Overland Bar — Restaurant in Garden City

My group of about ten people recently had a very disappointing experience at Overland Bar. The bouncer on duty, a younger man with red hair, a tall/skinny build, was unprofessional and dismissive, which immediately set a negative tone for the evening.

More concerning, however, is the bar’s approach to ID verification. As of May 7, 2025, the federal REAL ID Act requires all states to issue updated driver’s licenses and identification cards, commonly referred to as the Star Card. These cards are federally recognized and are valid proof of age. Unfortunately, Overland’s staff demonstrated a lack of understanding of these IDs, leading to legitimate patrons being turned away. Refusing entry to individuals with valid, government-issued identification not only damages customer trust but also places the business at financial risk, as it signals poor training and inconsistent enforcement of state and federal standards.

We were a group all well over the age of 21, and yet several of us were challenged despite carrying valid Star Cards. This practice is not only frustrating but also short-sighted, as it alienates regular customers and visitors alike.

Overland has been a staple spot for us in the past, (many of us know the bartenders and they know our “usual” drinks) but after this experience, we will no longer return.The bouncer’s actions were not about enforcing policy or ensuring safety—they were a calculated power move that exposed a culture of arrogance and disregard for loyal customers. That kind of conduct doesn’t just lose a night’s business; it destroys long-term trust and reputation.

I want to be clear—I’m not usually one to complain. Having worked in the service industry myself, I understand how demanding it can be. That’s exactly why this level of unprofessionalism and poor training stood out...

I have a service dog and every time I go to the Overland bar I am hassled and asked to leave that pets are not allowed, even though she has her service dog vest on. The first time the bouncers walks me through the bar and out the back door and tells me I can not have her in the bar. I explained she is a service dog and he tells me he needs to see her regestration as a service dog. I told him there is not such thing just place online claiming ther can regester them for a fee, which does not mean a thing. I tried to educate him on what he could request from me which is 2 questions. #1 is this a service dog. #2 what service does she do for me. I finally got him to talk to the owner and got in after wasting a 1/2 hour. then a nother time I went in and was standing at the end of the bar to get a coke and my service dog did a alert ( which is a low bark) about somthing behind me, I looked and it was a statues of a person, I corrected her and told her it was alright. the bartender then came to me to get my order I thought but then informed me that I had to take my pet and leave because she barked 1 time to alert me, Which is part of her job. I was so stressed by this because of the hassel I get every time I go there with her that I did'nt even try to explain what an alert was. This bar is very unfriendly to service dogs and us...

It should be noted before you read any further that I'm a very, very big fan of dive bars. With that in mind, you'll find that I'll give glowing remarks for...odd features. So, without further ado:

The Overland Bar is aptly named, sitting directly off of Overland (as does the Vista Bar, Broadway Bar, etc etc). It's a dimly lit, cash only establishment with karaoke, pool, and shuffleboard available as entertainment. It isn't a large bar, but the size lends to its sense of intimacy.

The locals (including myself) are friendly and most often several beers deep when you meet them. The most unique aspect of the Overland Bar though, and what sets it apart from other drinking holes in the area, are the velvet paintings of topless women residing on each side of the bar. Classic. Wonderful. High-five.

I knocked one star off for the lack of credit card payment. I understand it costs money to process credit/debit cards, but it's 2017 and I almost never carry cash. There is an ATM...