The Emerson Cocktail Lounge — Restaurant in Reno

Such a disappointment. My partner’s closest friends came into town and I wanted to bring them somewhere special. I saw The Emerson on IG and was in love with the ambiance and super stoked to support a local business that had a female led staff. It was a Thursday night around 7-8pm. We walked in and the bartender said we could sit anywhere. The four of us chose a cute corner table. It wasn’t very busy. I think a table or two was taken and there were a couple people sitting at the bar. The bartender came over and put menus down on the table for us. No greeting, not a “Hi, how are you tonight?” or “I’ll be back in a bit to answer questions/take your order” or anything… plus her vibe was cold and as if our presence annoyed her. If it had been just my partner and I, we would have left at that moment. But we were with friends, and I didn’t want to seem like a pain, so I didn’t say anything. The place is super cute, and we all have worked in customer service, so I wanted to give it another chance. We looked over the menu and chatted about the drinks. After about 10 minutes we started discussing how our order should’ve been taken or we should at least have been acknowledged in a friendly manner. I was embarrassed that I picked this place and said we could leave if they wanted. I noticed the bartender taking a shot with the couple at the bar and then she was just kind of standing there. That made me wonder if she was ever planning on coming back over to our table. There was a man and woman coming in and out from the back discussing something behind the bar. I thought to myself, okay, they aren’t bartending, but they obviously work here, possibly management, so one of them will notice us and say something to the bartender or ask her if we have been taken care of, right? Nope! They just talked to each other and pointed at things. That was the last straw for me. Terrible customer service. I said if no one came over to us by the time I found another place on my phone then we were leaving. And sadly, they continued to ignore us. So, we left and walked about a block away to a bar that had a warm and friendly staff that welcomed us from the moment we walked in. Take my advice and don’t waste...

I did not have a choice but to put one star, because quite frankly I think this it too much. I am here from Miami visiting friends in Reno and I was intrigued with the Menu and pictures of the Emerson. We loved that it was female dominated and the aesthetics of the bar were super cute. We went in on a Thursday night around 8pm, and were able to sit anywhere we liked seeing as it was pretty empty. A waitress came and dropped off menus and left. We looked over the menus, had a few questions and decided to just wait for her to come back. We preceded to wait about 5-7 minutes and saw her greet and serve new people at the bar while taking shots with them, while we sat there waiting to order. There was another gentleman and woman behind the bar as well, but they didn't see at all interested in helping us either. After about 10 more minutes of waiting we just decided to get up and leave. Its unfortunate that the concept is cool, the drinks seemed awesome, but the service just lacked completely. We ended up half a block away at another bar and had an amazing time.

Replying to your Response: It was Thursday the 15th, 2020. We were sitting at the table in the corner that has a booth and two chairs. (there are two windows in this...

I’m a little biased toward The Emerson because their drinks are phenomenal! One of their OG cocktails, the “Hi Bestie,” is my forever favorite. But somehow, I’d never tried their food until now.

We finally stopped in for their Tuesday Grilled Cheese Night and it absolutely delivered. I ordered the Banh Mi grilled cheese, and it was bold, flavorful, and had a kick of heat that admittedly was a little much for me (though I’m more sensitive to spicy). The slaw and tri tip played so well with the melty cheese — a total flavor bomb.

We also shared the Genoa, and it was next-level good. The salty, rich salami paired with the fig jam and gooey cheese with the crisp, buttery sourdough… perfection.

The atmosphere is eclectic and welcoming, with vibrant murals you’ll want to snap photos of. There’s a great mix of seating — from cozy couches to big tables — so whether you’re out with friends or having a casual date night, you’ll find your spot.

Even with it being busy the service is always amazing and we got our drinks and food quick!

Already planning our return for more grilled cheese and definitely saving room for...