Rookies Sports Bar & Grill (Elgin) — Restaurant in Dundee Township

My girlfriend and I decided to come out on Sunday to come support one of her former colleagues, Ian Leith and his band. We drove over an hour and a half to get there and even took the courtesy of emailing him ahead of time to let him know that we were coming to support him. Yes, Ian does technically owe us money over a business manner that is unrelated to his gig at this establishment, but our intention was not to show up and hound him for money. We were simply coming out to support him, and I made myself very clear of my intentions when I emailed him. Not only did he not let us know that he was not coming, but he even blew off the RESTAURANT completely by being a no-call/no show. Our best guess is that he assumed that we were going to make him pay us what he owes on the spot since he will be getting handed a check at the end, and figured that he would probably lose more money than he profits if he runs into us at his gig.

Despite what this band did to us, the management was more than kind and supportive, and even ended up comping our ENTIRE TAB--something they did not have to do, but did to apologize for the inconvenience, since we had driven all the way from Chicago to attend this show.

Ian is now going on social media and is announcing that he may end up blowing off his next gig at Rookie's other location in Huntley as well, while using "bad weather" as an excuse. I did not know that being a musician also qualified you as a meteorologist! Strange how he just assumes it is going to "rain" again next Sunday? And that out of all of the gigs he is playing at several other venues this month, that somehow this is the only one where it is "projected to rain" ?

I usually do not do this, but due to the awful experience myself and many others have had with this fellow, I honestly suggest that anyone reading this steer clear--his main loyalty is with Scratch Kitchen anyways--he is a full time performer and booker there where he has established a residency. I personally feel as if any restaurant owner/booker should perceive booking someone like him, who has established such a residency with a potential rival (another restaurant/venue), as a conflict of interest. There are plenty of agencies in Chicago such as ours, V's Integrations, United Talent, etc that will help serve as a liaison between the venue and the talent for this very reason. Hire an agency to handle your live music bookings always! Otherwise, unfortunately you will continue to run into...

First time at Rookies.. I'll make this quick as possible. Servers were nice, no worries there. Larger group of approx 13/14. Some orders were not arriving in a timely manner and if we didn't say anything who knows if it would have come. 1 order didn't come after 45mnts for just a turkey club sandwich. Then request for refills were not done and had to ad several times... then, they asked who made a specific order of wings as they didn't add it to bill, ok no problem , I ordered them, I'll pay...well my bill comes later and guess what, the wings are not there. Not my fault, paid the bill they gave me.... we are chatting for another 20mnts and they come again loudly asking who orders the 6 wings, someone is needing to pay for it... I said me and I paid my bill already, they ask and I say yes I'll pay for them however gave feedback about all the delays of food and drinks, calmly and nice amd said your having me pay after already asking me amd still not Adding it to my bill... one manager type comes back with money amd says we won't have you pay this time BUT NEXT TIME YOU DONT SEE SOMETHING ON YOUR BILL YOU NEED TO TELL US.. I humbly said oh sure, however saying only to those in with, I'm sorry, I'm not hear to do your job, especially after you asked me the first time before I received my bill then didn't add it and then tell me I have to tell you when you don't do your job correctly. My first and only visit to Rookies ever...not that they care for losing one customer, however will for sure share my visit with anyone who asks about Rookies in Elgin. Oh and wings were not good. Too much glaze of sweetness on the sweet chilly Thai wings and not enough chilly.. wrong balance for sure. Ribs not...

On Monday January 20th I came to Rookies to celebrate my friend's birthday. While I was there one of the employees who were sitting at the bar drunk celebrating her birthday overheard me talking to the bartender who I have known for years. She proceed to tell the manager that I swore at the bartender which the manager proceeded to come by me and tell me I can't do that. Never did that manager ask the bartender if this was true or not. Then about an hour later Eli came in who is also a manager and confronted me about the same thing again not asking the bartender if it was a true or not. This wasn't the first time we had issues with Eli. So my friend decided to write a review saying how rude he was to employees as well as customers. Within 20 minutes of the review being written I get a phone number from another manager claiming Eli wants to talk to me about telling my friend to remove the review. I obviously didn't and 2 days later we came back to rookies and was told by the bouncer and my friend was no longer allowed in. Then Eli comes up in the back and says she's no longer allowed in because she says he was rude and said the prices were too high. In my years of management have ever seen anyone been banned on a review especially one that really nothing to do with establishment as much as do with the management. So I guess his feelings are more important than paying customers especially ones who have been coming there for years.

How can I when we...