The Cypress Grill

Went here tonight, just for drinks and music.  Drinks were good, crowd was mixed and fun, and band was terrific.

I hate to give this place a two star review, I really do... but there are some things I really feel they can improve on.

Customer Service:

I walk in and order a drink from the bar. I take it outside and sit down to watch the evenings entertainment. A few minutes later I decide I'd like to order an appetizer to snack on. I try for about 20 minutes to flag down a waitress, yet none pay me any mind. I know they've seen me, yet they don't come over. Finally I get up and walk up to one young lady and ask if I can order from her. She informs me that my tab is at the bar, so I have to order from the bar.. unless I want to close that tab and move it. Okay, that's kind of silly, but I would have happily done so... BUT WHEN I'M WAVING AT YOU LADIES FOR TWENTY MINUTES, ONE OF YOU COULD HAVE COME OVER AND TOLD ME THAT! That is terrible, terrible service!

I've noticed that a lot of the patrons are regulars and locals, so I guess they know these guidelines... but being a little bar / grill attached to a resort, I am actually shocked that they don't make a better attempt at being more attentive toward their guests.

Also, it might help to notate or announce that the kitchen closes anywhere from 2 to 4 hours before the establishment does depending on the night. This bit irritated me as well, because I'd like to have ordered an entree, but while I waited eternity trying to flag down a waitress, the kitchen had closed.

Food:

Good burgers, good quesadillas, good sandwiches... but DO NOT order the chips and salsa. It's basic store bought corn chips with Pace salsa. For $5. That's more expensive than fresh chips and salsa at, say, Chili's.

Bar:

They have a full bar and are supposedly open until 2am on Friday and Saturday night. Prices are fair enough, but some of the drinks don't come out right (they may not have a well trained bartender, which wouldn't surprise me, based on the wait staff), so if you order a cocktail, it may or may not taste right. Nothing has come out horrible, though.

Nightly events:

They have trivia / game night on Wednesday, karaoke on Thursdays, and live music on the weekends. More often than not they have the live music blasting at unbearable levels. And I mean "It still hurts my ears standing INSIDE!" levels.

I guess being the only "nightlife" Cordele currently offers, they can get away with a lot. But being used to the variety of Atlanta, I can tell you this... they wouldn't survive two weeks back home.

... don't get me wrong, though, they do have a lot going for them. I just wish they'd improve a few things... mainly the customer service issues.