Unfortunately,I never did get to experience the wine & cheese tasting. This review is for a customer service interaction over the phone with JOHN. My daughter gave me a Groupon for 4 as a birthday present and I called on Dec 13th to find out the Saturday schedule for Jan & Feb (Groupon promo expires 2/23/19). John informed me that the next months schedule comes out on the 15th of the previous month and that there is limited Saturday availability if using a Groupon. When I said that should be indicated on Groupon.........he couldn't have become any nastier, of course when I confronted him about the attitude he accused me of having the same (which up until that point, I did not). He went on to yell at me that they don't need my business and to call Groupon to get my money back and then hung up on me. ***UPDATE: Robert (the owner) got back to me and could not have been more professional or kinder. To quote Robert, "my name is on the door therefore, so is my reputation". I am now looking forward to my wine & cheese tasting. read more

Cheap and rude place. The worst possible wine tasting! Cheesy, cheap place, bar wannabe with a rude owner who know as much about wine or wine tasting as my 10 year old. I didn't expect much, friends invited us through a groupon deal of $40 for 2. When I asked him "can I have more wine" he told me "how about please". Obnoxious! Then he crudely tried to apologize telling me it was a joke. The wine retailing at $10 at best was the worse wine I ever had. Half of it was not drinkable. He served if you can say that cheese pre torn in wine glasses with tooth picks to fish them out of. Avoid at all costs! read more

So let me start off by saying the class me and my girls took was the sangria making class we redeemed off of Groupon. We went there for my bday in October and it was very nice we had a lot of fun. Rob the owner was very nice etc. The reason for the 3 stars is because my friends and I ended up winning a free little bartending class for a Saturday morning, which we were excited about and thought was nice. Long story short we booked for a Saturday in November but due to COVID issues we had to cancel. I call him today and he's like it's not available to us anymore for free like we won and he will give us a discount on the class etc. Mind you we never got a certificate or anything saying we could redeem a free bartending class etc. which most places would give you and I already thought that was strange and I did ask about this. He told me to just call with a day and he would work with us. I just think this is very unprofessional and inconsiderate especially during these times to do that. Would I recommend this place sure like I said it was nice and fun but I don't agree with what he did, I was very disappointed in how he handled this and so are my girls. read more

This class was soooo fun and so helpful. I loved learning how to make the drinks! Rob is the best. 10/10 would recommend to anyone!

Bar Academy 101 is the absolute best. The owner is amazing- seriously. We've been there for a beer tasting and a wine and cheese pairing. We recently bought another beet tasting. The attention, detail and information is great. This place should have an overall 5 star rating on yelp. Rob makes the experience awesome, and he really knows his stuff! read more

I've heard about this place for some time now, and glad I finally went with a couple friends who had a Groupon deal. This is a bartending school which also runs classes on beer and wine pairings. We attended the wine and chocolate class led not by Robert the owner, but by Boris, a wine consultant who really knows his stuff. For about 3 hours, we got a lesson on some different wines and the types of chocolates they pair well with, all while sampling them along the way. A packet is provided which explains everything that you're eating and drinking. While the class itself is general, Boris was happy to answer any and all questions on the products down to some very specific details. I also appreciated that they tap into local businesses for their products, so anything you try can be purchased locally. I felt that overall it was good fun for a Sat night, very informal, and very intimate seeing that it's a cozy space and only allows for a few small groups to attend at a time. Nothing crazy. And there was plenty of time to just schmooze and chat with friends without feeling any rush or pressure. And yes, you should go with friends since groups sit separately, and you probably don't want to be hanging out on your own. I think it would be nice if they could find a way to have separate groups interacting more. I would also love to see more classes or activities here (I was sad to learn they nixed their wine and cheese pairing.) I hope to come back and maybe bring my mom or other friends too. read more

