Sunday, April 20, 2014

Bar Rescue - Pat's Cocktails - A Mixology Bar Update

On tonight's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Valley Village, California to try to rescue Pat's Cocktails, which is a sports bar.  The bar manager is too busy "canoodling" in his bar to notice the things that are going on around him.  Jon Taffer gets one of the bartenders to help out with the recon, and gets her to give out tons of free drinks to customers in the bar to see if the manager notices, which he does not.  Jon will need to change how the manager operates to turn this bar around.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Pat's Cocktails was slightly renamed to Pat's Cocktails - A Mixology Bar.  Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Pat's Cocktails since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar:



Positive Reviews:
  • "First visit back since bar rescue and the smell is gone...It does seem nicer than before. The mixology in the name is sadly a joke, the mustachioed hipster mixologists in town has that market cornered ,if there are no fresh plant looking things and fat square ice cubes , mixology doesn't apply, they slanging drinks. Have a beer at the dive bar and call it a day."
  • "Cons: Only one pool table now.  Pros: the smell of puke is finally gone! Nice spot, cheap drinks."
  • "I've been an on again off again patron of Pats for nearly a decade... It got a bit rough around the edges about four years ago and I stopped coming in as much. Now that "bar rescue" came in, renovated, restructured and retrained I gave it another shot tonight and had a fantastic time.... they really got a good thing going now...the crowd was good as well as the vibe...I didn't over spend and overall had a really good time. Stop by...you will have a good time too."
  • "Nice spot to relax with friends and have some drinks. Just hate that they got rid of the pool tables. Still a good spot , seems like now they gave a younger crowd since Bar Rescue but who cares."

Negative Reviews:
  • "The only appeal to Pat's was the fact that it was a dive bar.  It's even worse now that it's been "rescued". The one star is for the puke smell being gone...I agree with other reviewers, embrace your diveyness and leave the mixology to Silver Lake."
  • "John Taffer tried, but this bar still sucks. Our bar keep was the only good part of this experience. She was pleasant, prompt and helpful....Don't go here unless you want to over pay for drinks or observe a pig with some lipstick on it."
  • "I should have known from the "A Mixology Bar" on the sign.....  Laughably bad cocktails. Mine was an abomination of gin and Campari. The other was the worst gimlet in the history of cocktails...Call it a sportsbar and stick to blaring TVs and bad beer."
*Reviews from Yelp


Other News and Links:
  • Here are 2 preview videos of the episode on the Spike TV website.
  • Here is the Pat's Cocktails website, old Facebook page, new Facebook page, and Twitter page
  • Some reviews before Bar Rescue came stated how bad the place smelled, with many saying it smelled like puke and stale beer.  Most reviews also refer to the bar as a dive bar.
  • Pat's had 3 pool tables before the makeover, and Bar Rescue removed them all.  Pat's has since put a pool table back in the bar.
  • Here are the Facebook pages of the manager Jimmy, his wife Monique, and bartenders Vivian, Chad, and Danielle.
  • Monique has pictures that say she was in the show Sons of Anarchy and the movie Shrink.  Jimmy is on IMDB as being in the movie Ambushed, so I guess they are both actors/actresses of some sort.
  • In December after the makeover, Danielle posted a status on her Facebook stating,  "Damn, scrolling thru FB its kind of hurtful to see how quickly people flip! Understand a few things about the "New Pat's"- IT'S FOR A TV SHOW- Entertainment Purposes! Of course the regulars will complain, by nature people don't like change. Some things will be going back to normal very quickly. For years folks complained about the smell, the air conditioning, bar sticky or with tile, the beer was warm, the food sucked! Well I hate to be the one to tell ya, but without Bar Rescue NOTHING was EVER going to get fixed! Nothing got fixed in the 10yrs I've worked there, and it was getting worse by the day. So we took one for the team, we were humiliated on TV put in 12 hour days, didn't have days off for weeks to make Pat's a better place for everyone! Be realistic y'all this is how we earn a living, without a makeover Pat's wasn't going to make it. With every bar in town getting remodeled, we were under pressure to stay relevant to our competition. We know the business side of things- not just the fun stuff our loyal customers love about the old Pat's. Bartenders were making 40% less in tips, so obviously the bars numbers were down considerably as well. Don't be so quick to judge and jump in the hater wagon. Pat's upgraded because we love you guys- believe that!!! ‪#‎yourfuckinwelcome‬"  Vivian and Chad also commented on the status backing up Danielle.
  • Pat's Cocktails reached out to their Facebook fans to leave good Yelp reviews in January. (Link)

