DJ’s Sports Tavern

NOTE: The 3^rd. Saturdays will no longer be held at DJ’s will be moved to a different location. (TBAS) To be announced soon!

Although I have not eaten here, I have only stopped by for after show drinks, I have been here twice. I review based only on those two rather limited visits, and cannot speak of the food. You will have to find that review elsewhere.
This place has been through a couple of reincarnations in its recent history. Prior to DJ’s, it was a Chi-Chi’s Mexican restaurant for a few years, and before that it was a Chinese/​Japanese buffet called, not surprisingly, Japanese Buffet. The Japanese Buffet name was the last Asian restaurant moniker, having been called «Crazy Buffet» for some reason prior to turning Japanese. Yes, I really think so.
I don’t expect the Cheers treatment every time I walk into a bar, with happy crowds hoisting their glass and yelling «Norm» (or «Greg» as the case may be), but I do expect to be recognized at least by the bartender when I seat myself at the bar. I was there on two different occasions, and had two different bartenders. Both times, the conversation that was taking place between the wait staff, and what appeared to be «the regulars», was apparently far more interesting than my money and I were. Although my eyesight is good enough to see aircraft in flight at twenty miles, and to see the generous and varied twenty beer taps on my side of the bar, my superpowers do not extend my X-​ray vision enough to see what may be on the other side of the bar. Although watching me eyeball and read the close side draft selection, neither time did the bartender make any effort to help me out with what the opposite side of the bar may hold. At a minimum, six or seven minutes elapsed, with the bartender leaning over the bar no more than 10 feet down from where I sat. Several times she looked my way, and several times she looked away. Finally, I managed to get service, assisted by the wiggling finger motion one would use to irritate a French waiter. All I got was a «Yeah?» when she looked my way. I ordered, and I was served. The beer was OK, not super cold, not warm. It was just OK. Thankfully I had my choice of watching several different sports channels, even if it was the NBA.
On both occasions there were relatively few patrons in the bar, especially considering the size of the place. Most of the seating area was closed, and most of the overhead lights were turned off. Totally dark, lit only by some nearby neon. There were twenty people — maybe? And some that eyed me suspiciously, as if I were out of place, and were some sort of authoritative threat. There was a hip-​hop vibe to the group both times — a mixture of twenty-​somethings to fifty-​somethings. On my last and definitely final visit there, one young man, that had obviously had too much to drink and was now attacking an order of wings, decided to «chat me up» and ask some questions. This was done apparently for the crowds entertainment. Walking up to me while exaggeratingly sucking hot sauce off of his fingers, he swaggered over to give me the «third degree.» The bar staff, whom I had seen had known him well enough to call him by his first name, did absolutely nothing but watch. Some even smirked while he pushed up to me loudly to ask why I was «dressed so fancy.» I had been to a theater performance and was wearing an overcoat and a tie. I guess that would be dressed fancy when compared to having to hold up your pants with one hand in order to keep them from falling down upon ones ankles. Since I had paid cash for the drink and did not have to wait to get my tab, I finished the last half of my beer in one shot, made a little joke, and I left. I fit in well at most places, from formal to dive, and I rarely feel uncomfortable, but I certainly did here. Been here twice — gave it a fair shot — but unlike the famous General in WWII «I shall not return.»

I went for a Happy Hour on a Friday after work– never been here before. The place used to be a Mexican restaurant, so it still has some of the look and feel of that old venue, but they do have a very nice bar and lots of open space for larger gatherings. At the time I went in, there were only about 3 people sitting at the bar and the restaurant itself was empty. They were setting up the place for what looked like a High School reunion, so the waitress told me to sit wherever I wanted. I did, but then all around me they were moving tables and chairs… leaving my one table alone in the middle of the arranging. It felt very awkward.
I ordered an Oktoberfest– supposed to be Leinenkugel’s. It was the flattest beer i’d ever received. I was afraid to send it back because I’m just not that kind of a person and I didn’t know this place well enough if they would take kindly to that. So I drank it. On top of that, the waitress did not offer up any happy hour deals at all to me. When my friend ordered her beer, my friend asked what the happy hour specials were and the waitress said something along the lines of the deals not being that great– pretty much $ 1 off domestics and $ 0.50 off imports or something like that. So my flat Oktoberfest was $ 5 and my friend’s Coor’s Light was $ 3.
We tried to order food. The waitress gave us what she said was their «limited menu» that they are using all the time now, despite the fact that their website has all kinds of additional offerings. We asked about some of those additional offerings including the pretzels and tater tots, but they were not serving any of it. I ordered the nachos with chicken on top and the chili on the side. She did not ask me if I wanted regular nacho chips or Doritos chips, but it came out on Doritos chips. My friend ordered the Chicken chunks which came with fries. The nachos were not great– they came with a load of nacho cheese poured all over the Doritos with shredded cheese scattered on top of that with some diced tomatoes and lettuce. The chicken i requested on top was not the best and the chili was actually pretty terrible. I made do with about 70% of my plate before I gave up. My friend couldn’t even eat 50% of the chicken chunks because the chicken was so fatty and gross… lots of those nasty muscle chewy pieces inside. My friend showed the waitress and kindly told the waitress how bad the chicken was and that she couldn’t eat it.
We ordered 1 more beer before we were going to leave. I ordered a Bud Light this time, but for some reason she came back with another flat Oktoberfest for me.
The bill came, the total was $ 29.62 for the two of us. She didn’t bother taking off the chicken despite my friend saying something about it and barely touching it. I paid with a credit card and my friend left a cash tip. I signed and we left. I went to check my checking account today only to see that I was magically charged $ 39.62. I have my receipt to prove the cost was only $ 29.62. I’m pretty confident that the waitress helped herself to another $ 10 of a tip on top of the cash tip that was left for her. I have called the restaurant twice today so far with no answer… I will continue to try to get ahold of them and if not, then I will let my bank intervene. I wouldn’t complain if any part of that experience was worth it, but it just wasn’t and you don’t get to then steal $ 10 more from me.
Please do not bother to give your money to this establishment– it’s not worth it at all.

I have given this place 3 chances. (Three strikes, you’re out!). The location is great. The bar/​restaurant itself is a great setup — it has plenty of space. Nice full bar, pool tables, ample tv’s, darts, seating, full menu, stage for performers — it’s all there! except the service. First time there was a weeknight — took the family for dinner. The place was not crowded at all. We were seated, I asked the waitress what was on tap (she didn’t know) and what the specials were (didn’t know that either). I went to the bar myself to see what was on tap — ordered our drinks. It took probably 15 minutes to get a drink. No lie. And I if i have to wait for a beer, there’s gonna be issues. Food was mediocre at best. Second time there — just went with a few friends on a weekend for some drinks. There was a band. But service, again, was not great. It wasn’t packed and I had to go to the bar to get my drinks when I realized server wasn’t coming back. Third time there — on a Friday night. It was pretty dead. No band but a DJ was there later (after 10 p.m.). A server came to our high top, we ordered drinks. Took forever. Second drink I went to the bar. My sister ordered a Long Island Iced Tea. I don’t know WHAT they made her but it was NOT a long island. It was horrid, not even palatable. Other things such as: not coming back to check on us, wrong prices, not bussing the table… things of that nature. I doubt I will be going back. It has the potential to be a good bar/​restaurant but someone needs to seriously step up the service.