05/06/09

Loving The Door!

by CocaineLady

I have been to The Red Door several times, and absolutely love this place. I feel like I've escaped Utah and the Zion Curtain, if only for a little while. The martini's are the best I have ever had, and not in teeny-tiny glasses like other bars in the area. Even hotel bars, so the price is well worth it to me. Coc**ne Lady (had to edit per the site) is my fave dessert martini, and the Kama Sutra holds a close tie to the Pomegranate martini. I can't wait to take a friend from out of town to see what he thinks. And so far, those I have taken who were unfamiliar, were very impressed. SLC natives, and out of towners.

The only downside is it is small, but that's also a pro. Makes you feel like you just got into a very exclusive place. It can get noisy when the band plays, or if there is a loud group. It's great for a first date, but I would go early if you want to be able to talk.

I've read the other reviews, and I haven't experienced a rude doorman, Chet, Brett, or otherwise. The staff is super friendly, and busy. But I haven't experienced super slow service that would make me take notice. And, I'm NOT an employee! Just a very super satisfied customer, who plans to return.

• Pros: Hip, Swanky, Excellent Martini's!
• Cons: Small, and sometimes noisy

01/13/09

Wonderfull drinks F$%king Brill Band!

by ronald38

I live in LA ( a transplant) and I was the Salt Lake on Saturday night for some set up work on the Sundance film festival this year. The hotel bellhop told me to check out the Red Door. He mentioned the band is good and the drink list was the best downtown. I honestly thought how would this poor bloke know anything about music...that is my field. The reason I went there is he said it was the best drink menu downtown. This guy seemed like he might know his drinks and spirits so I said f$#k it lets go.... its right fu$king next door anyway..

They had this band of white boys that are so fu$king brilliant I mean blooming incredible. They are the fu$king Daniel Day Trio. I got the fellows card. I still have their sound in my head. Its so liquid. They know every bloody song too...I mean bl%w me!!.

Each fellow has a sound you know.... their own sound. But all them together is THE sound. This sound is new and i mean I never hear it...never. They promised me a CD when they have it done. I am waiting. A lot of people are waiting for this now. Brill fellows really.

If you visit this Salt Lake and you have failed to see these fellows you are a bloody fool. Go to the Red Door. Have a martini and listen to a sound so crucial.. that you need it. You need it.

• Pros: Brill Band!! Unbelievable.
• Cons: They flog smokes at a high price.

11/20/08

Owner/Boy Doorman (?) is something to behold

by dude69

This place is terrible. The owner should be kicked out of this bar, and all the people who feel like me should file complaints. I know I will.

Drinks way too expensive.

Perfect, if you're a tourist.

Che??? What is that all about??? It's an insult to people of 'color.'

Bottom Line: Boycott the Red Door.

• Pros: Nothing
• Cons: Doorman/Drinks/Staff

05/01/08

Too much fun.

by shygrl08

So, my girlfriend friend told me about the Red Door and suggested the scene they have there on Saturdays is simply fabulous. It sounded kind of different than other places that we have gone to around Salt Lake. We usually go to The Urban Lounge or The Tavernacle (please don?t ask). The crowd at the Red Door is very cool. It is bit older that The Urban Lounge but that is kind of cool. The door man, Chad, was very charming in this weird way. It was like a challenge to get in but that was a good thing. It felt exclusive, like a cool place in New York or somethin', and I also felt safe. Then their band started playin' in these suits. I wasn?t sure what to think but then they played some songs we knew and it was a lot of fun. Then band played my favorite song "Young Folks" and that was it! Way fun! We will be back for more of this after I recover. I had a little too much fun with their Martinis I guess.

• Pros: Exclusive Popular and Fabulous
• Cons: Nothin' really.

04/27/08

A gem inside the zion curtain.

by mofuner

Where have I been the last two years? I moved here from Denver and I must say I really put something like the Red Door past Salt Lake City. I mean the decor is so urban and the crowd is different than most people you find at typical bars around town. I have spent most of weekends at The Metropolitan (which also serves a great martini). Now I will mix it up between The Metro and The Red Door.

Their drinks at the Red Door are out of this world (a bit spendy though). If you go there, try the martini called the "Ginger Martini" it hat has this Asian fruit in it. Simply delicious. I haven?t tried their beer or wine menu yet but it looks well planned.

I will proceed to kick my freinds for failing to tell me about this place sooner. Damn.

