01/01/09

BOUNCERS ARE BRUTAL and KNOWN BY ER DOCTORS FOR BEATING PATRONS

by LJlocal

Do NOT go to this bar. They have a real problem with their security. DANGEROUS. They took innocent people into custody and BEAT THEM, breaking bones. The ER doc said he has treated others who were beaten by this security team. DESPICABLE.

Editorial Review

by Contributor

Randy Gerber blends goth, country and urban design in the Hard Rock Hotel's chic, see-and-be-seen lobby bar.

06/28/08

Definitely Worth Experiencing for Yourself!

by krollvalentas

From the earlier reviews we were a little apprehensive about going to Sweetwater but some friends invited us to go there with them. The place was crowded and people were telling the door people all kinds of stories in order to get inside. They both did a great job in speaking with everyone. We had a reservation so we got in with no problem. Overall the scene was fun, the drinks were good and the service was great. The server was friendly and attentive. She checked in with us throughout the entire night. (We haven?t experienced that in a long time!) The DJ had a cool mix - old and new. We really enjoyed the place and would definitely recommend it to anyone. Reservations seem to make it easier to get in on the busier nights. As they say, "Don?t judge a book by its cover" or in this situation "by its reviews" (even ours). Go experience for yourself! We think you will be pleasantly surprised. We were.

• Pros: Location;Service;Vibe
• Cons: Traffic Congestion

06/25/08

Don't go unless you want to wait on yourself...

by amseek

My fiancee and I decided to stop for an appetizer and some cocktails prior to the Padres game last night (Tuesday June 24th) at the Sweetwater Saloon at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego and received what was possibly the worst service I have ever had at any bar/restaurant.

We arrived a little after 6 o'clock and the bar was moderately busy, but were able to find a table on the patio right away. There was a couple at the adjacent table that had been given menus, but no one had stopped to take drink orders, etc. Another gentleman arrived shortly after and sat at the table at the other side of us.

We waited for 10-15 minutes and then decided to go to the bar to get drinks ourselves. When we came back, the couple at the table with the menu still had not seen the server and decided to get up and leave. The gentleman at the other table had also not received menus or had any one take his drink orders.

After another 10-15 more minutes, the gentleman at the adjacent table finally flagged down the busser to see if he could find the server. In the meantime, another couple had come and gone from a nearby table after receiving no service at all. When the server did finally come out, she went to the gentleman's table and took his order and once again ignored our table completely, even though both of our drinks were completely empty and we had an open menu on the table.

On our way out, I heard what was supposed to be our server say to a table "did you just want to go to the bar or did you want me to get your order?" My question is, if it is a self-service bar, why have servers on at all?

We, along with friends and family, frequent Padres games and the Gaslamp Quarter and the location of Sweetwater is ideal; the service, however, was not.

• Pros: Location
• Cons: Service

04/25/08

Horrible Promoters

by dayorbit

We went to Sweetwater on a Thursday night, we heard it was the place to go. When we walk up to the door, I see my cousin working at the hotel...I stopped and talked to him for a few minutes. Then we walked up to the door, and could see the club had about 15 people in it and the music was waaay to loud...but whatever, it was like 9:30 and we figured it would get better. I'll never know if it did, b/c we couldn't get in b/c we were'nt on "the list." Are you serious? This is downtown San Diego, with 250 bars to choose from! I told them about my cousin, and they didn't care, "guest list only" for thursday - Saturday night. So we walked away from a dead club with nobody in line and nobody in the club. Would you turn away three people from buying overpriced drinks if you owned a club?

04/14/08

Un-friggin-believable!

by rockinit99

I hate to hate, but check this:

Me and my two friends arrive at 9:15pm on Friday night. There were literally about 12 people in the club, yet the bouncer tells us that Fri and Sat night is guest list only. We were like: "Bro, there are only 12 people in there. Just let us in man." He tells us he needs to talk to his manager. After 5 minutes, he lets me and one of my friends in, but my 3rd friend has to wait outside in line (he's the ONLY one in line, mind you) for an additional 5 minutes. For what? Crowd control?? Please! Anyway, the bouncer finally lets him in. So it's now about 9:30pm and we start having a couple of beers. We look out the window, and we see the bouncers turning people away left and right! Some of these people were hot chicks too! They must not have been on the guest list. What a joke. Anyways, it's now 11:45pm, and the place is half full/empty. It's Friday night at the Gas Lamp, you want to go to a place that's full, crowded, and people having fun, right? We finally leave at midnight, and the place is still only about half full. We go up the street to Stingaree, and gaw'dang!! Lots of people, lots of chicks, good music, people dancing, etc.... And here we were, kicking ourselves for not coming to Stingaree earlier.

The only good thing about Sweetwater Saloon is the music. The DJ was playing some good jams. Too bad there weren't that many people there to enjoy it. The owners/managers must not care too much about making money here because they are missing out on literally a few extra thousand dollars a night on alcohol consumption if they just let people in the place! Their admission standards are such a joke, that guess what people? This place is pretty dead now. Good job Sweetwater! We know we are never going back. It's the Gaslamp for chrissakes! If one place is dead, you just stagger over to the next one!

• Pros: Music
• Cons: Ridiculous admission standards