El Hefe Scottsdale — Restaurant in Scottsdale

Random discrimination has been an ongoing issue in the state of Arizona on top of an already existing and prevalent religious, ethnic and gender-based discrimination. On a casual Sunday evening (4/27/14) after participating in a golf tournament at a nearby resort, a group of us decided to visit one of our old and frequent spots to drink and eat. One of us got told by a bouncer that we could not enter due to having cross training shoes on with red laces (New $125 shoes that were worn by a member of our group to play golf since he couldn't locate his proper golf shoes). Our group had mostly professionals in it with tech geeks, doctors, attorneys and small business owners etc...and we were ready to spend after a rough work week (you get the idea). The bouncers themselves were wearing cheesy vans/converse looking shoes on without socks while letting in people ahead of our group that had a myriad of odd looking attire and shoes on such as tang tops, flip flops and skater looks (which I have nothing against, but used as an argumentative point of comparison to no avail). We had just closed out a $1,200+ tab at a nearby bar (Hi5) and we were ready to step it up even more with multiple table bottle service and appetites to boot for over 15 people. Later on, an additional employee/bouncer came by to see what the commotion was about and offered to let everyone in if we bought bottle service right off the bat and agreed formally to the purchase before entering (I am thinking this bouncer was hoping for his commission for an "up-sell" to table service which reminded me of dorky Verizon employees inside their official stores when trying to get us to buy more). This was a highly distasteful add-on to the already bogus scenario we were involved in. Half of our group consisted of business owners also and didn't get the concept of how people were "chosen" to get in. If well dressed professionals ready to spend at the bar isn't enough, then good luck to this bar thriving. We understand common reasons to not let people in if there are gang affiliations, drunk and obnoxious patrons, etc. but we are the polar opposite. Consider a boycott from us at this location and the Mill Ave. location in downtown Tempe especially since we send so much traffic to the Tempe location from our hotels that my group owns in the area. The Hefe staff may get a kick out of having a power trip, but in essence they're young, unappreciative blue-collar employees that were not screened properly during hiring who are working for a temporary business not having a clue as to how things work...

THIS PLACE WILL TAKE YOUR CASH AND STILL CHARGE YOUR CARD.

I go to Old Town on a weekly basis; I am young and love to have fun, who doesn't?! I have never had any issues in old town until my birthday bash at El Hefe. My friends and I wanted to get a table with bottle service because hey, you only turn 26 once. Now, I knew gong in how much the table was, I brought the cash along with my friends who were pitching in too. However they wanted my card to hold the table, which left me a little anxious, I told the manager "Don't charge my card, I have cash for this table" he understood with a head nod and said "of course." I am introduced to our little petite blonde waitress/bartender, I also tell her "Bring me the check and I'll pay for this table with cash, just do not charge my card." She understood and said "Okay, no problem." As the night goes on and drinks are pouring, our waitress gave me the bill with my card and ID, I gave her the cash, didn't sign anything, told the waitress, "Here is the cash" and she left, didn't see her the rest of the night. Saturday morning I see a charge on my card for $254.50! So she took my cash, along with all my other friends who pitched in and still charged my card. I called the bar, no answer. Disputed with my bank... big help there _ ... and now I am here, warning you, fellow yelpers, that there are plenty of other bars in old town, mill avenue, desert ridge, west gate, and downtown, just as good, not as crowded, and not a huge rip off from any bartenders or managers.

Am I bitter? ... Yes ... Will this stop me from having fun? ... No but if I can prevent another person getting ripped off like I did, well this post was worth it. Good luck! Be safe! and check your bank accounts in the morning, just in case ;)

Oh and almost forgot, Ryan Hibbert (managing partner for the El Hefe, Whiskey Row, etc) I will be posting on multiple review sites to bring awareness of the service these bars are giving. No one likes to be taken...

Bottle service for bachelorette

We hadn't made plans before going out in downtown Scottsdale (not something I recommend, especially during COVID), and found ourselves in line at El Hefe. It seemed bleak, but because we were a bachelorette party, people were courteous and shuffled us to the front of the line where we found out we couldn't get in without a table reservation. Given COVID, that makes sense.

Fortunately, they were able to get us a table right below the DJ booth, which, if you're a bachelorette, is one of the best places to be. The music was great, our servers took good care of us, and security was helpful, despite the COVID regulations that required us to stay seated. They were patient with our party and kindly reminded us to sit as girls kept getting up to dance, they let us sit on the backs of the couches, and security even removed a handful of creepy guys who tried to crash our bottle service.

It's a hopping place, so I'd recommend booking tables if you're going while the pandemic is in place. It was $1000 minimum for us, but we were there during spring break when demand and prices are going to be higher. With 10 of us in our party, $100 a person for bottle service in Scottsdale during a busy night isn't bad at all.

We all talked about our night for the remainder of the trip and all of us said we'd love to go back and do it again. They do lock their bottles, and I've seen comments of people being annoyed by that, but as someone who formerly was a cocktail waitress, I wish we had done that. It prevents people from getting sloppy or spilling the liquor everywhere or passing the bottle between people in your party (which is obviously a COVID no-no). All in all, had a great time and would definitely...