Sip Haus — Restaurant in Midland

I’ve been coming to this bar throughout the summer, and until tonight, every visit has been a great experience—mainly because of Brian, the first bartender I ever met here. He’s fantastic: knowledgeable, personable, and always made my favorite cocktail, the aviation (which they call a “Polaroid” here). It’s the same drink, just usually comes with a Polaroid photo.

That said, they’ve been out of film since the beginning of summer. I’ve ordered this drink multiple times and paid the full $20 each time—even though the photo was never included—and I never complained. I just genuinely enjoy the drink.

Tonight, Sunday, August 3rd, was a completely different story.

There was a female bartender with black hair working—she’s new to me, as I’ve never seen her behind the bar all summer. I ordered the Polaroid like usual, and she told me before charging that they were still out of film. Fine, no problem. But then I was charged $25.98—way more than the usual $20.

When I asked why, she didn’t give a clear explanation and, surprisingly, didn’t even know what an aviation was. That’s pretty shocking for a bartender. I explained that I wasn’t asking to be difficult—I just didn’t understand the sudden price jump, especially when the bar has been out of film for months and I’ve paid $20 every time without issue.

At that point, I tipped $1—not because I’m cheap, but because I was irritated by the poor service and lack of transparency. I normally tip very well.

Then the manager came over—the guy with the puffball hairstyle. Instead of handling the situation calmly, he got condescending and said he had voided the drink. I told him that wasn’t necessary—I was more than happy to pay. I just wanted clarity. He then told me, “Next time, just order an aviation,” which was absurd, considering the bartender didn’t even know what that was.

I declined the free drink and left, not because of the money, but because the attitude from both the bartender and the manager left a bad impression.

Giving one star only because of Brian. He’s the reason I kept coming back. But tonight’s experience? Unprofessional, overpriced, and...

It was Friday night and I wanted to go somewhere special with my special person. One of my close friends recommended this place and he did not miss. First of all you get to a beautiful building down town by centennial plaza and then you take a short but fun elevator ride to the basement. As soon as the doors open you are greeted to the sounds of good music and the aromatics of fine cocktail ingredients. The staff was first class when it came to service and drink recommendations. We were taken care of by everyone but Danny really made this place feel special and welcoming. Eric was so kind to introduce himself and let us know about the upcoming events this week and welcomed us back. If I could give this place 10 stars I would. A...

The location and atmosphere of this speakeasy creates a classy and comfortable vibe. The Christmas decor was explosive to say the least lol. However, during the Christmas season I was a bit disappointed with the cocktails. There was a Christmas themed menu and while the names of the drinks were intriguing, the drinks themselves were not as exciting. I'll admit, I have high expectations as I travel frequently to try different speakeasies. If you're looking for a comfortable place to grab a drink, this is the spot, but if you're searching for a truly elevated cocktail experience, it may not meet your expectations. I’d be willing to give it another shot outside of the holiday...