James Ballentine “Uptown” VFW Post 246 — Restaurant in Minneapolis

My Experience at the Uptown VFW

I went to the Uptown VFW last night after bingo with my insurance agent, who decided to belt out some karaoke. I wasn’t planning on staying long, especially since my favorite bartender, Ginger, wasn’t working. I was spending someone else’s money, so I figured I’d just have a shot and a beer and call it a night.

But plans changed. I started telling jokes, made friends with the incredibly friendly bartender, Jamie, and stuck around. Later, I wandered into the dance area and ended up meeting Ginger’s mom, Kimberly, who was also bartending. Kimberly and I hit it off, and when her shift ended, she asked if I wanted to hang out after closing to chat some more.

While waiting, I walked into the karaoke bar. I needed to use the restroom, but the bathrooms weren’t clearly marked—especially not for anyone who’d had a few drinks. I accidentally walked into the women’s restroom, realized my mistake within seconds, and immediately turned around. No harm, no foul, right?

Apparently not. The bartender in that room absolutely lost it. She started screaming at me like I’d committed some terrible crime and tried to kick me out of the bar. It was negative 19 degrees outside, and I wasn’t dressed for the freezing weather. I dress for the venue I’m in, not a trek through the Arctic.

This bartender’s reaction was completely unhinged. She got two men to threaten me with violence if I didn’t leave immediately. I ordered a car to get out of there but made it clear I wasn’t stepping outside until my ride arrived. Paying three times the usual fare to avoid freezing to death felt safer than dealing with her irrational behavior.

Here’s the kicker: I’ve always gotten along with this bartender and tipped her generously in the past. She’s a gay woman who seems to harbor some kind of disdain for men—or maybe just customers in general. Either way, her actions were dangerous, completely inappropriate, and unprofessional.

In this day and age, she shouldn’t even be questioning anyone’s gender identity. For all she knows, I might identify as a woman sometimes. And let’s be real—if you’re in your 40s and still working a job that’s usually for 20-somethings, something’s off.

This experience was beyond unacceptable. I’m contacting the leadership at the VFW because her behavior needs addressing. If she isn’t disciplined and doesn’t offer a genuine apology, I will pursue damages. I was mistreated, endangered, and disrespected, and I won’t...

Cool Bar. Decent selection of taps & can/bottle options.

Popular Kareoke bar. I've been there twice now. Serious 45-60+ minute rotation by 10 or 11.

Diverse crowd & many age brackets. Only negative thing I can say is that BOTH TIMES a pack of Millennials have acted absolutely rude. 1st time some dbags kept pushed my chair, how about a tap & an excuse me? That's what adults do. Second time, my wife caught a dude trying to take a picture of a "sub-par" singer. She asked him, "are you going to sing?" as she busted him doing whatever dbag mockery thing he had planned.

BOTH TIMES....Millennials crowded the front multiple times when their friends went up to sing, completely suck & act like "their moment" was special when it was nothing but a screeching train-wreck. They also offered zero encouragement to anyone outside their little pack of me-me's. Not even a head-nod or a freaking golf clap to the dude who just killed it & brought down the house? Just because they are not in your clan? Also, both times, Millennials giving the KJ grief. The place is super-crowded, pay attention when you are in the hole, on-deck or when it's your turn & they call your name 10 times. Also if your gonna be a Kareoke Diva, at least don't be a terrible American Idol screechy, outtake who sucks.

I do not despise Millennials. The young-guns at my gym are stand-up, I'm proud to know them & offer help or perspective when appropriate.

Maybe this place is too divey, hipster or in Uptown....so it attracts dbag Millennials.

I'll give this place 1...

At the Uptown VFW last night, playing darts at 1:52am. The lights come on and the bouncer comes up to us and says, "we're closed, you need to leave." We asked, "can we finish our game?" Immediate response: "Are we gonna have a problem here?" ...talks into his walkie talkie and another bouncer shows up. Literally 50 other people still inside the bar not leaving yet..

This type of experience is becoming common. People go out to have a good time, not to be harassed and threatened by giant bouncers because you asked to finish your dart game as the bar clears out.

Based on that interaction, I can probably find another bar to chill at from now on.

(Update 11.05.18) -- Didn't see the response from owner until Google notified me that this review had gone over 1,000 views. I've not gone back, and funnily enough, have not been threatened by a bouncer since visiting this VFW.

Response to owner's comment: The expectation is to not be threatened with violence for asking to finish a game of 301 when there are literally dozens of people still in the establishment. It was very clear that the bouncer wanted to have a problem. We didn't even ask more than once--we literally asked if we could finish our game while the bar cleared out, and he escalated the situation immediately and without need. A simple 'Sorry guys, thems the rules!' would have sufficed. Hell, put the dart games on a timer so the power cuts off at 1:45 AM and forces people to be done. I don't want to further address this; I want a bit...