1 Tippling Place — Restaurant in Philadelphia

Had been at 1 Tippling Place several times in the past and loved it. Great bartenders (who have sinced left), comfy, cool, relaxed, upscale atmosphere. Great drinks and great selection of alcohol. However, last week I visited with several others for a late drink and had a terrible experience. Typically there are limited tables available but we saw 2-3 open tables. When we entered we were told by one of the 2 male servers ( somewhat rudely for no apparent reason) to wait in the vestibule area and that he would come and seat us soon. Watched this same server, for at least 10-15 minutes, as he chatted with the other male server. Apparently we had interrupted his engaging conversation with his co-worker, and it was apparent that our request to be seated was annoying to him. Was getting very frustrated and spoke with the female server who was very friendly and appeared to be very attentive and apologetic. We explained that we just wanted a quick nightcap or two and we were already waiting 15-20 minutes to be seated at one of tables. She genuinely apologized, took our order and said she would be "right out" with our drink orders (nothing complicated-2 glasses wine and a bourbon straight up). 20 minutes later still no dinks and the male servers still standing around chatting to one another. Eventually we got up and left!! 35-40 minutes of waiting for a single drink in an uncrowded bar-gets 1 star out of five. Deserves 0 stars but female server at least tried to be nice. Before I left I expained why we were leaving. The male servers could care less. The female server seemed embarrassed. I don't believe the owner/manager was present, but if that was my place I would immediately fire those 2 male servers-likely without pay. They would never get a recommendation form me. They were rude and abnoxious and apparently could care less about the business. Acted as if they were doing me a favor by allowing me to enter premises where they worked and more importantly could care less if the business succeeeded as they let customers (we were not the only ones) wait on them. I guesss we should have been satisfied that we were simply in...

I used to be a regular here and always really enjoyed it. It was always a nice space with really solid drinks and bartenders. I’m not sure if this is due to new management or what, but coming in lately has just been an abysmal experience. It’s not the drinks either - those are still solid and the new menu is great with some new additions like the Junglebird, which is made super well. However, their seating situation is just awful. The first time we came here after these changes, we waited almost 30 minutes without being even asked for our group size. Instead, several groups which were assumed to be larger were seated ahead of us. That’s fine, we understand why this might be done, but there were open tables which could have sat our group which we just were ignored for. We came back a second time and it got even more ridiculous. There were several clearly open tables which we couldn’t be sat for because our group was too small. We asked if other people in line could just sit with us so the table(s) could be claimed, and everyone in line was happy to do so, and we basically just got blown off and told to wait. I own a local bar also, I understand management quirks and house rules 100% and don’t blame anyway per-se but at least tell us what the deal is. Even if you’re busy, We shouldn’t have to guess whether an open table can be sat at or not and why/why not that’s the case. Moreso, service shouldn’t be like actively ignoring questions on wait time or seating arrangement. Anyway drinks are still great but you have to...

I came here several times with other employed, respectful adult women of color and had a great time. I naturally picked it for the nice drinks and the cozy atmosphere. It was a Thursday night and we came to pay for drinks and run up a decent tab. Five of us were sitting at a high-top in the bar, and it was loud to begin with, several rounds in, the bartender came to our table and told us that a customer had complained from a nearby table that we were laughing too loudly. This immediately made our entire party feel uncomfortable and silenced, in a space that is loud and serving liquor.

When I asked the bartender why he felt it was appropriate to come to a table of mostly black women and myself (white-passing Latina) and tell us to please quiet down, he told me it wasn't about race and that a customer had complained. When I then explained to him that I had brought my friends to his bar because I had previously come and found it to be a welcoming, diverse space, he told me that it wasn't personal and that he was passing along a complaint.

It is not my nor my friends' responsibility to be quiet or laugh or be joyful "quietly" in a loud, alcohol-serving establishment. The fact that the bar staff felt it was appropriate to pass on another customer's complaint about our perfectly normal behavior is inappropriate at best and incredibly racially insensitive and horrifying at worst. We will...