Gay 90's Minneapolis

I used to love this place until a Wednesday night. The bartender shortchanged me on drinks. I ordered two Coronas and got back only $2 in change, then two Bud Lights with the same $2 change. Downstairs, I ordered two more beers and got $4 change, so the bartender was keeping $2 for himself. I never had this issue before and I spent and tipped a lot that night. Now I don't want to order drinks when I visit. Someone should investigate because dishonesty is bad for business. I hope it wasn't because I'm Black, or maybe he does this to everyone. Great music, don't bring your mom, fun crowd.

A visitor · Over a year ago

“no longer a gay bar”

This bar peaked in the '70s and '80s when it was always packed and mostly gay men. Over the last 15 years, it's become more mixed. On weekends, there are often more straight women than gay men. The bar has lost a lot of business over time, but still gets crowds on weekends and for special events. If I didn't remember how it used to be, I'd say it's a fun place to have a few drinks, dance, and catch a drag show upstairs.

A guest · Over a year ago

“VIP BOTTLE SERVICE”

Don't waste your money on VIP or bottle service here. It's not worth it. You're not treated as VIP, there is no customer service, they bring the bottle and mixers, pour your first drink, and then ignore you. This was my first time in downtown Minneapolis. It started great with amazing service and good food in the happy hour area. We tipped our server almost 30% and moved upstairs to the La Femme drag show area. About 30 minutes later, I asked that same server for bottle service starting at $150 a bottle. I chose Grey Goose at $190 with an automatic $28 gratuity, which I was fine with because I loved our server from dinner and planned to tip him more. He brought the bottle and poured the first drink, then everything went downhill. I had to pour my own drinks, leave the VIP area to find him for more mixers, and at one point I went up to him at the bar with my ice pitcher asking for more ice. Ten minutes later he was taking selfies with other customers while I still waited for ice, even though I had already prepaid gratuity. I was the only one with bottle service in VIP. I even went to the bar to get my own ice while he was busy, and the drag show MC and bartender apologized as I missed the show. At 1:07am on 1/22/17, I asked the DJ to speak to a manager. I never got to speak to one, even after asking the DJ several times and calling the bar. I approached a security guard near last call, saying I had been asking for a manager for over 40 minutes and wouldn't leave until I spoke to one. The guard claimed the manager had already spoken to me, but I argued that wasn't true, and the DJ confirmed I had been waiting since 1:07am. The head of security was rude and uninformed. I sent my party home so I could wait, and eventually the server approached me. I told him it was ridiculous that I had to prepay gratuity for terrible service. He admitted he was the only server covering both the pay-by-drink area and VIP, serving at least 50 people. After 1.5 hours of waiting, he offered to refund the gratuity. He made it right, not any manager. So I warn you: bottle service is not worth it here. I've had great bottle service in Vegas, Denver, Houston, even Rapid City. If you're not going to offer VIP service, let me tip based on service. At Gay 90s, they take your money, treat you like everyone else, and only after your night is ruined and you complain repeatedly might your server feel guilty and refund the tip. I'm not a difficult customer or a poor tipper. My group had over $100 in ones for drag queens and came home with less than $20. We even tipped the VIP security guard because he kept people from bothering us. When I left, that guard apologized about my nonexistent VIP experience.

A recent visitor · Over a year ago

“its ok”

It's okay as a bar, but I never liked that straight people come to stare at us. Also, it's not gay-owned, which matters to me. I'd rather spend my money within the LGBTQ community.

A local visitor · Over a year ago

Best drinks in the house and very welcoming to deaf people!!

A visitor · Over a year ago