The Reef

I almost hate to extol the virtues of the Reef at 6th and Main in downtown Boise; I would almost prefer to keep it for my own group of select friends and family. The Reef is a breath of fresh air (literally on their out door patio!) in Boise, Idaho. I have been to clubs all over the east coast and the Reef is up to par with a popular destination clubs on Long Island. It has a small dance floor but that can add to the party crowd atmosphere even on a slow night. The TIKI bar type ambiance is enhanced by the outdoor, 2nd story patio complete with TIKI torches and it?s own outdoor bar. I would almost call this club a restaurant rather than a bar since the food is something to come for by itself. We have had a great time at the Reef both on weekends and during the week. I?m giving this place a EUGE HIGH 5! Pros: Great 2nd story patio complete with tiki torches and outdoor bar over looking the ""club district"" downtown Boise. Cons: No dedicated parking lot; however garage parking was affordable. more

If you want to have a few drinks at The Reef, you better bring enough change to tip the bartender for every drink or he will refuse to serve you. \r \r I decided to try one of their specialty drinks, it was a $10 drink. I grabbed a $20 bill and went up to the bar. It was extremely busy, so I patiently waited for service. Finally, the bartender whom my friends and I had been tipping all night took my order (he was clean-shaved with short, spiky blond hair). He gave me back a $10 bill, so I didn?t have any change for the tip. \r \r I thought to myself, ?I'll make sure I tip him double on the next round.""\r \r Later, I took the $10 bill he gave me as change and went back to the bar to order a beer. I waited for the same guy who had served me before, so I could catch him up on the tip. I stood there and waited for about 10 minutes. He looked at me several times and continued to take orders from other people and pour them drinks. \r \r I finally leaned over the counter and said, ?I know you?re really busy but I have a quick, easy request for you, it?s just a beer.?\r \r He replied, ?I?m done serving you, because you didn?t tip"", then he turned and walked away.\r \r I went downstairs to ask for a manager and his fellow bartender from upstairs (she had blond hair, about shoulder-length) came over and said she was the manager. When I explained the situation she said, ""That didn't happen, I don't believe you"". So I asked for the general manager or a phone number for the bar owner and she proceeded to get in my face saying, ""I am the general manager, you can't get any higher than me.""\r \r Normally, I wouldn?t blame the entire business establishment for one rude employee, but the person who presented herself as the manager was even more rude than the bartender was, she refused to listen to my complaint.\r \r My friends and I left The Reef immediately and we'll never return. They lost about 15 customers that night and hopefully with this review they will lose more. Pros: Cool atmosphere doesn't make up for bad service. Cons: RUDE employees more