We were walking by and decided to stop in and have a drink. There was a guy with a guitar singing, not too bad. Â There are tables/umbrellas in the outdoor patio area, right by the sidewalk.
They had a drink flyer on the table, and the waitress came by and said, in a heavy Russian-sounding accent--"you need a menu". At least I think that's what she said. We never saw her again.
We were hot and thirsty, so went ahead and walked up to the bar and ordered a drink from the flyer we saw on the table. The bartender (also Russian-sounding) didn't know how to make the drink. She and the other ladies working there chattered together a few moments, then she did her best to prepare the drinks as described on the flyer. They turned out ok.
I really can't recommend this place. It seems dirty both inside and out. Would've left if I wasn't dying for a drink & too exhausted to go anywhere else.
This place just gave me the creeps. I still can't put my finger on it, but let me relay my experience.
We sit down for a drink and an older man approaches our table. He starts making small talk with us, without introducing himself. Being the street smart city girl that I am, I immediately wonder what this guy wants. He asks if my boyfriend and I are getting married. We giggle uncomfortably and say no. (Apparently a lot of people come to Gatlinburg to get married.) Next he asks us if he can take our picture. Simultaneously my boyfriend says yes and I say no. He takes the picture and runs off.
In minutes he comes back to the table with a plastic keychain displaying our faces. He puts it in our hands, tells us how much it costs (I don't remember how much), and again walks away. Seriously? I am not in Junior High anymore and I don't want a keychain with my boyfriend's picture in it!! We politely refused to buy it.
As we finished our beer, I realized that the older man must work there or own the place. My advice to him...INTRODUCE YOURSELF. Had I known that he worked there and wasn't just some guy walking in off the street asking to take our picture, I would have been more open to him and may have not felt so creeped out about the place.
The Russian bartender and waitress they hired were a joke. It's not enough to just have a pretty face and a nice body. Smile ladies! It makes people feel comfortable and not like you're just concerned about getting their money.