Don't pay with your debit card they will steal from you.
I was there for the first time on Thursday 4/4/24 at 8:27pm. I ordered 2 beers and my total with tax was 12.72 I tipped 2.50 so my total was 15.22 Two days later I checked my bank account and I was charged 20.22 I clearly wrote on the slip I signed 2.50 in the tip section and wrote the total of 15.22 and signed the slip so the extra 5.00 was added after I left. The name of the bartender on the slip was Theodore which is the manager, even though the bartender that served me was a woman. I tried repeatedly to call with no answer and even messaged them on Facebook to give them a chance to make this right. I never got an answer. This must be a common practice of theirs to steal from customers that pay with a debit card
C W.
Don't pay with your debit card they will steal from you. I was there for the first time on Thursday 4/4/24 at 8:27pm. I ordered 2 beers and my total with tax was 12.72 I tipped 2.50 so my total was 15.22 Two days later I checked my bank account and I was charged 20.22 I clearly wrote on the slip I signed 2.50 in the tip section and wrote the total of 15.22 and signed the slip so the extra 5.00 was added after I left. The name of the bartender on the slip was Theodore which is the manager, even though the bartender that served me was a woman. I tried repeatedly to call with no answer and even messaged them on Facebook to give them a chance to make this right. I never got an answer. This must be a common practice of theirs to steal from customers that pay with a debit card
Thea Mann (Theal8r)
Just... Don't go for the food. Shows are excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 3
Fred Gross
FB doesn't give you a neutral answer choice so I went with no.
TTD is a fun little bar with unique character and it is worth a stop at least once, if only to see what it's all about. Cool vintage music decor and definitely unique among GR bars.
Now on to why the negative review. I was there to see the Surfrajettes and arrived very early to hopefully get a seat. When I arrived, at least 60% of the seating was marked reserved and almost all other seating was already in use....so I sat at the bar. And about 1/3 of the view is blocked by two large posts...so not a lot of good seats to choose from even 90 minutes before the show.
The wait staff (2 people) was pleasant, but due to the event being sold out they were running way behind the entire night - they needed 4-5 to keep up.
As more people arrived, it was standing room only and you could see the looks on people's faces when they realized there were zero places to sit. By the time the concert was under way, people were literally standing everywhere with very little room to even move. Not unusual for a concert venue, but....you do expect a seat, chair, bench, something.
Near the end of the show, there was a problem with the credit card machine, several of us waited 30 minutes or more to cash out...wait staff was struggling and the manager just kinda looked on...for a long time...when I asked the owner/manager for help he just said "yeah there's a problem with the machine"...and I said fine then tell people they can pay cash....he didn't seem to care if customers were satisfied or not.
So....if you have a fav band coming there GO EARLY and BRING CASH and don't expect speedy service during the event. I'm sure the manager and wait staff deal with a lot of crazy stuff, but the general impression was "we don't care what how you feel, it is what is is". And maybe that's OK when you can bring in good bands to drive business, but not OK to drive repeat customers who might just stop there for a burger and a beer (I had a burger....it was very good but took a long time to arrive).
The Surfrajettes (and the McCharmley's) put on a great show! Hopefully in the future I'll get to see them again at a venue where I can actually see them without 30 people and a large post blocking my view + a credit card being held hostage by the waitress.
Vance Hayes
Great intimate environment for a concert.
Matthew Taylor
Best part about Tip Top is the open mic every Wednesday! And of course the food and drinks. Check it out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Craigw Clark
Awesome time!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nick Gelderloos
Aweome tiny bar with good live music
Cam Streidl
Good bar food, well served. Enjoyed all 3 bands very much. Always a good time at the Tip Top Deluxe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
ClassicRockJock
The best intimate live music venue in Grand Rapids. The talent of artists is outstanding!Great staff and service.
Pleasantly surprised. 1st time visitor. Saw 3 bands. Had the burger. Looked like only 3 staff. Could use an extra pair of hands. Off Street parking very limited. Thoroughly enjoyable. Will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: All Burger
Kelvin Hall
Great crowd good
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Jamie Amador
This bar seemed like a great popular hangout for the neighborhood. I was only here out of state for a show. It's a small venue but that has its advantages. If your ears can handle it, you can be literally right in front of the band.
Atmosphere: 4
Delores Wilson-Ross
Excellent concert with Daniel Champagne! Everyone wanted to hear more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
John Barney
I just discovered Tip Top! Went to see one of my favorite bands there. What an AWESOME place and what AWESOME people. The atmosphere is spot on. The perfect venue to see a performance. Food and drinks were great The staff treated us like regulars, like they've know us for years. I live an hour and a half away but will DEFINITELY be returning often! Thanks for the experience!
