Ikie lu record club and wine bar

My wife and I went there last night, we’re west cola residents and are happy it’s here. The area it’s in is sketchy but fine.

It touts itself as a listening room, asking you to turn off your phone, where you will connect with your friends and the music being played. We get there and it was packed, and loud. Two kids with their parents. The place was loud.

They’ve only been open for 3 weeks, I get it, bumps are to be had. You order at a register, but it’s not clear that’s what to do. You don’t go to the bar or sit for service. The staff was nice, but mostly clueless about the wines they serve. There was one woman who was very nice and knew beverages.

They serve fancy bar food, we didn’t order anything. Menus are on cheap copy paper, the wine prices used a font very hard to read.

Wine is about $16 by the glass, that’s fine dining prices in my book, so I’d expect that kind of experience. The interior is super cool, eclectic, it definitely matches my taste. I had a spirit and my wife had wine, she said it was ok, not any better than her Black box wine.

Our tab was 36, and I rounded up to 40, I was feeling spendy! AFTER I paid I saw they do the 20% service charge thing, all goes to employees, so be aware, no need to tip, it’s included in your bill.

I know very well it’s expensive AF to start a restaurant / bar, especially one like this. For them to charge what they do, they’re going up the service and the menu, make it clear how to order and the serve fee thing. that alone will piss people off.

Weco beer garden is more my vibe and where I’ll spend my moneys