Sage Restaurant and Lounge — Restaurant in Marietta

I’m a local DJ and I stopped by this restaurant on Friday 2/28/25 because I sensed it might be a black owned business and I wanted to support them during the economic black out. As I entered the lounge, I noticed the decor and I introduced myself as a local DJ who spins house music. The hostess graciously talks to the manager who is sitting at the bar and he enthusiastically beckons me over and we have a cordial exchange where he shows me his phone which revealed that he was actively looking for DJs to support the club. He mentioned that he was looking for someone to spin Afro Beats which isn’t really my wheelhouse but because I wanted to support this business, I put in a few calls to a few colleagues. It was 4:12 pm and he said he needed someone by 6pm. I didn’t have my gear and on this particular day, I had my dog in the car and my wife and I were car pooling so I had to go get my gear, go get her and then get back to the venue. As I recall I showed up about 10-15 minutes early with my gear. He was sitting at the bar, gave me a smile and I went to work getting setup.

I like to work neat, and to honor the resident DJ in making sure that I leave things better than I found them. I cleaned up the area so that everything was ready and connected to the PA system and started getting to work.

About 20 minutes later, my colleague arrived who lives in midtown. The back story is that I used to be his youth pastor about 20 years ago and this was more of a reunion than a gig. In the back of my mind I was auditioning him to this venue because while it’s nice, it’s not my vibe. Residencies tend to pay less than weddings and event venues which is my wheelhouse, but what I wanted to do was develop a community of DJs around this venue so that it could be buffered by a community of DJs who could introduce a variety of musical styles.

My colleagues ordered a few drinks and hookah. I neither drink nor smoke but I don’t judge people either. They charged him for the drinks and hookah. He mentioned the prices and I just let it ride. We looked at each other and with a familiar nod realized that we’d probably not come back. But this was a reunion, not so much a gig. I took the first leg, while also orienting him to my DJ controller and getting him up to speed while also catching up on lost time. It was good to see him. Happy, healthy and strong and it was good for me to feel that some part that I could be on the lookout for opportunities for him.

At around 7:20 pm we did a transition and he took over the decks. It was my son’s birthday and I had to join a zoom call. He took over the decks and then started mixing music.

At around 8 pm the resident DJ arrived. We introduced ourselves and exchanged contact information and he was content to let us continue. Once again, community. The manager made a few requests and we accommodated him , but at some point he started to ask us to deviate from the musical genres he initially requested. At that point , a total of 4 patrons had arrived at the venue which at the time seemed odd given the location and decor of the venue.

My colleague and I worked as a team behinds the scenes. While he was running the decks, I was supplying music and advising on some of the technical details of the board.

At one point the manager came over and said ‘you passed the test’. I mentioned that we really weren’t looking to upset anybody’s gig, deferring to the resident DJ. But he suggested that he ‘wanted us’ which I hadn’t given any details price or availability. Me and my colleague - I’ll call him nephew going forward both have full time jobs, his happy hour are between 6pm and 8pm and we both work a bit away where that would never work.

Later that evening we switched DJs to the resident and while waiting in the lobby for our rides, he asked for our Zelle or Cashapp. Mind you I never discussed a rate, but he did pay my nephew and asked me to send him my information. This was Friday and today is Sunday. I’ve texted him and he’s ghosted me. I can’t...

If I could leave zero stars I absolutely would. I waited an hour to be noticed, followed by a menu minutes later and a response of "did you need anything?". There was a staff of 4 with a patron occupancy in the entire establishment totaling 7 people. It took 2 1/2 hours to get only half of my food. Then the additional half came out 1hr later. My order consisted of 2 shrimp tacos and 10 wings. My drinks came well after my food, not including the water I asked for in the beginning of my stay that came out once I was ready to go. My food came out horrifically cold. No one at the bar could assist with a simple water, juice or shot order they all had to "get someone" again, it was a staff of 4, who else did you have to get with a total of 7 customers in your entire establishment? Nobody could recite the correct specials including the dj. I did not know if it was $1, $2 specials or $5 to $10. Let alone as the menu inside the venue does not match the two menus on the establishment's website from prices to food listings. Not one pleasant staff member. Please save your time as it will take 3 1/2hrs for drinks, food then an incorrect bill that warrants an additional 30+ mins to correct. All in all what do I recommend, the better...

Owner is greedy and running a scam. The last few reviews are from customers she begged to leave a good review in exchange for a free shot. I worked ONE day and quit and still haven’t gotten my pay. I didn’t have any training on my first day and had to bartender serve and make a hookah because I was the only girl working. The hookahs had water in them from days before and didn’t get cleaned out before being sold, it smells like mildew, she pockets all transactions if it’s cash and make people pay through her phone if they have a card (NOTHING GETS PUT IN THE SYSTEM FOR WORKERS TO KEEP UP WITH THEIR MONEY). And to top it off she asked to use my car to go get some coal for the hookahs because they didn’t have any when the shift started. If you don’t believe me go there and see for yourself. Before my shift started on my first day she asked me about taking out a loan and asked me to co sign for her to have a business credit for her business (mind you I’m 19 and she didn’t know me) of course I didn’t allow it but it’s just the principle. This place should be shut down. Many other girls have had my same experience. Very...