11/14/07

Best throw back bar in Sacramento

by sacviasandiego

This bar is by far, the best place to go in Sacramento for so many reasons. Unlike the child who pretends not to have been offended by being carded in a previous review, I have never met a single person who has not fallen in love with the Back Door. The service here is excellent from the bartenders to the owner to the cook and to the Karaoke Jock. Depending on the night you go, you may get to experience some karaoke, some Sinatra lounge music, or maybe just some great conversation with friends or strangers while the Juke Box plays in the back ground. One of my first experiences here was with an old girlfriend of mine and we came in after eating dinner near by. One of the customers at the bar stands up (he had some trouble after the three martinis) and walks over to the old piano they have in the corner. Everyone got quite and the music was turned off. He proceeded to tell the story of how he fell in love with his wife and then, to everyones amaizement, started playing a beautiful piano accompanyment to the tale. When it ended, you realized that his wife was not dead and gone but dead and waiting for him and that was one of the most romantic times of my life. To bad it didn't take place with my current girlfriend. Oh well. Go to the Back Door, you'll love it too.

• Pros: Tucked away and hidden, like a prohabition joint might have been.
• Cons: Stop serving food at 2:00 pm

08/28/07

Absolutely Perfect

by bgkcasting

I had seen the "horrible experience" review and it must have written by an obnoxious 20something that was probably more suited for the London Pub on 17th - As for this 40something, it was a PERFECT place to meet 15 people, have a few cocktails and listen to the lounge singer belt out Sinatra tunes, in key and not too loudly.

The drinks were very reasonable, the waitress was straight out of a David Lynch movie, the bartender from back east, and the patrons, who arrived and filled the joint long after 11:00 made the place lively, inspirational, and reminded me of something in the East Village of New York.

And none of us were proofed :)

• Pros: Dim lighting - East Coast atmosphere
• Cons: parking - of course I didn't know there was a loit right next door!

08/17/06

Horrible Experience

by dubl07one

I decided to try the back door with some friends after eating at the Firehouse one night. The ambience seemed nice and it looked like it could be a great continuation of our meal.

Upon entry, the bartender gave our group the absolutely worst stares you have ever seen. He proceded to walk over to our table with the most sour look on his face. He actually screamed at our entire group, if you can believe it; asking for our IDs (We are all in our early thirties). We had no problem providing them, but he was unbelievably rude during the entire process. He actually kept all of our IDs until he looked at all of them, as if we were going to trade them under the table or something; it was so bizarre.

Because his horrible attitude, we told him we were going to leave. He followed us outside and screamed at the top of his lungs about why he had every right to ask for our IDs. We explained to him that we weren't leaving because of his asking for them (he had already looked at them anyways), but because of his terrible attitude. I even told him that I own my own business and if I treated my customers like that, I would have no customers. He then called someone from the inside who stood outside with him (like some sort of back-up or something) and told us we had to leave and to never come back.

I have been all across this country and NEVER have I been treated in a such an inexcusible manner. In fact, I have never felt so passionately about how bad someone has treated me to write a review. This is the first.

Save your money and go somewhere without an overbearing, ogar-like bartender who is looking to get in a fight.

• Pros: Seemed like a nice quiet little bar if you got the right service.
• Cons: The Worst Service I have received in my life.