Cricket's Draft House + Grill — Restaurant in Lubbock

I was DEFINITELY DISSATISFIED with the service et al. I encountered there. I visited Crickets for the first time tonight, Sunday, January 30, 2011.

They do seem to have a variety of drink specials, free pool, and what not.

Tonight was free pool, which was great, since I like to shoot. But I couldn’t find a straight stick in the place to save my life. They had 3 waiters/waitresses for about a dozen patrons. Yet somehow, it took me 10 minutes to get a beer. The waiter said he told another waitress to get my beer, and then they told me they were changing kegs. So, I asked them to just pour me a long island and skip the beer. The long island came, and tasted like they’d just poured a pre-mix into a glass. It was the “lightest” long island I ever sipped. I took one drink and put my coat on, because between the slow service and bad drinks, I’d had enough. I cashed out at the bar and asked for my ID and Debit Card back, and the waitress (who never waited on me) refuses to give me my ID because she says I owe her for the full long island I returned to the bar. The other waiter goes and talks to somebody and says he apologizes and is willing to be my waiter for the rest of the night if I want to stay. I thank him for the effort, but tell him that it’s too little too late. The waitress says to me that it’s somehow my fault that they made me wait 5 minutes while they changed a keg and implies I was being impatient. I told her someone could have just come and told me what was going on and offered to place another drink order while I waited, but instead, they just chatted with each other and did other stuff, so my dissatisfaction is not my fault. She kinda rolled her eyes, gave me my ID, and I left. I went up the street to Rocky Laroos where a single bar tender and cook were serving about 50 without a problem or wait...and without attitude.

So, if you want free pool and bad service, I’d recommend Crickets. If you want a better atmosphere, prompt service, and no attitude, I’d...

I waited with my girlfriend and two other friends for about an hour to get in tonight ( nov. 4th). We watched as people cut in line within that hour, until the 6th or 7th person cut in line and i spoke up angry at the other customers that decided they were too good to wait in line. I caused a quarrel which calmed down and my frustration continued, then i became livid when their employees were grabbing their friends from the bavk of the line and allowing them directly into the bar in front of all the people waiting in the cold. I told one of the employees that this was not right, to which he replied, " they're my friends, I'm a bartender,". I dont give a f$@* if you are a bar tender, that is not right. My reply must have shocked these employees because they refused to let me in the bar, saying comments such as," what are you going to do?" I demanded a manager who after ten minutes of waiting outside and holding up the line shows up and tells me," Ive told them not to let their friends in, you can go in but are you going to cause more problems?" Me? A paying customer? Standing up for the hundred paying customers awaiting your dive bar? Unreal. Do not go to this bar unless you "know" the "bartender". I will be speaking to manager after manager until i reach the owner. Half of your employees should be fired for their customer service. Crickets, i will follow up...

So personal, I love getting to know managers and bartenders. Clover has the best bar manners and greeted us with the biggest smile! She knew her menu and drinks, which I really like. Brady took the time to talk to us and hear us out. I like when a manager is able to get personal with customers . The atmosphere was very laid back and enjoyable. Everyone was so friendly and the drinks were well worth the price!!! I love when I can order a whiskey neat and actually not have to tell my bartender what it's supposed to be.. Clover was a breath of fresh air. The Twisted Cricket is a must when you go in!

*update * we got to meet Seth the bar manager. He was very friendly and knowledgeable about all the drinks offered. He was hands on giving us recommendations and serving. Carly was our bartender at night. She was also very knowledgeable and so friendly, she also had recommendations on drinks and food. The restrooms are very very clean! The food from the kitchen is so yummy and fresh! I had fried pickles and their in house ranch and buffalo ranch taste so good. I also had chicken strips that were full of white meat chicken, the breading perfect and crunchy with the inside nice and tender. The fries taste soo good, in my opinion better than...