| Author | Message | ||
     skay Citizen Username: Skay Post Number: 16 Registered: 10-2004 |
So a few buddies and I went to the Gaslight on Monday night to watch the Giant game. The waitress asked my buddy for his order- a lager. She came back with a stout. He then asked for a Miller, she came back with a Miller Lite. When my buddy told her it was the wrong drink-again.. The little bartender got up walked over to my friend and said, "How many times are you going to change your order?" My friend tried to explain that it was just a misunderstanding and just wanted the correct order or another option, the bartender got right in his face, with his finger in his face and said, "I don't like your attitude, there's the door!" Then he told the 2 of us remaining that if we didn't like it- there's the door. Do these guys want to go out of business? | ||
| CFA Citizen Username: Cfa Post Number: 1460 Registered: 5-2001  |
Sounds like it. Maybe if enough people stop patronizing this joint, the bartender will be "out the door." | ||
| Josh Holtz Citizen Username: Jholtz Post Number: 92 Registered: 4-2004 |
Yet another reason why I won't go there. | ||
| mickey Citizen Username: Mickey Post Number: 304 Registered: 10-2001 |
I hope you went out the door. Never to return. That's where I went when I asked to be seated where it was less smoky. The "hostess" said I was expecting too much. (Meanwhile the entire back room, with set tables, was empty) Short live the Gas Light!! | ||
| susan1014 Supporter Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 985 Registered: 3-2002 |
But yet it has been behaving this way for years now...we pretty much gave up on them at least 6 or 8 years ago (well before their attitude toward children became an issue). | ||
| bluetang Citizen Username: Bluetang Post Number: 1 Registered: 9-2005 |
I'm the guy that was so kindly pointed to the door. Couldn't believe it...it was surreal how this guy reacted. They brought me the wrong order twice and all I did was ask him for the correct beer. How does a place that treats paying customers like this stay in business? I'm telling every single person I know in the area to stay away....plenty of other places to have a beer and watch a game. At some point this crap has to catch up with them. I grew up in SO..went drinking at this bar back when it was Ryan's Place...and they actually LIKED having people there. Much better memories than the lowlife bartender I encountered the other night. Absolutely classless. | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 7443 Registered: 4-1997  |
Any more posts like that and you're out of here! (kidding) | ||
| Pippi Supporter Username: Pippi Post Number: 1247 Registered: 8-2003  |
I've stopped going as well. I can't understand how they stay in business. FWIW, there are a lot of people out there who have very low standards in their expectation of places like the Gaslight. My guess is that they survive on the patronage of SHU students, a population that changes constantly. (I am not implying SHU students have low standards - those are two separate thoughts!) | ||
| argon_smythe Citizen Username: Argon_smythe Post Number: 656 Registered: 5-2001 |
I don't have low expectations "of places like the Gaslight." I just plain never had an incident like that there. Until I do, I'll continue to consider it a viable place to go. Blue Moon, on the other hand, I have a hard time even walking past the sidewalk out front as it's too close to "setting foot" in the place! | ||
| bluetang Citizen Username: Bluetang Post Number: 2 Registered: 9-2005 |
Argon Totally hear you...I had never had an incident like this either...anywhere, not just Gaslight. I had heard how they don't like kids, are rude, etc. But no, I never had a reason to speak with mgmt. But when something like this happens it speaks to a larger issue. Someone told me the bartender that confronted me is actually the owner's son....which makes this even more problematic. The owners condone this behavior...so by going there and patronizing it we are saying that we agree with how they treat their customers. I mean, in the end, we can all get a burger, sandwich, and a beer somewhere else. To me, the difference between going to one place or the other is based on quality of food for the money, atmosphere, and most impotantly, service. Gaslight is not winning any awards on any of those measures, and in fact chooses to antagonize their patrons....and make no mistake - what the bartender/owner did to me was antagonistic. Certainly not telling you what to do - just realize what they stand for. | ||
| Pippi Supporter Username: Pippi Post Number: 1248 Registered: 8-2003 |
argon - funny you should mention Blue Moon. It's the only other establishment in town I refuse to go to! | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 797 Registered: 11-2001  |
I hope you didn't pay for the beers (after drinking them) and walked out. | ||
| Dobler88 Citizen Username: Dobler88 Post Number: 45 Registered: 7-2005 |
I had a gaslight incident as well. We went in to get some food around 10:30 ish one night and my friend was wearing a hat. They tell us we cant' sit in their dining room if he is wearing a hat. I look around at the scuzzy bar and smoke and somewhat non-dapperly dressed patrons and said, "um, are you kidding me?" The person seating us said, "no, and if you don't like it, you can leave." So we did. Never, ever again will I go there. BTW, my friend is a preppy guy and was wearing khakis, a dress polo shirt, and a friggin yankees hat. He was not dressed inappropriately, especially given what the gaslight looks like! | ||
| AntoninaKC Citizen Username: Antoninakc Post Number: 97 Registered: 5-2005  |
I too have recieved the wrong beer at gaslight, but never said anything. Another time they refused to serve a friend whose drivers license had expired, even though he was clearly over the legal drinking age and had a valid ID. (btw, it had expired that week and had not been replaced yet.) | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 1309 Registered: 12-2003  |
