Joyner's Bar — Restaurant in Winston-Salem

After recently moving back to NC, I was thrilled to have a neighborhood bar. I went on Friday, December 3 and HUNTER, the bar manager, was bartending. I waited 30 minutes for a drink, and was not acknowledged or greeted, and the bar was not full. I paid my tab at the end of the night, but did not leave a tip and wrote on the receipt that waiting 30 mins for a drink was unacceptable. Keep in mind, I had been 9 times since September and my average tip was $15 or higher (I pulled my bank statements to ensure accuracy). The next night we went back and I was seen immediately (HUNTER knew who I was the night before - despite the failure to greet or ask for my order for 30 mins) by HUNTER who proceeded to tell me I am "banned" from the bar because I was rude. I told him it's a shame because I love to support local businesses, but I had no choice but to respect his decision, turned and walked away.

I have emailed Herbie Gimmel (one of the three owners) about this situation with no response.

It's a shame Joyner's is treating local patrons as disposable and with...

A Review with Room for Improvement

Joyner's Bar in Winston-Salem boasts a unique concept, drawing inspiration from the historic Joyner's Grocery. While the historical connection holds promise, my recent visit revealed areas where the bar could elevate its overall experience.

Ambiance: Unfortunately, the current ambiance falls short of achieving a truly cohesive feel.

Music Selection: The music played throughout the evening lacked a unifying theme. Transitions between genres were abrupt, creating a disjointed auditory experience that clashed with the intended historical atmosphere.

Beverages: The quality of the drinks was another cause for concern. My [mention specific drink you ordered] lacked the expected depth of flavor and seemed hastily prepared. In Conclusion: Joyner's Bar possesses an intriguing historical foundation. However, the inconsistency in music selection and the underwhelming beverage quality detracted from the...

We waited patiently for 25 minutes at the bar and were never acknowledged by the bartenders. We noticed customers arriving after us and getting service. At this point we just left and took our business elsewhere.

There were three bartenders. It was a Saturday night, and the place was not overly crowded. I don't think that this lack of professionalism was due to snobbism. The staff was just incompetent. We also noticed I bunch of groups asking clarifications about their tabs, so most likely were not efficient at all. Charging $14 a cocktail in a small town like WS, the customer is expecting to get something in return. A couple of hours later (11:00 pm), we walked outside to pick up our car and noticed that the place was half empty. So, understaffing was not the problem. One star from being the first bar in my life that I did not manage...