Serenata — Restaurant in Washington

Am visiting for a business trip and decided to check it out after a good review from a colleague. However when I went I asked if they had any chips and guacamole so I could enjoy and sit down. She said no which is ok because I can’t dock you if you don’t have food. I gave it 5 stars because I didn’t get their food. However the women working there has a terrible attitude and when I asked if I could have the NON ALCOHOLIC agua fresca with water instead of club soda. She said she can’t change the recipe of the drink and would only make it that way (I’m a bartender and a good bartender would be able to change a drink to a person’s preference. Which is very easy. Switching carbonated water with still water). The bartender, a girl with brown and green hair was literally on her phone in the middle of business - showing them as a company cares too little about their self image. She then made me pay before even making my drink - first red flag. After my drink was done. I tasted it and it tasted like straight alcoholic wine. I couldn’t drink it at all - second red flag. I then went to the bartender and asked if I could have it to go. But she then said in a rude tone that they don’t give out plastic cups. I then said it was non alcoholic but she didn’t care. I said you could take it back because I am not going to drink a drink that is supposed to be refreshing. Not taste like straight alcohol. This place didn’t do anything after I took one sip. This place has bad customer service and if you want a great atmosphere, drinks and food. Stay away and go somewhere else! You won’t regret it.

UPDATE: I went back to the bartender and I asked her what she put in the drink. She said that it was strawberry syrup, lime juice and club soda. But as a bartender myself I, the drink should taste light but refreshing with the syrup being sweet and the lime juice bringing bitterness - almost like a light and fizzy strawberry limeade. Not alcoholic tasting. I also told her again I didn’t like it but she basically looked at me like you should have liked the drink because I’m not giving you a refund. Bad customer service and if the owner wants customers to come in, hire a personable and pleasant person who strives for good...

I’ve been to Serenata multiple times and have always enjoyed my visits. The drinks are consistently great — creative, flavorful, and well-crafted. However, I have to say that the last time I visited, my experience took a turn for the worse.

We approached the bar to order drinks, only to be met with an extremely rude bartender. She responded in a very aggressive manner, informing us that they were closed for a private event. While we completely understood and had no issue respecting their private party, her attitude was uncalled for and frankly, quite off-putting. Her demeanor overshadowed what has otherwise been a positive experience at Serenata.

It’s worth noting that if the service isn’t welcoming, the main draw — great cocktails — loses its appeal. The atmosphere, while lively, still has a bit of a mall-food-court feel, which doesn’t quite match the quality of drinks or service you’d hope for at a reputable spot in DC. Given the many excellent cocktail bars in the city, I’m hesitant to return after such a disappointing encounter.

In summary, while Serenata has been a favorite for me in the past, a single negative experience can be enough to change that. I hope they take customer service feedback seriously, as it’s a crucial part of the overall experience. For now, I’ll be exploring other venues in DC for my...

Weird… This place charged me extra for ice lol Molecularly it’s the same, frozen H2O is frozen H2O, why does it cost more for 1 large ice cube as opposed to multiple small ice cubes. Then when the drink arrived the ice was towering above the rim of the glass to such a degree I had to dismantle the apex of Mount Kilimanjaro before I could take a sip. In fairness the tall light-skinned guy with the Dredz made a decent tasting “Rye Old Fashion” so I tip’d an additional 5bucks. But additonal ice-size charges seems petty and kinda tacky.

Certain types of places around here (Union Market Area) namely this place and “Union District” on 5th & Morse have the most random charges. “Union District” charges an additional fee for using a card… it’s like 6 extra dollars if I’m not mistaken. There must be a common denominator and I have a hunch it’s … dare I say it… I’ll digress.

Actually I won’t: These Black Owned or Managed businesses … it’s like guys/gals/aliens or whatever you identify as, we are here to support but you turn us away when you operate from such a poverty stricken operandi. Do ice-size charges really push you into profit? C’mon (wo)man. Cold part is, you only pull this with select customers… Not going down that...