10/05/09

beware rude bar staff

by caphillres

If you'd asked me 2 days ago if I'd recommend The Elysian I would have said "absolutely, yes". Not anymore. I stopped in to pick up some beer to go & was subjected to possibly the rudest "service", if you can call it that, that I have ever had the misfortune to experience in Seattle.

My husband & I stood at the bar for some time before the bartender, a smallish, shorthaired brunette, slight accent, chose to shower us with her sparkling personality (sorry, I'm trying hard to be appropriate here). I asked about the availability of growlers. I then asked to get the pumpkin ale. She looked at me like I was mentally challenged & responded "there's 2 kinds". I then asked about them, wanting her opinion as she is employed as a bartender & should be able to give patrons that kind of info....would imagine that's part of the job description. She replied abruptly "one's stronger". I asked stronger how? Higher alcohol content? More pumpkin-y? She looked at me like I had 3 heads. I explained I was going to a beer tasting party & wanted to know more about the beer I was bringing. She could have cared less about that. My husband suggested at that point we just get both. She audibly sighed & went to fill the growlers. While doing so, she pleasantly joked around with the guys at the bar, flicking water at one of them. It seems, when she chose to, she was quite capable of being pleasant. Maybe we were interrupting her time with her buddies, I don't know. The bar was relatively empty as it was around 4 on a sunny Saturday afternoon so she definitely was not frenzied with work stress. When the growlers, which were identical, were plunked down in front of me I asked if she wouldn't mind labeling them so I knew which we would be tasting at the party. She turned her back on me mid-sentence, ripped a piece of receipt paper in half, scribbled the beer names on the paper & slapped them on the bottles with some scotch tape. Then she quite loudly slapped the bill folder on the bar in front of me & walked off. I tried giving her my card & she kind of blew me off for a moment or so, came back & grabbed it. For $44 worth of beer & some very reasonable questions from a customer, I was stunned by how hostile her behavior was.

In tough economic times, with lay offs & cut backs, one would think people would be motivated to keep the jobs they have. Not to mention companies wanting to keep their customers happy & coming back. I question any company that would employ someone like her to represent them. I live just a few blocks away from The Elysian & will not hesitate to tell everyone I know of the experience I had. Word of mouth is a powerful thing. I walked out, honestly wondering what the heck I did that could have provoked such enmity from a complete stranger. My conclusion is...nothing. I had merely asked her for her professional opinion & information.

Way to go, Elysian, you guys went from a BIG thumbs up to an absolute thumbs DOWN.

• Pros: decent beer
• Cons: service

02/10/09

Rude hostess

by devylish

Met friends here last Saturday night - albeit a weekend evening, we dared to go out and have a low-key night playing Scrabble over drinks and food. Chose the place for their food/drink and large tables. Upon arriving, my friends had already been waiting for 10 min and had put our name in for 5. Were told the wait was another 20 min maybe. After we waited while I was there for 40 min very patiently, a couple of us went to check. We weren't rude, we just inquired. The snotty hostess informed me that someone had set the party at 5. I said we were only 4. My friend was just accommodating another who might join us, but we were 4. She again said it was set for 5. I again said, it's actually 4. Then she said firmly and rudely, 'Well, you'll still have to wait'. I hadn't thought otherwise. I simply asked how long it would be which she never gave us. In another 10-15 min, we did have friends join, which did make us 5, but they were leaving in 30 min to go to Piecora's and see a band so they weren't staying and the booths are plenty big for 3 men and 2 women. Another was joining us after they'd left so it was still 4. When we were seated about 15 min later, our friends followed us - and the hostess came by and remarking w/ a rude smirk on her face that she'd come by w/ another menu, cuz we'd told her it was only 4.

It amazes me in these economic times, our money isn't greeted as appreciated. We all drank, ate, tipped well - because the server actually was extremely nice and friendly. The pork tacos were awful tho and sort of tasted like they're slathered in lard - I don't know how I ate one, but couldn't finish the other. I didn't say anything because I figured they'd a bad and busy night. The beer is great. A star for each our server and the beer.

I've never been treated so rudely at The Elysian by anyone else there.. and if I hadn't been inside near the window, I would've gotten up and talked to the manager. Inexcusable and I won't go back readily.