Conclusion:

The reviews since Bar Rescue came are mixed, and people still consider it a dive bar/sports bar rather than a mixology bar.  I guess the mixology concept Jon Taffer envisioned is not catching on, and the bar even brought back a pool table due to customer complaints.  It sounds like they were willing to do whatever to get Bar Rescue to makeover the bar including being "humiliated on TV."  One thing that everybody agrees on is that they are happy that the foul smells of the bar are gone.

*To see how all of the bars from Bar Rescue are doing, go to the Bar Rescue Update page, and also Like us on Facebook or Follow Us on Twitter to stay up to date with all things involving Bar Rescue.  

50 comments:

  1. Besides all the structural changes, they should tell some of the bartenders to WEAR A BRA. Don't wear raggedy tank tops!!

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  2. But those puppies got her tips b4! lol

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  3. The only thing i was thinking about while watching this episode was hoping it would end with the owner Pat being hunted,stuffed and mounted on a wall like the animals he murdered

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  4. You can tell by the same wording that these posts are from competitor's.

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  5. So? It still looks like s... pigs wearing lipstick.
    The manager's wife looked hot, her clevage and the way she dresses. If the slobby bartender woyld polish up, she woukd look hot too. Lose 3, buy a bra and some new clothes

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  6. Ray is the owners name, the dude making out with his wife is the bar's manager. "Pat's" is the name of the bar when Ray bought the bar years ago. Plz pay more attention.

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  7. This is one of the many episodes where I'd rather the show be about how Taffer refused to do a rescue.

    The owner looked Taffer in the eye and said (I'm paraphrasing), "Sure, I've got the money to straighten things out, but I'd rather you spent yours. If you do, maybe I'll keep the momentum going."

    I'd have loved if Taffer had looked at the bartenders and said, "Ladies, your owner is a cocky deuche and you're going to lose your jobs when this bar shuts down. Sorry."

    Taffer's incompetence test for the manager was pretty silly. Unless a bartender is already suspected of theft, no manager is going to be watching like a hawk to be sure every drink is rung in properly. Don't get me wrong, this manager was one of the worst (the kind who, instead of acting like a manager, act like a customer who is being paid to fill a seat). I'm just saying no manager is going to be all suspicious of a bartender who has demonstrated honesty for years. Granted, the walking around with a bottle topping off drinks should have been noticed but the hour of free drinks would just look like the start of a good night to anyone not specifically watching to be sure the drinks were all rung up.

    On the plus side, this episode did not have the trademark "Taffer makes a new friend" scene. You know, the one that goes like this:

    "Mike, when I first walked through those doors, you didn't like me very much, did you? After I told you were probably too incompetent to keep a goldfish alive with the help of an on-staff marine biologist, called your wife a fat pig and threatened to fire you and maybe kick your ass too, all at the top of my lungs from 4 inches away, you thought were weren't going to get along, didn't you? Well, after 2 days of continual arguing, I can honestly say I believe I've made a real friend. Come over and give me a hug. Hell, I'll even clamp down on my gag reflex and hug that cow you're married to."

    I'm not sure why I watch the show (I never miss it, BTW). Every episode's solution is "Clean the freakin' place up! Don't let employees get sloshed or steal. Learn to cook and/or make drinks. Get rid of employees who refuse to do their jobs and customers who chase away business." - I think maybe I watch out of scientific curiosity. I've always wondered how different the injury caused by a left hook to a man with his head tilted at a 45 degree angle would be from one caused by the same punch to someone with his head in a normal position. It's been a surprisingly long wait, but I have faith that Taffer will eventually satisfy that curiosity.

