Beef 'O' Brady's — Restaurant in Helena

I arrived with a large party at 7:20. We ordered our food before 8 and didn’t receive it until nearly 9. They weren’t busy at all. The fried pickles and kids corn dogs tasted and looked burned. The adult meals were brought out 20 minutes before the kids got their food. They were out of fries, which was overlooked until the service continued to go down hill. We had to continuously ask a different server for refills. We had to go inside and ask for items that were forgotten about. We waited nearly 30 minutes for a check while our server was closing the outdoor seating cleaning tables. We would’ve been gone 30 minutes prior if she would’ve just brought our checks first. Once we got them, she handed the card reader to a SIX year old to pass around. I ALWAYS tip 20% MINIMUM (planned on tipping more since we had lots of kids) but after 3 hours, mediocre food, and the worst service I’ve ever experienced, not a penny was earned. The 6 year old accidentally clicked 20% tip and I wasn’t willing to pay that. We asked for it to be cleared to try again and she said “let me ask my manager” then continued to go inside and not come back. I just paid it so we could leave before another hour passed by. The manager appeared to be standing right inside the door. I clicked “print receipt” and once again never got that. As we were leaving, there was no “sorry for the issues” or “thank you have a good night”. I’m honestly just dumbfounded. I’ve been a manager in food service for years and this wouldn’t fly by me. It takes a LOT for me to even mention my food being wrong, let alone leaving this upset. I am always graceful towards servers because they depend on tips, but you have to actually WORK for them and EARN them. We’ve had service issues here in the past but this takes the cake. I can overlook inventory issues, longer wait times for crowds, etc. but there is was excuse for service that bad tonight. Enjoy your tips from everyone...

If a zero star was possible, that would be what I chose. I have been a fan of Beefs in Helena and Hoover for years. It's a shame that the first time I've rated and reviewed was the result of a snippy and aggressive bartender. I understand the importance of taking care of your regulars. We appreciate when our favorite bartenders look after us. What's disappointing or probably more of a reality check for the regulars is when there are 3 seats open at the bar and you stop buy for a fantastic salad to go and when you try to sit down you are shooed away. While I may be a regular and spend a considerable amount of money there on client lunches and myself, I obviously am not a regular to tonight's bartender. Thus instead of a great salad and a good tip for the bartender, I was shooed away from the 3 empty seats with the you can't sit there. It wasn't the message so much as the delivery. She could have simply said I'm sorry but these seats are reserved, or sir you're welcome to sit here....but it was aggressively shared you can't sit there. My response, not a problem, so I left and am penning this as a result. I have the ability and means to have dinner somewhere else and also tip as a regular based on level of service. Note to self that I've never experience that at Beefs, but then again I may have been considered a regular. Now I understand the frustration when shooed away because seats are shared for someone that is coming or coming back vs the person wanting to dine...

I am mixed on experiences here. They have great food and prices but this is not consistent. Sometimes its cold and tastes bad with half the servers and hostesses acting like they hate their job. Then we have great experiences, with great music at a great location. Bands booked are not constant, so call ahead if your expecting entertainment, some weekends therenis just none there. Extreme sewage plumming issues. Bathrooms constantly are over flooding and blocked off. i was let to go upstairs to a bathroom once and they where starting to overflow as well and not maintained. Cleaning and professionalism is obviously not that important to management. We saw the manager and employees going into beer cage taking shots and giving some shots away but because we were not their regulars then we where not offered such complimentaries. This could be a grest attraction if if was Managed the right way. It does sadden me because this is a great location with great potential. Just...