Asti — Restaurant in Santa Cruz

I was recommended this bar by a local bartender and decided to check it out. My first visit was on a Monday night with a friend—we played pool and had a few drinks. Besides getting a nasty gash on my hand from a broken pool cue, the experience was just okay. The bathrooms definitely need some attention.

A week later, I came back on a Saturday night with a few friends, expecting a better experience, only to be completely disrespected by the same bartender from my first visit—the tattooed lady behind the bar. The first night, she was fine. But the second time around, my experience with her was completely different. She seemed faded and possibly on something stronger than just alcohol. She was drinking heavily and smoking while on shift, and her attitude was unprofessional and disrespectful.

What made it even weirder was that she was totally getting along with my friends, but for some reason, had it out for me when I had barely even spoken to her besides ordering my drink and asking for a bandage. I came in as a paying customer, tipping well and being respectful, but apparently, that didn’t matter.

I won’t be spending my money at a place where customers are treated poorly by staff. If you want a bar that values its patrons, look...

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME. From the minute we walked up to the door it was apparent that this bar only digs regulars. We know bars close at 2 am in Cali but the bartender at asti on the 17th/18 of July decided to close minutes before 1 am after being called ahead of time saying that he is still taking customers til 2. When we show up there are chairs flipped and 2 people sitting at the bar saying (we don’t take reservations) as the bartender is laughing behind the bar. I get it.. peeps in the service industry wanna get the F home but don’t waste people’s time and laugh at them because you misinformed them. Enjoy your lame private party bro.. Glad we didn’t spend our money and we all thought that chunky girl at the bar was...

Went to go to the asti with a couple of my friends. I am a senior attending UCSC and have been to this bar a handful of times, never had issues. But on this occasion the bouncer at the door 'decided' my ID was fake due to me being from New Jersey. He then proceeded to 'test' me and asked what the capital of New Jersey was, which I answered correctly. Apparently that wasn't enough, and he asked what two football teams play in NJ. I don't watch football, and I told him that the only team I knew was the Jets. But he was so convinced of my ID being fake that he had already made up his mind. I asked him to scan my ID and look it up but apparently the only check you get is the bouncer's...