The Olive Bar

We really enjoyed the Olive Bar over the 4th of July weekend.  Food was fabulous as always.  The boneless wings are especially delightful.  We were pleasantly surprised with how quickly we were served at the bar.  We always remark that this can sometimes take forever, but not here. We'll be back soon.

I stopped by The Olive Bar yesterday to have an early dinner before a performance.

I got no dinner.

Instead, I ended up sitting at a sparsely populated Olive Bar for over an hour without being served. At least three groups of people around me came, were served, and left. Two servers almost walked into me (one nearly stepped on my shoe) but wouldn't respond when I smiled and said, "Hello."

*shrug* Maybe they were just super busy. Maybe there's some sort of secret Happy Hour handshake that I don't know about.

To be clear, Olive Bar was, at best, half full when I arrived, yet I may as well have been invisible. At one point, FOUR servers hung out right next to me, laughing and chatting. Not one of them made a move to help me, nor responded to my arm waving and "Hello!'s". When I finally DID get noticed, my (reluctant) server tried to get me a menu and I said (politely, I might add), "No thank you, I'm late, and I don't have time for dinner." She was not amused - put out, even, as if I was wasting HER time.

I called the manager from my car and explained what happened. His response to hearing that a customer sat in the middle of his bar for an hour attempting to flag down a server only to be actively ignored by his ENTIRE staff: "That is completely unacceptable. I will be escalating this to the highest level."

I have no idea what that means, and don't care to venture a guess. Moreover, The fact that it's "unacceptable" is a given - that's why I bothered to call. Incidentally, the food that everyone around me was eating smelled wonderful. Maybe they were just trying to whet my appetite? Whatever they were up to, I missed a reasonable dinner, and ended up having to snarf down a mess of cold pizza instead.

For the record, the boys and I went to a nearly completely packed J. Timothy's after our performance, seated ourselves upstairs, and were served within 5 minutes of taking our seats. Isn't that weird?

Olive Bar's idea of making things right was to let me know that they're going to have a chat with their staff. So. There's that.

I feel better already.

However, while their sorting that out, I'l be spending my money at places that have the time to serve me.

One of my favorite local spots around the Olive Bar  can be such a melting pot of different people which is why this place just does it for me!!!!
    You got everyone from the younger hipster-ish crowd, to the mid twenty-something's just trying to get alittle tipsy, also an older but definitely rowdier crowd, and don't by any means forget the infamous Farmington valley cougars on the prowl grrrrr.....seriously this place is a great time.
    The bar is actually attached to Greek restaurant / pizza joint called George's however the O bar itself has a completely different identity and feel to it. Modern, clean with abundant drink and beer options to satisfy everyone (they kinda have to with such diversity) and a cozy, dim, relaxed environment; often complimented with live music and a great crowd makes this one of my go to bars.
     The Olive Bar is a great nicer but still casual place to meet up and have a great night, the food is ok not great but your not coming for the food your coming to drink and relax.
    The bar is usually packed I recommend getting there a little early if you actually wanna sit at the bar or get a good table ( the place is somewhat smaller ) but they do wonders with the space they do have... Also a great spot to catch a game with several humongous flat screens always playing whatever game is on.
    The service is tremendous I can't say enough good things about the bartenders and waitresses( they make yoga pants happy :) thus the fourth star definitely for such great service. Enjoy-