YSB 2014 Happy Hour at The Southern

ODD event. The staff had asked our official Unilocal party to leave the small private room 45 minutes into the event and then asked us to go to the bar area. Unfortunately, Unilocal official representatives were not present during this time, but later viewed in the corner at a table to themselves. No specials where offered to our party and the staff of Southern seemed clueless as to Unilocalers that were present for the event when we inquired on any specials. It seemed like a light out moment as soon as we got booted out of the room. Awkward to mingle, when we were like what’s going on? Great place for a venue, but unsure I could ever recommend it. How could something FAIL so BADly?

I’ve been trying to figure out why this event felt so weird, but after reading reviews I’m able to name it. Where were the organizers? Why did no one welcome us? Why did it feel like the restaurant and the servers were giving us the stink eye? There weren’t enough seats for everyone; the drinks were weak; the food was edible, but that’s it. I know I shouldn’t complain about free stuff, but. it was pretty lame. My friends and I were also sexually harassed at this event by a couple of douchey and clueless men. Awesome. We left within twenty minutes of getting there.

My friend and I showed up for the HH after the 3 – 4 special Unilocal part of the event (as was listed to do). This means we were paying customers of the establishment and were treated so rudely. Wait, the bartenders were friendly and made us some fantastic cocktails, but the rest of the staff was rude.
My friend asked the hostess if we could be seated and she was told yes, until 5 when their dinner reservations would start showing up. Great, an hour was enough time for us! After we were seated, a man (maybe the manager) came over and asked if we were going to eat anything. I said, we hadn’t had a chance to look at the menus and might soon. He said, «Soon? We have a party coming in to sit here.»
We actually didn’t get a chance to order food because he never came back, rather just eyed us and the rest of the Unilocalers there willing us with his eyes to leave, so we did. I wasn’t going to be shoo’d away though after I paid for a cocktail. I wish I didn’t have my Unilocal bag because he would’ve maybe treated us like the paying customers we were. It’s a shame to write a review for what seemed like a very fun, Southern hospitality style restaurant. I don’t know if the staff was uninformed or overwhelmed, but there was only a handful of tables besides us there, so not sure where the hustling us out part comes in. Good drinks though.

No trying to figure out excuses for how this was executed or for people’s behavior. I traveled far for this and I was looking forward to a great first official Unilocal mingling experience…
This review is solely for the second half of this event, which was not the same as the first portion of complimentary bites or drinks, but it was to offer specials. This was great, nonetheless. I initially thought it would be a good spot to transition to the next event, and this was open to anyone. With that being said, that is exactly how it went. There was no designated spot. The only way you knew any Unilocal related activity was happening is because you saw a few people carrying those Unilocal bags that we got during registration earlier that day.
Since I’m from out of town, I was just barely getting familiar with faces. If it wasn’t for those bags, or the small Unilocal group I was with, I would of thought this was like any random bar. And those specials that were listed in the RSVP calendar, those were the same as the regular HH prices at the bar for, again, anyone. The venue had nothing indicating Unilocal.No where, no how.
Also, I hate to bring this up, but even worse, I hate that it even happened. As we were all around the bar WITH our Unilocal bags, we had seen a group at the door. I would of never know who they were, if not for one. They were seated and not once, looked over our way, came by, asked us how we were doing… nothing. This was not a good impression at all. I felt like an ignored middle child and even got pouty. Wah, wah, right? Well, I typically am not super sensitive but we came out here because this was part of an official YSB event yet felt like it was just any other bar in town doing HH. Even a UYE where we also pay for our own stuff, the organizer is visible and hospitable. If it wasn’t for my new Unilocal galfriends, Sonia C. and Amy Y, who assured me that they and others were experiencing this, I may thought I was being dramatic or experiencing jet lag. But soon enough, when we all figured nothing was going to come out of us staying there, we rallied a few and decided to start up a party on our own elsewhere.
You see, if you put an event together, the common courtesy or just plain logic, is that you at least come by the area where your guests are at. We’re here as Unilocalers, first and foremost. We’re not hard to spot. The oversized Unilocal bag we were carrying should of given it away.

I would have to say that I had a great experience that started off a little rocky! The hostesses at the entrance had no clue of what the Unilocal Spring Break event was. However, we were eventually seated in the front outdoor patio area to enjoy the cool Nashville breeze, some nice scenery, people watch, and partake in the happy menu! We missed the Unilocal tasting event but decided to stay to chat with the random Unilocalers who came to the Southern Steak & Oyster and to enjoy happy hour.

Ok. I have no right reviewing an event I was not invited to… let’s just say my invitation got lost in the e-​mail but most of my new Unilocal friends from Hawaii (John), San Antonio (Ted&Sonya) were on the list. I had no intention of really eating, if some crumbs fell my way, it would have been fine. I had one drink but this was after I already drank a $ 12-​$ 15 mule outside in the bar before HH started.
I would like to say like most of the others, this was disappointing. First and foremost, it wasn’t organized very well. Sure I shouldn’t complain since I crashed it. But seriously, it felt more like hello, here is 1 drink, 1 food item, oh and if you happen to find a seat, go ahead, if not SOL! This place seemed nice but it wasn’t really very welcoming for the event.
Outside in the bar/​restaurant, it was more nice. I wish I could have eaten here like Janeece M from Alabama but we were off to the Anthem event (another review) for the Welcome. Although we did go to another place before Anthem (Past Perfect). For the first official YSB14 event, it was not a good start to YSB14 Nashville and not really fun.
P. S. If your committee was going to have a meeting, please don’t do it in front of Unilocalers that have visited from other parts of the country without acknowledgement. You should have done it elsewhere especially after the crash that was HH for your guests!

