Hello Stranger — Restaurant in Oakland

I hate that I have to write a review but as someone who djed here unless you are a resident dj I would suggest stay away from this place. Even as a woman I'd stay away from this place. They do not hold their staff accountable for their behavior and if anything they will jump you. This establishment creates hostile environments. Not like my review matters but in lieu of doing my part in making people aware of what they are getting into, Im writing this. I used to come here all the time, always witnessed fights and ppl getting escorted out, ive never been involved any altercation with anyone before. Even their own staff can attest to this.

I was djing alongside the main dj who was pulled aside, and at the time I got several calls from my friend, I couldn't hear so I went to the bathroom to hear her and all she said was come outside. I came outside and she said she got kicked out of the club(which is the first time I'm being made aware). Why this is important context because everything after that happened so fast. So I asked her what happened and she was explaining to me and one of the bartenders a white chick who was talking to her explaining to her the perspective from the other individuals mentioned that people told her that my friend was aggressive. My friend was like I was only aggressive to some guy who was making a scene drunk but I had no issue. Mind you my friend only had one drink for the night, she lost her voice several days before so she straining herself to talk. The white bartender girl said that apparently some girl said she hit her. She said she never hit anyone she said she didnt have an issue with any girl and was confused and surprised. The girl she was talking about rushes outside on 1000 and says you tapped my nose 🥲. My friend said I didn't touch you, you lie. Well when she said that the other girl who now I found out is one of hello strangers finest managers lost it and lunged at her and tried to fight her automatically. Now my friend loses it and says I didn't hit you before but I will now.

This whole situation escalated so fast. So my job at this point is to try and remove my friend from the situation and I'm thinking the bartender chick will also help on the other side de escalate. not only does she do nothing but security does nothing so now I'm the only person helping. The other main dj is also trying to help and we are literally the only 2 holding anyone back. So the 'manager' went back inside to come back around through the other exit to fight my friend. At this point I'm trying to do anything in my power to de escalate so I told the bartender can u hold that chick back because I'm holding my friend back. She then stands there like a statue and said now we both kicked out including me. And I'm like what I do and I'm one of the djs. She said she doesn't care now I have to go. Now I'm looking at one of the bartenders I know very well and he's trying to talk to her mean time the manager and my friend are on 1000 and I'm still trying to help. My friend did at this point hit this girl because she came around and not a single soul who works at hello stranger would stop her or be like hey just go back inside. How you allowing ur staff to run up on someone who is already kicked out. Make it make sense? After that happened her guy and girl friends try to fight my one friend, one big guy who is tall ran from the entrance to the food spot so she broke a bottle because he is a big dude and she's a size 0. I told him yo you really gonna try hit this girl, he said yeh ill hit you too if you don't get out my way. Other dj guy tries to hold my friend back and the other girl back and I'm explaining to him what happened and he's like no we are going back inside. Eventually cops pull around so everyone is chill and I got my friend I'm an uber home. We go back inside I finish my set Hella uncomfortable.

No one hold the staff accountable. One manager tryna not just fight but jump someone. Getting kicked out for deescalating as a dj is crazy. It's not safe, it's never been safe and...

If I knew knew the name of the so-called bar MANAGER as she addresses HERSELF!!! (What a joke of a title if that is what she is !!!)

Asked the bar man ( as we call them in England) for my drinks order. She interjected without knowing what was going on! (Which was nothing bad. I gave my drinks order. As I am from England as it was loud it was hard for the bar person to understand my order so I write it on my phone, he then proceeded to make my order once he was able to understand what I was saying being from the uk and the way we spk etc. The HORRIBLE, joke, of a bar woman ( I don't know what its pronoun is!) is an embarrassment to the establishment!

As a black patron from England, as I told her when she interjected in a bar order without knowing the conversation that I am from England trying to get fresh Pinapple ad my chaser and her response was to.tell me SO and flash her little flash light to get the bouncers who said ..... I quote, it's what she be doing, BUT you gotta leave before the other bouncers( he didn't say bouncers, he used a different word) come. As I a. NOT i'm drama. I left

She flashed her little flash light to make herself feel important she is what we call in the UK a snide

This lovely lady also charged $40 to my card for drinks I didn't receive!

My account clearly shows I have been charged!

My 1st time going out in Oakland, USA, at this club will NEVER happen again.

If you are of age and want to be treated with respect, I suggest you go somewhere else as the behaviour of the child I encountered behind the bar is/was a joke. This is not what you expect when being beyond polite and respectful of the bartenders, especiallywhenyou are in a foreigncountryand generallytreatpeople with manners and respect . She, however, is a disrespect to the fun time establishment that you are working on building. The environment and energy of events that I have worked in forover 30 yrs!. Working in the industry for some time in our UK and international superclubs, understanding the mass turnover and dealing with drunk patrons, etc. Her behaviour was abysmal and an absolute embarrassment to the club directly as well as to the events sector in general, if i was from the USA my views MAY! (UNLIKELY BUT POSSIBLY BE DIFFERENT....... I will definitely be sure to make sure I pass on how awful the bar staff are here in the hope they do not stand for her terrible attitude and hold her accountable from here on out if they do not already!

You are only as strong as your weakest link ...... For me ...... that Is her!

If I could post...

I finally made it to the Oakland cocktail and dance bar, Hello Stranger. After passing this bar so many times I was amazed by how large this space is. There is a VIP room in the back with it’s own bar. The loft space is fabulous you can look out on to the street from the windows up there but why would you when you have an excellent designed long bar and dance floor below. The raised DJ booth is perfect! This place really checks off all of the things I look for in a drinking establishment in 2020. I took note of the well-labeled and clear back exit in case of an emergency. I was impressed with the diverse, caring and friendly staff. The cocktails are inventive and layered with flavor. I had the “Boom Box” a shaved coconut with Four Roses bourbon ginger & lime soda conncoction. I also had the cannabis flavored “Oaksterdam” cocktail that is flavored with OG Kush terpenes. I took note of the champagne selection, the high-end Japanese Scotch and the Gin. I will definitely...