I used to enjoy going to eat at Roscoe's Famous Deli in Fullerton. I was a big fan of The Hat in Brea, but it was farther, as was Rubys Sandwich Saloon in Costa Mesa, and Arnie's Manhattan Deli in Newport... but this past Saturday (1/2/10), I went to Roscoe's along with two of my friends from the East Coast... we had the food (they were from NY so they weren't impressed with the food) but the beer is always good.
We went to their newly-opened great room/space where there was a cover band playing funk that night. When the band was offstage at 1am, my friend went to put $10 dollars in the jukebox. The jukebox started playing and everyone continued to enjoy the night. Never once did they call ""last call,"" nor was there a sign on the jukebox that read ""do not put money in after 1am."" So after 1 song, the jukebox gets paused by the bar again and we ask the bar manager (kinda-lanky caucasian guy in his late 30's/early 40's with dirty blonde hair) why they paused it, and if they were going to keep it paused, that they would need to refund our money (as of course, we could spend it on drink). He immediately asked us ""where are you from?"" and told us that you never put money in a jukebox at 1am - WTF - seriously???
He then went on to joke about it with other patrons at the bar when he thought we weren't looking, in an attempt to make a fool out of us - his own paying customers. Again, this is the back bar in the great room with the stage at Roscoe's Famous Deli, not the bar in front with the girl working a few taps next to the kitchen. People began to complain as no music was being played and we chalked it up to the guy (who we've seen allow the jukebox to play until 1:50am on most nights if it was rock & roll) being a poor employee, possibly a bigot, and uneducated when it comes to dealing with paying patrons. He told us he would not refund us and that we should know better... did not offer any other apology, an I.O.U. or drinks in return. great way to treat your paying patrons. I guess when every other person there on a Saturday night is usually a city college kid with a lifted-truck, who cares right? Wrong. 2 or 3 Stars for the food and beer, POOR SERVICE & DEMEANOR, SHAME ON YOU FOR HIRING THAT GUY ROSCOE'S - we'll take our business to Ruby's Sandwich Saloon or Jerry's.
Pros: Okay Sandwiches & Big Bowls of Beer
Cons: Rude Back Bar Manager and Poor Management
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