red bar breakfast...

I LOVE SAN Fran! When my duties are done here, I plan to move there!
What brought you here? Surley not the red bar or the surf?

is love blossoming on Sowal.com

No, not a bad experience. Just not my kind of place. So many others enjoy the Red Bar and that is great for them. Believe me, Oli is not missing my few bucks.

you are wrong on that one

I am glad as well. Can't wait to get to the red bar in the afternoons to drink and fart in peace with my southern accent.

cool, enjoy

Did you really think when you posted your "attack" on the Red Bar that everyone would agree and maybe give you a little sympathy, or a pat on the back,perhaps? Maybe that is an experience you should chat with your grandmother about in the privacy of her home if you don't want negative comments back at you. They have home health around here to take care of her if you don't like it here and want to complain about it. Maybe have a drink and a chill pill

Oli, you know that you and the Red Bar are loved by many including myself. You have a wonderful establishment that many people would not miss on their vacations....me included, and you have locals that are there many times a week. I know that you do whatever you can to make it right for anyone not pleased, and I admire you for that.

I will see you in July.

you are wrong on that one

Thanks Oli for responding. I think the Red Bar is a very enjoyable and unique place. It was one of the first places we checked out after moving here a few years ago. Just not my bag anymore. The no credit card thing took me by surprise. I have found that there are quite a few places around here that don't take them. As small as it may seem, I consider it inconvenient to me. But not enough to not patronize those places. I prefer something more low key and quiet. You have quite a gem in Grayton and I do miss lunch at the 331.

Really sorry to stir things up on here. I'm gathering that Oli is the owner. Obviously, everyone loves you guys. I didn't really think the owner would be on this board and get so offended. Maybe my opinion will help you straighten things out, as I understand breakfast is new. My advice, not that you need it, I ran a breakfast place for a few years, people like chill in the mornings, not food out before you can even wake up. Breakfast is tough. Good luck.

I had breakfast recently at the Red Bar and our food was fresh, well prepared and service was very good and the atmosphere was pleasant.

My daughter who has recently been living in the area, did not have a good experience one evening due to a very unpleasant encounter with a staff member when she visited with friends.

Good help seems very hard to come by these days and therefore experiences can really vary at the same establishment, so I am always willing to give any place a second chance.

Really sorry to stir things up on here. I'm gathering that Oli is the owner. Obviously, everyone loves you guys. I didn't really think the owner would be on this board and get so offended. Maybe my opinion will help you straighten things out, as I understand breakfast is new. My advice, not that you need it, I ran a breakfast place for a few years, people like chill in the mornings, not food out before you can even wake up. Breakfast is tough. Good luck.

You'd be surprised at who's on this board.

Sometimes we need to take a step back and see why we are reacting & also how it might affect other people. You've got a lot on your plate right now mentally & emotionally. I do understand a bad experience in a restaurant, but it also has to be considered that it might be an off day or something & that it's not always as it seems. Plus, it sounds like you've got a bit of culture shock going on right now, which is quite a bit to handle.

I hope everything is going well with your grandmother, as the pressure of having a sick family member to take care of is extremely overwhelming.

Hang in there, we're a tough group initially, but there's a lot of grayt people on here.

thanks for the kind words
you're probably right I am going through a culture shock, I think.
It's been over a year now, think I'd settle in.
oh well..

You'd be surprised at who's on this board.

Sometimes we need to take a step back and see why we are reacting & also how it might affect other people. You've got a lot on your plate right now mentally & emotionally. I do understand a bad experience in a restaurant, but it also has to be considered that it might be an off day or something & that it's not always as it seems. Plus, it sounds like you've got a bit of culture shock going on right now, which is quite a bit to handle.

I hope everything is going well with your grandmother, as the pressure of having a sick family member to take care of is extremely overwhelming.

Hang in there, we're a tough group initially, but there's a lot of grayt people on here.

Very well said OM. Caligirl.

thanks for the kind words
you're probably right I am going through a culture shock, I think.
It's been over a year now, think I'd settle in.
oh well..

