Ernie Biggs

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  I have been three times with the same results. This place is a low budget mess. I have been to the one in K.C. which is much classier. The drinks were served in dirty glasses, they had absolutely no non-alcoholic drink options for designated drivers other than soda (no O'Douls, no virgin cocktails, no nothing). Staff is a not very professional in dress or demeanor. Later in the evening a bunch of kids came in (most of them looking like they could barely be 21), they were loud, obnoxious and uninterested in the piano show. Wish Wichita had a classier FUN option for the over 30 crowd.

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  Posted on 09.27.13 Dayna C.

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  I kind of feel like if you've been to one dueling piano bar, you've been to them all. But for Wichita, there's definitely the unique factor going on with a place like this.
  
  Ernie Biggs says they don't take reservations for groups, but when you get there, there are clearly tables reserved for big groups - so that's confusing. Our group of ~10 put on a list to sit at a table only if the reserved party didn't show up by the time the show started (they didn't, so here's a tip if you possess magical powers and get a reserved table -- you can't be late).
  
  You can request songs but no surprise they have their favorites and crowd pleasers, and obviously the more money you throw in with the request the more likely it is to be played. There were 3 performers and at times one of them would be playing the drums or guitar so that's a little different. Many birthdays and bachelorette parties, they have fun with getting people up on stage and are regular comedians with the patrons.
  
  Service was quick considering how crowded it was, but the alcoholic drinks seemed to be pretty watered down.

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  Posted on 09.30.12 Lisa C.

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  Ernie Biggs dueling piano bar just opened this month in place of the gas lamp grille. I love me a place where you can drink, and participate with the other drunk patrons. We got here around 10pm and the place was packed. There was no where to sit and we had to stand. I guess they have a seating area which gets reserved quick. Eventually people left and we got to sit.   I anticipate it being pretty busy since it just opened this month.
  
  The crowd is an older crowd, reminded me of my Cali days partying with the housewives of OC (cougars, if you're not familiar) and they seemed to have their fun too. Drinks were downtown/old town decent.
  
  The entertainment consisted of 2 pianos on stage (hence the dueling part) a drummer and some guitars. The entertainers would take requests from the crowd for free and play what they knew. If you really want your song to be played and they know how to play it you have to put your money where your mouth is and leave a great tip. I heard some Katy petty, ke$ha, Bon jovi, the cranberries and some naughty limericks. They know how to get the crowd going for sure. People were dancing in the aisles, up on tables, sneakin on stage dancing. We had fun for sure and would totally come back with a group of friends.

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  Posted on 09.23.12 Lisa N.

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  Ernie Biggs had it's pre-flight on Saturday May 12 and I had been seeing the sign "Coming Soon" flying for quite a while.  Eager to c heck it out, and a large fan of the Howl at the Moon dueling piano bars, I didn't hesitate.  So here's my impressions:
  
  The Atmosphere: Ernie Biggs has a great atmosphere for the piano bar.  As you enter, you see a piano immediately, then to the far end, in plain view of anyone on the floor is the main event:  The Dual Pianos.  I don' t think there is a seat in the house where you can't see the pianos playing.  All in all the atmosphere was captured perfectly in this place,  The music came across clear throughout.
  
  The Music:  The musicians are well trained.  I feared being Wichita we'd end up opening a bar of this type and lack the talent to follow it up.  Luckily that wasn't the case.  The musicians played very well, and kept the crowd energized and excited.
  
  The Service:  Number one on my list of "What's important in a bar".  Unfortunately this was the one stumbling point of which I ran across here.  The bar was packed, but the bartenders served us very quickly and with a smile.  No problems there.  Then we managed to acquire a table.  I finished my beer and was hanging out waiting to see how long it would take for someone to come and see if I needed something else.  The bar was very busy, and it was opening night for the bar, so I will grant them a bit of leeway here.  
  My beer was sitting empty on the table for no less than ten minutes.  We saw a few staff walk by and a server who was chatting with who I would assume to be her friends at the VIP section next to our table.  Then a non server staff member passed by and asked us if we wanted anything.  I asked for a Corona, which they were out of, so I asked for a Dos Equis.  He brought it back and told us our server would be back to check on us.  When I reached for money, he told me it was comped on the house.  
  That is great resolution to a poor instance of customer service, and I hope that further issues will be resolved by proper coaching of the employees.  If the bar keeps giving away free drinks to make up for poor customer service, it's doors will be shut very quickly.
  
  The Location: Located on Rock Road where previously existed 'The Shadow' and before that 'The Grape' and most recently 'The Gaslamp oyster bar'.  This location has a reputation for having high class entertainment venues in it, and it's got great potential but poor parking.  The frightening thing is that every bar that opens in this locale seems to have a lifespan of only a few years before a new one comes in.  I think the gaslamp was barely in, and despite rave reviews, it's doors already shuttered.
  My fear on this is that every piano bar I've seen has been in the epicenter of the entertainment district.  I tend to think the reason behind this is that the novelty value of the Piano bar.  People walking by hear the music rolling out of the bar and the musicians working the crowds.  In their current locale Ernie Biggs won't pull in anything off a walk-in crowd, I worry about this because even with a great concept, the location has a history.

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  Posted on 05.14.12 Nick S.

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