Ricky's Bar — Restaurant in Victorville

Went last night to cheer for an acquaintance who was performing. Place was busier than I'd ever seen it, and the show was fun.

But, Karen the bartender has absolutely no idea how to make the simplest cocktail.

I asked her if she could make a Manhattan, which is a truly simple cocktail that every bartender should know: rye, vermouth, and bitters, served up (aka chilled by stirring with ice and then strained into a cocktail glass), usually garnished with a cherry.

I knew I was in for a wild ride when she asked if I wanted some sort of cherry flavored bourbon, so I decided to go along for the ride, and see what she served me....

It turned out to be something almost, but not quite, entirely unlike a Manhattan.

She started by muddling two maraschino cherries and two under-ripe orange wedges in a rocks glass, adding a couple dashes of bitters, filling the glass with ice, and adding a jigger of cherry bourbon. Then, she topped it off with sweet and sour mix and grenadine, and garnished with another orange wedge.

The only thing this drink had in common with what I ordered was the fact that she added bitters. Instead of a clean, slightly spicy drink served up, I got an overly sweet concoction with muddy fruit flavors on the rocks.

I have no idea what it should be called (other than a waste of money), but it definitely wasn't even close to...

We (my wife and I) wanted to get out in our new town of Victorville, so we went to Ricky’s. I’m a artsy lesbian from NYC, so my point of reference would never compare to what I’m used to, but for the high desert it was more than fine and I've lived or visited many major cities in the US and several other countries to recognize a decent place for a LBGT person to go. There was karaoke that night. They have a large selection of songs and that night there were plenty of decent singers. The only unpleasant thing was that the DJ or MC was preferential to certain or most male patrons, allowing them to sing 2-3 songs, each go around, several times throughout the night. This didn’t allow for a feeling of inclusion for women or us since we were new and hadn’t been there before. We only submitted 4 songs between us, and waited all night for the 4th song, which we never got to sing; while the same people kept singing again and again. This was a bit annoying, but not tragic- LOL! The pizza was very tasty, and the female blonde bartender was sweet and attentive. It’s clean with 2 pool tables, (free with a drink), has a decent decor for a small neighborhood bar; and lastly, the atmosphere was definitely friendly enough and yes, we...

Went for my first time here, came in, no one at the door , we weren't checked or nothing. Purchased a drink , danced, was there for about 1 hour. The security guard comes up to me and my husband and starts harassing us and being racist against us because we are latino. He didn't stop till he kicked us out , by the time we reached the door the security guard grabbed my husband by the neck , scratched his face and literally asualt us. I will never go back to this place. Racist , discriminated us . I have never been through anything like this in the 10 years me and my husband have been together never ever have I been treated like this at a gay bar. Definitely dangerous, i could of been an under age walking in, getting intoxicated and no security poor management. Definitely law suit experience. I will never go back. This the type of staff they have working here....