Babe's of Carytown — Restaurant in Richmond

I’d like to begin this review by acknowledging that babes is one of the few remaining LGBTQ bars and tends to host the most “popular” Saturday night. I always lend my gratitude to an establishment that is dedicated to, or supporting of, the LGBTQ community. However, with one of the few (if only) cash cover bars left in Richmond, paired with extremely rude employees, a hazardous environment due bathroom lines and narrow passages/ heavy foot traffic, nightly bar fights, aggressive security staff and the “babes soundtrack” of the same music played every Saturday night – it leaves one to wonder, are the cheap drinks and Jell-O shots really worth it?

Let me paint a picture of a Saturday night at babes for those that may be interested. You will arrive and likely stand on a line being told the bar is at capacity. While in the line, you may be greeted with, “better pee outside in the alley before coming in, the bathroom lines are way too long! Totally acceptable. This goes on until 1130/12am and then the entire line is let in, paying the aggressive $5 cover for a Richmond bar - greeted by the disgruntled host who is happy to take your money. You then order drinks (bar staff are typically always friendly so that’s a plus), and then make your way to the dance floor. I would like to note that the music you are listening to is the exact same as it has been for years – as if they plop on a playlist every Saturday evening. You may be fortunate enough to get a drink spilt on you as a bouncer carries a patron out of the bar; luckily they stopped serving in glass cups. Around 1:20/1:30 they begin to make last call announcements with lights on at 1:50 – music is off and bouncers and staff are aggressively herding everyone out onto the sidewalk with a seemingly angry attitude while yelling. A specific example of this: I mentioned to my friend that it was freezing and it wasn’t even 2 yet, it would be nice to not be shoved onto the sidewalk – a member of the security staff was apparently listening and fired back - “bring a jacket next time!” – was that necessary? Also, as if there is a coat-check at babes!

Typically you don’t leave a bar angry after having a night out with friends, but after being treated and herded around like cattle it leaves you not only feeling unappreciated, but that you’re truly just profit. Babes seemingly takes advantage of the LGBTQ community and is a cash-cow, concerned only with profits, taking advantage of their competitive standpoint in the Richmond community. Richmond has evolved to have many LGBTQ friendly bars/establishments and sponsored events that definitely make for a more welcoming and overall...

This is my second time coming to this establishment. Today, Stonewall sports had a series of kickball games going on. This bar was a sponsor for Stonewall, and should have known after three weeks of games, that on Sundays it would be crowded, and to be staffed properly, not just one cook and two bartenders. My three friends and I entered the establishment at 4:20 and placed our four burger orders at 4:30. My bf and I placed our burgers on the same check. Our first burger didn't get out till 5:10, then my bf's at 5:15, then mine and my female friend's at 5:30. They mixed up my bf's and mine burger order with well done and medium. My female friend got an uncooked burger bun covered in flower and a side of chips instead of fries. We asked for the manager from a staff working on restock, and she brought us to the bartender instead who was a white female with glasses. At this time, it had started pouring rain and everyone outside had started coming inside asking her for drinks. When we told her our issue with the bun and side and wanted to get my female friend a refund on her check, she just went into the register, gave us $7.00, didn't apologize for the inconvenience and went off to continue making drinks. I wanted to clarify the pricing with the burger since my friend paid $11.00 in total including a soda. She rudely told her that she paid for a $2.00 coke, rolled her eyes as if we were wasting her time, and went off. I immediately brought my issue to the other female bartender who was more professional in listening instead of being dismissive. As a previuos resturant server, I can't condone a high stressful situation with a crowded bar to be the reason a bartender was being unprofessional and dismissive. As a gay man, I was appalled how a female bartender at a lesbian bar would give more respect to speaking to the gay men there then how she rudely spoke to my female friend. Overall review, long wait times, flat soda, a rude unprofessional bartender, a slow cook who doesn't check the food for safety. Only pluses would be if your underage, you can enter the establishment or get alcohol here without being carded because none of my friends or I were today. I don't plan on coming back or recommending...

4 of my friends and I were there on a Saturday night expecting a great time at one of the dwindling number of lesbian/sapphic bars in the US. We left incredibly frustrated and upset.

I tried to order a soda water with lime since I wasnt feeling like drinking yet. The bartenders on the booth side all but ignored me for ~10min as I stood at a mostly empty bar by myself, not on my phone, trying to make eye contact to order. Once I finally ordered, the bartender didn't go to make my drink but instead went and closed out another person and proceeded to chit chat and then forgot about me. I finally got my drink once the other bartender got it.

I then went to go look for our friend who we hadn't seen in 20 min and asked the bouncer if I could look outside for her. I was told it'd be $5 to "get back in" even though there was no line and I was in view of the bouncer the whole time. I ended up paying it since my friend's safety came first, but I still never left the bouncer's view and they clearly saw me just poke my head around the corner to see if my friend was out there.

The last thing that happened before we decided to leave was the worst. I was wearing high waisted black pants and a button up long sleeve black top with a sheer-ish black bra under. I added a picture for context. While dancing, the button I'd done had come undone so I tucked my shirt in to continuw dancing. I forgot about it when I went back to the bar so part of my bra was showing. It'd been fine the whole night and no one had said anything, but the bartender (same one from earlier in the story) looked me up and down and said "you need to button up." There was nothing showing except for part of my bra that'd been showing the whole night. Other patrons were wearing similar tops (or tops with less coverage) and were not being "dress coded." Frankly I felt infantilized in a space that should be safe for me to dress how I feel comfortable (within reason of course).

Overall a negative experience at Babe's. I really wanted to have an amazing time here but that just wasn't the case for me or any...