I've got lovely friends here and it still took me a year and a half to settle in. But I also know in my heart that I love this place & that we are raising our family here. It's hard when you are only here (or anywhere for that matter) temporarily & you have no idea how long it will be.

maybe I just went on an off day.

You sure did Caligirl,listen we try really hard,you've been in the industry so you know it's impossible to please everyone,that's why i addressed the issue with the food service etc. you ruffled me a little with the drinking locals,crap on the walls,"southern thing" comments
i can take constructive criticism,the hate thing is hard to handle.
i'll say a prayer for your grand ma,that's a real life tragedy.
were you really serious about the farting sever?

I had breakfast recently at the Red Bar and our food was fresh, well prepared and service was very good and the atmosphere was pleasant.

My daughter who has recently been living in the area, did not have a good experience one evening due to a very unpleasant encounter with a staff member when she visited with friends.

Good help seems very hard to come by these days and therefore experiences can really vary at the same establishment, so I am always willing to get any place a second chance.

hey Minnie, sorry to ear you had a probleme with sevice please get the name next time and Pm me i'll address it it is an ongoing strugle i'm very proud of the staff in general there is always seems to one or two that get out of line and make everyone else look bad,my appologies

Originally Posted by Caligirl
that too! another reason! I have nothing against it either, I just won't go there again. All my friends that visit laugh about it, a 2/3 hr. wait for that?? Good thing you're so drunk by the time you get a table you don't care what you eat or even notice your food came out before your drinks and you only occupy the table (you waited so patiently for) for 15 minutes. By that time you're so ready to get out of that loud, dingy hole, nothing matters except hitting the ATM.( I bet the owner makes a KILLING off this little handy machine)

You certainly have a right to give your thoughts of your experience at the Red Bar. I'd like to point out a contradiction in your angry post above. You say that it is good that you are drunk (I am guessing you are referring to other people and not yourself) by the time you get a table, but then you are upset that food comes out before drinks. I don't get it. If you are drunk, why do you need more alcohol?

No need to respond to that question. I can sense your anger and realize the post is a little unbalanced. The Red Bar isn't for everyone, nor is Grayton Beach. I enjoy going to Red Bar and visiting with many familiar faces, many whom work there. I'm one of those drinking locals. I like the laid-back atmosphere in an otherwise somewhat monotone South Walton. I like that the bartenders are nice to me, and they are always ready to serve me without me even having to ask what I'd like. When Oli is in the house, he always is very welcoming and accommodating. I haven't tried out the breakfast there, yet, but I just might one day. I usually do the healthy thing for my morning meals these days. The music is good, and contrary to one opinion, my beer is always cold. I will admit that when the summer comes around, the Red Bar can get too crowded for me, so I just let the touristas have it. I prefer the off-season, but that is typical of everywhere down here. Expect long waits, because there are many hungry people looking to eat out. I've had only one complaint about the Red Bar, it is too dark when you come in from a very bright summer day. However, I think it may be the bands who ask for the blinds to be closed so that the blinding sun doesn't reflect in from the car windshields.

Can't wait to get to the red bar in the afternoons to drink and fart in peace with my southern accent.

KF, THIS was a funny comment. However....

If we all pitch in can you go back now and take her with?

...and...

Did you really think when you posted your "attack" on the Red Bar that everyone would agree and maybe give you a little sympathy, or a pat on the back,perhaps? Maybe that is an experience you should chat with your grandmother about in the privacy of her home if you don't want negative comments back at you. They have home health around here to take care of her if you don't like it here and want to complain about it. Maybe have a drink and a chill pill

I'm very disappointed with these comments...they were unneccesarily cruel. It's one thing to strongly disagree about Cali's comments about the Red Bar.... but to launch a verbal attack about a sick/dying grandmother is not constructive and only very hurtful.

Cali, I was one of the first that disagreed with your opinion about Red Bar, but I hope you know that's as far as it goes. I'm very sorry that your grandmother is ill, that you are dealing with this pain, and you didn't deserve to get attacked in that way no matter what you said about the Red Bar.

and yes, you are always entitled to your opinion.

hey Minnie, sorry to ear you had a probleme with sevice please get the name next time and Pm me i'll address it it is an ongoing strugle i'm very proud of the staff in general there is always seems to one or two that get out of line and make everyone else look bad,my appologies

I will and that is very gracious of you, I have not mentioned, it as it was during Spring Break and I know you were slammed with business.