Don't pay with your debit card they will steal from you. I was there for the first time on Thursday 4/4/24 at 8:27pm. I ordered 2 beers and my total with tax was 12.72 I tipped 2.50 so my total was 15.22 Two days later I checked my bank account and I was charged 20.22 I clearly wrote on the slip I signed 2.50 in the tip section and wrote the total of 15.22 and signed the slip so the extra 5.00 was added after I left. The name of the bartender on the slip was Theodore which is the manager, even though the bartender that served me was a woman. I tried repeatedly to call with no answer and even messaged them on Facebook to give them a chance to make this right. I never got an answer. This must be a common practice of theirs to steal from customers that pay with a debit card
Don't pay with your debit card they will steal from you. I was there for the first time on Thursday 4/4/24 at 8:27pm. I ordered 2 beers and my total with tax was 12.72 I tipped 2.50 so my total was 15.22 Two days later I checked my bank account and I was charged 20.22 I clearly wrote on the slip I signed 2.50 in the tip section and wrote the total of 15.22 and signed the slip so the extra 5.00 was added after I left. The name of the bartender on the slip was Theodore which is the manager, even though the bartender that served me was a woman. I tried repeatedly to call with no answer and even messaged them on Facebook to give them a chance to make this right. I never got an answer. This must be a common practice of theirs to steal from customers that pay with a debit card
Just... Don't go for the food. Shows are excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 3
FB doesn't give you a neutral answer choice so I went with no. TTD is a fun little bar with unique character and it is worth a stop at least once, if only to see what it's all about. Cool vintage music decor and definitely unique among GR bars. Now on to why the negative review. I was there to see the Surfrajettes and arrived very early to hopefully get a seat. When I arrived, at least 60% of the seating was marked reserved and almost all other seating was already in use....so I sat at the bar. And about 1/3 of the view is blocked by two large posts...so not a lot of good seats to choose from even 90 minutes before the show. The wait staff (2 people) was pleasant, but due to the event being sold out they were running way behind the entire night - they needed 4-5 to keep up. As more people arrived, it was standing room only and you could see the looks on people's faces when they realized there were zero places to sit. By the time the concert was under way, people were literally standing everywhere with very little room to even move. Not unusual for a concert venue, but....you do expect a seat, chair, bench, something. Near the end of the show, there was a problem with the credit card machine, several of us waited 30 minutes or more to cash out...wait staff was struggling and the manager just kinda looked on...for a long time...when I asked the owner/manager for help he just said "yeah there's a problem with the machine"...and I said fine then tell people they can pay cash....he didn't seem to care if customers were satisfied or not. So....if you have a fav band coming there GO EARLY and BRING CASH and don't expect speedy service during the event. I'm sure the manager and wait staff deal with a lot of crazy stuff, but the general impression was "we don't care what how you feel, it is what is is". And maybe that's OK when you can bring in good bands to drive business, but not OK to drive repeat customers who might just stop there for a burger and a beer (I had a burger....it was very good but took a long time to arrive). The Surfrajettes (and the McCharmley's) put on a great show! Hopefully in the future I'll get to see them again at a venue where I can actually see them without 30 people and a large post blocking my view + a credit card being held hostage by the waitress.
Great intimate environment for a concert.
Best part about Tip Top is the open mic every Wednesday! And of course the food and drinks. Check it out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Awesome time!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aweome tiny bar with good live music
Good bar food, well served. Enjoyed all 3 bands very much. Always a good time at the Tip Top Deluxe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The best intimate live music venue in Grand Rapids. The talent of artists is outstanding!Great staff and service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Pleasantly surprised. 1st time visitor. Saw 3 bands. Had the burger. Looked like only 3 staff. Could use an extra pair of hands. Off Street parking very limited. Thoroughly enjoyable. Will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: All Burger
Great crowd good
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
This bar seemed like a great popular hangout for the neighborhood. I was only here out of state for a show. It's a small venue but that has its advantages. If your ears can handle it, you can be literally right in front of the band.
Atmosphere: 4
Excellent concert with Daniel Champagne! Everyone wanted to hear more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
I just discovered Tip Top! Went to see one of my favorite bands there. What an AWESOME place and what AWESOME people. The atmosphere is spot on. The perfect venue to see a performance. Food and drinks were great The staff treated us like regulars, like they've know us for years. I live an hour and a half away but will DEFINITELY be returning often! Thanks for the experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5