Palmer Alehouse — Restaurant in Palmer

UPDATE: Here we are... it's now "next summer" and things are still totally sub-par. Staff walking out of the kitchen, frazzled front of house staff, and a general inability to serve multiple people efficiently at once. I recommend the managers spend a weekend at the Creekbend and see how it's done for large crowds. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I have been a patron for many years now and I have a mixed opinion... I go because there's not anywhere else like it in the Valley that offers good outdoor live music. It's a lack of options, really, and that's why they get my business.

Pros: central location, outdoor atmosphere, variety of food offered, good live music Neutral: taste of the food, prices are fair Cons: service is almost always slow, rude, and/or terrible no matter dining in or just getting drinks.

Be prepared to stand in line for at least 45 minutes on a busy night trying to get a drink outside if you don't have cash. Inevitably, I always miss a favorite song because I'm standing in that stupid line trying to get a single beer. It's the most inefficient bar service I've ever encountered (like ONE bartender for hundreds of people) and it's happened to me on multiple occassions there. It's like they don't want my money. The bartender is always swamped and in the weeds and it's not their fault. Service is always lacking whether you're dining in or just trying to enjoy a show outside. Multiple times, they've forgotten food for my party. While they do a great job at bringing in good live music, it has to really be an artist I like to put up with this place. You're better off bringing your own picnic and booze and sitting in the...

I am absolutely shocked at how terrible the service is at Palmer Ale House. My husband and I stopped here after our wedding — yes, I was literally in my wedding dress — hoping to enjoy a nice meal together on our special day. Instead, we were met with some of the worst customer service I’ve ever experienced.

While moving from inside to sit outside, a waitress actually bumped into me. Naturally, I said “Oh, I’m sorry,” and she gave me the biggest glare, scoffed, and just walked away without a word. The entitlement and attitude from almost every server was unbelievable. The one with a blonde braid who works outside, was rude as well and not at all helpful. Hardly responded to us, to the point my husband looked to me and said, “does EVERYONE who works here have bad service or is it just me?”

It truly felt like this place only hires rude, entitled people in their 20s who clearly have no idea how to treat customers with even basic respect. The only exception was a woman with curly hair and a white headband — she was the only one who seemed kind and professional.

The service was so appalling we ended up leaving and taking our business elsewhere. For a place that calls itself a community ale house, they seriously need to rehire people who actually know how to work in hospitality. Absolutely disappointing, and I would not recommend this place to anyone looking for a welcoming atmosphere or even...

I have attempted to love this place. I contemplated long and thought deeply about this review based on several visits.

The GOOD: This restaurant is charming inside, and the bar is long and can accommodate several walk-ins. There is a decent selection of beer, and the cocktails are usually a hit. The exterior seating area is the major win!👌 Well done. The views, the stage, and the fire pits are welcoming and make you want to stay longer, especially on warm sunny days. They also do concerts and are a significant place for entertainment in Palmer.

The SO-SO: Service is a hit-and-miss. Sometimes you get a fantastic server; other times, you get the one that forgets you, and other times the one that's just OK. Really, that's any restaurant, so I am not too upset here.

The BAD: The food. The only thing on the menu that is somewhat consistent is the pizza. Out of the several visits over the last five years, it is so inconsistent that I don't know why I came back for this last visit. The fries were so greasy, the burger that was supposed to be spicy wasn't. The kids' burger is more like a slider, and we felt the server should have advised us that for an 11-year kid, perhaps the burger is just a slider. I can't reasonably come back for the food.

Overall, I'll return for the events, but the food is out of...