Prefacing this review with a disclaimer I do not tend to write negative reviews however what we experienced was rather egregious.
NYE on our walk home from dinner elsewhere, we popped into Honey Pot, the former home of the beloved Kenwood Tavern. It was a somewhat busy night and bar was untidy.
Our bartender seemed scattered and couldn't remember the drinks we ordered. When I got my drink, the Blame Sabrina that is photographed in their adverts, it looked nothing like it. There were foamy bubbles like soap, not tight like a cocktail should be, and the chocolate artwork looked like a weird Picasso human-dog interpretation. The taste was underwhelming and the consistency was thick. I could just taste chocolate syrup with light coffee notes. At $16, that's not acceptable. If it wouldn't have been obvious or rude, I would have taken a picture but know the bartender and the older woman were right in front of me at the bar.
My husband's cocktail was also underwhelming. It was the Jimmy B. and did not have good balance or taste like it was made with quality liquor. It also came in at $16.
And then, we found out why the bartender seemed scattered. There was tension between him and the older woman behind the bar. Soon we hear him loudly exclaim, "You wanna say that louder Pauline? You wanna tell everyone how you just stated you're not going to pay me for my work tonight?". My husband and I were literally inches from this exchange and just looked at each other because it was very uncomfortable.
The bartender was livid, paused making the drink he was making for a customer, gathers all of his belongings in boxes, and goes to the POS. We then see Pauline come over to him and him loudly exclaim "Stop touching me! Stop touching me Pauline!!" she said something softly to him and he goes "I'm trying to take a picture of my tips and how much I earned tonight! stop it!"
He then heads out in a haste leaving all of us in the bar area stunned and at some point goes on about how Pauline hired an 18 year old to work there. The one couple immediately got their bill and left, but we were a bit frozen in disbelief and wanted to not add to the abrupt nature of what happened. We checked out and paid, total was about $40 with tip. Yes, we tipped the unpleasant lady because we did not want to get into a fight with her.
If you look up 800 Kenwood and Pauline you can see the history of her destruction to businesses that grace that address. It's pretty horrifying if you ask me.
I would not recommend supporting this business in any matter. Despite the cocktails were not even subpar, but simple atrocious, it's clear that this Pauline is nothing but a sociopathic grifter with no remorse.
If the bartender sees this and needs any support in what went down that night, I noticed a Ring camera was on facing the Northeast adjacent to the POS and would have captured this exchange.
Shame on them, honestly. Chose a better option with owners who are more integrous. read more