So. Much. Fun. We made an impromptu decision to attend a wine and cheese pairing tasting on Sunday morning for Sunday afternoon. I called to confirm availability and Rob, the owner, said there was an opening for two - perfect. We were able to use a Groupon and Rob made it so easy to register. The class was a blast. Rob is energetic and engaging with everyone. We had great additional discussions about wine and beer and Rob even gave us a couple samples of beers that he includes in his beer tastings. We've been to lots of wine tastings and pairings in both the US and Europe. This was a wonderful way to spend a couple hours on an unbearably hot Sunday afternoon. Thanks, Rob. read more

Attended the wine and cheese paring last Sunday. It was awesome. The wine pouring was generous and the cheese accompaniments were perfect. It was interesting to taste the difference of the wine after the cheese. Loved it so much we are going back for the Sangria class! read more

We went here last evening for a wine and cheese tasting. One word: "awesome"! A hidden gem in Montclair for sure! The atmosphere was great and Rob (the owner) made sure we were comfortable and enjoying the evening. Rob was very personable and engaging. He was quite knowledgeable and informative about the wine and cheese pairings. We are planning to return for the extended bartending and sangria classes. Again, a great evening! Thanks again Rob - see you soon! John and Camille read more

Came here for Valentines Day! The hubby and I did the wine and cheese tasting and it was fantastic!!! It's such a cool atmosphere so chill sporty fun! Not boujee and stuck up! The owner I want to say his name was Rob was superrrrr knowledgeable and friendly! I absolutely loved the cheeses and they don't give you one two pieces they legit give you a whole tray to keep tasting as you go. The tastings aren't just one sip it's a nice pour where you can actually taste sip taste. I really enjoyed our time here don't miss out!!! read more

Experienced the wine and chocolate pairing class on a Friday night through a groupon deal. Had a lot of fun. The class was roughly 8 to 10 people. Groups were broken up as you had booked - so there was a table of 4 and a couple of bars set up with two people on each. No real interaction between groups so bring friends you want to talk to! Be prepared for a fun, low key, relaxing evening. This is not an educational class. Although descriptions are provided, there is no large introductions or discussing the wine or chocolates. All the wines are available locally which is a nice plus if you find something you love. Rob, the owner, is a friendly guy and has set up a nice place. Just pour, nibble, drink, and enjoy! read more

Robert is a great host! My fiance and I got a Groupon for a wine and cheese tasting. It was a blast talking with the host and the other guests in this bar-ish yet welcoming atmosphere. We will definitely do another event at Bar Academy 101! The Sangria making class sounds divine! read more

Bar Academy 101 - Bartending Schools Near Me - Verona , New Jersey

Great little place in a great part of Montclair. Rob, the owner, is a really cool guy with a lot of knowledge and great set up for the school. My friends and I took a sangria making class and it was a lot of fun. We got our own bar to 'tend' and serve drinks to the other people in the class. We learned tricks about pours and which liquors went best with which wines. Plus, when you're done, you can hit the taco place across the street -- delish! read more

Did the Saturday Sunday course. You should plan to be there from 10am until about 4 or 5pm. There is a break for lunch and a ton of restaurants in the area. Parking is not that great though - but if you are familiar with the town, that's just a given. Pretty much the usual run down on drinks. Rob teaches some stuff, but the best part of the whole thing was being able to get behind the bar and practice making drinks. I wish I had more time doing it. Hopefully you end up in a good group - they are the ones that will give you good feedback and help you with what you are doing behind the bar. I got the $100 groupon. It was worth it for that cost. read more

I've been meaning to write this review for months now! I found this place through Groupon in the summer for a craft beer tasting session. I must say the whole experience was absolutely great. Rob was very kind, informative and easy to communicate with to reserve a date even during the holiday time which I appreciated! The place was small but very cozy and the whole experience was overall wonderful. The beer selection was unique and even had my favorite Ithaca Beer Co. selections! I had a great time and would definitely come back again :) read more

