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CommentsHypes and Gripes
By The Editors
• Hypes to the rice shortage. Say what? Yup. Now that the white stuff is a bazillion dollars a bag, burrito chains like Qdoba and Chipotle are using less of it, which makes the burritos tastier, easier to eat and less filling. Once the rice comes back, save yourself some money and keep using less. Our stomachs thank you.• Gripes to the Tonic Ultralounge bartender who recently belittled one of our staffers for... get this... hyphenating her name. The absurd scene happened when she returned to the bar to pay her tab, and he didn’t know which name to look under. First of all, sir, she didn’t hyphenate it—her parents did. Second of all, uttering sentences like “women who hyphenate their names are douche bags” isn’t going to win you or your bar many fans. Third, actually growling at her was completely unnecessary.
• Hypes to the Springfield Symphony for playing “Selections from Jurassic Park” as the musical selection at OTC’s graduation ceremony. We don’t know who picked the music, but we can hear the conversation now: “Screw that Brahms fellow. I wanna hear the music from that part where Newman gets eaten by the dinosaur that spits tobacco!” We kid. Actually, a movie theme was kind of nice to hear, especially after the horrible monotony that is “Pomp and Circumstance.” Next year: “Themes from The Rocketeer.”
• Hypes to Q102.1 for letting us be a part of the station’s sixth birthday party. They said a lot of nice things about us on stage, most of which we like to think we deserve, so let us return the favor. Q102 does everything it can for the local music scene, and for that we appreciate them. They also have a good-hearted, fun-loving staff that’s as much fun off-air as on. Rock on, y’all.
Reader Comments:
Tonic Ultralounge is full of rude bartenders. A couple friends and I went there for drinks one night and had to practically stand there with our shirts off befor they even asked if we wanted a drink! Then after we finally got their attention they were really rude. Needless to say I will not go back.
I go to Tonic almost every Friday and Saturday and always have a great time. The bartenders are always friendly and do a great job, especially considering how busy they get at times. The last time I checked the bar business isn't like fast food!!They actually have to make the drinks to order. Needless to say I will continue to enjoy Tonic Ultralounge.
I'm shocked you had a gripe against Tonic... I can't count the number of times I've been in Tonic, and I've never had a bad experience. The bartenders and waitresses are great, plus I think the drinks are better at Tonic. They are the only place downtown that can make a good Hypnotic Martini...
I plan on stopping by Tonic tonight for drinks and plan to get excellent service, like I always do, and enjoy great drinks!!
I'm really surprised that you had a gripe about the Tonic bartenders! I go there about every weekend and have never once had a bad experience... the bartenders and staff are all respectful, outgoing & friendly! They have had amazing drinks & service every time I've been in there... Keep in mind that at times it gets packed in there and you might wait a few minutes, but it's well worth the wait!
The guys tending at Tonic do an exceptional job for the kind of business that place does on the weekend. As a bartender myself I know how easy it can be to get in the 'weeds' as they say.
I know the guys at Tonic and, though I don't work there, they have never been anything but very friendly to me. And, believe me, I am not an easy customer.
A lot of sarcastic humor goes on at that bar. Maybe that had something to do with it. Actually, bartenders are notoriously wry. It sounds like a failed attempt at being playful. Course everyone is human, even bartenders.
Those guys at Tonic are actually really nice people. Do them a favor and grant them one missed key in what is otherwise, a very solid performance.
I go to Tonic quite often, and really enjoy it. Like any bar, when it gets really busy it's going to take a little more time to get a drink. I've been to other bars where the bartenders slow down, or even disappear when it gets busy. I've never seen that happen at Tonic though. I've always thought they should consider a beer tub on the other side, but I think their bartenders do a really good job.
To whom it may concern,
I am writing this letter in regard to the malicious and slandering article in the recent GO section of ‘Hypes and gripes’. First of all let me say that if you are going to publish a factual opinion you should obtain the facts. Your staffer had in fact been drinking alcohol and I would venture to say was not sober. The only point that you got correct in the article was that she did ask for her tab. When asked what name the tab was under she gave two names. The bartender asked her which name it was under she stated that her name was hyphenated. The bartender checked under the first part of the last name and the tab was not found. He then asked her the second part of her last name and she very rudely stated “my name is hyphenated”. The bartender said “I realize that your name is hyphenated but I need the second part of the name”. Once again very rudely she reluctantly gave the second portion of her last name. The bartender checked again and the tab was not found. He went back to her and asked her for her first name, she scowled that her name was hyphenated. Once again the bartender said congratulations he realized that her name was hyphenated and stated again that he had just asked her for her first name. The tab was found under her first name and given to the staffer. The statement about the bartender saying “women who hyphenate their name are douche-bags” was an absurd lie. The bartender in question has not and will not use the term douche-bag. Your staffer was extremely rude and probably not representing GO or 417 in a manner that you would appreciate. Lastly let me say I hope that you will publish this in the next issue of GO ‘Hypes and gripes’ under the gripe section. The heading could be “GO deals in the slander business”.
Sincerely,
Tonic Ultralounge Bartender
I have been to Tonic even when it was not busy and have had to wait 10 to 15 minutes to even get a drink. I have also had them loose my tab and had to come back the next day to get it. This is not the first time I have heard this complaint about Tonic having shotty service. I know it gets packed in their sometimes so why not hire more bartenders if this is a constant problem.
Also the fact that said bartender has asked all his friends to comment on his behalf is even more sad.
I gave up on Tonic a long time ago. The very first time I tried the bar out, maybe about two weeks after they had opened, my friend and I waited a little over 10 minutes for service at the bar. After the first five or so minutes we decided that we may have been standing in the wait staff service area and that was the reason. We moved over to another side of the bar. There went the bartender back and forth, waiting on the people to our left, then to the right. He probably passed us about 10-15 times. I was shocked. We had money in our hands and were leaning into the bar. I told my friend, "one more walk by and we're out of here." There he went, and out the door we went. The funniest part about the whole experience was that it wasn't even really that busy. I chalked that up to the venue being new and bartenders inexperienced. I've only gone back two other times. My second visit was for another friend's birthday. The food was great and the young lady who was our server did a wonderful job. My last visit we had another young lady who had no clue about kinds of wine. She didn't know what the bar served, had never served a glass of wine before, didn't know the difference between a merlot and a riesling, and was rude on top of it all. The venue is very nice. Good job there. The lack of experienced staff and wait time has kept me from going back. If you're looking for another Park Central East establishment with more experienced and friendly staff, try Fedora or Level 2 at Trolley's.
I've been around the Springfield bar scene for a couple years now, both for work and pleasure (so I've been intoxicated and very sober around the staff). I know a lot of the bar staff and the young lady who they were rude to. I go to Tonic most weekends and have a blast, but have always had to wait a long time for a drink. The bartenders were never rude to me, but only because they didn't really talk to me. I've been putting up with the poor service because my friends go there, but you can be sure that we won't be anymore. Just because you know people who work at a bar doesn't make it a great place. I encourage Tonic to do something about their staff, because they really do have the potential to be a great establishment. Please stop being bitter, because obviously a lot of people agree with her, and do something about your bar!!
P.S. All those looking for a fabulous hypnotic martini, try one from Ben at Red Room, it's the best! (And I don't work there).