Bar Anticipation — Restaurant in Lake Como

If you are at least 21, single, unemployed, and have nothing else going on in your life, look no further. This is the place for you.

The crowd here is the first of many problems. Everyone is dressed like they're going in for a bikini wax. Ladies, bras are optional at this establishment. Guys, if you're with your girlfriend, keep your eyes on the floor. I witnessed five different fights break out over the course of three hours. These are the kinds of people you find there.

Second, the drinks are literally a dice roll. My friend ordered the same drink three times and got charged three wildly different amounts. The 50 cent beers are good on paper but by the time you fight through the crowd they're already charging a dollar. Be ready to lose half of the cup though because as soon as you turn around with your fresh beers you'll get pushed and shoved by the crowd and half will be on the floor. The mixed drinks are watered down and taste like it's the bartenders first night on the job. Bar menus aren't a thing here so you better know what you want.

Third issue is how many people they let in the club. There was absolutely no room to dance on any of the dance floors. There was however this new move I had never seen before. It involves standing on top of your neighbors and just bobbing like a pogo stick. I believe this was dancing. Fun time. The lines to get drinks were insanely long, people cut, and you can be stuck waving money at the bartender for 20 minutes. They have one young lady working at each bar with mobs of 200 people trying to get a drink. Talk about understaffed. You can't even walk around to explore the place without a solid 2 hour sacrifice to your night. Bring your fitbit.

My last comment involves the bathrooms. The entire place has three bathrooms located right where they shouldn't be. The line for the men's...yes the men's room took 30 minutes. This gives you an idea of how many people they cram into this place. During my wait, five girls in the line next to me threw up. Disgusting. Let me now tell you the experience I had while inside the restroom. To start, there where five urinals and about 25 guys huddled next to each other. After wiggling my way to a stall and doing what had to be done, I wanted to then wash my hands like a respectable person should. I turn around to see three men peeing in the sink. Three men at the same time. Sausages. In the only sink. I was the fool for thinking I wanted to wash my hands. Leaving my hands unwashed was more sanitary than even looking at that sink.

I feel really bad for anyone who works at this place. The workers are gross, aggressive, and curse more than Nikki Minaj's new album. I don't know how many bad decisions you have to make in your life to end up working here but God bless.

To those of you who took the time to read my review, thank you. I hope I painted an accurate picture of what to expect.

Until...

There are several issues with this place:

They have enough cops guarding the place, you think they were housing the President. They don't need that many cops. First off it makes people nervous, second there is no reason for it. I went there for the first time last night, and there were SIX cops at the front entrance, that is ridiculous.

Having that many cops, just creates of feeling of uneasiness. Porta in Asbury Park, gets 2X as crowded, and they have in house security only, not cops on the ready to arrest you for anything. Because in New Jersey, cops are on the ready to arrest you.

The drinks are completely and utterly watered down. I got a Gin and Tonic which was $7.50 (IIRC), and it tasted mostly like TONIC and no gin. The same complaint for the rest of my party stands, their drinks almost tasted like no alcohol. Don't charge me nearly eight dollars for a drink if you are going to water it down.

No even prices. EVERY SINGLE DRINK price was either 7.25, 7.75, 8.50. Nothing even, they do this purposely do you run out of money quicker, that gets to my next point.

CASH ONLY. There are, if I counted correctly, 8 bars, CASH ONLY. It would be nice if that was in BIG BOLD LETTERS on their website. Are we in the dark ages? How in the heck can you not take CC or DB.

The ID checking is downright disrespectful. Don't look at me like you think I am 15 years old. If you are that paranoid, get a scanner like the TIKI bar in Point, so you don't look at me like I have a fake ID.

$10 cover charge after nine.

Ridiculous ID checking again. They wouldn't let a friend in in the party because she didn't have a photo ID, but about 3 other forms of ID that proved her age. NOT EVERYONE has photo ID.

There are mostly women bartenders, that spend more time flirting with guys, then actually taking your damn order, or giving you change. This happened to me TWICE. Give me my change, and do your job. Same goes for guy bartenders flirting with women.

The Good:

Beautiful atmosphere. There are waterfalls, a large open area. It is REALLY nice inside.

Decent crowd, while most of the crowd is on the younger side, they are all chill, and no one started any trouble. No one was falling down drunk, or acting crappy.

Yeah that's about it.

Too bad this place is bogged down by cops, ridiculous prices, and watered...

I was looking forward to celebrating my 21st birthday at Bar Anticipation. Earlier that same morning, I went to the New Jersey DMV to renew my license after my wallet had been stolen. As a result, my only available form of primary identification was my valid U.S. passport, which, according to Bar Anticipation’s own published identification policy, is expressly acceptable. My passport was issued after the age of 18, contains an accurate and current likeness, and shows no alterations of any kind.

Despite this, the doorman denied me entry. I explained my situation, cooperated fully, and presented additional supporting materials—including photos of my prior license, photos of my university ID, and credit cards in my name. Unfortunately, I could not provide my physical school ID until I return to campus next week since I can only get issued a new one in person. Even with these supplemental materials, my entry was refused, without any legitimate justification under the bar’s own policy.

Bar Anticipation’s website clearly states:

“Passport (not passport card) – If the passport appears altered in any way, or if the individual presenting the identification does not look like the person on the passport photo, it cannot be accepted pursuant to NJ State law. Passports obtained prior to an individual’s 18th birthday typically will not be accepted.”

My passport is valid, unaltered, issued after my 18th birthday, and unquestionably depicts me. By their own standard, it should have been accepted. To deny entry under these circumstances was arbitrary, inconsistent with the stated policy, and frankly, unfair.

As a law student, I understand the importance of strict compliance with state alcohol regulations. However, rules must be enforced consistently and in good faith. Here, Bar Anticipation failed to abide by its own written policy and instead relied on the subjective judgment of a single employee, resulting in an improper denial.

I am disappointed not only in the misapplication of the policy but also in the unprofessional manner in which the situation was handled. If Bar Anticipation wishes to implement stricter requirements than those published on its website, it has an obligation to revise its policy language accordingly. Otherwise, it should ensure that its staff enforces the policy fairly and...