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  8. it's the same thing week after week, stupid owners, slack jawed employees, drunk or incompetent managers, and filthy environment...but after this episode, the one with the wealthy owner, tasteless bartenders and idiot manager I've lost interest..why would anyone foot the bill to rehab this place? Taffer says it's all about the employees, bullshit..tell the employees to wear a shirt and stop misguided and lazy loyalty to an employer whose big contributions was buying lemons...and I'll bet any amount of money that the owner "hunter" has never set foot outside the US but goes on canned no talent no balls canned hunts..Taffer should have passed on this one, any integrity the show has had in the past is gone.

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  9. JUST AN FYI my bra strap had broke during taping i had NO TIME To get a new one! also camera angles can be unflattering sorry if anyone was offended by my breasts ... honesty there just boobs #igotplentyofbrasnow smiles and for the name callers well smh #sticksandstones

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  10. Vivian, please dont ever loose that smile. You bring hope and joy to many who will not dare post because of the key board ninjas.

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  11. My husband says your a gorgeous lady so they can just go suck on a lemon since I'm sure you have enough now!! Keep up the wonderful job

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  12. Love you Vivian! Forget the haters and know I wish you the best.

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  13. Andrea Nicole HigginsApril 22, 2014 at 7:34 PM

    The absolute best part of this is how clear it was they cared. Sure, it's a TV show. But for the first time watching Bar Rescue, I cried. Yes, I'm lame. These bartenders made me want nothing but amazing success for the bar! I wish them all nothing but continued success! And honestly, if you must comment on the appearances of others from behind a screen, you're not worth getting worked up over. Great episode. Great people. Best wishes!

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  14. They looked great to me, sounds like someone's jealous LOL, i'll bet I know who's the real "pig"

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  15. The show has plenty of "integrity" and the bartenders needed their jobs, so they had to try to save the place as best as they could, it's not "misguided" and "lazy" loyalty when you NEED that job to make a living. You are truly a M O R O N

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  16. You are beautiful, just dress a little better ... thats all.

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  17. I like her but. I just meant she'd look better if she put on a bra and showed clevage like the manager's wife instead of torn tank top with floppy tits. Just saying

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  18. Well she looks just right to me (and countless dudes and lezzis) here! You're speaking from a female point of view. You're entitled to your opinion, but i agree to disagree.

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  19. I'm sad to feel like this show is totally staged, more than ever!! Used to not mind, not it's getting regoddamndiculous

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  20. Biff SchmuckatelliApril 27, 2014 at 5:51 AM

    I have a sneaky suspicion that If this show were "real" some of these owner/managers would have been turned in to the local authorities for health code violations and to the federal authorities for labor violations, especially that one owner of Metal and Lace who didn't mind serving bugs to people and wouldn't pay his staff. That's what I would like to see, some of these people get arrested, fined, etc. like in the show Cops.

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  21. The word is "they're", sweetie, and this isn't Twitter.

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  22. Oh honey, that looked positively painful. Please visit http://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/ !!

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  23. Thank you for the correction " sweetie" . Hash tags can be used in any forum not just twitter . Just another FYI :-) Have a great day!

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  24. First and foremost I totally respect Jon Taffer and his expertise. However, this concept seemed to miss the mark. Was "mixology" really in keeping with re-invigorating this bar? Quite frankly, does putting "mixology" on any sign entice patrons? In today's competitive bar scene "mixology" and interesting drinks are virtually the 101 of even opening a decent place?

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  25. Interesting point, but that assumes that every city is well staffed with health code inspectors who do frequent inspections. When I had my own business (not a bar or restaurant), I had a total of one inspection from the fire marshall in the six years I was open. Another time, an inspector (I'm not sure which division) came by the store when I wasn't there and mentioned to my father that the city's code required me to have a hot water heater (though I had absolutely NO use for one). However, they never followed up, so I never put one in. Therefore, I can see places slipping under the radar for years at a time.