Bar Academy 101 - Bartending Schools Near Me - Verona , New Jersey

Great experience!! My friends and I did the wine and cheese tasting which was amazing. We honestly loved every wine poured in our glasses. Robert, the owner was very friendly, fun and he definitely knew what he was doing and talking about. My friends and I plan on going back to dry all the different tastings. Fun experience! read more

My best friend and I came to the wine and cheese pairing with Rob on a Sunday and had the best time. Rob was so knowledgeable about the wine and was amazing at his job. The wine selections were great and the pours were heavy (take an Uber!) It was a great way to spend a Sunday. We can't wait the bourbon tastings in the future! We would also love to see a dog friendly event! read more

my experience was really less than A-OK, but I cant bring myself to give only 2 stars. we were gifted a wine and cheese tasting. low quality wines, and a plate of shoprite inspired cheese. my date had fun, just going out and sipping the wine and eating the cheese (no crackers for the cheese ! WTF !) i expected something more than just having the stuff dumped in front of me... AND IT WASNT CHEESE PAIRED WITH WINE !!! It was just a plate of crappy cheese to eat while sipping $5-$7 bottle wine. They were not paired in any reasonable sense of the word. maybe you just get what you pay for. it was a groupon gift ... read more

I've been here PLENTY of times and making the trip from New York is worth it every time. You can't go wrong with any of tastings or classes you choose because they are all hosted by Rob, who is very knowledgeable and one of the most friendly and genuine people I've met! read more

A little about me: I'm a 21 year old college student from bergen county with no experience as a bartender, but I thought to myself, "It's a skill I could use in the future and make some extra cash." However, I don't know much about liquor, cocktails, shots, etc. because I rarely drink alcohol. I've never even ordered a drink at a bar other than soda. That being said, I searched groupon, living social, and amazon local for a bartending class, made a list of all the classes that would take in a beginner like me, and compared the reviews. I chose Bar Academy 101's bartending class because the reviews were and still are 4 and 5 stars (google it for yourself). After taking the class I can say this... A little about the class: In my opinion, if you are looking for a basic introduction to bartending look no further than Bar Academy 101 in Montclair. I say this because the class is 25% lecture/discussion (vocabulary, going over bar area, proper etiquette) and 75% hands on learning which is the best way to learn this craft. Like playing "pretend bartender", you get behind an actual bar and experience what it would be like to take an order, find your ingredients, and serve it while doing your best to make it look easy. The teacher, Rob, is genuine, knowledgeable, and pushes you to do better, which one might dislike, but hey, when will you hear a great bartender say their job is easy? Cheers! read more

This hands Down was a great experience! Rob is Amazing I Know a thousand people probably said this already, But No trust me he is a-ma-zingggg. He makes sure your understanding the information given, then he makes u do hands on things at the bar. Great Space, Environment and People. Definitely Recommend ! read more

Bar Academy 101 is such a cute hidden gem! It is located on the second floor so I have never noticed it until I purchased a groupon for the wine & chocolate tasting. I wasn't sure how this was going to go down but it turned out to be so much fun!! The chocolate was from The Chocolate Path (and I love it when stores in Montclair work with local vendors) and we got a good amount of wine.. I was stumbling on my way out ;) I will definitely be back for the sangria class! I can't wait! read more

A little awkward start but we enjoyed our wine and cheese tasting at Bar Academy. Rob was knowledge in authentic way. The pairings he selected were great and hubby enjoyed himself which I was happy most about. We enjoyed ourselves. It wasn't pretentious and assuming just because it was wine and cheese in Montclair. Rob was generous with the pours. My glass was refilled after every first glass of wine. I asked Rob for a tasting of chocolate. He agreed despite being apart of the wine and cheese tasting. I must note that I was pleased that he selected a chocolate that complimented the wine that we were tasting. Overall, we had a good experience and left merry and light :) read more

