This is really a great place if you're into snarly bartenders, public humiliation and overpriced beer. Allow me to explain.
I went into Sloppy Joe's after a particularly awful day at work, thinking I was going to have a few beers, dinner and generally regroup. My wife and I had eaten there a few times before, so I had a pretty good idea of what to expect.
I sat down at the bar and the bartender, a tall, young, blond woman, asked me what I'd like to have. I replied by asking for a Spotted Cow (on tap) and placing a five-dollar bill on the bar. She grabbed a tall pint glass and took it over to the tap. Unfortunately, the barrel must have been almost empty, because the only thing coming out was tons of foam and very little beer. Still, she kept trying, pouring off the foam and after a lengthy time, filling the glass about three-quarters full with beer. The rest was filled with three or four inches of foam. She set the beer in front of me, and my first thought was: Whoa, wait a second; this isn't full. She grabbed the five off the bar and walked to the register to make change. While she was doing this, I turned to the fellow who was to the right of me and asked if he thought my glass was full. He shook his head no.
When the bartender came back to where I was sitting, she put a quarter on the bar in front of me. My first thought was: "Holy smokes, that was an expensive glass of Spotted Cow." I thought that if I'm going to pay $4.75 for a glass of Spotted Cow, I'd like to have a full glass. So, I asked her --politely, I thought-- "This glass is short-filled; could you please top it off?" Oh boy, was that a mistake! She immediately went off on me; asking me very loudly and rudely if I noticed that she was having trouble with the tapper (I did, but that's not my fault nor my problem) and that she wasn't cheating me (Ah, I never said you were), etc, etc, etc. After listening to this snit for several more seconds, I turned to my left away from her and put my hands up in surrender and said: "Okay, I get it. I'm sorry. Never mind; it's not a problem. This is fine. Really." Anything to end this embarrassing one-sided tirade.
Apparently, that only seem to make her more angry, because she snatched another glass from behind the bar and then stalked off to the beer tapper to start filling yet another glass with endless amounts of foam. At the point, I turned to the fellow who was on my right and asked: "Is she always like this?" I think he was as embarrassed and shocked as I was, and replied: "No, not at all." He then suggested that I give her another chance. "Oh no, thank you. I've had enough humiliation for one night. I'm outta' here."
By this time, the only thing I could think about was leaving. I drank my short-filled glass of Spotted Cow in about three gulps and went home. A thoroughly crummy day made even infinitely worse. With the advantage of hindsight, I probably should have just left the beer on the bar untouched. I was so shocked by this person's bad behavior and rudeness that I don't think I even picked up the quarter on the bar.
So, would I patronize Sloppy Joe's again? Oh sure. When hell is thoroughly frozen over. From this point forward, I'll take my business to Bilda's, Sheryl's Club 175 or Emily's in Slinger where they're serious about giving good service and treating the customer with respect.
Reid V.
Cedarburg, WI read more