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  26. Vivian - if ur single, I'd ask u out for a date...ur passion & drive are trates of what a good women is. Let me know. :)

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  27. I'd like to know if Danielle is single. SBM here would definitely be a joy to meet you. You were amazing on the show

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  28. His concepts are always terrible.

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  29. David, I agree 100%! I'm not questioning he "name" as much as I am the "concept". Jon has to be constantly inventive and relevant, and with the BR he is under a microscope.

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  30. blrghh, "always"? I totally respect you opinion and right to post, However, as David wrote they can't all be the "best". I definitely wouldn't make the blanket statement "always terrible".

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  31. The manager's wife was nowhere near as attractive as the bartenders. You just sound like an old shrew with twenty cats.

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  32. you cant murder an animal. nut job.

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  33. pretty sure he had several animals only found outside the us. peta -----> homo

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  34. Talk about a lack of identity! WTF was with the faceless guy in a suit for a logo, and Corp Bar and Grill for those pirates? Ha Ha Ha, that was a good joke John T on them! No Seriously, that was the worst one of the lot, but 98% success is still an A brother! A corporate bar and grill is Capital Grille for example, this should just have been a neighborhood bar with broad appeal, maybe with some specialized food. Why not a woman on the logo too, they're 70% of the influence I think for most decisions on where to go drink. Made for good TV though!

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  35. twerps make stupid listsMay 12, 2014 at 6:00 PM

    Yes you can.... you fucking toss-bag!

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  36. twerps make stupid listsMay 12, 2014 at 6:02 PM

    Go find her dude..... it could be a movie some day.

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  37. Vivian. You are one of the most caring and passionate bar tenders I have ever seen. You are beautiful inside and out. There will always be haters who lash out at others because of there terrible outlook on life. Please keep your positve attitude and wonderful smile. I would love to visit you sometime at Pat's. From Hawaii with love and Aloha

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  38. no its called killing. or slaughtering. murder is only when u kill another human. go join peta you "fucking toss-bag!"

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  39. Nomo's Sushi PlatterMay 26, 2014 at 4:02 PM

    Those bartenders should have left that dump years ago. The owner was a buffoon that didn't deserve a remodel. They live/work in the second largest city in the US with bars on every corner. If your owner is an ass, get a new job!

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  40. Beginning of the show.... weren't those lemons in the glasses when they said that they didn't have any?

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  41. Vivian your AWSOME!!!!

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  42. lawrowns own KritiKalJuly 27, 2014 at 6:41 PM

    How can i look u up on Facebook?

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  43. I thought that you were great, boobs and all (albeit your explanation is certainly understandable & I was happy to know it wasn't your normal look, but I digress...You were super great, so very nice & just had an absolutely lovely energy all around you! I would be a regular if I lived much closer!

    When I am deciding on where to go for some fun and liquid libations, I really don't care what others classify a joint as, I.e., dive bar v. mixology bar, or even if the drinks are 100% spot on, if the people & the energy's great, I'm a happy camper indeed :-)

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  44. Oh that makes sense. I was wondering how someone who was ashamed of their old job was having them droop out.

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  45. I had a great time there. The photographer took pics of me and my friends and i don't know where he posted them. I would love to see the pic. Lol

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  46. Vivian, sweetie, you look great bra or no bra. Keep up that great personality. You were mt favorite part of this episode! Wish I was a local cause I'd come in to see you all the time.

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  47. your beautiful dont listen to these internet gansters....haters

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  48. Vivian is great. My situation with my Former employer was similar. My boss did exactly the same stupid things to me! Hey girl you have been on TV you can go anywhere and work. I know jumping ship is scary but sometimes it is worth it. Have confidence in yourself and drop The dead end job and go to work foe a boss who will give you thrills you need to excel in your profession. That is what it did and i am much happier because of it. By the way my old bar is closed. 😍

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  49. Ya'll do know that Vivian use to have a wiener right??

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