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Boo to Tarpon Club at Bud & Alleys

InletBchDweller avatar
InletBchDwellerSoWal Insider
21,386 views
A bunch of Sowallers went there tonight after the play. After sitting at a table with no service we went to the bar to get drinks. At 9:45 I asked a bar back what they were serving from the kitchen. He said there were only 3 items but he was not sure what they were. He asked a bartender and then I placed my order with him (marinated crab claws and tuna dip) He (the bar back) told me that I had to open a tab with the bartender, so I placed the order and gave him my credit card. WELL, 45 minutes later and after asking several people about our food we left (I hope my credit card was not charged).
The security guy told us (after we told him we were displeased) said we should not have been able to order in the first place. To be honest he and the other staff memebers could have cared less and no apologies were given. THis is the last time I establish this place and will not recommend it to anyone else. This is not the first time this has happened so I guess I should have known better....
I am curious to see what the manager thinks of this.....and for the record I am not PUI, I only had one drink...

Edited

Replies

110
Gypsea avatar
GypseaBeach Fanatic
#52
Great post Kurt! :wave: Thanks for listening and making things right Dave! :clap:




Sorry you guys had a bad experience - trust Dave to make it right. I've had some bad experiences at places in SoWal in the past and I try to take it in stride because I know that in most places the following week or month or season that the staff will be entirely new, as well as possibly the management, ownership or even the name of the place.

I think Bud and Alley's is AWESOME with a capital A. Dave and staff have worked hard for many years to make it a great experience for the millions that visit. No place is perfect and you can't expect the hottest spot in the hottest town in hot SoWal to be perfect all the time. I'm sure lots of spoiled (of course I don't mean you) Seaside renters from the burbs get huffy every night because they aren't treated like Queens or Kings of the beach and brought umbrella drinks on bended knee, but the rest of us, we're just beach bums and should be happy to have the title.
NotnKansas avatar
NotnKansasBeach Lover
#53
I think that people need to remember that the "Tarpon Club" is a "bar" at night. I don't think I've ever had table service after 7pm. Those guys work hard and are very good at keeping people's glasses filled. :drink:

CHEERS
ellen avatar
ellenBeach Lover
#54
Bud and Alleys is my favorite place. I've been going there for years, and I've always had great experiences there. The bartenders, servers, managers, and security work very, very hard in a mostly thankless job. You would not believe some of the rudeness I have seen directed at them. Cut them some slack. They are good folks doing their jobs, and I'm gald they're there!
Teresa avatar
TeresaSoWal Guide
#55
I think that people need to remember that the "Tarpon Club" is a "bar" at night. I don't think I've ever had table service after 7pm. Those guys work hard and are very good at keeping people's glasses filled. :drink:

CHEERS

very good point. most "locals" over the age of 30 or so know that the Tarpon Club may not be the place they want to be, peak season, after 9pm or so. especially if food is what you are looking for. while I do enjoy the bar at B&As, I certainly know that there are times that it won't be the scene I'm looking for. just like Red Bar or several other places during peak season.

I suggest having dinner before the play, then drinks after wherever, but in July - all bets are off! its really a matter of either subjecting yourself to the tourist crowd (insane choice), or creating your own little party - like at the beach with a bottle of vino.

It sounds like the bar wasn't that packed. don't know why they were not attentive. but I do know some great folks who work there - year round - and they would not be happy to hear this story. nevertheless, it happens to the best. perhaps a PM to Dave, a fellow sowaller, would have been a best first step in this particular case? just a thought.

everyone relax and have funn out there!:wave:
Dave Rauschkolb avatar
Dave RauschkolbBeach Fanatic
#56
Thanks again for all postings, positive and negative. Just to touch on the "local thing". For the past 4 years and currenty any local/Florida resident may ask a manager at Bud & Alley's for a Tarpon Club card; it entitles them to a discount and NO cover EVER. We are getting new cards soon in time for the fall but feel free to go get one now if you wish.

If you go to our website you will see a calender of one of the best lineups of entertainment in the area. Mo Mosely our esteemed bartender/margarita master is booking bands now and is doing a much more FAB job then I ever could or did.

Dave

Edited

Dave Rauschkolb avatar
Dave RauschkolbBeach Fanatic
#57
Sorry, I really should know all this stuff but what's a PM? Thanks, Dave

very good point. most "locals" over the age of 30 or so know that the Tarpon Club may not be the place they want to be, peak season, after 9pm or so. especially if food is what you are looking for. while I do enjoy the bar at B&As, I certainly know that there are times that it won't be the scene I'm looking for. just like Red Bar or several other places during peak season.

I suggest having dinner before the play, then drinks after wherever, but in July - all bets are off! its really a matter of either subjecting yourself to the tourist crowd (insane choice), or creating your own little party - like at the beach with a bottle of vino.

