Since I tweeted this news over the weekend, and since I have a lot of experience at The Tipperary Inn (trivia on Tuesday nights, a number of times I’ve wandered in next door from the The Wine Therapist or from The Lakewood Landing across the street), I feel I should say something we’re ignoring. Not to junk-kick the owners when they’re down, but, well, here comes the junk kick.
The Tipp sucked. When they re-opened the space years ago, they spent a lot of money trying to recreate the “feel” of a pub without investing anything in the elements of a pub that matter. The bartenders and waitresses were (for the most part) surly and unhelpful, the food was awful, and the drinks were overpriced. The back room, with its big TVs and slapdash sports-bar vibe, was like someone’s poorly designed basement playroom.
Compare The Tipp to a place like the Old Monk. The waitresses are wonderful, the bartenders professional, the music great but not overbearing. It feels like home. The Tipp always felt like a great house that someone bought and then neglected, watching it slowly decay. The economy isn’t what is killing it. The Monk is doing bang-up business. The guys from Bolsa told me yesterday that business is booming. Why? These places have owners who are invested in making their space feel welcoming, serving great food, and providing top-notch service. The Tipp wasn’t. That’s why it is going away. Let’s not kid ourselves.
