Watts & Ward — Restaurant in Raleigh

I partially blame the hype that was going around for the Watts & Ward opening for my slightly disappointing visit. It's well known there's a membership fee of $1. This isn't by choice, it's law since the establishment serves no food. I went on a Wednesday around 9PM intentionally, since for the next few weekends it's going to be slam packed with people. There were still about 30 people in the bar, but when I walked in I thought I was in the wrong place. White painted brick, concrete floors, a small bar in the corner. Some nice old leather chairs and couches were scattered around, but it looked nothing like the pictures I saw in the pappers. It wasn't until I went to use the restroom that I noticed there's a passageway into the actual main bar area that's extremely well decorated. A strange contrast, and even stranger that it's hidden away from the bar area everyone enters in. Night club style music was playing through Bose speakers, which was disappointing to me. The fact your underground, surrounded by concrete amplifies the sound and makes it feel more like a college dance club than a classy speak easy establishment. My friend and I got service at the bar, but it took several minutes to be noticed despite there being two bartenders in our area and only about six people seated. We were excited to try some of these homemade cocktails the early reviews had mentioned. My friend asked for a mint julep, bartender informed us they don't have mint. Then he tried for a Moscow Mule, bartender replied they don't have ginger beer. To the bartenders credit he was sympathetic. However, I went to order a Long Island...apparently they don't have the ingredients for that either. The bartender made drinks that were as close to what we asked for as he could, and they were good, but very different. Prices were higher than average, but that was expected. Overall, I wasn't impressed, but I will be going back for another try. I just hope they hold some 1920s themed events, because I'm not really into the loud dance music...

This used to be my go to bar for a nice cocktail. Great atmosphere, good drinks and my favorite bartender works there! I live in downtown a couple blocks away and usually go a few times a week.

A few months ago, one of the bartenders was very rude. She obviously didn't want to be there and was taking it out on the customers. I let it slide because everyone has a bad day and from then on I only went to order from my favorite bartender and avoided the rude one.

Last night my regular bartender had to leave in the middle of making my fiancé a drink and the bartender I had a bad experience with stepped in to finish. She was again very rude. Acted like it was an inconvenience to make our drink. When my fiancé asked for a different shaped glass she threw it on the counter and spilled half the drink pouring it in. She slammed the drink on the counter without a word. I got a little confrontational about the situation because of her behavior and the fact that this wasn't my first bad experience with her. I should have handled it differently, but instead of handling it like a server she was equality as confrontational.

My encounters with this bartender are enough to make me stop going to this bar. I really only go to see my favorite bartender and frankly I can do that at the other place he works instead of patronizing a business that employs people that treat customers like garbage on a...

I visited Watts & Ward for the first time Sunday evening after 6 pm. The staff at the entrance was welcoming. Watts & Ward is downstairs in a basement-like space. Cute space with vintage aesthetics which is very nice and comfortable with plenty of seating. The overall aesthetics of the space and comfortability is a 4*. A few things on the patio seemed out of place but overall a nice space.

This particular evening the bartender in The Mud Room demeanor was not friendly, or enthusiastic. That individual didn't demonstrate good customer service warranting anything over an overall 3* based on my experience. Even the person cleaning off the table didn't engage any.

I had a Hendricks mule, not in a mule cup. The lemon and ginger were overpowering - way too much carbonation. I like that I get more bang for my buck in the tall glass but as a courtesy, the bartender could share they don't carry the copper mules. This would've leveled up the experience. For me, a copper mule cup is necessary for a proper Moscow Mule.

Customer service usually inspires me to return places but in this case, it's the space and others who have enjoyed themselves. I hope to return for the comedy night in the future, hopefully, a...