This place should be one of the most popular hangouts in South Orange. Great location, extensive menu, plenty of room. It boggles the mind that they go so far out of their way to constantly piss people off. | ||
| Mayor McCheese Supporter Username: Mayor_mccheese Post Number: 505 Registered: 7-2004  |
AntoninaKC A bar can get in big trouble for serving you without a current ID. That could bring in big fines. I would hold that against them. Unless you are talking about a person who is 50+, but then I wouldn't understand why they asked for ID in the first place. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 5395 Registered: 5-2001  |
We've had the Gaslight experience. My favorite is when we were in jeans (4 of us). Neatly dressed - sweaters, shoes, no patches or fringes on our jeans. Also told we could not sit in the dining room (away from the smoke), which was ludicrous, since there was not one other person in the dining room. While we were there, a family of 8 came in & was seated in the dining room. The two teenage boys were in jeans & baseball caps. We had finished our meal & were lingering over the end of drinks, but I asked about the boys in jeans. "We didn't see them". Yeah. Right. Next experience, same thing. That was the last one. | ||
| Eats Shoots & Leaves Citizen Username: Mfpark Post Number: 2286 Registered: 9-2001  |
This is outrageous, an affront. I propose a civil disobedience campaign where we descend on the Gaslight wearing all sorts of odd hats and demand to be seated in the back dining room at separate tables, whereupon we order beers, return them, reorder, return them again, and then watch the owner go apoplectic and burst from a stroke (bearded gent with thinning white hair that shows a reddening scalp wonderfully). Okay, just funnin' around. I have seen the Gaslight do the baseball hat thing to a friend of mine, even when others in the dining room were wearing one. And the owner does not give anyone warm fuzzies--cold pricklies is more his style, more like Gimli than a gimlet. But I have always had a passably good time there--the microbeers are sometimes quite good (sometimes not); the wait staff is earnest and well-intentioned, if good-naturedly incompetent; the food is better than standard bar fare; the menu interesting (ostrich burger, decent pulled pork sandwich, good fries). Our book group met there for a few years and always found the atmosphere conducive, especially because the dining room is often empty on weeknights (a bonus for their surly attitude?). All in all a strange place that has its good moments. Too bad they piss off so many--I think they could be as busy as the St. James Gate or Cryans with a little more positive attitude. | ||
| Mike Matterly Citizen Username: Ittakesavillage Post Number: 53 Registered: 4-2005 |
Not surprised to hear this. I have had a couple of good experiences there, but I have witnessed this type of behavior from the staff / owners. If I had enough backers, I would purchase the Gaslight, fire the indivduals that are consistantly nasty to customers and then make them clean the high chairs that would then be available to the kids who are now not welcome there. I think a little kid was in there once and was eaten by a large person........ BTW - skay are you playing on sunday? | ||
| dougw Citizen Username: Dougw Post Number: 485 Registered: 3-2005 |
Does anyone find the tap beer a little warm there? I have travelled all over Europe and when you order a larger or pilsner there it is quite cold. I am guessing they think the beer is supposed to be warmer to be "authentic" or they are just too cheap to keep it cold. When I go there I order bottle beer which is kept cold. | ||
| howardf Citizen Username: Howardf Post Number: 353 Registered: 6-2001 |
I find their house beers to be weak namby-pamby imitations of real beer. They do have a very good bottled selection, which is far better than the stuff they brew themselves. The only good thing about the Gasbag is that they are such nasty people that it is always easy to get a table. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 2790 Registered: 5-2001  |
skay, Be sure to return to the Gaslight next time with your 2 kids after you pump them up with sugar.  | ||
| SO Ref Citizen Username: So_refugee Post Number: 1077 Registered: 2-2005  |
Were the Mos Eisley bar scenes shot at the Gaslight? | ||
| Flik Chik Citizen Username: Flikchik Post Number: 150 Registered: 3-2004  |
I would like to chime in for the Gaslight....Spouse and I got there once a week and have never had or witnessed an incident such as the ones described above. I really like the food at gaslight and the beers are great. We normally sit at the bar and get a beer (or two) and a sandwich. I am surprised that people have had such bad experiences at this place. We have found the staff helpful and friendly and recommend this to most of our friends as a great place for a drink. | ||
| drewdix Citizen Username: Drewdix Post Number: 981 Registered: 7-2001 |
Yikes! | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 9637 Registered: 1-2003  |
I suppose it helps them that a lot of their clientèle is from SHU. With SHU's turnover, perhaps that hampers word of mouth about Gaslight's transgressions. | ||
| Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 1918 Registered: 7-2003 |
