The Old Bank — Restaurant in Russellville

Third time's a charm does not ring true at The Old Bank Sports Bar & Grill. I, like many others, was excited that Russellville was getting a new locally owned place to eat and couldn't wait to have the new option available. Sadly, you can mark this "option" off the list.

Apologies in advance for the rant, long review/story incoming...

Unfortunately after three visits to The Old Bank it's safe to say that I will never be returning and will be recommending alternatives to those who inquire about it.

My first visit went about how I expected it to go. A limited menu, staff that seemed to still be getting acclimated, and average tasting food. Now I'm of the belief that new establishments shouldn't get a free pass just because they are new. If anything, that's when you should be at your best to make a great impression. Regardless, I gave them the benefit of the doubt and figured I would give it another go.

This was a mistake. The second time around was terrible. We were seated around 6:30pm, didn't get to order our food until 7:00pm, and didn't receive our order until almost 9:00pm. The food itself was not good and we received our appetizer alongside our regular order. After this outing I decided that there are other options and The Old Bank just isn't cutting it for me.

Now normally I would not have returned but I was invited by family to have dinner. I figured it had been many months since my last visit and a relaxed dinner with family should be a relatively smooth ordeal. I couldn't have been more wrong. It started when my mother and I went upstairs and sat down at one of the clearly open booths. I soon found out I had committed a cardinal sin when the hostess bee lined straight for us and proceeded to dish out a scolding. "Did you guys just seat yourselves...?" followed by a wagging finger and a condescending "No no no no, these are reserved and you need to go back downstairs and request to be seated, there are others ahead of you." I don't mind being corrected when wrong but to bust out the wagging finger and attitude... I can take my business elsewhere.

Needless to say I was absolutely ready to leave this awful place and go somewhere that a grown man and his mother wouldn't be scolded like children but my family had already arrived so we continued on.

If you want to know what happens next just scroll back up and read about my second night because it was an exact repeat. Seated around 6:30pm, ordered around 7:00pm, food around 9:00pm. Only this time it was even worse. Lots of mistakes, no server to be found, and the food was dreadful (my wife's nachos weren't even fully cooked...)

After watching for a bit and talking with the servers we realized that The Old Bank had decided to cut it's wait staff in half thus the servers were required to do everything including clearing the tables off. Excellent business choice, I'm sure the reduction in employee payroll will balance out all of the customers that walk out due to such poor service.

In the end we were able to voice our complaints to the manager and he even comped our meal so I appreciate that but unfortunately I will never be returning to this establishment again.

I honestly do not like writing such a negative review but I am completely sick and tired of what seems to be a recurring theme in Russellville: poor management and bad service at almost every single restaurant in town. Seriously, ask anyone about The Old Bank, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chili's, etc. and almost all will agree they have this same thing in common. I don't know if it's our town's politics, greed, or just plain bad luck but it's frustrating to have so much potential be squandered.

If you took the time to read all of this kudos to you and best of luck if you decide to try out...

There was a 45 min wait for a table but the hostess said we could sit at the bat and order.. the bartender noticed and greeted us nicely but she continued washing bar glasses. We waited for her and 15 mins into washing glasses she asked what we wanted to drink.. we our drinks and ordered chips and salsa for app.. my husband got the chic bacon wrap and I ordered the broken grilled shrimp dinner. The bar tender brought my salad I ordered but no app for ten min then she asked us if we wanted it. I thought YES. but Chips and salsa should have been before the salad, but no biggie until she delivered my husband's wrap she asked if we need a extra plate. And again I thought No I had shrimp thinking it was going to come out next but when my husband finished his meal. I caught my bartender and asked her to put mine in a to go order and obviously she forgot what I had ordered so I had to remind her it was the broke shrimp. With a salad. She acted as if it was just routine to forget a meal cuz she put in order and went to the kitchen to tell them. The other bartender helped her do the ticket and they were kind enough not to charge me for my margaritas, but she acted like nothing happened so she handed us our check and said thank you have a good night.. Sort of like I said I don't know if that was a routine for her but some advise from one waitress to another , the appetite is comes first then the salad's and the dinner comes and 3rd dessert if there is any comes last .and just a little more advice try using a ticket book so you won't have to keep asking what we had ordered otherwise t otherwise she's really nice and sweet so everything else turned up just fine. It was our 1st time there and I'm 1st time in russelville . So I GIVE THEM A RATE 4 CAUSE SHE WAS NICE AND THE...

Purchased tickets for an event off of the site (eventbrite) the restaurant owner posted. Apparently, according to the owner, the show was sold out and the site allowed tickets to be sold anyways. He told us we couldn’t come to the event unless we paid again (almost $50). When we said we already paid, showed him the site (he used) tickets we had, and the receipt (once again from the site HE USED to sell tickets). He claimed “we got scammed”. I’m sorry… we got scammed? From using the site YOU USED to sell tickets from? When we asked for a refund instead he refused. And still refused to let us attend the event unless we paid again. Told us we had to contact the website to get a refund. When we showed him that the site said “the vendor was responsible for refunds” he talked down to us and was super hateful. Telling us “I don’t need your money. That money is nothing to me”, yet still refused a refund despite our receipt showing we purchased tickets. When it got to a point where we were extremely frustrated (not hateful, loud, or cursing mind you) telling him he was either going to let us attend or give us our money back, he tried to tell us that we had to leave the establishment. It wasn’t until a friend of ours who knew him talked to him that he changed his tune all of a sudden. This was after he left it up to the younger hostess to come tell us to leave.

While we can understand that the website could have made a mistake and allowed tickets to a sold out show to be sold, it wasn’t our fault and we had spent the money. As the owner and host of the event, it is his responsibility to handle such matters with maturity and understanding, in which he did not. We have always previously enjoyed having dinner there, we do not appreciate being treated in such a rude and...