I saw a Groupon for the wine and chocolate pairing class, so I decided to give this place a try. I had a bit of a hard time finding it, thankfully my gf noticed it before I did. The place itself is cute, reminds me of a fraternity bar, the room itself is dimly lit, there are tons of cool drinking posters on the walls (be warned Rob is a HUGE Red Sox fan), and fun Christmas lights behind the bar. People were sitting at their bar or on one of 3 high tops tables. We sat on one of the high top tables. Boris lead the class, he was extremely knowledgeable on wines, grapes, soil, geography, etc. He went into extensive detail on each wine and varietal and how and why it paired with the chocolate. The class was supposed to start at 4pm on a Sunday, ended up starting around 4:15 or so as we waited for everyone to arrive (be on time people, it's rude!) Most of the wines were pretty tasty and I like that you get to try wines from almost every varietal. The class itself is a bit beginner (in my opinion) for wine connoisseurs (it could also be that I drink too much). They give you about 1/3 a glass of wine per varietal for 6 different wines that pair with 6 small pieces of chocolate. My only complaint is that you don't get to interact with other people in the class. I thought it would have been more of a hands on type of class. Instead it was more of a lecture, I sorta felt like I was back in college and that I should have been taking notes! Thankfully I brought my gf and we chatted when Boris went to get more wine and was walking around and pouring wine, but when he was talking in-depth about all of the wines, I didn't want to talk and be rude! We ended up leaving around 6:15pm as I had dinner plans but the class was still taking place. It's something cute & fun to do on a Friday or Sunday for a few hours. I'm sure it would be a great place to learn how to bartend too! read more

You must check this place out!! I bought a living social deal (~$20 pp) for beer tasting. I did not realize how popular this place was - had to wait a month for an available date! The building is weird and borderline sketchy; I was so skeptical walking in. Do not judge based on this! Rob is so friendly and this place is super cute! Nice holiday lighting and cool posters. Very laid back and low key atmosphere. There were 3 mini bar seatings and two high table seatings when I went. We arrived 10 minutes early but had to wait until 10 minutes after the hour to start because people were late. We got a list of the beers we would be tasting. Rob really does make an effort to get to know everyone and he is great at engaging with all the groups during the event. The tasting portions are quite generous! I forgot how many we actually tried but it was a lot..enough to get drunk if you did not each much beforehand. I had so much fun!!! I do agree that there is little interaction between the groups so come with a group of friends. read more

Bar Academy 101 - First of many beer tastings! - Bartending Schools Near Me - Verona , New Jersey

My friend and I took bartending classes with Rob for 1 day. Safe to say, we absolutely loved this place and 100% would be referring people back. He is very friendly, funny, makes you feel at home! The environment is amazing as well. If you are taking the bartending classes, it's amazing because it isn't just a lecture, he makes the whole process easy and you actually get behind the bar and actually make drinks ( fake )! We're both certified because of rob! Amazing ! read more

I had such a great time here. Robert was absolutely amazing, and I highly recommend this place

I went here for a Sangria Making Challenge. Rob is great, he has a great personality and I love that the class is hands on. He is extremely clean. All and all I do not have 1 compliant, and I am a natural complainer. I will come again. Check it out for yourself. I do not want to ruin all the exciting details because I feel like it takes away from the experience. All around good time. Learned about wines and how to make different types of Sangria. Loved it! I was def. tipsy by the end of the night! read more

Hands down awesome experience! I took a bartending class here and it was totally worth it. Rob is super knowledgeable and accommodating. You can tell that he has a passion for what he does and will go out of his way to make his customers happy. He's very polite and well-spoken, but he knows how to make the class fun. Overall, a great time. Tip: Yes, there's Groupon deals galore. Try to call him for pricing first! read more

The fact that I have been here three times for the craft beer tasting says a lot. Rob is so friendly & knowledgeable. It's such a relaxed, fun & romantic environment. So much great beer that has expanded our tastebuds. We've found some of our favorite beers - Innis & Gunn and Sam Smith's just to name a couple. Can't wait to return for our fourth. read more

