Uptown Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Richland

I went here on a Friday night w/a friend to have a few cocktails. We got there around 9:30pm, thinking they were only open thru 11pm, but we were pleasantly mistaken! They remained open until ~12:30pm. One bartender was new, the other was familiar w/all the regulars and very confident in her demeanor, so I assumed she's been there at least 6mos, probably more?

My friend was just drinking a straightforward well drink (whiskey-diet), so is relatively easy to make, I was having apple martinis - I wouldn't recommend that choice of beverage there. The new gal made my first one, bein& advised & assisted by the other bartender, it turned out pretty sour still. I had the bartender w/more experience make it herself the next one, but it tasted the same, so, that's why i gave 3 stars.

The ambiance was very welcoming, friendly & not too crowded. We sat at the bar. There are 2 pool tables in the back and I believe the same 2 groups were on the the whole time we were there? So, expect to have to challenge the table if you want to play pool there.

We didn't need to have masks on at all while we were there. I was MORE than okay w/that! I had to finish putting my mascara on after we got here, so wet straight to the restroom & I wasn't able to even set my bag on the sink because water was everywhere. That's the norm for there, it's always been quite the blue-collar type saloon, as long as I've known, so it's a bit musty (from past Indoor cigarrette smoking), the carpets are I need of replacement (but who looks at the carpet, unless they're spilling their beer, right??! Lol!), and the walls are covered w/photos and collages of pictures from events of days gone by, but, all that, to me, is what makes it so welcoming? I ways feel more relaxed in places like that than in uppity clubs or lounges.

They have pull tabs for light gambling, they also serve lots of different types of bar food (traditional fried food and grilled options - they are known for their really good burgers though!), and there is counter seating, high-top table seating and regular table top seating in the back w/the pool tables. I recommend it if this type of place is your cup of tea? If it isn't, don't go there expecting anything else because it's been the same since way before I started going there, in 1989!...

This used to be a standard haunt for me and my wife, and many of our friends. As life often does, things change, life moves on, and your routine becomes different.

This place used to have fantastic burgers, cold beer, and(maybe because we were heavy regulars) great service.

The initial reason we stopped frequenting the Uptown was due to the fact that we no longer lived in proximity to the bar. The reason I no longer frequent the Uptown is poor service, the owners insistence on supporting staff who are controversial and inappropriate, as well as a complete resistance to do anything during the pandemic to even pretend to care for anything but money.

Anyhow, their burgers are still...

When a person comes to pick up some friends from the bar, and they happen to have a well behaved good dog on a professional lead (leash), the bartender threaten the dogs owner. Kinda ridiculous considering said dog never left the sidewalk in front of the bar? Bartender appeared intoxicated, was upset because they had friends who had dog related issues. Not a place welcome to service animals. Quote from bartender to person to service dog on sidewalk " I have bone to pick with you about the animal". THE DOG AND OWNER NEVER ENTERED THE BAR OR BEER...