George's Keep — Restaurant in San Antonio

I wouldn’t recommend anyone to go here because even if you are minding your own business you may be subject to the abusive and use of excessive force by their bouncers. We were having drinks at the bar bothering no one when the bouncer approached the person I was with and told him he had to go. The only thing we asked was “why?” because we were surprised he asked him that since we had done nothing wrong. He did not give us a reason but since it is a bar and they’re entitled to kick people out we stood up and left. As we were walking out WITHOUT being disruptive he simply grabbed the guy and pushed him. As he pushed him out and grabbed him by the arm and injured his arm but he also made him hit his head against the concrete causing him to get a head injury and I’m not talking about a little bump I’m talking about a BLOODY head injury. Not only did they not give us a reason as of to why he was being kicked out since at no point of the night was he being aggressive towards others or being disruptive. After the incident since he was hurt very badly we decided to take him home first and even considered taking him to the hospital since he’s a doctor and his head was pounding he thought he might have gotten a concussion. Later that same night I went back to the bar around 1:00 am to talk to the manager and the bouncer because we wanted an explanation for why he was treated that way. The manager “Tim” said he wasn’t allowed to say anything end pretty much dismissed us. When I approach the bouncer and I asked what happened I just wanted to hear his side of the story maybe we did do something wrong and we were not aware of it. I just wanted a reason for the way he treated us but as he was about to tell me the manager interrupted him and simply said don’t talk to them and he handed me his business card. They know they did something wrong because if you know you’re in the right and took the adequate measures to kick someone out you have nothing to hide. Now this isn’t the first time I experience use of excessive force by the bouncers, I’ve been a customer for years but every time they kick someone out aggressively I just assumed that person did something wrong. Now that I reflect on it, yes it is their right to refuse service to people but it is not their right to kick them out as animals. One time I saw a fight between a drunk guy and the bouncers and yes the drunk guy was doing something wrong but what shocked me was that two bouncers, one grabbed him by the feet the other by the arms swung him and dropped him towards the stairs. At that time I didn’t care because it wasn’t anyone I knew but I know for a fact that is not right. If the person is being disruptive call the cops but don’t take advantage of your power and hurt them in that matter. I’m just completely disappointed in their management because this used to be one of my favorite bars. I just hope a major accident doesn’t happen to someone else for their management to realize they can’t let the bouncers do...

I used to go here regularly years ago, and all the bartenders were great and friendly and made top-notch drinks, which made the price worth it. I remember Miguel specifically being super great. I recently went back for the first time in a long time for their Monday night drink specials on 6/10 (where it's happy hour all day and well spirits are 6.50) and ordered 2 well whiskey sours. The bartender charged us 15 for each drink, which is an 8.50 upcharge for a specialty drink make, which, well, whatever, it doesn't specify anything specific on the menu about that, and it includes more ingredients, so no worries, but the bartender made them with no eggs, and when I asked him to please remake them with eggs he looked me over and curlty told me, without even making eye contact, that he's not going to remake them but he can make them with eggs on the next round, and immediately turned to walk away. I had to follow him and demand he remake them because I wouldn't have even gotten them if I'd known there weren't going to be any eggs. (I've had them there before, so I already knew they would use eggs in them!) Then!!! He poured our drinks he'd already made into the shaker with egg whites and gave them back. Which, yes, it looks better and now has the taste of the foam, but it tastes completely watery, and also, that's disgusting, and I'm paying for a shitty watered-down drink neither my friend or I could even finish because it tasted so crummy. I don't know if its his name or if they use a shared screen to ring in drinks at the bar but the receipt says his name was Night. B. However, apparently if the girl bartender makes your drinks, they will be amazing (she is the owner), so maybe keep that in mind when you go. I think the guy was blond or redhead; it was hard to tell in the dark, but disappointing nonetheless and unsanitary. The girl next to us heard us pissed talking shit when he gave us the remake and then told us that her well martini cost 20 bucks, which she thought was odd since it was a well and she's a bartender at a different bar, and I guess their pricing works differently too in that situation when wells are on happy hour. So I'm not sure if that was just that guy's pricing or what because he also served her. I have never felt inclined to write a review for a place before, but this was also an experience I've never had. Idk, take from it what you will, or maybe just talk to the guy about hygienic practices and not being a complete dick to the people who are paying for the service he's providing. I don't want to pay 15 dollars for a...

Not in the slightest what I was expecting.

My wife went several years before we met, and often spoke highly of George's Keep as a cute, comfortable, cozy bar where she had a great time.

One weekend evening, I went with my wife and a couple friends to check George's Keep out. Immediately ahead of us in line was a hammered-drunk girl trying to explain that her ID was elsewhere and the bouncer turned her and her friend away. So the bouncer was absolutely doing his job, but none of us expected this to be a bar that had a bouncer. Next thing we notice is there's a dress code, which is weird for a bar to begin with; nothing as absurd as a few downtown San Antonio bars' dress codes with arbitrary "no boots" rules or similar. Whatever, none of us were violating the dress code. We went inside, and none of the bar staff looked up or greeted us. Maybe they were busy preparing cocktail fruit and didn't notice us. Again, whatever.

We wandered until we found a booth and sat down to start looking at the drink menu. Several of the cocktails seemed very interesting, with noteworthy mentions containing sake, mezcal, strange juice combinations, etc. We tried discussing the menu with each other, but the blasting club music made conversation impossible.

I don't know why this quasi-English Pub place is blasting club music, but it's distracting from the atmosphere that so many reviews claim George's Keep has, and does not at all fit the quiet, cozy, belongs-in-The-Shire vibe that my wife remembered and described so fondly.

After several moments sitting in the noise, my group decided it was best to leave, and not even attempt to order drinks. The aesthetic of George's Keep is not in keeping with blasting club music, and I know I would have had a bad time had we stayed. I expected peaceful, Lord of the Rings-type music, fully expecting to be transported to The Shire by Celtic tin whistle and lively fiddle music, not accosted by Monsta X, Marshmello, or A$AP Rocky. None of the patrons were club dancing, as there isn't a dance floor. Nobody was jamming to DJ Khalid or Pitbull. The other patrons of the bar were just standing around.

If there is ever a time of day/week that isn't Skrillex or Latto, I'd be interested in returning to George's Keep. But if it's House, Trance, EDM, Hip Hop, count me out. Completely doesn't fit the way this place looks at all. I'm still interested in trying some of the unique cocktails, but not in that environment....