I really don’t understand. They have the crowd they want, serve the food they want, and treat people the way they want. They don’t like having children there, take your kids someplace else. You don’t like the beers, go to another bar. You want to wear a hat, go to another place. They are running a business the way they want, and if you don’t like it DON’T GO. It’s as easy as that. You can piss and moan about how rude they are till you’re blue in the face. I’ve been there on a lot of nights when they had quite a crowd and seem to be doing well. If you would like to have a bar that you can wear hats, talk on cell phones, brew the best beer you’ve ever tasted, then open one. If you need a kid friendly place, get a loan and open one. If the town really needs a place that fit’s to your exact specifications, feel free to buy the Gaslight and convert it. It’s a wonder that there are so many empty store fronts in town. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 9641 Registered: 1-2003 |
Brett, I think the point is that it fails to meet a standard that we THOUGHT everyone has. The surprise is that so many people seem to be satisfied with this treatment. | ||
| Liberal Media Citizen Username: Liberalmedia Post Number: 8 Registered: 2-2004  |
1. It's a brewery. Leave your screaming kids at home. 2. Take your hat off when you enter a building. Common courtesy going way back. 3. Go outside to yak on your cellphone. If you wanted to talk with people during dinner, invite them. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 9643 Registered: 1-2003 |
And what should we do when they get our orders wrong? | ||
| drewdix Citizen Username: Drewdix Post Number: 982 Registered: 7-2001 |
Brett & Liberal, If it were just a matter of taste and decorum, you're right, just don't go, and make another choice, end of discussion. but many of us have been on the other end of out-of-the-way rudeness that has nothing to do with some qurlky choices they want to make. It's just weird. And it helps to see if it's just me or not. . | ||
| davidbuckley Citizen Username: Davidbuckley Post Number: 368 Registered: 5-2001 |
I'm doing my part. Went in once years ago, they were killer rude, we left and never went back and never will. I also take every chance I can to mention the experience. Also, the beer we ordered and began to drink as the rudeness kicked in was decidedly not worth drinking--a poor excuse for a brew pub even if they weren't rude. God bless 'em if they can stay in business but it sure speaks ill that the populace supports a place like this... Be well and demand professional, respectful service (and good beer), all. David | ||
| Maplewoody Citizen Username: Maplewoody Post Number: 1037 Registered: 5-2001  |
Leave a BIG dod turd on their front stoop! Oooops, wrong thread!  Print out this thread and mail it to the OWNER of the Gaslight! | ||
| Dobler88 Citizen Username: Dobler88 Post Number: 52 Registered: 7-2005 |
There's a way to uphold your "standards of decorum." And acting like an a-hole to your customers in demanding hat removal is not the way. If someone at the gaslight had used one ounce of courtesy in asking for the removal of said hat, perhaps I would go back. Bottom line: I dont need to be treated like that for mediocre food and beer. | ||
| Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 1921 Registered: 7-2003 |
Maybe it’s all of your attitudes. I know several people that go there and have NEVER had these issues. Maybe you look like an overly complicated customer and they don’t want you as cliental. These people I know are from all walks of life, so it’s not that they hate 30 somthings, or hipsters, or the elderly. Maybe you walk in, demand a table, complain about something and they just decide to tell you to get out. I think every bar in NJ has a sign that says “We have the right to refuse service to anyone” | ||
| Earlster Supporter Username: Earlster Post Number: 1324 Registered: 8-2003  |
I don't need to repeat my bad experiences there, since they are just another variation of what was mentioned above. They also have a web site, where you can leave feedback. I left negative feedback there once, it was deleted within hours and my IP was blocked from posting. So, they don't even care and sending this thread to the owner would most likely do nothing. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 9650 Registered: 1-2003 |
Brett, you seem to be saying that some people's attitudes deserve mistreatment. I'd like to say that such an outlook is bad business and ultimately costs the business, but I'd be proven wrong. That doesn't make it a good business practice. If I'm some undesirable type in some way, I don't think anyone should treat me rudely. And I don't believe rude behavior warrants rude treatment. And you seem to be suggesting that those who were treated badly did something rude. We can't say for sure, but I don't see any evidence of it. That "refuse service to anyone" is certainly a business's prerogative, but exercising it is a dangerous thing. And there even polite ways to do it, such as saying, "I'm sorry, but we won't be able to serve you." | ||
| Joe Citizen Username: Gonets Post Number: 992 Registered: 2-2004 |
Their beer is bad, their dining room is depressing, their food is overpriced, but some of it is pretty good. They have a shuffleboard which makes it a worthwhile destination. Their service has always been friendly to me. It's definitely not my first choice. It might be cool to go there to watch a game and play shuffleboard, but there are too many better choices for food. | ||
| Mayor McCheese Supporter Username: Mayor_mccheese Post Number: 515 Registered: 7-2004 |
One of my biggest complaints about the place is that you have to go there for 10 months and purchase $4600 worth of alcohol before they will buy you back a drink. When I go out I don't expect to be bought back many drinks, but if you go to a place regularly for a long time I do expect it every once and a while. Not even the shuffleboard could make me go back there. | ||
| Eats Shoots & Leaves Citizen Username: Mfpark Post Number: 2325 Registered: 9-2001 |
$4,600/10months/$4 per drink/30 days/month = 3.83 drinks per day (including weekends and holidays)! Yikes, at that rate they should buy you a new liver instead of a few drinks! |