It sounds like the bar wasn't that packed. don't know why they were not attentive. but I do know some great folks who work there - year round - and they would not be happy to hear this story. nevertheless, it happens to the best. perhaps a PM to Dave, a fellow sowaller, would have been a best first step in this particular case? just a thought.

everyone relax and have funn out there!:wave:
Dave Rauschkolb avatar
Dave RauschkolbBeach Fanatic
#58
Thanks Kurt, your post brightened my day. Dave

Sorry you guys had a bad experience - trust Dave to make it right. I've had some bad experiences at places in SoWal in the past and I try to take it in stride because I know that in most places the following week or month or season that the staff will be entirely new, as well as possibly the management, ownership or even the name of the place.

I think Bud and Alley's is AWESOME with a capital A. Dave and staff have worked hard for many years to make it a great experience for the millions that visit. No place is perfect and you can't expect the hottest spot in the hottest town in hot SoWal to be perfect all the time. I'm sure lots of spoiled (of course I don't mean you) Seaside renters from the burbs get huffy every night because they aren't treated like Queens or Kings of the beach and brought umbrella drinks on bended knee, but the rest of us, we're just beach bums and should be happy to have the title.
30A Skunkape avatar
30A SkunkapeSkunky
#59
Thanks again for all postings, positive and negative. Just to touch on the "local thing". For the past 4 years and currenty any local/Florida resident may ask a manager at Bud & Alley's for a Tarpon Club card; it entitles them to a discount and NO cover EVER. We are getting new cards soon in time for the fall but feel free to go get one now if you wish.

If you go to our website you will see a calender of one of the best lineups of entertainment in the area. Mo Mosely our esteemed bartender/margarita master is booking bands now and is doing a much more FAB job then I ever could or did.

Dave

Thanks Dave:wave:
Teresa avatar
TeresaSoWal Guide
#60
Sorry, I really should know all this stuff but what's a PM? Thanks, Dave

PM= personal message (kind of like an email but sent through the board).

we're coming to get our tarpon club card! yay!!!

Edited

Paige avatar
PaigeBeach Lover
#61
lived in sowal for about a year and been to B&As many times...have never had any problems there and would even rate their service as good. it is my favorite bar in sowal and like their food too...although i haven't been there in a year. maybe things have changed??

Huh? You have been "in SoWal about a year and been to B&A's many times" but you "haven't been there in a year"? ???

Must have been a great weekend, your first week in SoWal. No wonder you stayed!😀

Edited

beachbaby1Beach Crab
#62
How long can this go on? It's over! You guys pissed off enough people. Go have another drink so you can talk about it.
scooterbug44 avatar
scooterbug44SoWal Expert
#63
Huh? You have been "in SoWal about a year and been to B&A's many times" but you "haven't been there in a year"? ???

Must have been a great weekend, your first week in SoWal. No wonder you stayed!😀
You missread - they once lived here for a period of a year and during that time and other visits went to bud & alley's many times. It has now been a year since they last went there.
Miss Kitty avatar
Miss KittyMeow
#64
How long can this go on? It's over! You guys pissed off enough people. Go have another drink so you can talk about it.

:drink2: ...CHEERS! I'll have a Planter's Punch with two orange slices and a straw, gttbm will have...you guessed it...a MILLLER LIGHT! :wave:
Teresa avatar
TeresaSoWal Guide
#65
:drink2: ...CHEERS! I'll have a Planter's Punch with two orange slices and a straw, gttbm will have...you guessed it...a MILLLER LIGHT! :wave:
one red wine please. make it big.:wave:
Jill Tanner avatar
Jill TannerBeach Fanatic
#66
I have been bartending at Bud and Alley's for three years. I thought we gave excellent service. This has nothing to do with whether we were busy or not busy, local or not local, underage or not. We try to give everyone the same service. We are over half way through the season and a little tired. I wish this had come up earlier so we could have made improvements sooner. I for one go in everyday and do my best. I remember drinks of frequent customers, learn the new ones, and treat everyone with respect and a smile. So forgive me because this is just a little hard to hear when you thought you were doing a good job. I hope everyone can move on from this bad experience and let us take care of you when you come in. - Jill😀
Smiling JOe avatar
Smiling JOeSoWal Expert
#67
B&A just isn't my cup of tea, as I usually try to avoid the masses, and that is why I don't really frequent the place too often. However, I know that Jill speaks the truth that she will take good care of you and that she cares. I think that by Jill logging on to say that she does care about the service which she gives, she shows that she means it.

:wave: Jill! :welcome:

Edited

Teresa avatar
TeresaSoWal Guide
#68
:welcome: Jill. and keep up the good work! we'll be hanging out there a little more this fall - hope to meet you then.
Gypsea avatar
GypseaBeach Fanatic
#69
:welcome: Jill. Hope to see ya soon. :wave:
Smiling JOe avatar
Smiling JOeSoWal Expert
#70
:welcome: Jill. and keep up the good work! we'll be hanging out there a little more this fall - hope to meet you then.
Jill is a sweetie pie! You will adore her.

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