Buzzkill Bars: Sofrano's
Editor's note: this is our second post in our Buzzkill Bars series. Suggestions? Let us know!
I'm a bit confused. For some reason, Sofrano's on Lower Greenville has 4 stars on Yelp. The 2 reviewers talk about Sofrano's obscene credit card limit ($25?!), overtly drunk patrons, expensive drinks and, oh, they have no cover. Trust me, cover or no cover, I don't think I'm going back. In fact, I'm ready to call Sofrano's our second buzzkill bar.
Fail #1: Randomly priced, somewhat expensive drinks
We explored Sofrano's during the Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase. With our wristbands, there wasn't any cover (yay?), but our experience went downhill from there. We got 2 drinks at the bar (a vodka cranberry and a double burbon and coke) and the bartender informed us that we'd be charged "anywhere from $10 to $22" for the double. Excuse me? It's a touch screen cash register. I know he might have been doing us a favor, but the price was still in the middle of that range (as in not $10). Luckily, at those prices, you're bound to reach the ridiculous $25 credit card limit designated at the bar.
Fail #2: Lazy and rude security guards
Being Sofrano's rookies, we scoped the place out for somewhere to sit down. We saw that the upstairs balcony was empty and, not seeing a sign or rope telling us otherwise, meandered upstairs. Okay, fine, we were a few drinks into the evening, but a VIP balcony at a Lower Greenville dive bar? Not so much. We got up the stairs and into the balcony before a security guard heaved himself reluctantly from his barstool to tell us to "get the hell down from there!" Thanks.
Fail #3: What the heck is on the floor?!
Whatever. We're there to enjoy the music. Which, oddly enough, didn't really happen on the stage as much as a random raised area with a railing all the way around. Kind of like watching the performers do their thing behind a bar. It took us a considerable amount of time to get to the "stage" as our feet stuck to the floor at every. single. step. Never, in all of my life of loving dive bars, have I been so stuck to the floor. It was like wading through caramel, but much, much more gross.
All in all, Sofrano's fails to impress on almost every level. I doubt we'll be back, but, hey, if you convince us, we'll give it a try! Leave your love for Sofrano's cover-free, sticky-floored, $25 credit card limit-filled establishment.