This place is awesome!!! Rob is amazing. This is our second time here and we are looking forward to the next visit already. If you are looking for a great time this is the place to be. read more

We went to the wine and cheese pairing. It was definitely different than any other wine tasting i've experienced as the wine wasn't made by Rob or local wineries, but it was such a great experience. Rob was incredibly hospitable and showed his devoted passion for bartending the entire night. The wines were great selections that I now know to look for in the grocery stores. The space itself is very intimate and cozy, reminding me more of a good friend's apartment than a bar. You can even tell how committed Rob is to making his customers happy by the fact that he easily could fit more tables in the space, but opts not to to keep the vibe intimate and allow more personal interaction with his customers. I was thoroughly impressed and cannot wait to go back again. Thanks Rob! read more

Rob's Bartending classes are fun and entertaining! Lots of information presented in a hands on manner and all while having fun! Job placement option is a plus too! read more

Had an amazing time at our wine and cheese tasting! Rob was incredible and extremely helpful and fun. He lets you have as much fun as you want and really customize the tasting to what you're looking for. Would recommend to anyone!! read more

A fun and relaxing experience! Rob was super funny and laid back making the wine-tasting experience super casual. My husband and I enjoyed the wine and cheese tasting. The servings of both wine and cheese are very generous. The wine selections were quite diverse and included both whites and red. I even found a couple new whites to add to my list of faves. I would definitely do it again with my wino-friends. read more

If I could give Bar Academy 101 a rating of a '6' I would. I have done the wine / cheese tasting, beer tasting, and sangria making class.... soon to be attending, again, for the beer tasting because I cannot get enough of Bar Academy 101. Rob is a great guy, lots of fun, and a knowledgeable host. There is always good company. I would recommend Bar Academy 101 to anyone - a couple, a pair of friends, a group, a first date.... you can't go wrong. I went out of my way to write this review (I do not use Yelp) simply so that anyone who may be considering attending a class decides to go for it as a wonderful time is guaranteed!!! Bar Academy 101, and Rob, are the very best. read more

We came last night on Valentine's Day for the wine and chocolate tasting and it was incredible! Rob was extremely friendly and very knowledgeable about the wines we were tasting. It is very cozy and love the decor inside. The tasting definitely opened me up to stepping out of my comfort zone of always ordering the same wine or drink, and experiencing something new that you may love! I would definitely recommend this to others and hope to be back soon! Thanks Rob, for making a special night even better!! read more

We had part of my sister's bachelorette party here last weekend and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We brought some snacks and drinks, painted wine glasses, listened to music and had some laughs. It was super laid back and a very hip atmosphere that made us feel right at home. The staff was very accommodating and the owner is a great guy. I would definitely recommend this place for any type of gathering! read more

I bought my husband the wine and chocolate pairing class for Christmas and it was more than worth it. I wish I could give more than 5 stars. Rob and Boris are AWESOME. Rob was heading up two other classes so we had Boris all to ourselves. Such a personable, humble and interesting person- I could listen to him for hours. Definitely going back for wine and cheese class. If you want a great, relaxing night, good wine and great conversation, book one of these. You won't be sorry! read more

I honestly didn't know what to expect during this class but my initial thought was ok maybe this is a lecture type of event and it may not be what I expected but woahhhh did all that change as soon as I walked through that door! Not only was I greeted by so many other people there but Rob our instructor was going to make sure this was a fun evening and damn right he was! After briefly telling us who he was and what the class was about there goes the music and here I am behind an actual bar with actual alcohol making sangria for all the others there and Rob made sure we were did it right. I was so nervous but he guided me step by step on the whole process and let me say this was by far the best social gathering I have ever been to. I had a line of maybe 10 people waiting for me to whip them up a drink and slowly but surely I became a pro in one day and the end of the class well there was a surprise. This was so much fun and interactive. I highly recommend anyone who's maybe interested in learning how to make sangria or considering any other classes here to go for it! Makes an ideal first date or a place to get together and have fun with friends. read more