The Select — Restaurant in Sandy Springs

The absolute worst!! Experience I've ever had here. After a long day, like i have in the past at least 20 times, stopped in after work in my scrubs(vascular specialist), and had a drink at the bar to decompress. This time, the bartenders were less than kind, to phrase it nicely. The blonde bartender looked me up and down as she handed me my menu and walked away. The young man(a POC believe it or not)who worked the bar asked me my drink order and asked if I was dining at the bar as well. I said yes. He then told the darker haired bartender ( I recognize her bc she's always there), to make my drink, he walked away. She did. They each(not the blonde) came back and said are you going to order? It wasn't in an attentive way, it was in a way that made you feel VERY unwelcome. I said not yet. At this time, id literally just received my cocktail and proceeded tontake my first sip. The male bartender stated again as I took a sip of my cocktail, are you going to order? I said , I just need a minute please. (As I felt very rushed to make a selection, when I was there to unwind and decompress from a very long day). I use to be in the service industry while in college, so I am very aware of the demeanor of wait staff when they want you to hurry along. This was very unwelcoming all around. Like I said, id been here well over 20xs in the past. I hadn't been in a while(at least months), and surely not since the bartenders who were working tonight(except the darker haired bartender, who had been there for a while, id like to add she was the most pleasant of them all-no major complaints there). I'm sure no sweat off anyone's backs, but I won't return anytime soon and although I've met many friends there, I'll steer clear of mentioning this place as a pleasant post work wind down, girl meetup, happy hour, date night, or event space in the future. (As id referred many clients here in the past).

My advice would be to treat all patrons with kindness. I DO feel like race was a factor, as one patron who i sat nexr to got up and went around the bar to ait elsewhere, the bartender made eye contact, and it was understood. I honestly felt shunned as a POC. I don't like to use that card but you know the energy when you've felt it, and I most definitely felt it. When you see them smile and be kind and attentive to others, and hurry you along as if your were sucking up their space, you KNOW the energy. Never again! (Also, id like to add, yes there are many waitresses and bartenders who are minorities, but it doesn't mean the individuals who work there don't have tendencies that reflect unfavorable dispositions). My advice for those of color, wear your thick skin when dining at the bar. 10.26.23

Pls also note, I've written an amazing review of this establishment ober a year ago. If you look at the reviews of this establishment, you will see a trend....

This was the worst restaurant experience in recent memory. My friend and I arrived at 6:58 for a 7 pm reservation. We were told that we would have to wait 10 - 15 minutes for our table to be ready. Not a problem. We waited until 7:20. At this point we were concerned because we parked in the free two hour parking spots. We told these concerns to the host who recommended moving our cars to the deck. Ok, it's cold out, but we decided to move our cars to avoid towing or a boot. We came back in at 7:30 pm. Our table still wasn't ready. We were then told that the people at our table were "paying" and hadn't gotten up yet. Finally, around 7:35 pm we were shown to our table by who I would later find out was the Manager.

The server was pleasant. We ordered two French Onion soups and I got the Roasted Chicken. The server asked me if I wanted the raisins that come on the Roasted Chicken. I said I did not as I loathe raisins. It also sounds like the raisins are frequently controversial since she asks when anyone orders the dish. The soup came out and was black on top. I didn't actually mind that so much, but the soup wasn't even lukewarm. So I didn't eat it. The server asked if I would like another, which I declined.

Our food arrived shortly after and there are raisins on my Roasted Chicken. I picked them off, but it was a bit frustrating as I was specifically asked about it. The server did apologize for the raisins once she saw them on a separate plate. Finally, we are asked about dessert which we decline. We get our parking validated and leave.

I get in my car and pull to an exit. Once I insert the validated ticket the screen reads that the charge is $10. The discount with the validation is $6. So I am still required to pay $4. I then try a different exit and the same thing happens. I had to pay the $4 to get out.

I then found another free two hour spot and went into the restaurant to request my $4. Had we been seated closer to our reservation time this wouldn't have been an issue. The host took my receipt to the Manager. He told the host that I did it wrong. He claimed I paid for parking before getting into my car. That was not the case. He claimed he could tell by the receipt. I asked the host to show me where it stated that, but he couldn't. So I had just been called a liar.

After doing several other things around the restaurant the Manager gave the $4 to another person who brought it over to me. She then tried to tell me I had to put the ticket in the machine as I was in my car leaving. I informed her that this is what I had done. Then she said, "well you got your $4". It took everything in me to just walk away. She was wholly unpleasant.

I really have to wonder if this was racism at its finest. I have already told several people to never go here....

I made a reservation for a table on ladies night. I ended up sitting at the bar which was crowded and fun. There was live entertainment and she was great! It was a mixed but mature crowd. No seating was available. They cancelled my reservation because no table opened up but I was fine at the bar.

I started a tab with Lauren I think that’s her name she looked to be of Asian decent and very sweet who I initially gave my card to. She made me a great margarita with grand marnier. I ordered the wedge salad with lobster and omitted the blue cheese for balsamic vinaigrette. It was great but $34 is a little pricey for one iceberg lettuce and a bit of lobster. She then suggested the sticky toffee for dessert. Omg it was mouth watering!!!!!! I will go just for that.

Now here is where things started to go south. I befriended lady sitting next to me and offered to buy both of our next drinks which would make a total of 3 on my tab. Some other bartender makes our drink this time she had a bun in her hair. It was very light in color (grand marnier turns it brown at the base) compared to our first rounds which let us know the grand marnier was omitted. We tasted our drinks and there want even a hint of it. We informed the bartender with the bun that it was not added and she lied to us with an attitude insisting that it was premixed. We told her we didn’t taste and and she literally just turned her backs to us without saying a word. I didn’t want to play the race card but that’s what it kind of seemed like to us. Then another bartender with her hair straight came over and gave us both a shot of grand marnier. We thanked her graciously.

When it was time for the check Lauren brought out my check of $109 but didn’t bring my card so then the other bartender with the straight hair ran it and it was $20 more than before. Now mind you I had already tipped outside of my check. So when I asked about it the bartender with the straight hair told me that I had a tab open before I sat at the bar. I couldn’t believe it. I don’t know if she thought I was drunk or what but after about 10 minutes Lauren was able to wave the extra drink that had been added to my tab.

I had two negative experiences with two different bartenders in the same night here so I would recommend asking for Lauren I think that’s her name to serve you or just pay close attention to what you order and how your drink is being made.

I will definitely return because the atmosphere was fun but if Lauren isn’t serving me then I may just eat & drink before I come. Follow my Instagram @rosadivina29 and check out my foodie & foodie 2 highlights for more places...