Side Door Wine Bar & Cafe — Restaurant in Mammoth Lakes

I usually don't leave reviews or get involved in these matters, but I feel compelled to share my experience because this was by far the worst encounter I've had at a restaurant.

To start, I want to acknowledge that the food was good, and the kitchen staff was kind enough to apologize for the behavior of those working at the front. Unfortunately, the behavior at the cashier completely overshadowed everything else.

I had ordered a bottomless mimosa but later decided to cancel it upon realizing I wouldn’t be able to finish the bottle by myself. At any reputable establishment, it’s reasonable to cancel something that hasn’t been opened, served, or prepared. However, my request was met with an unacceptable level of hostility.

The first staff member who assisted me not only refused to handle the situation professionally but actually CURSED at me (which I know other workers from the kitchen heard because they apoligized in his behalf). He placed his hand on my shoulder and repeatedly addressed me as “sweetheart” in a dismissive and passive-aggressive manner. This behavior was completely inappropriate and made me extremely uncomfortable.

He then called over another staff member, who I initially hoped would be more understanding. Unfortunately, this person was also rude and kept trying to convince me not to cancel the order, again using condescending nicknames. He even accused me of planning to drink from my friend’s bottles instead, which was both baseless and offensive. I explained that I simply didn’t want to drink anymore and wouldn’t finish the bottle on my own.

After I finally received my refund, this second staff member came to my table to ‘apologize’ while handing me the receipt—only to return moments later with more accusations, saying, “Oh, now I see what you are doing,” when I was simply drinking what I had ordered instead of mimosas, and had my personal waterbottle on the table.

Justifying their actions by commenting on their drinking policies or explaining how bottomless mimosas work completely misses the point. Under no circumstances should a customer ever be cursed at, touched, or treated with such blatant disrespect. Basic courtesy and professionalism are essential in customer service, and the level of passive-aggressiveness I experienced here was shocking.

I understand that negative reviews can be damaging to a business, and it’s unfortunate that I have to write this. However, the behavior I encountered went far beyond what is acceptable and needed to be addressed.

Not to mention that the first guy was also extremely rude to his co-workers saying that is why he works at the front and not back at...

☆☆☆☆☆ I have to say, the wine selection here is absolutely fantastic, and the atmosphere is both cozy and charming. However, I must point out a significant issue: the level of friendliness and humor from the owner is just overwhelming! I came here hoping for a serious and stoic wine experience, but instead, I was bombarded with laughter, smiles, and witty banter. How am I supposed to maintain my serious wine connoisseur persona with all this joy and good vibes around?

And let's not even get started on the espresso martini. It's simply divine, almost too good. The use of the infamous Borghetti Di Vero beans to brew the espresso adds an otherworldly depth and richness that completely distracts from my attempts to be a sophisticated critic.

But the real frustration? You have something for everyone, and it's all done perfectly. Whether it's the exquisite wine, the heavenly espresso martini, or the delightful company, it’s all just too much. It’s almost as if you’re trying to ruin my brooding mood on purpose with your impeccable offerings. Everything is just so perfect here—how am I supposed to keep up my serious wine critic facade? Please, tone down the charm and excellence a bit – I need to brood in peace! Honestly, it’s almost unfair how good everything is. I bet even the regulars have a hard time finding a single flaw to complain about. It’s...

Awful, DO NOT go here. EXPENSIVE, low quality food for ridiculous prices. We ordered a crepe Citron and a crepe Suzette and both had NOTHING inside. They were basically a $14 tortilla with some flavored syrup misted on top with powder sugar

They are severly understaffed and poorly managed which is a bad combination. They forgot our hot sauce and coffee and it took 10 minutes to even get anyone's attention. Can't speak to the bar experience as we didn't go there but DO NOT GO HERE FOR FOOD OR HOT BEVERAGES.

EDIT: Since restaurant replied that staffing issues were due to busy holiday season, yes true. I never "passed judgement" on the staff themselves, I said the restaurant was UNDERSTAFFED which is true and the employees were clearly stressed (through no fault of their own). This is literally why businesses hire extra staff for the holidays.

If the owner could address why I paid $14 EACH for a crepe Citron and crepe Suzette that looked identical because they had absolutely no fillings and no toppings other than a sprinkle of powdered sugar,...