John Brown's Underground — Restaurant in Lawrence

Came here on a Thursday night. I asked the bartender to make my drink not too sweet. He let me sample the drink and said he would make me something else if I didn't like it. I asked if he could make an old fashioned instead. He said no, and that everything was pre-mixed. I said it was fine and I would just stick with my original drink but he just walked away. I sat there with no drink for about 5 minutes trying to get his or the server's attention. Finally I asked to leave. I got charged for the drink anyway, despite it being taken away. I was also returned the wrong card. After returning with the card, and getting my card back (which had been used to pay for someone else's table), I asked if I could have a quick shot on my way out, which the bartender quite rudely declined. All in all very confusing and disappointing :(

EDIT: I understand there are two sides to every story, but rather than talking about “publicly embarrassing me” and saying my account is untrue, maybe you could just apologize for the bad experience and invite me back in, or something nice and friendly. I worked as a bartender for 5 years, I know everyone has rough nights, but your hostile response affirms my poor review.

If I missed part of the story it was that a lady sitting at a table got up and whispered something to the bartender before he walked away. She started mixing a drink with about 10 different clear liquors. I didn’t know if she worked there or what was going on. I asked what was in the drink, no answer. Then if the drink was for me, no answer. I started feeling like it was some kind of prank drink that they give to difficult customers. (Once my friend had asked for an off menu margarita, which not only tasted bad but said gave him the worst 3 day hangover of his life). After a while, they lady’s friend started yelling “I’m so excited for this” so I figured it had nothing to do with me. All in all very uncomfortable experience, no communication, and a disappointing response to my review.

TLDR: don’t order anything off menu. Only go if you like...

I am lost for words when trying to describe this place. Staff who care about your humanity as much as they do about creating transformative drinks that aide your process of forgetting the mundanity of everyday life. This holds true even through the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, where John Brown's Underground continues to push cocktail culture, if I may argue, closer towards the 22nd century than this 21st century. The staff crafts drinks well past the skills of their more "well known peers" who simply benefit from presence in a "larger market" city.

I will forever hold the belief that my time at KU for grad school, but most importantly the time I spent groveling away my sorrows with thoutful service, lifelong friendships made, and drinks to summit the peak of the current cocktail resiassance were the most consequential moments of my life. I truly matured into an adult here, and I simply would never want it any other way. LONG LIVE JOHN BROWN'S...

Wow! What a cool place! The hubby and I like to have a cocktail every now and then and finding a special little spot like this is our favorite.

The vibes were so great. The staff was helpful, pleasant, and attentive. Loved it's funky vibes with all the cool decor. It's small and intimate. The menus were so cool (moleskin!) with really interesting cocktail options and clever descriptions. Plus they had NA options. All the drinks were so tasty!

The only reason I am giving 4 instead of 5 stars is we had a Downtown Lawrence gift card that they wouldn't honor even though their location was listed as a place that would take it. Their system, apparently, wasn't set up for it. Again the staff was courteous and apologetic but we were very...