• Pros: Beer, some of the waitstaff
• Cons: Hostess, crowded on weekends/wait, pork tacos

10/12/08

good beer. good enough food. good times.

by 206rep

The service was speedy, the food was satisfactory, and the beer was very original and full of flavor. From pumpkin to peppercorn, or saison to supernova - this place brews it all! Expect to taste good beer with decent food and sufficient service then you will not be disappointed.

• Pros: ambience, beer, service
• Cons: parking, pork tacos, no ranch dressing

10/12/08

Awesome Beer and Food in a Casual Atmosphere

by redmond980

Elysian offers a great selection of beers and good food. I have eaten here several times with many different people and everyone has loved it. In fact, this is the place where my husband and I decided to uproot and move to the great northwest, so I might be biased towards it.

I am a veggie and he is not. The menu offers something for both of us. We really enjoy their black bean cakes, nachos, and their avocado curry is outstanding. It is a great place to relax and have a couple of really awesome beers (like the Avatar - aka Jasmine IPA).

It can get crowded on Friday and Saturday nights so you should prepare for a wait. You might be able to find a place at the bar. Trust me; there are worse things to do than drink a one of their beers while waiting for a table.

• Pros: BEER, food, ambiance
• Cons: Parking...

02/28/08

Bring Back the old menu

by JohnThorton

The Elysian has always been inconsistant, but worth going to. Often great, sometimes not. Always good beer. The change to the menu makes it tough to choose it over some of the other local restaurants. But if you are looking for good beer on the hill, it is one of your best bets.

• Pros: Beer
• Cons: Lack of food selection

02/02/08

Bring back the wings!

by sunplease

Dear Elysian Proprietors,

I have been a loyal Elysian patron for many moons. I love your friendly and efficient wait staff, your convenient location and your outstandingly delicious beer. Your food, unfortunately, has never been great. BUT, I found a dish that I enjoyed, often multiple times in a week: the buffalo wings with an extra large side of celery and carrot sticks. Your fish and chips were also quite delicious. When you recently closed your doors for a brief remodel, I was excited. What might you crazy Elysian people have up your sleeves? Turns out, I was about to be deeply disappointed. Your new, elongated bar is quite nice. Your menu, on the other hand, is a boring disaster. My greatest sadness: no more wings. Also, no more fish and chips. And your formerly delicious and affordable burger now costs over $12 bucks if you add a wee slice of cheddar.

Please, Elysian, remember who you are. Bring back the wings. Bring back the fish and chips. I can only speak for myself, but I assure you that the fine people of Capitol Hill will thank you.

• Pros: wait staff and delicious beer
• Cons: menu...boring and expensive

01/04/08

Drink here but don't eat here

by aburton98102

The beer is great, as is the service and ambiance. The food was horribly, heavy, and didn't taste fresh at all. I would never eat here again although I hear the Elysian downtown has awesome food.

09/25/07

Better than just a brewpub

by curatipsum

Let me start off by saying, I am not a beer drinker. But I can tell you that my friend if a beer freak, and he loved this place. Usually remarked that the beers were quite good. What I can tell you is that I dig the place because the menu was pretty darn good for a brewpub. Some german fare even! It's also a place where there are a lot of people, but you never feel crowded because the tables are spaced out nicely.

Nice big windows. Probably see some interesting people there. Kind of college-kiddy, probably about half their patrons or more - but that is not a bad thing.

Groovy place. The bar staff is also super nice.

08/01/07

Go to Six Arms instead

by aleksandr111

Ah the Elysian. It?s a mixed bag here. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. I?ve had some great service and food ? but the past couple times, not so much. It?s really for yuppies, but it?s worth checking out for the beer. All in all, it?s not as good as Six Arms down the street ? go there instead, their service kills anything you?ll get at the Elysian.

02/19/07

Forget about it..

by rainorshine

Picture this: Four pitchers, at least 20 pints sitting atop the bar waiting to be served...and it's been almost 25 mintues since your sassy waitress said, "I'll be right with you". Another case of greddy waitstaff, who take on more than they can handle. Even if the food is tasty, or the beer is decent (35 minutes after showing up), the whole establishment becomes a bad memory. Maybe they should consider hiring a few more people to join their waitstaff, or offer "self-serve" beer on tap.