I’m assuming that this is the correct place for the Official YSB Event: Southern Skip Day Happy Hour. If so, this was a very well organized event. This is the one event I really wanted to be in for food wise so I RSVP’d early and was very happy when I received my confirmation.
I went early with the gang but the doors opened pretty much on time at 3 p.m. So we headed in to get a good table close to the refreshments. Drink wise, we had some kind of iced tea and bourbon drink which is definitely good but not strong. Food wise, I was expecting some steaks bites and perhaps oysters but we got fried green tomatoes, deviled eggs, and mini biscuit steak sandwiches. Honestly, I’ve never seen any of these kinds of food before. Definitely never ever had a fried green tomato, never had a deviled egg that was so vinegary, and never had a steak sandwich with so little meat and a big bun. No complaints because it was all free and all served with a smile. More than anything, I was happy to mingle with fellow Unilocal elites from across the country.
As promised, the event ended promptly at 4 pm and we were ushered out of the room back to the main bar because another group was going to use the room. Really too bad that Unilocal did not secure in larger room for this event. It would have been great to have a larger private room to mingle quietly rather than just stand around at the bar. This event is where I gave out the last of the chocolate covered macadamia nuts that I brought from Hawaii to share. Really sorry that I missed most but there were a lot of Unilocalers from all over the country and only me from Hawaii. :’(

About a 2.5: I was really excited to check out this event, but unfortunately, there wasn’t any information beforehand in regards to the parking situation. We thought we made it just in the nick of time for the first hour after our parking fiasco, but when we arrived, it seemed as if the Unilocal committee already packed up (early) and left! :(No sign or any notification on where the party took place, and even the hostess looked a little confused. There were a few random Unilocalers here and there, getting their drinks and bites, but there were no samplings (not surprised) in sight, and there really wasn’t much information of the what-​to-​dos afterwards or even any assistance from some of the Unilocalers with the swag bags. I really thought a Unilocal representative should have been there the whole entire time… Either way, this event was held at the Southern Steak & Oyster, a shuck-​to-​order oyster bar that also has a wood-​fried grill. They offer entrees that showcases locally-​grown produce and directly-​sourced, sustainable seafood. I had a chance to look over their menu, where they offer breakfast (fried chicken breast, braised pork, pork tenderloin, brisket, southern greens, etc.), brunch (crab cake salad, spicy fried chicken, strip steak, beef tenderloin, pancakes, etc.), evening (fish tacos, bahn mi tacos, fish n’ grits, risotto, etc.), desserts, and drink items. I was really bummed to have missed out getting a chance to talk to other Unilocalers.
+early dismissal?

This was my first Nashville YSB event, and I had such high hopes of amazingness! As we walked into the lobby, there were no hostesses to direct us. We stood for awhile, and finally a (rude) hostess came and directed us to the back. Where’s that southern hospitality?!
The space was really small for the size of our crowd. We grabbed some bites and a cocktail, and grabbed the last two chairs at a table with some fab Unilocalers from Sacramento.
Those that didn’t get a seat were awkwardly jammed in the middle of the room. It was so hot and humid (for me!) that I sucked down my drink quickly, then sadly realized that was my only one. Bummer. We chatted a bit, but with no more food and an empty glass, and people needing a place to sit, we just left.

Tony and I attend the Unilocal Spring Break Elite Event here on Thursday May 8, 2014 from 3−4pm for the special drinks and appetizers event.
We were greeted immediately to register in and they gave us our drink of Bourbon and Mango with a lemon wedge.
We found a seat towards the back and were joined with a couple from Phoenix, Arizona, Heath and Jolly. They were very nice and we enjoyed talking to them.
They were in a party of like 12 and having a good time.
I went to the buffet table to get a small sample of the fares. for both Tony and myself.
There was steak biscuits, deviled eggs and fried green tomatoes… It was all a little different. I liked the taste of the steak on the biscuit, but the small slider size biscuit was very dry. The deviled egg had a runny filling and was too vinegary for me. gave me immediate heartburn and the fried green tomato was cut in half and the panko breading was too flaking and oily. Not really impressed, but hey FREE is FREE right. the mixed Bourbon and Mango infusion cocktail was very good, but you were allowed ONLY ONE each…
I must have miss read the RSVP, it said two per person but there was a lot of Unilocalers who attended that were not on the RSVP list, the lady kept asking people to leave… in fact while I was in the restroom my husband was told to leave. he said NOT until I finish my drink and wife gets back from the bathroom. I then had to tell her again, we were already checked in.
We left about 35 minutes into the event. my husband was uncomfortable after that mix up… hopefully tonight at Anthem will be better…
Not sure if I would go here again, too pricey!!!
But on the other hand, the staff was amazing… so nice and accommodating. and the décor of the restaurant… I LOVED IT. it was so nice and cozy and yet modern and open. I loved the restaurant itself…
I am more of a beer and whiskey girl with cowboy boots and sneakers, this venue is too fancy for me but OMG… I love it and wish it was me!!!