Blue Ox — Restaurant in Town of Baileys Harbor

Due to COVID-19, I wasn’t expecting the Blue Ox to even be open. I came here with my mom a couple years ago and enjoyed it so we thought we would give them business. So, June 11, 2020 around 7:00 my mother, myself and my 8 month old daughter sat outside (I didn’t feel comfortable bringing my baby into the bar). The waiter (we don’t remember his name) watched us lift the stroller and carry it to the outside dining area before coming outside and telling us we should’ve sat on the other side of the building outside in the sun. He said to just slather up my son with sunscreen (mind you it was my DAUGHTER, who was wearing pink) and enjoy the sunshine. We politely declined and sat in the shaded area out front. So then he went back inside. We waited for more than 10 minutes before my mother went inside and asked for a menu. He handed us a paper menu. We waited about 10 minutes more and still no service. So my mom went inside and ordered our food to go. It was about to rain so I took my daughter to the car while my mom waited for the food. She went inside and sat at the bar and noticed food in to go boxes sitting on the bar. She sat for a few minutes before the waiter noticed her and said “oh your food just got boxed up!”. Riiiight. Not to mention that our order wasn’t right. We got back to our cottage and the ox burger with everything on it with extra pickles came as a cheeseburger with 3 dill spears on the side with a snack size bag of lays thrown in the box. The best part? No ketchup or mustard packets. Needless to say, we will never be returning to this establishment again....

It's a cool bar, but I got a story to tell;

My uncle and I are playing some pool with some of the locals after midnight and a bartender walks by the table and smacks a ball. My uncle is understandably frustrated and asks him what that was about, but the bartender gets in my 70-YEAR-OLD uncle's face trying to size him up.

A message to that employee: I get it, you want to go home. However, this was the WORST way to go about asking customers to leave. Simply tell us that you are closing and that this will be the last game - We understand that you need to sleep and go home. You had to have your coworkers and regulars restrain you because you were getting so drunk behind the bar and couldn't control yourself in the situation. I actually find it incredibly pathetic that you tried fighting a 70 year old man. Get a grip.

A message to the owner: Your employees are getting absurdly drunk behind the bar after midnight, but you probably knew that already. If I see that same bartender again, I'm not spending my money here and neither will the rest...

Went with the intention of drinking and partying. Left after 10mins or less. The first drinks served were 95% soda, ice, and/or water. There was nearly no alcohol and were ridiculously expensive considering there was no alcohol. The bartenders were not friendly. The other Patrons were obnoxiously rude and tried to start a "fight" because we were the second bachelorette party to enter the bar. The atmosphere just screamed, "dirty dive bar with no redeeming qualities." The decor was overcrowded and made me feel grungy and claustrophobic. Absolutely will never visit again. In fact, this interaction/visit was so discouraging that we went back to the hotel and canceled the rest of our night out....