Kraftworks Taphouse — Restaurant in Salem

Easily one of the worst bars in Salem. I've had two miserable experiences at Kraftworks, with the most recent one happening yesterday. My license expired at the end of May, and due to COVID, the Oregon dmv is not currently allowing people to come in and get new ones, and has granted a statewide exception to allow expired IDs. I have had no issues at liquor stores, restaurants, grocery stores, or other bars because everyone is aware of the rule.

While at Kraftworks, before even being greeted, the bartender demanded to see our IDs. She said she did not feel comfortable because my ID was expired. I explained the exception that by the was made by the OLCC but she was indifferent. I asked her to look it up, because as a server and employee at a bar, part of your job should be to know these things. She refused and said she can't serve us.

It is concerning that 1) an employee whose job involves serving alcohol is not competent enough to know the rules and that 2) her lack of care and customer service reflects the feeling of the entire establishment. If a business is not educating their employees on things like this/and their employees are either too stupid or indifferent to care, imagine what other corners they are cutting on sanitation/licensing/food handling etc.

Regardless, fortunately I was able to was able to walk just a block a way to a bar which had no issue accepting my ID (because there shouldn't have been one). Kraftworks, please either hire more competent people or do a better job on...

So a few months back I decided to stop in. I got 1 beer. A corona. I was charged $22 and didnt notice until after it was charged. Cause i matched with the bartender on a friends app i just decided to not say anything and just swore off ever coming back.

Then my friend got married last week and that's their spot. So we all went after the wedding. We waited 20 minutes. The average wait time to order is 10-15 minutes EVERY TIME. It sucks. I dont understand why they only have 1 bartender working when its always busy there.

Yesterday I decided to try again. Waited 10ish minutes. And decided to order 2 coronas for me and 2 coronas for my friend. because of the wait time. She was with me waiting. Not liqour drinks.

Then was told no they cant do that because of olcc. As somone who has my olcc and been in the food industry for the past 10ish years I know its 2 drinks at a time. But maybe the law changed??? I didnt wanna agrue so I just accepted it. I later looked it up. And yeah no YOU CAN get 2 drinks at a time. They just didn't want to or are uneducated on it.

Basically I dont have fun everytime im here. And the wait and lack of bartenders is the biggest issue.

The only reason I would ever come back is for...

If you're looking for a bar with a great atmosphere awesome staff good and/or extremely spicy food maybe karaoke on a Tuesday then you definitely need to check out kraft works.

The food: I am a feen for spicy food and I hope you are too if you're trying anything with the "send it back sauce" smokey spicy and delicious they've got the hottest wings, Mac & cheese, and tacos I've ever enjoyed.

Drinks: they have a bit of everything from porters to ciders and sours. I was shocked and extremely excited to have found Claim52s THICC.

The staff are all great with wonderful customer service the bar tender Kat makes amazing cocktails and mocktails so anyone can enjoy being out. The cook Eric is great he occasionally does homemade desserts that are to die for.

The owner is as good of a cook as he is a business owner. I was lucky enough to try his first Nashville hot chicken sandwich and it was to die for and done properly with a seasoned bath. Thick Juicy Crunchy with a heat that slowly builds up to a mouth watering hot oil dripping mouth orgasm. ...