West End Billiards — Restaurant in Durham

Edit as of 3/22/2022. I was notified that over 1000 people read my review (thanks!). I saw from the pictures that the tables now have proper billiard lights. I haven't been back to check out my other complaints, but I feel it's fair to change my 1-star to a 3-star for now. If they took the effort to make that one change (which isn't cheap), I have to believe they made other changes as well. I will make an effort to visit again this year.

Original Review: For frame of reference I have been shooting pool for 27 years, have owned 2 pool tables and have played in leagues for most of that time.

They don't have proper pool table lights. What they have are far too small, hang too low and cast shadows that affect playing. They have nothing to cover the windows which makes playing during the day very difficult with glare.

The tables themselves are pretty nice and level, but the cloth is slow. While the playing surface was clean (after an hour of playing my hands weren't dirty), you could see a lot of dirt in the wedges where the rails meet the surface. Learn to brush!

Plastic racks. Yuck! Looks like they were using a cue ball designed for bar boxes so perhaps that's why it was playing slow. Spring for a red dot or measles ball.

After an hour playing there I was definitely not going to return, but what sealed the deal was the $9/hour charge. This is on a Sunday afternoon, not prime time. Completely out of line for the quality of table, cloth, lighting and equipment.

I would consider coming back if all of those things were fixed and the price dropped by half. I'd rather drive 15 minutes extra to pool halls in Cary that have much better equipment and cost less per...

Great place to hang and meet new people. The conversations I normally have with people are always intellectual and engaging. The pool hall is great, and when I go, with a group , its the side I usually hang in. The bartender's on that side are very nice, alert, and prompt. Even on the busiest of nights.

He only real issue I have have and it's a minor one, is that the bartenders are just that , bartender's!

I think the place would do well to have mixologists on hand, to craft nice cocktails. The place definitely has the vibe for it .

For instance, I had ordered a Manhattan, rye, with an orange zest. The bartender corrected me telling be that Manhattans are made with whiskey....😐... I said I know you can make them with bourbon and blended whiskey as well. I like mine in particularly with rye whiskey. I told him my grandfather drinks Manhattans, as well as my father, and that it's a drink I'm fully aware B of in all its forms. So, he assured me he knew what he as doing, "let me make you mine, I bet you will like it!" Was what he said ,verbatim. I should have taken that bet, be sure I wat he'd him look up the ingredients on his phone. Long story short, I mean, he put Soda in it! Coke!!! And dry vermouth, not sweet. Idk what the hell he made. It was drinkable, but gar from what I was really in the mood for. The bottom line is, he corrected my on what I wanted, lied about knowing how to make it, they charged top dollar for his amerture concoction.

He didn't do it in an ugly way, he genuinely wanted to impress me. His Service was top notch. But when in doubt, just make what the customer ordered.

However, besides that minor thing, this place is excellent...

I was so excited to visit this little wine bar as I LOVE my wines and cheese boards etc. Having navigated our way to this bar my 2 friends and I were set on a good night. This, however rapidly changed and I ended up leaving the bar in a furious mood. The server was absolutely the rudest I have ever experienced. He was dismissive from the minute we walked in the door. He served us at sporadic times. It was like we were asking him for buckets of diamonds the way he was carrying on. So so rude. The food presentation was woeful. I ordered the homemade cheese and a side of olives. The olives never arrived. When I prompted him, he was disgusted and rudely replied "They'll be here" (he had to go tell the chef because they clearly forgot). I saw both of the pull the whit large tub of wholesale olives out of the fridge behind the bar IN FRONT of where I WAS SITTING!!!! I couldn't believe my eyes. He clearly avoided having to serve us. We left right after we finished our one drink. He was on the phone and smoking outside at that point. This guy needs a reality check or a...