Palace Saloon, Tallahassee

The Palace Saloon: Worst Bar in Tallahassee





So I felt that after being a patron at the Palace for five years, I thought that it would be informative to describe this place and give warning. After five years of going there, I figured that I would have a good handle on the place and be able to provide and accurate description of its culture.



For the progressively minded, I implore you to stay away from the Palace. It is a fairly working class, conservative, country music type of place. I have been referred to as a nigger on many occasions, and the while I am a big boy and can handle racial epithets being hurled my way, it is amazing that the bartenders condone this type of behavior by failing to ask the offending party to either shut up or leave.



The Palace’s ventilation system is perhaps the worst in town. This is perhaps why smoking bans in bars, which was once inconceivable, should now be mandatory everywhere. There are low ceilings, which means that the smoke accumulates much faster than in bars with higher ceilings.



The old owner, Chuck Fisher, was a very friendly guy and would listen to customer concerns. Chuck has since gone on and sold the bar to two new, young owners, Russ and Laura. Whereas Laura tends to be friendly but nevertheless aloof, Russ is the biggest piece of s#*! ever. Everyone in the bar knows that I like to hear jazz on the jukebox (especially John Coltrane and Miles Davis) but Russ went as far as putting a search filter on the jukebox to block any downloads of jazz. But I am very diversified in my musical tastes so I figured that I would put on some soul music or electro. The problem for him is that if he tries to put a search filter on all of my musical choices, he would pretty much have no music to play at all on the jukebox. Recently while he was working the bar, he bumped a tune that I had put on, Blue States’ “Spit and Soar”, which I felt was an appropriate tune to play since it was ten minutes before closing time. As if he was going to make more money in ten minutes with a faster song playing! But I thought it was funny that before he bumped the tune, he asked the room who put the song on; I had my hand raised but he did not even look in my direction. He then asked the room for permission to bump the song which he promptly did. He did not refund me for my dollar (and he has failed to do so on other occasions in which he skipped a song that I had put on).



So not only do you have a bunch of racist bigots at the Palace; you have s#*! owners who won’t refund you when they decide to bump a song that they don’t like. Chuck, the previous owner, was annoyed when I told him that the other bartenders would skip songs.



The Bartender Rundown.



In my experience, there have been only five worthwhile bartenders: Ashley, Reagan, Jared, Sarah, and Trish. I have fond memories of them and they treated me with respect and dignity.



Here’s my take on the others.



Suzy. She usually works during the day and she is the oldest bartender there. She is always in a grouchy mood. Every day is a bad day for her. Her husband Mike comes in occasionally to drink or help her move boxes of beer into the bar. I sometimes wonder how someone could be married to a person who is always grouchy, always scowling. I was particularly annoyed that she allowed a previously barred patron back at the bar (the patron in question pulled a knife on a former employee).



Sean. Horrible, horrible bartender. He used to be night manager when Chuck owned the place but was demoted. I’m not even sure he works there anymore.



Ronny. Ronny’s a great all around guy and has a great sense of humor.



Cole. Ok but not that talkative and aware of empty glasses needing a refill.



Theresa. Two faced poser. She no longer works there.



LJ. Sluts are us. I’ve never seen someone dress so slutty. She no longer works there.



Alicia. Worst bartender ever. Should not have been hired. No longer works there.





Please note that during football season, the Palace doubles its prices on gamedays. You are probably better off going to Snookers where it is less crowded and less smoky.



This is about all that I have to say about this bar. Beware!

The Palace is a crazy place. My friend got his nut sitting at the bar the other night. Worth your time if you like to get yo' nut. Sake and beer and your in the clear.