Big Whiskey's - Davie — Restaurant in Davie

I was very excited to hear a whiskey bar was opening near me however after 2 visits I’ve found this is just another bar (not a unique whiskey bar) on the poor end of the service industry. Very unfortunate and looks like this place will follow suite as the next failed restaurant here. Our 1st visit to the bar we had decent service, food was ok, but the music was horrible, playing rap then finally playing more of a southern rock but then back to rap. Didn’t care for this ambiance. I left with no intentions to go back with too many options in the area. However we decided to try it again for happy hour and this time the music was better but the bar service was a nightmare. In all my years in the restaurant industry, from floor to manager, I was in shock these people were hired, is there no training anymore?? Time stamps taken below and I highly encourage ownership/franchise to review video footage from 2/28/25 on 5pm - 7pm, or even the entire day to see how your investment is running. This is a bad luck building with similar successful restaurants in the area, get involved if you want this place to make it!

5:25 Arrived at bar

Ignored by 3 bartenders -one bartender serving left end of bar only (Mattie) -one bartender ignoring everyone, acting as barback -one bartender ignoring all, running service bar

5:38 Finally greeted by Mattie and gave my drink order.

5:42 Mattie comes back taking my drink order again along with my fiancé’s drink and food order. She immediately brings beer but it’s far from being a Guinness, she quickly replaced for the correct beer.

5:47 My drink arrives

People next to us haven’t had her attention at all since initial order, customer points that out to her and how it would be nice for her to acknowledge the rest of her customers instead of her friends at the end of bar and her response was very rude stating there are 3 other bartenders and she won’t be serving him speaking to her like that (he was not rude, he was simply pointing out a fact). I then see her speaking to the manager and kisses his cheek, very unprofessional. The gentlemen then raises his hand loudly saying excuse me to the barback woman asking if he can get another beer and she actually puts on a happy face to get him a beer! I can’t believe my eyes at this point because that same woman who has a drab face purposely ignoring people in front of her provides service when someone has to yell and wave to her.

6:28 still no food or anyone to acknowledge us and our empty glasses since 5:55 (and with 2 extra help behind bar: boy barback and a shy floor manager woman), so I yelled excuse me to Mattie asking for our bill and to take the food off we never received. She immediately brings the bill with the wrong drink rung up and ironically food never rung up which explains why food never arrived. She quickly had the manager fix the bill which was incorrect again but in our favor even though it should’ve been free at this point of nonsense only being 2 drinks since that’s all the attention we got from her the hour we were there.

6:34 can’t get attention of bartender, handed check and card to female manager to take or were walking out.

#1…all 3 so called bartenders should not be in the service industry and absolutely need training!!! I’d suggest drug testing as well.

#2…evaluate your managers, the female in no way is manager material, too shy & timid. (Witnessed this on 2 visits), and the male manager could be a problem based on the interaction with the bartender with everyone watching.

#3…this building has a black cloud over it, you will need to be unique from the surrounding restaurants. Many thought this was a whiskey bar until finding it’s just another bar, and your successful competition is who we ran to after this nightmare and I’ve provided timestamps below for comparison, yes they were busy and we had great friendly service.

UA 6:46 arrived 6:48 gave drinks/app 6:54 meal order taken 6:59 app arrived 7:40 asked for check 7:41 got check 7:43 took card 7:45...

Unfortunately for a business just starting up in a family oriented town. From the start to the end was a huge disappointment. As someone who is not only in the food service industry and happily tip out waiters generously and vlogs different restaurants to help advertise and get new business to come I truly was anticipating trying out this place, but how I was serviced tonight changed my whole perception. Because I cannot have carbonated or high sugared drinks I brought in my own drink that was watered down in a different cup. (Mind you there is no signs up front that says not to bring in outside beverages) I walked in and a host, nor the waitress said anything, even put In our order and no problem. Before I could even look back up the waitress got the manger to check me and tell me “I cannot have that drink inside his restaurant” (most cases it’s understandable due to the brand ) just like that without following up with a solution or being asked what can he get me instead he challenged me on the kind of cup (Taco Bell cup) it was in . Until I asked him what he’d like me to do with the drink to drink it outside or leave ? He finally came up with the solution to give me a to-go cup as a replacement and I was okay with it and tried to stick it out . Then when I disclosed to the waitress that I wish she would’ve told me that from the beginning instead of getting a manager because i felt embarrassed it got to that point from the beginning she dismissed me and laughed and asked if I’d like to place an order. Then to the food LAWD the chicken wings were bland, dry and the appetizer we ordered was forgotten by the waitress (our section only had 1 other guest in it) so we got it with our food, the pot stickers came with a sauce that tasted like stale unseasoned steak oil, when finally being checked on we told her we didn’t like the sauce, she then tells us “oh I and others dont like the sauce either”. Overall, I had my camera ready to give the company a shout out and give back to the waiters $$$ but the vibe is giving “I’m a gen Z, I don’t care about this job or the people that come here, just here for the check”…with the amount of restaurants that opened and closed here that didn’t make it within the past 3 years. I truly hope this chain takes these reviews into consideration to make some changes...

For the average whiskey aficionado, this place is utter disappointment. Within the first 3-5 minutes of walking in the place I got the feeling it would go the same way as the previous restaurants in that location. Had such high hopes too for a local whiskey bar or speakeasy. Instead, the place resembles the Wing Bar preceding it. Same/Similar cheap bar tables and chairs. Super bright ice-white lighting. The menu, food, and drink menu reminded me of an applebees or TGIF's (see accompanying pics). In fact, the whole place reeked of a corporate restaurant chain that simply wanted to capitalize on the trendy use of the word "whiskey" without actually serving any good whiskey.

They advertise more TGIF-style fruity drinks than whiskey drinks. Lets not forget Fish Bowls... yes... Fish bowls (See attached images). They have a bigger beer selection than whiskey (see pics). Their idea of a bourbon flight is Makers Mark, Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, and Woodford reserve. You can find those at almost every restaurant in the state and they are all borderline well/mixer drinks.

The only thing on their 'whiskey menu' that had any real appear was a Weller Antique 107...which they don't actually have in the facility. That goes for almost any other non-run-of-the-mill whiskey on their list.

I was really hoping for something different from all of the cheap chain restaurants that suffocate Davie and surrounding areas. This place had such an opportunity to stand out, be classy, be tasteful, be a 'true' whiskey bar or speakeasy. Use some dark woods, seductive darker loungy lighting and atmosphere. Dress the bartenders in some classier attire, maybe leather craft aprons with pressed shirts and bow-ties. Maybe put a larger focus on craft cocktails and fresh botanicals rather than el cheapo sugar bomb drinks and fish bowls. Big Whiskey??? I failed to see it. Your average steakhouse has a better whiskey selection. Your food? One-step away from average bar food.

SMH.. I had such high hopes. Maybe that location really is cursed? Naw... just bad implementation of...