The Westerner — Restaurant in West Valley City

I’ve had pretty good service from the bartenders in the past, and I usually go to the bar in the back because they’re always friendly. However, my last experience left a bad taste in my mouth, as did my whole party. I went to a bartender named Dean at the back bar. I asked if she could make a very simple shot. She looked it up and tried to tell me it was similar to a completely different shot. I politely corrected her and asked if she had both liquors for it. She then held one up with an attitude that my entire party could see from their table.

I asked for a shot of Kahlua with Irish cream floated on top—a pretty basic request for a professional bartender. Even I can make it myself at home while four shots deep. She acted visibly frustrated and dumped the Irish cream into the drink, ruining the entire shot. For three $10 shots, I expect them to at least TRY to be made correctly. The whole point of this drink is to make it look like a "baby Guinness." If she had tried and it didn’t look right, I would have been understanding, but it was clear she was upset and took it out on my shots. She looked up the shot so she knew what she handed me was not correct. There was no rush, as no one was behind me at the time - absolutely no reason to not make the shot right.

After the interaction, I was very disappointed in both her service and the incorrect drinks. I decided not to leave a tip due to the poor attitude and mistake. I have never not tipped before, but in this case, I simply couldn’t. Then, she shouted at me from behind the bar as I walked back to my table about not tipping. Tipping is not a guarantee—it’s earned. If I’m treated poorly and the drink is made wrong, I’m not going to reward that service with a 20% tip (which she was yelling at me for). If I acted like that, treated people poorly, and made a mistake on something that simple at my job - I wouldn’t expect a bonus.

I understand mistakes happen, I can empathize with being overwhelmed on a busy night, and I get that people can have a bad day, but shouting at a customer from six feet away because your poor service earned you a 0 on the tip line is completely unacceptable. She chose to work in this industry. You reap what you sow, and if you can’t handle the consequences of your actions, maybe a job in an industry where your livelihood depends on providing good service isn’t the best fit for you. Treating customers with respect when they are being respectful to you in the first place...

I loved this place until about two weeks ago and one incident makes me question everything. This place offers free entry for military card holders. It is not really advertised but a couple years ago the door person told me. Two weeks ago I was stopped because I "only" had a "spousal" military ID card (That is not really a thing) But whatever... I clarified with James, the Customer Service Rep that night and he let me in for free as usual. I then messaged the owner (Jason) on facebook about that incident. He seemed very apologetic, respectful and kind. He promised me that it won't happen again and his club offers free entry for military ID card holders. Last week I went back again and entered the other line for payment because I did not want to be embarrassed or stopped again and again I was told that I don't have the privilege because I am a military spouse. I was embarrassed and I told the guy about the conversation I had with Jason. He then called someone and Tim another customer rep came out and gave me the thumbs up for free entry. I went again on facebook and advised the owner Jason that it happen again. He disputed the time it took from me entering the club to getting in the club. But that wasn't really my concern. My concern was that I was stopped again, that I was embarrassed, that I had to ask again and that other military ID card holder may show ID and still have to pay because they dont' push back like me. Jason was not nice in the second conversation on facebook practically told me that I can't be feeling like that, it didn't take long, and he doesn't need my business. He failed to acknowledge that he told me it won't happen again, he told me that the club is free to military ID card holders and that I was only asking for clarification because some establishments are only free or discounted for active duty military ID card holder. So I guess I don't need to go there anymore. I was more shocked how mean Jason got from one week to another only because I reported it again. In the mean time I had great relationship with some of the waitresses even after they quit. Country Music isn't really my thing but I love the dancing and I love watching the gifted dancers in there. I really liked Kaleb Austin as the band but he doesn't play anymore. I love that the place has so much room. That there is an acceptance in there for everyone and that I can learn there. But I was clearly instructed that my business is not welcome anymore and it's...

Me and my group of 18 people went here to celebrate my little sister’s graduation. Everything was fine until the bar tender DEMANDED a tip after being tipped out several times by many people in our group of 18!! My sister barely turned 21 this year and was thrown off guard when this happened to her, so I went to talk to the bar tender and told her that I would appreciate it if she wouldn’t shove the machine back into my little sisters hands and told her with attitude that she “only work for tips and if she didn’t get her tip then she would refuse to serve her” (unfortunately, my little sister was the graduate and the only reason why we were all there so it definitely made me feel some type of way that she was being talked to like that) I literally could not believe she said that and then the bar tender was upset with me when I confronted her about talking to my sister like that. Never in my 31 years of life have I ever dealt with a server like this or ever had anyone DEMAND a tip! I understand bar tenders and waitresses depend on tips but unfortunately you’re not going to get one EVERY SINGLE TIME and that’s just facts. If you want more money then you should probably get a different job that guarantees you the pay you want.

Other than this we had no issues with any other server and gladly tipped out the other ones who were kind, doing their jobs, and not DEMANDING my little sister to tip them out or they would refuse her service! Mind you the waitress serving our table was getting tipped all night and when we were waiting for our drinks or food some of us would go to the bar closest to our table where we had to deal with THAT bartender. Writing this sounds like a joke but unfortunately it’s not. I would have liked to give a better rating but this interaction alone ruined the rest of our night and the bar tender should put up a sign next time saying that she “only works for tips, or will refuse...