Courtside Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Ottumwa

Constructive criticism for an establishment that has great food, but they are sorely lacking in customer service from staff…

I am new to the area and I used to be a co-owner at a bar and grill like this.

I have a couple of unsolicited pieces of advice …

When you tell a person a to go order will be ready in 20 minutes, and then you show up and it’s another 20 minutes…

PLEASE give the customer the option of water or a soft drink or some tea while they wait?!.

It doesn’t cost you anything to make sure that they are a returning customer, with just a little bit of effort?!.

Also, don’t tie the 2 Go bag; especially when the meal has taken so long?!.

The customer wants to check and make sure that it’s accurate and then they can tie their own bag…

It promotes empowerment to the customer, and then if there’s ever a mistake, and they get ALL THE WAY home and have to untie the bag…you could’ve prevented that, by allowing the bag to be open at the bar, and you could say, “please check and make sure everything is right”?!.

*The girl you had behind the counter that came on shift late; I called in my meal at 6:15. I got to the bar at 6:40. I did not leave the bar until just after 7 PM.

Do better… Or… The place across the street will put you out of business?!.

I love your food, but your staff needs...

Courtside Bar & Grill is hands-down one of the best weekend spots in Ottumwa if you're looking for a solid nightlife scene without having to leave town. The energy picks up on Friday and Saturday nights with a great mix of locals, music, and a laid-back atmosphere that’s perfect for socializing. Whether you're there to unwind with friends or meet new people, Courtside consistently delivers.

One of the highlights for me is the outdoor patio — it's a great space to chill out, grab a drink, and catch a breath of fresh air without having to step away from the fun. It’s well-lit, comfortable, and really adds to the overall vibe, especially when the weather’s right.

Inside, the bar has a good balance of seating, TVs for catching the game, and a decent crowd flow — but if there’s one thing I’d suggest, it’s adding another pool table. On busy nights, there’s always a wait to get your shot in, and one more would keep more people engaged and elevate the experience even more.

Overall, Courtside Bar & Grill nails it for a hometown nightlife option. Friendly staff, solid drinks, great weekend crowd — and with just one more pool table, it could be even better. Definitely a go-to spot when you're looking for a fun night...

Our waitress took our drink orders for a party of 3…forgot about us, straight up said “sorry, I forgot you guys were here” and laughed. Okay girl…we put our food order in, at this point we have 2 more guests arrive to our table, she didn’t bother to come check on them or ask them for their drink or food order….another 20-30 minutes go by and she brings our food. Didn’t bother to check in on us between that time and asked if I wanted another drink. Would have loved one 20-30 mins ago, said no and got boxes to go. The bar wasn’t even busy at this point, all tables were pretty much empty except the bar which was a bit busy but nothing the other two - three girls couldn’t handle. We usually have an amazing experience here. We come from Illinois to visit family and this has been one of our favorite spots to meet at. We’ve have plenty of great waitresses here but tonight was just super...