Bar Botanico — Restaurant in Pittsburgh

Went in to have a few drinks with a coworker. Limited food menu, drinks were fine. At the beginning bartender Kevin advised us to try gin instead of vodka in a drink stating if we didn’t like it he would switch it out. My friend ended up enjoying the drink, ordered 2 more rounds and night was going well. I also at this point had ordered 3 drinks, on our last round ended up ordering one drink I did not like at all. Asked very politely to switch it to one of my prior drinks after just a sip of it. At this point the attitude of the bartender changed and he adamantly refused to switch it out, even though at this point we had run up a tab of food and drinks close to $200 and had been perfectly pleasant. I ended up getting the other drink anyway, because to be honest it wasn’t about the $12 and I like what I like. I’m originally from Philadelphia and moved to Pittsburgh recently. I hate to say this was because of my race (I’m black) but the same bartender was perfectly willing to replace my Caucasian friends drink without her even asking. It’s unfortunate because it was a decent night up until then, and we both have friends and family from out of town that are constantly looking for places to go, but we will not be returning. Drinks were not worth the poor customer service. I have probably only asked to switch a drink out maybe 3 times in my life including this. Pretty...

We were hopping around Butler. Sarah from New Amsterdam recommended we stop here. Worst experience I've ever had in a bar. Because there were 5 of us stopping for a drink, we were suggested a table from the male bartender. I told him we were just stopping for 1 drink, he still suggested a table. None of us wanted to sit at a table. He suggested the chairs that I told him were going to be occupied by the people who were standing at the front door, on their way in, to another customer. I told her people were sitting there and the bartender knew that. He then got very rude and argumentative. I moved my water glass to be in front of my sister in law because I didn't want a water and knew she would. He was angry over that because "we pour everyone water" .... I was just trying to save him from washing an extra glass and wasting his time. He said if I didn't like his service we could go elsewhere. I didn't have a problem with his service, I had a problem his attitude and wanting to sit us somewhere we didn't need to be for a 20 min beverage stop and it just escalated from there. He then snatched up our water glasses and told us we could move along. Sad, we were excited...

Now.... I don’t usually do this... and when I say I don’t usually do this... I mean I never do this. Reviews are for the Karen’s and Kathy’s of this world... complaining about how there was CLEARLY an empty table RIGHT THERE but the KNOW IT ALL STUCK UP WORKING HER WAY THROUGH “college” host wouldn’t seat them because it was “reserved” whatever that means am I right Kathy???!!?!! An empty table is an empty table!!! Walk ins for life!!!! But I digress. With a full tummy, happy heart, and safe/jovial buzz - I walked away reluctantly as the magical doors of this establishment closed lovingly behind me. I couldn’t help but look back with tearful eyes. Tearful from laughter and the pure bliss of good service (take that Karen!) From floor to ceiling this place does it all. Great food, great cocktails, great music playlist, and most important of all, great staff. Smiles all around in this place. It was so fantastic I might just fill out a job application just to be a part of the all those jokes.

5/5 you should definitely visit this place when it opens up...