Cheers Bar & Grill University Place — Restaurant in University Place

Location = B, Parking = B, Service = F, Atmosphere = D, Seating = D, Food = C, Potential = A

So I've known about Cheers since it first opened, when it was the best, most popular place around. It went through several changes, eventually reaching bottom and since recovered to at least a clean, presentable place. But it fails to pass beyond that.

4 of us came here to have a drink and catch the rest of the UW football game, Saturday evening 11/18. We'd been here maybe a year or two previously and couldn't get served then, no attention to customers.

Unclear target demographic. They have 3 pool tables front and center, nearest the bar. The perimeter filled with booths. Larger booths that could sit six people. But it isolates people not to mention makes the "servers" have to walk 2-3 times further to everyone versus the pool tables where there should be normal tables and used to be rows of pub-height tables.

With booths, there are not tables that people could put together if you had 8 or more friends meeting up. The electronic darts that used to be in the corners are now adjacent to the pool tables and literally have booths behind them so that if/when the bad (or drunk) thrower has a turn they could actually hit someone behind. They have a center shield to help protect from in between the two boards but not over or around the boards, just not smart placement. Just bad layout. Is this a bar n grill or is it a game room? Games are fine but, IMO, shouldn't be front/center.

So our "server", while nice, was just not smart. It was like she thought "Woah, I have actual people here. I need to be professional" and while she tried, she obvious lacked real skills, training, common sense and good judgement. My impression was that she was used to her 'homies' and other young 'dudes' who she can chill with and casually take care of them cuz they don't know better either. She couldn't remember 3 drinks, came back to the table to clarify, took forever to get to us to begin with and then bring the drinks. She took the order for the 4th drink, then came back by and I asked about and she asked if someone took the order. Uh, yeah.....you did! Then took a while to get that one to us. She was friendly and kind of tried, but just lacks serious awareness and skills that Management is ultimately responsible for.

One bartender woman. Two servers and not a full place. Too slow, too unskilled, too unconcerned. I eventually went to the bartender to pay. I waited while she served two girls, then me. She never smiled once. She had to take my ticket over to the waitress window to cash it out, then bring it back to me.

Other details: UW game on, but only a few of the many TV actually had that game on. I think this place likes to promote MMA on tv and that may be their target audience. Prior to that we tried to get into another place, it was PACKED, game on TV roaring, no seats anywhere so we thought just maybe Cheers, with all their tv's would be okay. Nope. The digital tunes box was cranked so high, there was no tv sound, just pumping music (most by Drake) thumping. I mean, come on, game time turn the game up, then when it's done, music is fine.

Also, the tv's aspect ratio's were out of whack so you could NOT see the game scores on all but two. Just shows lack of attention to detail. We joked that we should ask the waitress to "change the aspect ratio on the tv so we could see the score" to which she probably would have passed out trying figure out 'aspect ratio'.

I'm not sure how this place makes their money to stay open. We guessed maybe between 10pm and 2am the younger crowd comes in to pump the music and shoot some stick? And that's fine if it's working. But Maybe you can capture the 5pm to 10pm crowd who want to catch a game, eat and drink and then head home. Why have all those tv's if you're not using them? I hope they do when the Seahawks play, but then what after football is done?

Suffice to say that though it's local for MANY of us, it just doesn't offer an enjoyable experience in a poorly laid out space, with poor...

Taylor was amazing. The other bartender was on the phone knowing full well that I needed service and ignored me to talk to her friend. I called her after ten minutes of this and she told me to wait.

She has been distant and cold regarding service since Taylor had left, and I wasn’t sure why. She then finally deigned to take my order and I had to wait longer on that. After another ten minute wait, I asked her about it was and she accused me (in a deriding tone) of having my order already only to find it being the bar where she’d left after ignoring me again.

She then proceeded to tell me that she remembered me like it should explain something. She said I’d been coming in with a girl she remembered (maybe a friend of hers?). I haven’t been there in over a year, 😂. Likely a year and a half.

I gave her a generous tip when I finally got my drink and she relaxed some, but still regarded me warily. The two stars are for Taylor, this would’ve been a one star without her. I don’t recommend going here if you look like me, you’ll likely be treated poorly for a while. I’m sorry whoever you think I was did whatever. That doesn’t give you the right to treat other people poorly, and I hope you’re having a better night. Likely won’t be back for...

The service was terrible. Our waitress Alex was very nasty and rude the minute we walked in. She asked for my ID and stated that was policy to verify for alcohol if she doesn’t know people to be “regulars” which is totally fine but she didn’t card the person I was with who had never been to this Cheers, which was very odd because if it’s policy why isn’t everyone being identified if they’re not “regulars”. The person I was with could have been a minor (they weren’t) and she would have no clue because she was so busy being rude she didn’t card them. I called to have the owner review cameras on how she only identified me but got no answer. Then she placed a $50 hold on my debit card and was very disrespectful when I asked about the hold. She stated they have to hold the money and the price will be adjusted later. So be aware that they charge your card before you close your tab. I recommend taking cash to this awful place. I give my experience a 0/10. Not to mention the rude waiter tried antagonizing me as I left, while she was standing outside the bar with her I’m assuming “regulars” by making animal noises. I ignored her but she might not be so lucky if she tries that with someone else. Get better...