Everyone does have a bad day and sometimes a bad experience with a previous customer gets passed on to the next one.

I've been waiting all day on tenterhooks for Oli to reply, and I wasn't disappointed! l love that the quality owners of the quality establishments take notice and address the concerns of the community. Bravo, Oli!

I love the Red Bar for dinner or lunch (when the tourists aren't in town so I don't have to wait) and their Halloween party rocks, but the breakfast is just a simple breakfast, not great food. It's a casual funky place and has its own niche.

People who want a gourmet or quiet breakfast should go to Hibiscus, Broken Egg, Blue Orleans, one of the coffee houses etc.

I'll be honest-- I hate going to the Red Bar, but that's because I hate crowds. What I love now is going to get take-out from the Red Bar. I haven't tried breakfast, but everything else I've ever eaten there was wonderful. I even picked up a salad a couple of months ago and they forgot to put the dressing in the bag with it--it was still wonderful. Again, props to Oli.

thanks for the kind words
you're probably right I am going through a culture shock, I think.
It's been over a year now, think I'd settle in.
oh well..

I re-read my post and I do feel bad to be so harsh.
Everyone has different taste.

Nice turn-around, Caligirl. I love when people figure out how to get along!

May I respectfully suggest, however, that you might "settle in" a little better if you completely eliminate the attitude that would make you say something like "it's a Southern thing." Most Southerners don't even accept Florida as part of the South, for one thing, and you're layering insults when you make comments like that. I would never move to California and make comments about those crazy left-wing hippies and expect to "settle in." If you can't be with the one you love, honey, love the one you're with...

I'm glad you liked Amore--there's a LOT of good eats in SoWal! Try Hibiscus and Fabrice for breakfast, too.

Excuse me, but I love "Staying Alive" with my breakfast, Oli's Dad rocks at breakfast and is the snazziest dresser EVER, and I will continue to enjoy our great food and fun service at the Red Bar!

I'll be honest-- I hate going to the Red Bar, but that's because I hate crowds. What I love now is going to get take-out from the Red Bar. I haven't tried breakfast, but everything else I've ever eaten there was wonderful. I even picked up a salad a couple of months ago and they forgot to put the dressing in the bag with it--it was still wonderful. Again, props to Oli.

I feel the same way. I am so overwhelmed in crowds, so I don't go, especially during tourist season. Plus, I have a 1/2 pint tyrant that won't let Mr. OM and I sit through a meal anywhere. The times that I have gone to the Red Bar, it has been really great food.

There are plenty of restaurants to choose from to fit each person's needs.

The biggest problem with the Red Bar is there are not more places like it. I think the Red Bar atmosphere is what this area is supposed to all be about! Oli, you are a class act and run one of the most unique places I have ever been in!

BTW, I don't drink. Stayin Alive for breakfast!? What a way to start the day! Farting waitress? This is good stuff!

The biggest problem with the Red Bar is there are not more places like it. I think the Red Bar atmosphere is what this area is supposed to all be about! Oli, you are a class act and run one of the most unique places I have ever been in!

BTW, I don't drink. Stayin Alive for breakfast!? What a way to start the day! Farting waitress? This is good stuff!

ty bobby,you've always been a friend

If I don't like something I'm usually quiet.

When I do like something I like to tell people. I had a great breakfast at the Red Bar. Louis was all smiles and greeted us warmly. The music was fun and not too loud. The omelet was the best I ever had. No one farted (that I know of), but had it been announced I would have LMAO.

If I don't like something I'm usually quiet.

When I do like something I like to tell people. I had a great breakfast at the Red Bar. Louis was all smiles and greeted us warmly. The music was fun and not too loud. The omelet was the best I ever had. No one farted (that I know of), but had it been announced I would have LMAO.

here's my new slogan for summer 08
The Red Bar home of the farting waiter
think it will work............