• Pros: Cool atmosphere unlike other bars in Salt Lake City . Amazing martinis.
• Cons: Some drinks are spendy but damn good.

04/04/08

Watch out for the doorman Chet and have good but crowded drink.

by guynag

First of all let me make it clear that I have been to many bars in many big cities in America and Europe. Rarely have I met some one as angry and bitter as Chet at the Red Door. Is he the owner too? good god! Why does he sit there and glare, granted I have seen him break up some violence but damn he is grumpy and he makes you feel like you should not be there, or you are some kind of nuisance to him. As far as the drink go, they are good as long as you put up with the slow service (I don't blame the staff they are really busy on weekends). Somehow though my biggest concern with the Red Door is the managements (whoever that is) hiring habits. For example, the (popular) jazz trio which plays there Saturday nights is fronted by a man who has been black balled by the local musicians union and owes nearly all the jazz players in the valley money. Whether the management knows that or not I'm not sure but I would hope some place that could be referred to as a jazz bar would hire one of the many ethical and quality jazz players in Utah. Go for a drink if you can handle Chet, but remember this guy is just innapropriately rude and he really has no right to monopolize what could be a great social scene in the city.

• Pros: Drinks, Service on a Slow Night
• Cons: The Doorman, Chet, Crowded, Questionable Hiring policies for musicians.

01/05/08

Piss-Poor Attitude!

by freqdiner93

I really used to enjoy this place! The artful mechanistic decor offers a truly Cuban feeling. I would concur with another posting about the excellent service we have always had from Sister Melani in the past. Frankly, I would offer a 5 star rating if this were simply about her service. However, the last time we came in, Sister Melani was not there to soften the piss-poor attitude of the doorman and bartender.

The evening began with suspicious review of our membership. We were expired, so I payed for another.. not a huge deal but Brad's attitude at the door was arrogant and uninviting (as always). Brad if you truly are the owner, might I suggest that it is time to find a new occupation.. perhaps employment in Cuba would provide you the welcome attitude adjustment you desperately need.

We took a table and waited a solid 15 minutes before we got any service. After that we had none. We interrupted our business discussion in several attempts to reach out to the "service," finally gave up and went up to the bar after that.

The martinis were good, but no better than those at other martini bars and restaurants in the vicinity.

The second half of our party joined us at about 12:30 AM, which is 30 minutes to last call. Our guests were quite put off, again by the atrocious attitude of Brad at the door. Brad was however, kind enough to let them know that it was last call, and that they had better hurry on up to the bar if they wanted to get a drink (rather than to join us at our table).

By the end of the night, I was pretty irritated and I reflected it in the tip only 10% when I generally tip 20% or a little more when the service warrants it.

When I finally paid the check, the bartender said "hmm big tipper!!" sarcastically. We left shortly thereafter.

One thing I also neglected to mention earlier is that there was only 10 yes that's right only T-E-N people in the entire bar that night INCLUDING US!!! Not exactly the busiest night, was it?

• Pros: Martinis tasted good
• Cons: Toxic attitude of staff

11/09/07

Best chill martini bar~

by davidsaltlake

If you have someone come from out of town, thanks to red door, there is somewhere great to go. The Mary Martini is the ONLY martini that I have ever craved! The membership is cheap and the atmosphere is quiet and a great place for a first date!

09/14/07

check user's history for those giving 5 stars here.

by aguynutah

i was just checking out the place and noticed a lot of 1 star and 5 star ratings....i looked at the history for the users giving 5 stars...every one of them has exactly one review on citysearch....5 stars for the red door and no other posts.

kind of curious...sounds a lot like staff averaging out the ratings.

hmmmm......

• Pros: lots of 5 star ratings
• Cons: looks like they are written by bogus accounts

07/15/07

Best martinis and atmosphere!

by pixie89

I have been going to the Red Door since it opened and continue to recommend it to people. I have always gotten good service and excellent drinks. Friday nights there is music from a DJ and Saturday nights a jazz trio that covers more modern songs from the 80-90's. Both take requests and do a great job at setting the mood. It's a fairly small non-smoking club (unless you're out on the patio). It's a nice place to kick back and enjoy drinks and conversation with friends on one of the couches or small tables. If you're looking for a large, meat market dance club, this is not the place for you. Sometimes I've seen people get upset over having to pay a membership fee, however that is Utah. Membership here is the cheapest they can make it by Utah law.

• Pros: great drinks, good services, good ambiance
• Cons: no food service