Grendel's Den Restaurant & Bar

Reviews

• NA

  N A

  Feb 21, 2026
  1.0
  I have to rate this place low unfortunately the quality overall is not good
• JL

  Jennifer Lee

  Feb 21, 2026
  1.0
  Uncomfortable racist, misogynistic, dehumanizing service plagued by nepotism and lack of empathy for people with cancer. Unfortunate to be writing this review as this is a place that holds a lot of memories. On Sat Feb 21 at 8pm I had a very negative experience with a blonde, male waiter. I told my server very politely that we were ready to order (that was the only exchange I had with the waiter). Immediately said waiter exploded on me and started mansplaining to me what the definition of a restaurant and a waiter was as if I was a dog. He further condescendingly asked me if I had ever in my life been in a restaurant before. We were in such shock that I completely lost my appetite and didn't know what to say. The waiter when explaining the specials completely ignored me and would only talk to my white acquaintance almost as if I wasn't there. Strangely, between the two of us, I am the only one who speaks American-English but that didn't matter to him. Because of my gender and who I am, that was an excuse to come after me and belittle me while speaking to my friend in the complete opposite manner. The service offered was deplorable, dehumanizing and disgusting. I found another server to report the incidence to but the server said there was no manager and that the only people in charge were the bartenders. When I spoke to the bartender they said there was nothing they could do as the waiter was the owner's son. Nepotism should not exempt someone from being racist, misogynistic, and narcissistic. When I was about to leave, the server came up to me, and I assumed that he wanted to apologize. What I received instead was even more disgusting. I told the waiter I understood when things get busy or stressful, as I myself work in a busy cancer institute. He seemed offended and responded with "I am not a cancer patient; I am not ANNOYING like a cancer patient". Safe to say, I will not be returning here seeing that this server has no common decency or empathy. I do not accept any of the excuses that this restaurant may offer to defend this person. No one should be treated this way and to describe people who are going through some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives as "annoying" is cruel and sadistic. No longer will I be supporting this business who once was my go-to place. EDIT: To the owner - if you respond condescendingly, that will testify the behavior of your son and that there is no respect for women or people of color in your bar.
• AL

  Alaina Landi

  Feb 7, 2026
  2.0
  Super weird experience. Got questioned very hard for an out of state ID at 35 lol after I just went through airport security with the same REAL ID. I get it happens with doormen but the dude was super rude and condescending about it. Very strange behavior. Would recommend finding someone who can upkeep your rules and still create a welcoming environment. Likely won’t be back.
• CJ

  Courtney Dorothy Jane

  Feb 7, 2026
  1.0
  Totally weird vibe I absolutely get that we are in a college area. I get it. But when my 35 year old wife can’t get in her with her Valid real ID from Wisconsin because the bouncer doesn’t believe it is wild. I come up because I also have a WI ID (we are visiting for my sister in laws bday) and he let me in, he says “I’m not talking to you.” And gives her a hard time. And then scratches at her ID. She had to show her passport which she didn’t even mean to have on her just to get in this bar, as a 35 year old woman is crazy. Don’t come here on a weekend unless you have 25 forms of identification. And he needs to see them because he’s been doing it for 35 years.
• IP

  Isabella Preissle

  Feb 6, 2026
  2.0
  I was waiting in line for the bar for 20 minutes, which is totally fine, except when I told the “bouncer” that I had to use the restroom he told me that they didn’t take “charity” cases. It was completely disrespectful and incredibly rude, considering I had waited for a significant time to enter the bar. I like Grendel’s, but the experience with the bouncer was enough to stay away.

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