Barley's Backyard Uptown — Restaurant in Maryland

Visited Friday night a little after midnight. Bartenders seemed to be moving a bit slow and not very attentive, a lot of them had their backs toward the customers which even with the POS set-up is something you should try not to do, DJ wasn’t playing music according to the crowd (should always read the room), and there were many tables left unbussed that had been that way since we arrived, and were still dirty upon leaving. Staff was polite but I wouldn’t exactly say friendly or engaging and it wasn’t like they were weeded, they just seemed like they wanted to go home instead of making money. I also felt a lot of eyes on my guy and I who happens to be white, and while no one was explicitly rude to us, there are MANY reviews mentioning POC being discriminated against, even some with the non-POC friends having left the review. Made us both feel a bit uncomfortable as if we couldn’t dance and enjoy ourselves without feeling like WE were somehow making them feel uncomfortable.

My guy and I ordered 2 drinks and 2 shots. Total was $33.79 and we tipped $11. Bartender asked for my card to start the tab (totally normal) but because she kept the card behind the bar until we closed, I did not expect to see an additional $20 charge. I’ve worked in the service industry for almost 11 years starting as a server, then a bartender, and now a bartender/bar manager. If you’re going to pre-auth the card and the pre-auth is accepted, you hand the card back. If you’re unable to pre-auth, you keep the card as collateral. Is this a huge deal? Not really, but with everything else considered it was pretty annoying to see an almost $60 total charge on my card for 2 shots and 2 drinks at a sweaty college bar. I almost always pay/tip in cash and just happened to use my card because I get cash-back rewards.

As far as the speed of the bartenders and the cleanliness (lack thereof), I understand it was close to closing and what not but that’s still unacceptable to have dirty dishes on tables for over an hour. I’ve worked high volume environments where there’s 4 bartenders with no barback and 3x time the crowd but with proper training and preparation, everything is still as it should be. Jimmy’s Seafood was one of my first high volume positions and on any given night or day that place will be packed but service and cleanliness will not ever take a hit. It’s all about setting up for success and like I said it wasn’t crazy busy but if you know you’re in a prime location on a summer Friday night, prep and staff accordingly.

This review isn’t meant to be scathing or even condescending, I suppose I’m just trying to provide some kind of advice because the bar is located in a great area and has so much potential but the little things matter, details can make or break you. I really wanted to like it but I bartend at a casino now and could have easily handled that crowd with one other person, while making time to go out on the floor for 5 minutes and clear tables. Will return in a few months to see if anything has changed.

Visited Friday 8/12 and leaving this review on Sunday 8/14. As of yet, $20 pre-auth has not fallen off and my tab should have been closed...

If I could give this place 0 stars I would.. Me and my boyfriend came to this place after seeing it throughout the summer. We wanted a rooftop vibe, when we got there we were directed to go up 30 flights of stairs.. no issue. What was beginning to be a lovely date night immediately went south because the waitress looked so uninterested in attending to us. Me and my boyfriend are African American so I’m pretty sure you know where I’m going with this. She takes over 10 minutes to come to us and when she did she asked was we ready for drinks we provided the drinks we wanted and was ready to order but once she gave us our drinks she walked away. There was about 3 other tables seated with all white people and Ofcourse she attends to every single person. My boyfriend caught the vibe and was ready to go but I told him let’s give he a chance. Once I see our waitress walk towards our table I kindly wave my hand to get her attention and she purposely turns her back and caters to another table who were just some college kids trying to kill time, they even said they weren’t ordering anything else. I then notice her ignoring me and say “excuse me” and she didn’t even turn around. She simply walked away. Even the group of college kids who were sitting right behind me and my boyfriend were shocked and felt second hand embarrassment for us. That was the last straw for me I told my boyfriend it was time for us to leave, he was already uncomfortable and the vibe there is just so unsettling and uncomfortable. I understand they are not a upscale restaurant they are pretty small, but to hire racist people is an understatement. The whole staff is just highly disrespectful and do not know how to do customer service the efficient way. She never even gave my boyfriend and I eye contact after our drinks were served it’s like she didn’t even want to serve us which is fine. But it’s 2024 the racism is ridiculous at this point. It’s not fair to come somewhere to show support to and get treated like we’re still back in the 1900s. Obviously the manager doesn’t care because I read all his replies to every complaint he’s receive and he’s just plain rude. I hope many other POC read this review and see it’s recent for 2024 to not come to this establishment, they don’t like us and don’t want us there. I didn’t even cause a scene and I didn’t even say anything bad to the waitress so Bill don’t start lying when you reply to my review because I see your do that often because your racist just like your staff. I h hope you see my review though because I would love to hear...

(Last night, 3/5/22) Myself, My 16 year old daughter and my 9 year old son had a horrible experience at Barley’s Backyard Uptown on February 5, 2022.😣 We watched our waiter take good care of her own racial group 🤛🏼. Attend to the tables of 🤛🏼 and leave us 🤜🏾 just sitting.

God help us as a human race.🙏🏾 These pictures only tell part of it. The waiter was horrible, very nasty, unprofessional, very dishonest. Very obsequious to the 🤛🏼 tables. 😑 The excuses that were made for her by other staff was amazing! 🤢

We observed so much just sitting here. When your kids experience this type of treatment, it hurts so much more. 😔 When your kids observe some things from another waiter 🤛🏼 when they attended to another table of 🤜🏾 and ask questions… 🤮

🤔… I wonder how many other parties of less than 6 people, who are seated before 9 this happens to?!?!?? 🧐

I am disgusted

(3/6/22 update from last night) I see that the owner responded. However, the response sounds as if it was our lying racist waiter. 🤔 I never disrespected anyone. Never called anyone out their names. 🤭We did not demand to sit at a 10 person table. We were seated at a 10 person table. I actually didn’t want to sit at that big table. I asked if we could sit at the smaller table. However, my daughter said it was fine. I actually took the high road when speaking to any staff despite of the treatment, lies and false check. I was just sitting there, with my chin rested in my hand observing the atmosphere. Our waiter took so long to return that other people came to our table. I watched our waiter keep looking at me and not return. My daughter watched our waiter sitting down at the bar eating. Then, go to a table of her race group and still not return to our table. Another waiter came to our table and said, “Here’s the honey mustard you asked for.” I was puzzled because we never asked for anymore.😕 I said, “We didn’t ask for honey mustard. Must be the wrong table. The waiter insisted that it was us. 🤔 Again, I said it wasn’t us and she left. Now, I’m wondering about that. 🤢

The owners response below, “Have a blessed day,” That was what I said when I called after leaving. I called to inquire if they were short on cooks. That’s what I was told after waiting 30+ mins for 5 tenders. Our waiter actually told me that they were short on cooks, there was only 1...