much to my wife's relief, my desire for a drink prevailed, and we just left the same way we came in...thirsty and never once being acknowledged by any one of what looked to be 5-7 bar and wait staff. My guess is, that it is a management issue. Just no "culture of service" or pride in the endeavor of running a bar what so ever. Could also just be abject cluelessness as to what a bar is...

Rodeo Goat, Rodeo Dallas, Rodeo Bar—it's easy to mix them up. But Rodeo Bar, nestled in the corner of The Adolphus Hotel, stands out as a classy yet unassuming spot. It's the perfect place for a beer and a burger, and a picture to prove you visited a Texas bar. Just don’t expect to see horses outside or people in cowboy boots and hats—you’d have better luck with that in Fort Worth, where people really embrace the Western vibe (and do a better job entertaining tourists looking for that).

This bar is ideal for grabbing a draft Community beer, snacking on something, and moving on after checking out the AT&T Discovery Center and its can't-miss giant building-sized screen.

The flip side review: It’s still a hotel bar, so expect hotel bar prices. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find many cans for just five bucks. Sometimes there are homeless people outside, which can be a bit off-putting. I wish they had security like The Mitchell and other nearby bars to avoid being harassed on the way in through the wobbly revolving door.

Summary: Rodeo Bar is a solid choice for a laid-back experience in a sophisticated setting, especially after a day of exploring downtown Dallas. Just be prepared for the usual hotel bar quirks and the occasional street hassle. Make sure to ask for Kier - a...

Worst restaurant experience I have had in a very long time, especially at a nice hotel like the Adolphus. They add a pesky "CSC" charge to your bill, this is a 2.5% fee to "give culinary staff equitable wages". I have no problem tipping 20% or more, and no problem with added gratuities (especially on larger parties). But to me-- adding this charge without formerly calling it "Gratuity" and making the amount so small so that people might not notice is a very shifted, crooked, and dishonest practice. If your culinary staff isn't being paid equitably then raise the price of the food. Don't sneak it in at the very end hoping that I don't notice the fine print. I ordered their burger as I thought this was their specialty. It literally came with the thinnest patty of meat, cheese and a bun. That's it. Was supposed to come with other items, but I had to request them since my burger came completely plain (and I did not request for a plain burger). The fries we received were so cold, like they had been sitting there forever. Then to add a cherry on top, I asked for a coke - got a Dr. Pepper. Service was terribly slow and it's a pretty small restaurant so I'm not sure why.

Overall horrible experience...