The Poe House

Oh dear... I hate that I'm the first reviewer and I can't give it a rave, because this place has so much potential and I really want them to prosper. First of all, Poe House is CHARMING. It has an old-school tavern feel, slightly goth, but in a yuppie way, not an "I need to cut myself so I can feel something" way. I LOVE the decor, the furniture, the space, the feel of the place. I love that you can walk around the wall of beers and wines and shop for the perfect adult beverage. I love that they have flights so you can try something new without a major commitment. I love the beer selection.

Here's what I don't love: First of all, the wines are terrible. We had two different flights and one sample and it was all uniformly disappointing. Second, the bathroom is unacceptable. No paper towels, no hand dryer. Disgusting. Third, the service is very friendly but frustratingly slow and spotty. For all the times that our waitress stopped by to let us know that she was going to go get that thing we ordered, she could have stomped the grapes herself and we would have gotten our wine faster. It took her three passes to get the water we asked for. She kept promising she was getting it, but it took a good while to materialize.

I am but a simple woman and I do not presume to be a wine expert or an oenophile, but I have fairly simple expectations and I know what I like. So here are a few suggestions for the new and promising Poe House:

1) Educate your staff on the beers AND the wines. Hold tastings, ask them what they smell and taste, have them keep a wine journal so they can form educated opinions about the wines and won't tell me that a sharp, acidic, anorexic-bodied wine is "smooth". Understand the difference between dry and sweet and know which wine is which.

2) Get better wines.

3) Serve a little plate of crackers or bread with the flights. This helps to reset your palate between tastes.

4) FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY AND CLEAN, PUT A HAND DRYER IN THE BATHROOM! Or at least some paper towels! This is inexcusable! Also, have someone on your staff check & restock the bathroom every couple of hours.

5) That awkward unfinished area in the back, next to the bathroom? I'm sure you have plans for that area, but right now it just looks a mess. Put a little screen or beaded curtain or SOMETHING between us and the hole in the wall.

6) Use all those empty wine bottles as water bottles. Clean 'em out, fill 'em up, and slap one onto the table with a couple of small glasses every time you seat a party. It looks cool, it goes with your vibe, and it keeps us hydrated.

7) Serve your white wines chilled. There's nothing more sad and droopy than a warm Sauvignon Blanc.

All that said, please do give this place a try! It is a VERY cool place to hang out and I'm sure they will improve with time!